In Naruto, I Have an Affair with Mikoto and Kushina

Souta spotted Mikoto Uchiha at a fruit stall, picking out apples. She was focused, inspecting each one before placing it in her basket. Nothing fancy, just grocery shopping.

As she shifted her basket, an apple slipped out and hit the ground.

Souta stepped forward, picked it up, and held it out. "You dropped this."

She slowly took the Apple from his hand as she looked at his face.. and remembered inst he the same guy who serving the tea at Hokage Aniversery festival? 

"You.. you are the one who served tea at Hokage aniversery festible right?"she asked

Souta smirked slightly. "That's me. You have a good memory."

Mikoto gave a small nod, placing the apple back into her basket. "Not really. It was just a memorable event."

He straightened up slightly, keeping his tone polite. "It's an honor to be remembered, Uchiha-sama."

Mikoto blinked at the formal address before shaking her head. "There's no need for that. Just Mikoto is fine."

Souta raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Wouldn't want to overstep."

She exhaled softly, adjusting her grip on the basket. "I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't."

He nodded. "Alright then, Mikoto."

She hummed in acknowledgment and turned back to her shopping. Souta lingered for a moment, watching as she carefully selected another fruit. Then, without thinking too much about it, he spoke.

"You have a good eye for quality."

Mikoto glanced at him, curious. "You think so?"

He shrugged. "It's the same kind of attention to detail you see in tea-making. Pick the right ingredients, and the end result speaks for itself."

A small, amused smile played at her lips. "That's an interesting comparison."

Souta smirked. "Well, tea's my specialty."

She let out a quiet chuckle before shaking her head. "You're different from what I expected."

"Good different or bad different?"

Mikoto glanced at him again, as if assessing him. Then, instead of answering, she turned back to her shopping.

Souta watched as she carefully picked another apple, her expression thoughtful. Then, without looking at him, she spoke.

"What's your name?"

He blinked, a little surprised she was interested enough to ask. "Souta."

Mikoto stopped mid-motion, her fingers lightly gripping the fruit in her hand. For a brief moment, she seemed lost in thought. Then, she turned her gaze back to him, a curious glint in her eyes.

"Souta… Are you the one Kushina keeps talking about?"

Souta tilted his head. "Depends. What exactly is she saying?"

Mikoto gave him a knowing look. "That you're nice to talk, mostly."

Souta chuckled. "That sounds about right."

Mikoto hummed, placing the apple into her basket. "She talks about you quite a bit."

Souta raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Hopefully, it's not all complaints."

Mikoto gave him a small, knowing smile. "She wouldn't admit it, but I think she enjoys your company."

Mikoto shook her head slightly, adjusting her basket. "Well, I should finish up."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to keep you." Souta stepped back, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Nice talking to you, Mikoto."

She nodded, turning back to her shopping. But as he turned to leave, she spoke again.

"You're different from what I expected."

Souta paused and glanced back. "Good different or bad different?"

Mikoto studied him for a moment before shaking her head. "I'm not sure yet."

"You can visit the tea shop next time with kushina maybe?"he said

Mikoto considered his words for a moment before giving a small nod. "Maybe."

Souta smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."

She didn't confirm or deny it, simply adjusting her basket again. "We'll see."

"Fair enough." He gave a casual wave as he turned to leave. "See you around, Mikoto."

Souta made his way through the market, hands in his pockets, a slight smirk still lingering on his face. That had gone better than expected. Mikoto wasn't the easiest person to read, but he could tell she wasn't indifferent to their conversation.

And more importantly—Kushina had been talking about him enough for Mikoto to take notice.

That could work in his favor.

For now, though, he had the rest of the day to kill. Maybe he'd check out a few places, grab a bite to eat, or just enjoy the rare freedom of a day off.

Souta wandered through the market, the lingering conversation with Mikoto playing in his mind. There was something about her—a quiet grace, a subtle curiosity—that made him want to push just a little further. She wasn't indifferent to him, and that was all the opening he needed.

"System Dont you have anything good or you just make handsome and charming and provide dialougs?"

[...]

[Shop Is Available]

Souta sighed and rubbed his temple. "Fine, let's see what you've got."

He stepped into a small, high-end shop tucked between a tailor's boutique and a bookstall. 

[Shop Inventory]

- Sauvage – 8,500 Ryo (Fresh, spicy, and slightly rugged—popular with confident men.)

- Ford Oud Wood – 10,200 Ryo (Sophisticated, woody scent with hints of spice—commands attention.)

- Aventus – 12,800 Ryo (Fruity, smoky, and bold—meant for someone who wants to stand out.)

- Acqua di Gio Profumo – 9,700 Ryo (Fresh and masculine with deep, aquatic notes—perfect balance of subtle and strong.)

- Uomo Intense – 8,900 Ryo (Smooth, slightly sweet, and elegant—gives off a refined, mysterious air.)

- Luxury Grooming Kit – 15,000 Ryo (Includes high-quality razors, hair oil, and scented skin balms.)

Souta stared at the list. No weapons, no forbidden scrolls, no chakra-enhancing pills—just overpriced colognes and fancy grooming kits. His fingers twitched as he clutched his head.

"What the hell is this?!"

[Enhancing your presence is the key to success. You already possess above-average skills. Your greatest advantage lies in perception and influence.]

Souta scowled. "Influence? You mean flirting?"

[That is an option.]

He exhaled sharply but turned his attention back to the colognes. If this was the route the system wanted him to take, he might as well lean into it.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. This damn system really wasn't going to give him an easy power boost, was it? He exhaled sharply and turned back to the colognes.

Fine. If this was the game, he'd play it.

His fingers hovered over Uomo Intense before grabbing the bottle. A smooth, slightly sweet but undeniably masculine scent—it wasn't overpowering, but it left an impression. Something that lingered. Something she'd remember.

Souta tested a small spritz on his wrist, catching a whiff of the warm fragrance. Not bad. He could work with this.

Then, a thought crossed his mind, and his smirk returned.

"Now... let's wait for Mikoto to come. I have a feeling she'll show up tomorrow—100%."

[Confidence detected.]

Souta ignored the system's response and left the shop, tucking his hands into his pockets. His plan was set. He'd planted the seed, and he was sure she'd be curious enough to come looking for him soon.