Konohamaru was sorta jealous but glad to see her so happy.

Before, everytime he saw her, she looked miserable. Always so sad, hurt, depressed.

She only looked happy, that now she had friends.

He could've prevented her from being so depressed before, but he never did anything.

He can't go back in time and help her, so he must do something about it in the present and in the future.

He set his goal, and he intended to achieve it.

~

Mirushi got tired, later that day. She was already sore and tired from the battle, but she was hungry, too.

Her brother wasn't around to pay the rent, for 6 months! She's been saving a lot. She's been trying to get money from around her.

Mirushi got jobs, she studied, she trained, and pays for food. She doesn't earn enough money to pay rent.

She worked at the weapons store and the ramen shop. Both pay the best money.

"Mirushi?" A familiar voice asked. She turned around and saw Konohamaru standing there.

"A-ahh! Konohamaru-kun!" She turned around from washing the dishes. "What are you doing here?"

"Err, what are you doing here? It's 1 am."

"I work here!"

"But, I come here all the time. I've never seen you work here."

"Ahh, it's usually late shifts..." Mirushi flushes in embarrasment.

"Well I'm here because I'm hungry!" He grinned, causing the poor girl's face turn an even darker shade of red.

"I don't usually come this late, so that's probably why I never see you." Then he trailed off, thinking. "But, you're 12. Why do you need a job?"

Mirushi sweat nervously. Very rarely when people ask if she's okay, she lies. She never wants to bother anyone... She's not worth anyone's time.

"I just wanted to be independent and get to buy the things I want!" She told him, proud of her excuse.

"Oh, well... Good for you!"

"Konohamaru-san! Welcome back, but so late? Ah, nevermind. What would you like?" Ayame, the owner's daughter asked.

"I'd like some miso ramen!"

"Comin' right up!"

And that night, Mirushi left work early.

~~~~~

Sorry for not updating consecutively. I'll try to go back to normal schedule!