There was a dull ache in her chest at his words, feeling the distance between them even stronger, now, when they were so close to reuniting again. Because it had nearly been a full year since the entire team had been together. Since Neji had been promoted to Jounin and when his duties started taking him away from team practices some time later on. And without him... it was like were a ship sailing without their captain.

For Tenten, at the very least, it had been a difficult few months. Understandable, yes. But hard, all the same, when she would catch herself remembering back on how it used to be. And now to find that Gai and Neji had moved on further without them...

It was a silly train of thought, but it was there all the same.

"It'll be nice to have everyone together, again, yeah." Turning off the stove, she fished out the last of the batch and tossed her apron aside to plop down across the counter from her companion. "So... I am yours to command, now. Where do you want me?"