Chapter 79: Pakura's First Day at Work 8
The voice, though soft and without pressure, was enough to make Pakura turn slightly. Her green hair, neatly tied in a high bun and adorned with intricately carved silver hairpins, reflected the dim light of the night lamp hanging from the ceiling.
The warm glow from the lamp danced on her strands of hair, giving the impression that emerald threads were shimmering.
Pakura's brown eyes, clear like unblemished glass, caught a glimpse of Souta's face—brief, yet clear enough—before Pakura replied in a soft voice, almost like a whisper carried by the night breeze.
"...Quite good," Pakura said. A moment of silence followed. "The people there are quite friendly. The work isn't too difficult either. And... for a five-year-old orphan still studying at the Ninja Academy, the pay is quite substantial."
Pakura's voice sounded flat, but a barely audible gentle tone slipped in at the end of her sentence.
Souta smiled, a wide grin that revealed a faint dimple on his right cheek. "Is that so? Hahaha... then that's great."
They continued walking. On either side of the road, vendors began to pack up their goods. Some adult shinobi sat outside their homes, sipping warm tea while chatting softly. A small child ran after a flying roll of sand, laughing joyfully until called inside by his mother.
The night air carried a peaceful silence. It wasn't empty, but filled the chest like warm tea slowly calming an empty stomach.
Finally, they arrived in front of a two-story apartment building.
The building, like almost all structures in Sunagakure, was made of solid sand reinforced with jutsu—rough on the surface, yet sturdy and resistant to the fierce desert winds.
The peeling wall paint did not diminish the warmth of the place for the two of them. This was their home.
They climbed the narrow, dusty stairs, their small steps echoing faintly in the quiet night. The light from the wall lantern cast long shadows of their small bodies on the building's wall, like shadows of a future that had yet to know its direction.
Upon reaching the second floor, they stopped in front of their respective room doors—two old doors standing side by side, separated only by a wall as wide as a palm.
Pakura stared at the door for a moment, then shifted her gaze to Souta. The dim yellow light from the lantern illuminated part of Pakura's face, highlighting the subtle rosy hue on her cheeks.
"Souta... thank you," Pakura said softly.
Souta turned, his eyes widening slightly. "For what?"
"For today." Pakura looked calmly into Souta's eyes, but there was something different in her gaze—something unusual. "Thank you... for helping me on my first day at work."
A faint smile lingered on Pakura's lips, but in her eyes, there was something unspoken. It was not just ordinary gratitude—but something that Souta could not fully comprehend.
Souta returned the smile warmly. "Ah, it's no problem. We're friends, right? Besides, I still owe you."
Pakura furrowed her brow slightly. "Owe?"
Souta nodded. "You taught me how to feel and control chakra. That's no small thing. Since then... I feel like I've been seeing the world differently. I've become stronger. That means a lot to me, Pakura. A lot."
Souta's words came out slowly, honestly, without exaggeration. And for a moment, the world felt like it had stopped moving for Pakura.
Pakura looked down slightly, where she hid an expression that was beginning to waver. Then she nodded slowly, and without saying anything more, she quickly opened the door and stepped into her room. The door closed softly behind her.
Souta stood for a moment, staring at the now-closed door, before finally entering his own room.
...
Chapter 80: Pakura's Nature
Meanwhile, in Pakura's modest apartment room—furnished only with a thin mattress, a small bookshelf, and a round window facing the street—Pakura sat on the floor, her back leaning against the cold wall.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on Pakura's hair and eyes.
Pakura's hands clutched her chest. Her heart was still racing, as if she had just run a long distance, even though she had only been standing and talking. Pakura's face flushed, and a small smile emerged from her usually flat lips.
"Souta... You're really foolish," Pakura murmured softly. "Why did you have to say something so embarrassing..."
Pakura's head bowed, her cheeks burning. Yet her eyes shone softly, as if warming the entire room.
It was unclear when it started, but every time Pakura saw Souta, her heart felt strange. It was as if something was slowly growing, gentle yet strong, breaking through Pakura's usually calm defenses.
Pakura didn't yet know the name of this feeling. She was still too young to understand that this was her first love. But Pakura knew—she wanted to be closer to Souta. She wanted to keep walking alongside him. She wanted to hear that voice every night.
But Pakura was too shy. Too afraid. She knew how this world worked. The shinobi world didn't always allow space for gentle feelings.
From the outside, Pakura appeared to be a cold and quiet girl—a steadfast Kuudere. But inside... Pakura was a little girl whose heart was slowly blooming, unsure of what to do with it.
If Souta knew what Pakura was really thinking, he would surely say that she was a little girl with both Kuudere and Tsundere traits. On the outside, Pakura seemed cold, calm, and quiet—a Kuudere figure that was hard to read.
But behind it all, there was a shy side hidden away, causing Pakura to sometimes act Tsundere, where she was confused about the feelings that were beginning to grow in her heart. The shy yet wanting nature, completely unexpected by Souta, made Pakura's character much more complicated and intriguing.
Pakura didn't know yet. But one day, when she finally realized her feelings...
Maybe it would be too late.
...
...
...
That morning, sunlight gently filtered through the thin gap in the curtains of Souta's apartment room, spreading warm light that began to chase away the darkness of the night.
The cold air still lingered, piercing to the bone, making each breath feel both refreshing and biting.
Souta slowly woke up, his eyes still heavy with remnants of a fading dream. His body felt somewhat stiff, but the burning spirit in his chest overcame the laziness that wanted to hold him back.
With unsteady steps, Souta made his way to the bathroom, which smelled of soap and a hint of spices typical of the simple apartment. The sound of rushing water accompanied him as he cleaned his body.
The warm water seemed to wash away not just physical dirt, but also the burdens of thoughts that had accumulated over the past few days. Gradually, the fatigue faded, replaced by a refreshing strength.
After showering, Souta put on simple clothes—a dark long-sleeved shirt that was starting to fade and slightly worn but comfortable pants. A small bag containing a few important items hung from Souta's shoulder.
As Souta stepped out of his room, he accidentally ran into Pakura, his neighbor who also lived in the apartment. Pakura emerged from her room with a bright expression, her green hair slightly tousled by the morning breeze.
"Are you going to the Ninja Academy?" Souta asked with a smile.
Pakura nodded, returning a small smile that was hidden behind the remnants of sleepiness. They walked side by side, then descended the stairs toward the street.
________________________
[Note: Over 50 new chapters have just been added! For only $3, you can gain early access to chapters released far ahead of schedule.
Get access to the latest chapters before they appear on Webnovel and Scribblehub—
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Patreon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]