[He'll save the Hallmark brand of uplifting words for when the heart can hear them as well as the ears. That might not be anytime soon, but...
Let her be. Women aren't always a puzzle needing solving, kid. Sometimes all they need is a shoulder to cry on.
Even if Chouji's doing most of the crying.
He tries to smile but it comes out watery.
He can't blame him. They all went through something horrible... even Ino has a taste of it now. And he can't be like he was when Asuma died, and leave them to deal with that grief on their own while he wallowed selfishly. They're a team.
So this once, too, he'll join in. He drags a sleeve across his eyes first against the mention of his father's name and scoots closer. Within Chouji's reach, he takes one of Ino's hands and gives it a squeeze.]
[Action: Ino-Shika-Chou]
Let her be. Women aren't always a puzzle needing solving, kid. Sometimes all they need is a shoulder to cry on.
Even if Chouji's doing most of the crying.
He tries to smile but it comes out watery.
He can't blame him. They all went through something horrible... even Ino has a taste of it now. And he can't be like he was when Asuma died, and leave them to deal with that grief on their own while he wallowed selfishly. They're a team.
So this once, too, he'll join in. He drags a sleeve across his eyes first against the mention of his father's name and scoots closer. Within Chouji's reach, he takes one of Ino's hands and gives it a squeeze.]