My Brother's a Jinchūriki! EXTRAS

2020 Valentine's Day Special Part One

Natsumi walked with Hasu through the village and, all around them, people were decorating their shops and stores and every girl they passed was bubbly and excitedly talking with their friends.

Hasu frowned slightly and looked at Natsumi, who was absentmindedly admiring a dress in a shop window as they passed.

"Natsumi? Have I missed something? There seems to be quite the commotion around."

"H-Huh?" She blushed slightly and turned her eyes away from the dress to look around, then met his eyes. "Well, Valentine's Day is only a few days away. All the women are busy getting ready foe their dinner dates, and the younger girls are making gifts and chocolates so they can confess to their crushes." She blushed and crossed her arms. "I-I don't really see the appeal of it. It seems like a made-up holiday created to sell chocolates and flowers. You don't need that stuff to express love, anyway."

"Valentine's Day?" He smiled faintly and nodded. "I've heard of it before, but no one on the estate celebrated it." He looked at her as she turned her face away in an attempt to disguise her flushing. "Will you be occupied as well, then?"

"W-What?!" She shook her head quickly, waving her hands. "N-No! Of course not!" She crossed her arms again and muttered. "Valentine's day really is only for obsessive, pining schoolgirls, or for women in committed relationships. I'm not in either category, so..."

She scratched her cheek.

"And, well, to be honest, I find Valentine's Day to be kind of cheesy and cliché. Sure, flowers and chocolates are nice, but they're not a special gift if every girl gets them..."

"You don't like flowers or chocolates?" Hasu blinked.

"T-That's not it." She mumbled, still blushing. "I do like them, but I think they have more meaning if they're giving spontaneously, and not on a set holiday. It makes it lose the romance, I think."

"Oh, I see." He looked up slightly, then smiled faintly and looked back at her. "I think I understand what it is you mean."

"Anyway..." Natsumi averted her eyes and started to walk again. "I think Kiri and Sena mentioned something about us all getting together with the other girls in our team for that day. I'm not really sure what we'll do, but Kiri called it something really cheesy... Galentine's Day, I think?" She shrugged slightly. "So, I may have plans for that day, but it's not really traditional Valentine's plans."

"Would you rather be celebrating it traditionally, instead?"

"I-I mean..." Natsumi muttered and her cheeks warmed. "I-It's not as if I have a boyfriend or anything... and it'd be a better use of time if I trained instead."

"Perhaps." He paused. "Though, it seems like a waste to be alone on such a popular day. As charming and beautiful you are, I'm surprised that no one has approached you."

Natsumi met his eyes briefly and cleared her throat, quickly looking away.

"W-Well! Would you look at that!" Natsumi cleared her throat again and gestured to the front gate of the home. "This is the Sarutobi estate. Where you wanted to go."

"R-Right." Hasu scratched his head, then lowered his arm and met her eyes. "Are you sure that you do not want to join us? I think Kanna would be pleased to see you again."

"No thanks..." She shook her head. "I have a few things I need to do, but you shouldn't worry about me. I'm sure you'll have more fun without me, anyway."

She waved and smiled, and then turned and left. He sighed once she was gone, and scratched his head and looked at the sky.

"...That's not true at all..."