"Oh have the tables turned." Abyo said, a somewhat menacing laughter escaping his mouth. I shook my head and rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. "Just— keep quiet." I demanded with a huff as Abyo punched my back, lunging me a bit forward. "Oh come on dude! If ya like her that much, tell her!" Abyo declared with a wide grin. I sighed, chuckling. "Easier said than done. Besides," I paused heaving in a deep, sad breath.

"Maybe— she doesn't feel the same for me anymore." I finished off with a mutter, looking off to the opposite of Abyo. In response, Abyo broke into laughter once again. I confusingly turned to him, furrowing my eyebrows. "What's so funny?" I annoyingly asked raising an eyebrow. "Oh come on Garu! The girl is literally, literally— in love with you!" He stated, wiping a tear away from his eye as he caught up on air.

I facepalmed, giving him a blank look afterwards. "Abyo, that was 5 years ago. 5 years ago since she'd be chasing after me day after day— it's different now." I stated in a low worried voice. "It isn't like the old days anymore, i've barely even seen nor talked to her after that. She got so busy— I felt so lonely." I admitted, heaving in a deep sigh afterwards as I looked up at the sky. "Damn. You really went in deep thought." Abyo teased as I playfully elbowed him on the stomach.

I heard Abyo sigh from behind me, feeling his hand placed on my shoulder all of a sudden. "You known, you really are just a big ol' softie for Pucca aren't ya?" Abyo stated with a smile. I shrugged, lowering my head. "Guess I am." I closed my eyes with a gulp, a sudden feeling of regret overcoming me. "Though if what I assumed was the case, she has every right not to like me anymore." I added as Abyo suddenly whacked the back of my head.

"Ow! What the hell!" I held the back of my head and rubbed it, scowling at Abyo. "Oh for christ's sake, stop overthinking and making yourself so depressed!" He demanded as I shook my head and ruffled my hair. "It's just that— the way I treated her back then just hit me. I've been so mean and inconsiderate of her." I spat out, taking a seat on Ching's doorstep as Abyo did the same. "Well, not gonna argue with ya there. You did reject her countless of times." Abyo replied with a nod.

"See? It'd probably be best if she gave up on my idiotic bum." I mumbled, kicking a rock away to the side. Abyo groaned, resting his cheek onto his palm as he faced me. "Haven't you noticed dum-dum? Even when you rejected her numerous times back then, she'd just get up and try again. She acts like nothing even happened." Abyo declared in a persuasive tone. "Who knows? Pucca may still like you. You'll never know unless you actually ask her." He added, his words somewhat made me feel better.

I smiled along with a sigh, nodding. "You're right— it's just that-" I took another pause and scoffed as Abyo groaned once again. "What is it now? Don't tell me your big 'pp brain' doesn't know how to confess." He joked as I froze, breaking into a sweat and going silent. "Seriously man? You don't?" Abyo stared at me in disbelief as I bit my bottom lip. "And I may be a bit— a- uh, scared." I admitted with a gulp, giving an awkward grin. "You- You're joking." He responded as I shook my head.

Abyo flicked my forehead, clicking his tongue. "Sooga Village's honourable, respected, strong and skilled ninja is scared to confess to a girl? I'm really living the dream now." Abyo teased as I punched his chest. "Shut up."

a/n : i'm sorry if this chapter seems a bit off and crappy— i'm a bit busy hh