*Chapter 4: You Don’t Want Your Secret Revealed, Right?*

"Ah, s-sorry!" Yūtsuru Namikaze quickly bowed in apology, then rushed out of the store with her head down.

The person she bumped into was, of course, Oda Shingo, who acted surprised. "Oh? You dropped something."

Yūtsuru froze. The young man had already bent down to pick up the fallen item.

The cover was unmistakable: Man’s Man!

It’s over! He saw I was buying this book!

"Ah!" Yūtsuru gasped, covered her face with her sun hat, and bolted out of the shop.

But Oda Shingo immediately ran after her.

The man was chasing her, holding the book that had fallen.

Oh no! Did I run into trouble?!

Panicking, Yūtsuru quickened her pace.

The so-called "trouble" was indeed Oda Shingo.

He had deliberately bumped into the anxious Yūtsuru to strike up a conversation, but he didn’t expect her to flee.

"Wait!" Shingo called, still chasing her with the book.

However, Yūtsuru’s long legs carried her faster than he imagined! Even though Shingo gave it his all, he realized he couldn’t catch up.

How can she run this fast? And her running style—it looks just like a ninja’s, arms behind her like wings, totally different from the typical awkward running of Japanese girls!

Seeing the distance between them grow wider, Shingo called out, "Namikaze-san, it’s me!"

Yūtsuru froze mid-run, her footsteps slowing.

A classmate?! Oh no! If word gets out that I was buying that book…

Maybe they’ll find out I’m an artist too, and even uncover my background. I won’t be able to stay at school anymore…

Her mind went blank—or rather, it was flooded with wild thoughts.

Shingo caught up, panting heavily, hands on his knees.

Yūtsuru, who was barely out of breath, stared at him with wide eyes. "You... you are?"

His face seemed familiar. A classmate from school? But I don’t think we’ve ever talked.

"Third-year in the Art Department, Oda Shingo."

"Ah." Yūtsuru suddenly realized why he looked familiar.

A disaster! My classmate caught me buying that book! She covered her face in despair.

Shingo, finally catching his breath, got straight to the point. "You like drawing manga, don’t you, Namikaze-kun?"

In Japanese culture, even girls could be addressed as "-kun."

It’s over! He knows I draw manga too?! Yūtsuru’s mind raced with terrifying scenarios.

Forget about my parents back home—they’d be furious. I might even get expelled from school…

Shingo, however, wasn’t thinking that deeply. He was fixated on the glowing stats next to Yūtsuru’s name.

*[Yūtsuru Namikaze, Art Skill: 82, Special Ability: Ninjutsu]*

An art score of 82! Shingo was practically drooling!

As for the newly revealed "ninjutsu" ability? Whatever! The important thing is, I have to recruit her into my team!

Wait, no, that’s wrong—recruit her into my manga project!

"Manga?" Yūtsuru glanced at Shingo, then at the book he held in his hand…

"No, I meant something else," Shingo said, holding up the book. "I’ve been watching you. First, you were checking out human anatomy technique books, and then you looked at these, so I figured you must be…"

"Ah—!" Yūtsuru let out a small cry. He knows I was buying the book!

Shingo continued, "You’re trying to understand human anatomy, right? We could study it together, make some progress."

"Huh?" Yūtsuru blinked in confusion.

He... he’s asking me to study human anatomy with him?!

T-this… is way too suggestive!

Her face turned bright red.

Shingo, completely unaware, kept talking seriously. "Tomorrow’s the weekend, right? You don’t have classes, so you could come to my studio..."

Buzz—Yūtsuru’s mind went blank.

The only thing in her head was…

He’s blackmailing me!

He’s using the fact that I bought this book to force me to come over tomorrow!

Yūtsuru’s thoughts spiraled.

So when Shingo mentioned things like, "I’m working on a manga, and I need a collaborator," "I’m good with the story and layouts, but I need an artist like you," "I’ve already got most of the story and layout done," "I hope you’ll work with me on this project"…

Almost none of it registered in her mind!

She doesn’t believe me at all, Shingo thought, misreading her expression.

Well, no wonder. Suddenly inviting her to collaborate on a manga? What girl would trust that right away? Shingo quickly decided: he’d have to create a bunch of drafts to impress her and get her to join his project.

"We’ll talk more tomorrow. I’ll show you something that’ll convince you." Shingo waved his phone, signaling for them to exchange LINE contact info.

He took out his phone and showed her the barcode to add him as a friend.

Reluctantly, Yūtsuru pulled out her phone and added him.

"Great, I’ll send you the address. Same time tomorrow, meet me at that spot." Shingo said, thinking he needed more time to work on his storyboard drafts.

He’s forcing me to go to his place at night! Yūtsuru’s heart pounded.

Shingo handed the book back to Yūtsuru, gave a slight bow, and said, "Anyway, I hope we’ll become a team!"

In Japanese, "team" means a close-knit group working together, but to Yūtsuru, it sounded like something else entirely...

Her head buzzed.

Wait, wait. Am I misunderstanding something? Though Yūtsuru was a bit introverted, she wasn’t unintelligent.

Afraid she had misunderstood, she quickly called out to Shingo, "Ah, um…"

But Shingo misinterpreted her hesitation.

She’s trying to politely refuse, isn’t she? he thought.

Considering her impressive art skills, Shingo decided to use a key phrase the system suggested to recruit teammates. He spoke firmly, pausing between each word:

"Miss, you don’t want your secret to be exposed, do you? So you’d better come."

...

Yūtsuru stood frozen, watching as Shingo walked away.

She returned to her apartment, dazed, and sat in her chair.

Her shopping bag was crumpled in her hands.

In the familiar surroundings, she slowly regained her composure.

Facing the mirror, she looked at herself.

"You… were blackmailed?"

Yūtsuru muttered to herself.

"Yes, I was blackmailed."

Talking to herself, calmly analyzing the situation—this was a problem-solving method her family had taught her since she was a child.

"Would I allow myself to be blackmailed?"

"Absolutely not!"

"But if I don’t go, he’ll expose my book-buying habit. Maybe he’s already been secretly taking photos…"

Always assume the worst.

This is the careful, cautious approach her family had taught her. It’s what her elders always emphasized.

Yes, always expect the worst-case scenario.

"If that happens, I won’t be able to stay in this city. I’ll have to return to Konoha…"

Yūtsuru’s beautiful eyes grew colder.

"Oda Shingo, you scumbag, blackmailing a woman!"

She slowly opened her suitcase and pulled out a small box.

With precise movements, she unlocked it.

Inside was a forehead protector with the Konoha leaf symbol, and a few shuriken.

"Before I leave for Konoha, I’ll send you straight to hell!"