"Just today!" I shouted, my voice bursting with fiery enthusiasm. There was a stubborn tone in there, and the fire in my eyes blazed brightly, refusing to be extinguished.
I shook my head vigorously, causing my long, reddish-brown hair to spill out, softly shimmering in the evening light streaming through the window. A few strands got caught on my face, but I didn't care. "I'm fine!"
Aoki looked at me for a long time, silent. Aoki's gaze was like a knife peeling away the outer layers of myself, trying to determine whether those words were honest or just empty bravado masked by a stubborn smile.
Aoki's eyes slowly moved down to my left shoulder, still wrapped in a white bandage, contrasting with my skin tone. There was a pause. A breath held back. I could feel the doubt thickening in the air, like a thin fog that refused to dissipate.
"But you're still hurt," Aoki finally said. Aoki's voice dropped a few octaves, soft and slow, as if the sentence was meant not to argue, but to comfort me—or perhaps Aoki themselves.
Aoki's expression changed. Aoki's eyebrows knitted together slightly, their eyes narrowed a bit, no longer filled with judgment, but replaced by something warm. It wasn't a feigned softness—but genuine concern. Aoki even seemed to hold back from getting closer and touching my shoulder.
I sighed softly, but there was a slight tension in my jaw. "I'll still be hurt tomorrow," I said, deliberately lowering my tone to sound calm, but my gaze remained sharp, full of determination. "So it's better if we start today."
Aoki didn't respond immediately. Their eyes shifted away, as if Aoki was reconsidering all the options they had. There was a silence between us, a moment that felt long, interrupted only by the sound of the wind moving the curtains behind me.
"About that..." Aoki mumbled hesitantly.
"Today is fine too, but don't strain your left shoulder," a voice cut in from the direction of the table. It was a soft voice but carried an undeniable firm tone. Misuki stood up from her seat, still holding a half-finished cup of tea, steam still dancing in the air.
Misuki's tone didn't rise, but it was clear and assertive. Her eyes fixed on me intently, not judging, but like a guardian who knew exactly when to lock the door and when to open it.
I couldn't help but smile. My lips lifted wide, a victorious grin bursting forth from within my chest. "See? I told you so," I said cheerfully, glancing at Aoki while lifting my chin slightly. A warm feeling tickled my chest, like the first rays of sunlight after a long night.
Aoki let out a heavy sigh, as if surrendering not to my words, but to the situation. "Uh, fine... Get ready. We'll be leaving soon."
I nodded quickly, almost jumping from where I stood. A wave of relief flowed from my fingertips to my chest. The tension that had hung like a fragile thread was now severed and vanished. All that remained was fresh air waiting for me to take a deep breath.
...
...
...
We left the village shortly after that. Our footsteps followed a slightly muddy path, remnants of last night's rain still pooling in small puddles among the stones. The earth smelled damp, the aroma of dew-laden leaves still felt fresh and raw.
The forest outside the village welcomed us with a gentle breeze and the sound of birds calling to each other from behind the canopy of trees. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, creating patterns of light and shadow that danced softly on the ground.
Yet my mind was not entirely at ease. One question kept swirling in my head.
What exactly... were they looking for?
I didn't want to interfere, truly. But my steps felt light, accompanied by a curiosity that quietly peeked out from behind the curtain of my logic.
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[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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