The setting sun dyed the courtyard of the Hokage Residence a warm orange red.
Uchiha Hikari walked alone along the corridor, her steps no longer as heavy as they had been before, but instead carrying a faint hint of lightness that was difficult to notice.
The day's experience had been both novel and exhausting for her.
She had followed Uchiha Izumi to the clan training grounds and faced those chattering Uchiha children with their pure and curious eyes, leaving her at a loss at first.
She was used to killing and following orders, so how could she possibly know how to interact with children?
It was Izumi, the girl as enthusiastic as a little sun, who patiently guided her.
She had encouraged Hikari to try correcting the children's clumsy shuriken movements and even encouraged her to demonstrate the most basic chakra control.
At first, the children were somewhat afraid of this quiet and cold older sister.
But after seeing her astonishingly precise control during the demonstration and hearing Sister Izumi say, "Sister Hikari is really amazing," they gradually gathered around her and began asking questions one after another.
Such innocent admiration and closeness were things Uchiha Hikari had never experienced before.
She responded awkwardly. Although she did not say much, the frost in her eyes gradually melted beneath the children's innocent smiles.
When she returned to the residence, only Mikoto was busy in the living room.
As soon as she saw Hikari return, Mikoto immediately put down what she was doing and walked over with a gentle smile.
"Hikari, you're back? Are you tired?"
Hikari shook her head and looked at the several delicate dishes already prepared on the dining table.
She noticed that two sets of tableware had been placed as usual, but Mikoto did not seem to have any intention of sitting down and eating with her immediately.
A strange emotion welled up in her heart.
In the past, she had either eaten alone or swallowed food under cold supervision as though she were completing a mission.
Being prepared a meal and having someone wait for her to return felt as distant as something from a previous life.
She looked at Mikoto's gentle and busy back, moved her lips, and finally could not help saying in a slightly stiff and quiet voice, "You... eat too."
Mikoto stopped as she was about to go to the kitchen to bring the soup and turned back in surprise.
She met Hikari's dark eyes, which still avoided her gaze somewhat but were no longer cold.
There was little expression on the girl's face, but her eyes clearly held a faint and almost awkward concern.
Mikoto's smile became even gentler, and she readily nodded.
"All right, we'll eat together."
The atmosphere during dinner was no longer as silent and awkward as before.
Hikari still ate quietly, and her movements were somewhat unfamiliar, but she was already much more natural than before.
Mikoto sat gently opposite Hikari and did not immediately pick up her chopsticks, instead placing a piece of tender, richly flavored braised pork into Hikari's bowl.
"Hikari, try this. I stewed it for a long time, so it should suit your taste."
Hikari looked at the appetizing meat in her bowl and quietly said, "...Thank you."
The two ate silently for a few bites.
Seeing that Hikari's movements were still somewhat unfamiliar but had improved considerably, Mikoto felt relieved and seemed to remember something as she naturally began a conversation in a gentle voice.
"This afternoon, I went to the market on South Street and found that the dango shop had a new item. It's flavored with cherry blossom honey, and it's pink and pretty, so I thought it looked lovely. I bought some and put them in a food container in the kitchen. If you're hungry later, Hikari, you can have them as a snack."
Hikari raised her head, a faint trace of curiosity flashing through her eyes.
Cherry blossom honey?
Dango?
These words were unfamiliar to her.
"What... is dango?"
Mikoto was slightly surprised, then smiled more warmly and patiently explained.
"It's a snack made from glutinous rice. It's soft and chewy, with a sweet taste. Izumi especially likes it. I'll make some for you tomorrow. How about that?"
Hikari did not answer immediately. She simply nodded silently and continued eating, but her ears seemed to twitch slightly.
Mikoto continued chatting naturally.
"On the way back, I ran into Granny Matsumoto from next door. Her cat went missing a few days ago, but she finally found it today. She was so happy that she insisted on giving me some of the vegetables she grew herself as thanks for helping her keep an eye out for it a few days ago. Sigh, when people get old, they become especially afraid of loneliness, so having a little animal around for company is nice."
As Hikari listened, an indistinct image of a kind old woman and a lazy cat unconsciously appeared in her mind.
Such warmth between neighbors was something difficult to imagine in the era filled with killing that she had come from.
"Oh, right. That girl Izumi hurried over this afternoon and said that the clan is holding a small prayer ceremony near Nankashinsha tomorrow, mainly to pray for the children who will officially become ninja this year. It's nothing major, but it is quite meaningful. Izumi also said she hopes you can go and take a look, Hikari. She said you were very impressive when you guided the children today."
At the mention of what happened during the day, Hikari's hand holding her chopsticks paused.
"I... didn't do anything."
"How could you say that? Izumi really admires you. She said that although you don't talk much, your movements during the demonstration were especially precise, and the children all listened to you. Being able to calm down and spend time with children is not easy."
Mikoto's words were filled with sincere praise, without the slightest trace of deliberate flattery.
Hikari fell silent again, but this time, there was less wariness in her silence and more of the subtle emotion that came from being acknowledged.
She hesitated, seeming to want to say something but not knowing how to begin.
Mikoto understood without needing to be told and did not urge her, simply serving her another bowl of soup.
"Take your time. There's no rush. Speaking of which, the late blooming cherry trees in the backyard seem to bloom later than the ones in the front yard. They have only just started showing flower buds, so I estimate that in another seven or eight days, we'll be able to see a beautiful view. We can drink tea and admire the flowers together under the corridor then. If Chiya-nii isn't too busy, perhaps he can join us too."
The scene Mikoto described was simple and beautiful, filled with the peaceful atmosphere of everyday life.
As Hikari listened and imagined the cherry blossoms in full bloom while sitting beneath the corridor and drinking tea, she thought that it must be...
A very comfortable feeling.
Hikari finally spoke again, her voice still very soft but slightly more fluent than before.
"Today... at the training ground, there was a child. His name was... Shota. His hands were always shaking. He couldn't hold the shuriken properly."
Mikoto became interested and listened carefully.
"Really? I think I remember that child. He's a little introverted and shy."
"Mm. I... watched him for a long time. I found that it wasn't a problem with his hands. His... stance was wrong. His center of gravity... wasn't stable."
Mikoto looked at Hikari encouragingly and nodded with a smile.
"I see. You observed him very carefully, Hikari."
Hikari's gaze became somewhat evasive.
"I... helped him adjust it a little. I told him to spread his feet apart a little. Keep his waist straight."
She described it in broken, concise words, but Mikoto could sense how focused she had been while recounting it.
"After that... he tried once. He still didn't hit the center of the target, but the shuriken didn't fall. He... smiled."
When she said the words "He smiled," Hikari's voice carried a faint warmth and... sense of accomplishment that even she herself had not noticed.
Mikoto caught the subtle change, and her smile became even gentler.
"That's wonderful! Being able to help someone, especially when you see them become happy because of your help, is a very happy thing, isn't it?"
Hikari did not answer directly, but her slightly lowered head and shoulders, which seemed more relaxed than before, already said enough.
Seeing that Hikari had almost finished the rice in her bowl, Mikoto asked gently, "Would you like some more rice? Or would you like to try these lightly stir fried vegetables? They're very fresh."
Hikari shook her head.
"...That's enough."
She paused, looked at Mikoto, and added in a very soft voice, "...You should eat more too."
Mikoto was slightly startled, then immense relief filled her heart.
She smiled and nodded.
"All right, I'll eat too. Thank you for caring about me, Hikari."
"This afternoon on South Street..."
Mikoto began chatting again.
The words were trivial and ordinary, and at times even a little long winded, but they were filled with the lively atmosphere of everyday life.
Hikari listened silently without interrupting or showing any sign of impatience.
Instead, she listened very carefully.
The trivial things she had once looked down upon now seemed like warm pictures slowly unfolding before her, depicting a stable, peaceful world filled with the atmosphere of ordinary life.
Being naturally included in someone's everyday trivial matters gave her heart, which had wandered for far too long, a long forgotten sense of security and the feeling of being valued.
After chatting for a while, Mikoto seemed to realize that she had talked too much and smiled somewhat awkwardly.
"Look at me, I just kept talking. Hikari, am I bothering you?"
Hikari raised her head and looked at Mikoto's gentle face filled with apology before lightly shaking her head.
She remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly organizing her words, before finally explaining in her still somewhat dry voice, "It's not annoying. ...It's nice to listen to."
Although her words were brief and her tone still carried some distance, this was already a rare moment of initiative and acknowledgment from her.
Mikoto was delighted, knowing that the girl's defenses were gradually opening.
Perhaps she had been influenced by Mikoto's natural attitude, or perhaps today's experience with the children had given her a desire to share something.
There was now a faint warmth in Hikari's voice that even she herself had not noticed.
Although she had only said a few words, Mikoto could already imagine the scene, and her sympathy for Hikari deepened.
This child was so innocent at heart. She had simply been twisted by the darkness of her past for far too long.
Just as the atmosphere of their rare and almost warm conversation settled in, footsteps and voices came from the entrance.
It was Chiya returning.
Tsunade and Terumi Mei had come back with him.
Mikoto immediately stood up with a bright smile and went to greet them.
"Chiya-nii, Lady Tsunade, you're back."
She naturally took the haori Chiya had removed, her movements practiced and familiar.
As soon as Tsunade entered, her eyes immediately fell on Uchiha Hikari in the living room.
Seeing the girl sitting quietly beside the dining table, her expression still calm but the hostility that had once made people reluctant to approach her completely gone, and her eyes much more peaceful, Tsunade secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Chiya's recent methods had indeed been effective. The girl's condition had stabilized much faster than expected.
She had originally only planned to stop by and check on her, but after seeing Mikoto's enthusiastic smile and the dishes on the table that had clearly only recently been touched, she changed her mind.
She walked in without hesitation.
"Perfect timing. I'm hungry. Mikoto, is there anything left to eat?"
"Of course, Lady Tsunade. Have a seat, I'll stir fry a couple more dishes."
Mikoto smiled in response and turned toward the kitchen.
"I'll help."
Seeing this, Terumi Mei immediately spoke up.
She had now consciously placed herself in the position of secretary and assistant.
She considered these household chores part of her responsibilities.
"All right, then I'll leave it to you, Terumi Mei."
Mikoto did not refuse, and the two women entered the kitchen together.
Soon, the crisp sounds of spatulas striking against pans and their quiet laughter could be heard from inside.
Chiya walked to the main seat at the dining table and sat down, his calm gaze sweeping over Hikari.
Seeing that half the food remained in the bowl before her and that although she was still quiet, her posture was clearly much more relaxed than before, he understood what had happened.
He did not ask any questions and simply picked up his chopsticks and began eating.
Tsunade sat opposite Hikari and looked at her curiously.
"I heard you went to the training ground with that girl Izumi today. How was it? Those little brats didn't bother you, did they?"
Hikari raised her head and looked at Tsunade.
Her initial hostility toward this woman, who carried the aura of the Senju Clan and had a straightforward, even somewhat fiery personality, had already faded considerably.
Especially after remembering that Terumi Mei had told her Tsunade was Konoha's top medical ninja and had saved many people, she pursed her lips and quietly answered, "It was fine."
Her tone was still calm, but at least she had responded.
Soon, Mikoto and Terumi Mei came out carrying the freshly stir fried dishes and hot soup.
The dining table immediately became lively.
Tsunade discussed the effects of a new batch of medicinal materials recently introduced to the hospital with Chiya while eating, Terumi Mei occasionally interrupted to report a summary of the documents she had handled that afternoon, and Mikoto gently served food to everyone while occasionally reminding Tsunade to eat more slowly and not focus only on talking.
Hikari quietly sat among them, listening to discussions she had no way of participating in and watching the noisy yet unusually harmonious scene before her.
Chiya was calm, Tsunade was straightforward, Mikoto was gentle, and Terumi Mei was capable and efficient.
People with completely different personalities sat around the same table, discussing both the affairs of the village and an ordinary meal.
Such an atmosphere had never existed in Hikari's memories.
There were no schemes or tension, only a simple and genuine warmth.
She unconsciously tightened her grip on her chopsticks and lowered her head to look at the beautiful dish Mikoto had just placed in her bowl, something she had never tasted before.
A strange feeling spread through her heart.
She did not dislike it. In fact... she somewhat liked it.
She slightly turned her head, her gaze passing over Chiya, who was animatedly arguing with Tsunade about something, then over Mikoto, who listened to their argument with a gentle smile, and finally over Terumi Mei, who remained respectful but had lively eyes.
Before she realized it, the corners of Hikari's lips lifted ever so slightly into a faint, genuine smile.
The smile was very subtle, but it was like the first spring breeze breaking through the ice, carrying the coolness of melting snow while also containing endless vitality.
She lowered her head and silently put the food in her bowl into her mouth.
Somehow, it seemed to taste even better than before.
Outside the window, night gradually deepened, but the residence remained brightly lit and filled with warmth.
For Uchiha Hikari, this night might have been the first time since she had become a weapon that she truly experienced life rather than merely survival.
And change was quietly taking place through these seemingly ordinary little moments.
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