“It is nice to finally relax.” She slid further into the water until it lapped at her shoulders. “It’s been a busy year and a half.”
“That’s an understatement.” Momoka snorted, a laugh bubbling up. “Non-stop missions and training ever since Midoriko.”
“You’ve only been on half the missions,” Aimee teased, splashing at her friend.
“Healer training is not a walk in the forest, you know.” Momoka splashed her back, the water rippling between them. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
“I know, I know.” Aimee's laughter trailed off, her smile fading. “I’m glad you were with us on this last one. Iruka got pretty banged up.”
“I don’t know what he was thinking, throwing himself in front of those archers like that,” Momoka huffed. “I swear, Taiga’s recklessness is rubbing off on him.”
“It’s nice to see him warming up a bit. Besides...” She shot Momoka a glance from the corner of her eye. “I bet you didn’t mind having your hands all over him like that.”
Momoka froze, her face going beet red. For a moment, she sat in stunned silence before exploding, splashing water at Aimee with both hands.
“First of all!” she sputtered. “Some of us are actually focused on the mission and not staring dreamy-eyed after a certain squad leader all day.”
It was Aimee’s turn to blush, heat rushing to her cheeks as she mumbled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She wasn’t that distracted by Kiba, was she?
“Second!” Momoka crossed her arms, jutting her chin forward. “I’m so over Iruka.”
“Really?” Aimee raised an eyebrow, surprised. Momoka had been practically obsessed all through their early training.
“I have more important things to do than drool over a moody boy,” Momoka said, trying and failing to look mature as she lifted her chin higher. She scooted closer to Aimee, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Besides, I don’t even think he’s interested in girls.”
Aimee's eyebrows shot up. “Really?” She thought for a moment, turning the idea over in her head. Maybe Momoka was onto something.How did I miss that?“Taiga?”
“Seems like it. The way they’re constantly going after each other in training or on missions.”
Aimee considered it. “Being mean to the person you like...” Her lips quirked into a grin.Yeah, that tracks. “Boys are dumb.”
They both burst into laughter, the sound echoing lightly off the surrounding stones.
“So dumb.” Momoka wiped tears from her eyes.
Aimee glanced over at her friend, a hint of admiration creeping in.
Dang, when did Momoka get so smart?she wondered. The girl had come a long way since Midoriko. She now looked comfortable in her own skin and way more self-assured than most sixteen-year-olds.
“The healing track suits you,” Aimee said, leaning back into the smooth, warm stone at the edge of the spring.
“Thanks, Aimee. That means a lot.” Momoka mimicked her, letting the water support her as she relaxed, eyes drifting shut.
For a while, neither of them spoke, the sound of the gently lapping water and the rustle of distant bamboo filling the silence. The warmth of the hot spring worked its way through her muscles, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Aimee allowed herself to just be.
“Miss,” came a soft voice, pulling her from the tranquil moment. One of the hot spring attendants stood at the edge of the pool, bowing slightly. “Ro Kiba requests that you both join him and the others for dinner if you’re finished with your swim.”
“Thank the Elements.” Momoka cracked an eye open. “I’m starving.”
“You’re always hungry,” Aimee replied, standing and stretching, her arms reaching high as the last of the tension melted from her muscles.
Momoka stepped out of the water, revealing the generous curves that had only begun to show after she cut down on mission work.
“Sounds like someone’s jealous.” She glanced over with a half-smile.
“Me and every other girl in Hi Haven.” Aimee laughed, grabbing her own towel. “Poor Hanae will never recover.”
“She’ll be fine,” Momoka replied with a roll of her eyes. “If she stopped worrying about me for five seconds, she’d realize how much attention she actually gets. Besides, she’s been completely buried in far-seer training ever since her father got back from Kaze Haven four months ago.”
