Ruben
It wasn't that Chiho didn't believe in himself, it was more accurate to say that he was absolutely at his limit in terms of physical expenditure, having the stamina to last all day long training was great. . . But it was only after training for the *Literal entire day* That Chiho remembered what it was like to be exhausted. . . But, he was if nothing a boy driven by base desires, and the concept of something satisfying to eat would. . . Well, he wasn't ashamed to say his mind immediately fell to Taiyaki, red bean, cheese. . . Maybe even a spicy miso paste. . . Sousaku could finally feel Chiho's push against him reach a noticeable level of strength, as he slowly willed himself to stand after a few more moments of struggle.

"Y-You. . . Better not be lying. . . I'll. . . T-totally. . . Be peeved if so. . ."
Susan
He let out a great chuckle as he felt the resistance, he indeed was not joking. He would never go back on his promise and it seemed like Chiho was finally wanting to put an end to this. He began to get his arm pushed back, though as he did, he moved to the side. He released the Genin so they could relax, and with that, he began to move through his pockets. He grabbed a lot of Nichi, and had gestured for him to follow. He began to whistle as he walked along to where the food stands would be.

"Take your pick of what you want. I have patience, I had to feed Sadako-chan quite a few times in my life after all. She can be . . Quite the glutton if you've ever met her."

He used the honourifics this time as he didn't want to let Chiho know they have a straight name, no honourifics type of . . "Friendship", too embarrassing for him.
Ruben
As Chiho made to stand completely. . . Sousaku could see the genins legs buckle, Chiho holding up his arm for a moment, silently asking his mentor to pause. "Just. . . Gimme a minute. . . Or two. . . My legs, are trying to remember. . . How to be legs right now. . ." He took a few more gulping breaths of air, before shakily returning to the side of his tutor, his step noticeably stilted and slower as he followed along eagerly, thinking about what exactly would compliment todays training.

"Taiyaki, and street pork buns, spicy bbq kinds. . . And. . . Maybe dango. . ." If anything. . . It seemed like Chiho might be just as gluttonous from the sounds of it, still thinking of what exactly to eat, before blinking in realization.

"Sadako-chan. . . Wait, wasn't that the girl in the Founders with you? Wait wait. . . You two had that interview, right?" Chiho tilted his head, leaning in to ask with a grin. "So, c'mon, tell me, you two, you're totally dating right? I mean, you're all chummy with each other right? Right?" Oh no. . . Chiho was a gossip. . .

Oh? What was. . . *What was that kind of response?!* Despite the fact that Sousaku was not only his tutor, but his elder in terms of age and experience. . . His reactions were surprisingly wholesome weren't they? Chiho's smile grew, as he leaned back.

"Ah, is that so? It's a so/so type of deal? It's totally not a big deal if you don't know ya know? I didn't mean to confuse you. . . But I think it's kinda cute huh? I mean, relationships in general seem cute, when the two people like each other. I see a lotta types of couples at The Crying Oni, some cute, some not really. . ." He hummed quietly in thought. "Maybe you could ask her? Sometimes the best way is to totally be upfront with it. Like "Hey, Sadako-Chan, do you want to be my girlfriend?" Do it like that!" Chiho for his part did a pretty spot on impersonation of Sousaku's voice. . . Even if the mannerisms were completely off.

"A-Ah. . . Well, I have a few friends, as for any I'm close with?. . ." Who was he close with? Kenta was more like a brother than anything else. . . Kota? It was impossible to not get along with him. . . And Kodamaru was adorable, a big plus. Gihachi was a stoic little Jihibiki. . . Hibiki herself, stoic in a granny way. . . Tiny granny girl person. Then the Feral housecat turned human Kazuko, were they friends? Probably one sided. . . "I don't know. . . I have lots of friends. . . Some more family than friends with me. I definitely don't have anyone I like, not in *That* Way I mean, though it'd be cool to find someone like that, ya know?"
Susan
It was quite amusing to see Chiho switch to a deep tone such as Sousaku's, but he listened indeed. He didn't know what his own feelings were, he did like to be around Sadako, and she did make him happy. Though would she actually accept him in that term? He had no idea, so he just shook his head towards Chiho, obviously aimed to what he suggested.

"I could never. What if she declined the offer? One: I'd be quite devastated and that's not a good mindset for a Shinobi. Two: it'd be extremely awkward working with her."

He just sighed, wondering what he could do. He had no idea how he would get some closure on the situation, though it was a funny site. His junior was now tutoring him in the art of not being a social reject. He wondered what types of things he saw at The Crying Oni, what type of couples he had actually seen. He rubbed his chin for a minute, before ruffling his own grey coloured hair.

"If possible I'd like to know if she . . Would. It'd bring closure to my mind at least, and if she would it'd give me enough confidence." He sighed once again, but spoke up. "However I'll only do it after the war is up. Noragakure is on the line. If Noragakure falls then we're all doomed. Only when it is safe would I worry about relationships and such."

He wondered though . . Maybe his student could ask Sadako the same. It seemed like a sly plan, a contrast to his honourable nature. Perhaps it'd work though . .
Ruben
It seemed as though Chiho almost had the exact same thought process as Sousaku did, rubbing his own chin in thought as his mind was temporarily distracted by the sweets and cheap bbq in front of him. . . For a moment, it might have seemed as though Sousaku had opted to feed an anorexic Akimichi, but. . . It was mainly the culmination of over 12 hours of strength training and the temporarily forgetting of concepts like breakfast and lunch.

"Mmm, I see why that could be scary, and like. . . I know it's easy for me to say, I've never liked anyone properly. . . Buuuuuut. . . That means, we totally have a third avenue; I can totally be like, your little birdie. Sadako-chan doesn't know me, right?"

Chiho put down an empty dango skewer as he spoke, putting his hands out wide. "See, working at the Crying Oni, I've come to see like, *Tons* Of different people, and the thing is, people are totally willing to speak if they're in the right setting. I could totally just get a hold of Sadako, heck, maybe even get her to tutor me, then just innocently drop a question, probe for answers!"

He thankfully didn't speak too loudly, not wanting to embarrass his mentor in public. "But. . . Yeah. . . I understand that. . . I just barely graduated straight into a war, so I dunno how it was like before it. . . But, love's totally important even in war right? Some people don't have chances to come home, things go wrong. . . I've seen a lotta sad man and women drinking alone because they didn't say things they wanted to say. . . We serve a lot of Shinobi. . ."

Chiho turned solemn at that, loss was a given in this world. . . It didn't make it any better, did it?