About

“Get down from there!” I shouted at my cat, who was perched high in the tree, staring down at me as if I were the one acting crazy. The night had grown darker while I stood beneath her. The stars shone brightly overhead, scattered across the sky like tiny sparks, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I wasn’t about to abandon my cat alone in the woods after dark. Something had frightened her badly enough to make her climb that high, and she refused to come down. “Having trouble there, sweetheart?” The familiar voice came from behind me. I didn’t need to turn around. I already knew who it was. Kiba sat lazily on a branch in the neighboring tree, looking as though he had just returned from training. His hair was wild, his clothes were slightly dusty, and that irritatingly handsome grin was spread across his face. How long had he been watching me? My cheeks immediately warmed. “Mut…” I muttered beneath my breath. I had called him that since we were kids—ever since our Academy days, when he beat me during training and teased me relentlessly afterward. We had spent years challenging one another, arguing over everything, and pretending we weren’t always looking for an excuse to be near each other. Now he sat above me like he didn’t have a care in the world, clearly enjoying my struggle. Then Akamaru barked from somewhere below. My cat hissed and clung tighter to the branch. I glared at Kiba. “Your oversized dog scared her up there!” Kiba placed a hand over his chest, pretending to be offended. “How are you even a shinobi if you’re afraid of heights, pu**ycat?” “This is all your fault,” I growled. “Somehow, everything is.” I ignored him and stepped toward the tree. “Come on, you little leaf shinobi,” I called up to my cat. “Stop being a chicken and get your furry butt down here.” I grabbed the lowest branch and began to climb. “Wait—let me hel—” “No!” I snapped. “I’ve got this.” I refused to let him help me. He would never let me forget it if he had to rescue me from a tree, and I would rather fall than give him the satisfaction. I pulled myself onto the next branch and reached for another. But the higher I climbed, the more my body betrayed me. My fingers trembled, my breathing became uneven, and my stomach twisted as I glanced down. I had always hated heights. Kiba knew that. He had known since we were children. His teasing expression slowly disappeared. He watched me carefully, concern darkening his eyes, though he didn’t dare say anything. He knew I would only get angry if he pointed out how frightened I was. I reached for the next branch. The moment my hand closed around it, the wood cracked. My eyes widened. The branch snapped beneath me. For one terrifying second, I was suspended in the air. Then I fell. “Got you!” Kiba moved faster than I could scream. He leapt from the neighboring tree and caught me around the waist. We hit the ground together, but he twisted at the last second, taking the impact against his back while keeping me safely above him. The world went completely still. I was lying on top of him, my hands pressed against his chest, my hair falling around our faces. His arms were still wrapped tightly around my waist, holding me as if he had no intention of letting go. His breath brushed against my cheek. “Kiba…” I whispered. His amber eyes searched my face. For once, there was no teasing smirk, no arrogant remark, no playful insult. Just concern. “Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice lower than usual. I shook my head, but I couldn’t seem to move. His hands were warm against me. I could feel his heartbeat beneath my palm, strong and steady—but mine was racing so hard that I was certain he could feel it too. “You caught me,” I murmured. His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. “Of course I did.” The words sent a strange shiver through me. Above us, my cat let out an impatient meow. Neither of us looked away. “You could’ve let me help,” Kiba said quietly. “And let you brag about saving me?” His mouth curved into a faint smile. “I was going to brag anyway.” A breathless laugh slipped from me, but it faded when his fingers tightened slightly around my waist. The movement was small. Still, it sent heat rushing through me. The forest seemed to fall silent around us. Even the wind had stilled, leaving only the sound of our breathing