**Paras City – Yuki's House, Soft Morning Light**
The first golden rays of dawn kissed the city like a gentle promise.
Paras City woke slowly — birds sang from rooftop gardens, distant trains hummed along elevated tracks, and the faint scent of fresh rain from last night lingered in the air. Sunlight streamed through the large windows of Yuki's house, painting the wooden floors in warm honey tones. Everything looked peaceful.
But inside the quiet bedroom, peace was the last thing Yuki felt.
She sat on the edge of her bed, shoulders heavy, dark circles under her eyes from the all-night concert. Her sparkling idol dress was still on, now wrinkled and slightly damp, clinging to her like a reminder of how long she had pushed herself. Her hair fell messily over one shoulder. She rubbed her temples slowly, exhaustion pressing down on every breath.
Honokage sat silently on the chair by the window, staring out at the waking city. His crimson-black eyes reflected the rising sun, but his face was distant — cold, almost empty. The morning light highlighted the sharp lines of his jaw and the faint scars on his arms from the previous night's fight.
Yuki lifted her head weakly, voice soft and tired.
"Hono-kun…"
He turned slowly, expression unreadable.
"Yes?"
Yuki sighed, the sound heavy with everything she had held back.
"I'm so tired… The whole night concert was very hard. My throat feels raw. My legs ache like they're on fire. I just… need you right now."
Honokage leaned back slightly in the chair, arms resting on the armrests.
"So what should I do?"
Yuki gave a small, hopeful smile and raised her left hand gently toward him.
"So… just message me. Please? I need your touch. I need to feel you care."
Honokage looked at her hand for a long moment.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"Nah, sorry… I'm not a private messenger."
Yuki's hand dropped like dead weight.
Her smile vanished completely.
"Why…?"
She tried again, voice cracking with exhaustion and hurt.
"Ahhh… please do it!! I'm starving for your attention right now! Just a little massage… that's all I'm asking."
Her expression shifted into deep sadness, eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"You are bad, Hono-kun… I hate your attitude sometimes. It feels like you don't even see me anymore."
Honokage folded his arms and turned his gaze back to the window, voice flat.
"No means no."
Yuki pushed her hand toward his again, voice pleading, almost desperate.
"Come on… do it already…"
She forced a weak giggle, trying to lighten the moment, to reach the old Honokage.
"I know you're shy… but it's just us."
Honokage didn't reply.
The silence stretched — heavy, suffocating.
Yuki's face fell completely. Tears welled up.
"Okay fine… don't do it."
She lay down on the bed and turned toward the wall, curling into herself like a wounded animal.
"I'm sleeping. Don't wake me up."
A few minutes passed in painful quiet.
Yuki peeked over her shoulder slightly, hoping — praying — for some reaction.
Honokage was still sitting there, staring out the window, completely unmoved.
She pouted harder and turned back to the wall, heart sinking deeper than ever.
Honokage yawned softly, as if nothing had happened.
An hour later…
Yuki woke up with a quiet yawn. She sat up slowly and looked at the chair.
Honokage had fallen asleep there, head tilted back, snoring lightly — peaceful, distant.
Yuki's expression turned heartbreakingly sad.
"You slept already… without me…"
She stood up from the bed, voice barely a whisper.
"Fine… then just sleep."
She walked into the kitchen alone.
The morning light streamed through the window as she chopped vegetables with slow, mechanical movements. She boiled some, fried others, added spices and flavors until the curry simmered with a rich, comforting aroma that filled the house. She plated the curry and rice carefully — two perfect plates, side by side.
She sat down for a moment, staring at the empty chair across from her.
Then she shouted, voice trying to sound normal but cracking at the edges.
"Hey!! Come here!! Food is ready!"
No answer.
Honokage didn't come.
Yuki pouted, then sighed deeply and stood up.
She picked up one plate and a spoon.
She giggled softly to herself — a fragile, forced sound — trying to stay positive.
"Let's see what he does when I feed him."
She entered the room quietly.
She picked up the spoon, voice gentle and hopeful.
"Yo? Hono-kun? Wake up… food is ready."
He kept snoring.
She tried again, softer, almost begging.
Honokage finally stirred, yawning loudly.
The small photo of Astra and young Yuki sitting on a bench shook slightly on the shelf.
Yuki raised the spoon toward his mouth, smiling hopefully through the pain.
"Hono-kun… eat up. You're hungry. I made it just for you."
Honokage opened his eyes.
He raised his hand and gently pushed the plate and spoon away.
"No… I'm not hungry."
Yuki's smile faltered completely.
"Why? You didn't eat anything yesterday… and not even for me either."
She tried again, voice softer, trembling.
"You don't have to eat by yourself. I'm feeding you… let me take care of you."
Honokage turned his face away.
"No thanks. I can eat by myself."
Yuki's voice trembled slightly, tears threatening.
"I made tasty curry… you must taste it. Please… just one bite."
She forced the spoon closer.
Honokage stood up suddenly.
"I don't need it."
He teleported away in a swirl of black lightning, leaving the room empty and cold.
Yuki froze, spoon still raised.
"Hono-kun! Don't do like that!! I hate it!! Come hereee!"
He didn't return.
Yuki placed the plate on the table with shaking hands.
She didn't touch her own food, even though her stomach growled painfully.
She stood there alone, staring at the two untouched plates, tears finally slipping down her cheeks.
---
Honokage appeared on the rooftop, arms folded, staring at the city below. The wind tugged at his hair, but he didn't move.
Yuki whispered to the empty room, voice breaking.
"He wasn't like that before… Why is he doing this to me? Does he not care about me now?"
---
Later that morning, Honokage returned to the room and sat back on the chair.
Yuki came in smiling — forced, fragile — hands clasped behind her back, trying one last time.
"Hono-kun? Can we go outside today? Just for a walk… the weather is nice."
Honokage didn't even look at her.
"Nah… I just want to sleep. You sleep as well."
Yuki's smile cracked.
"But I'm bored… and lonely."
Honokage closed his eyes.
"So watch TV?"
Yuki stepped closer, voice pleading.
"But… I want to go outside with you… like old times."
Honokage rolled his eyes.
"But I don't want to. You can go out by yourself. You don't need me for going."
Yuki pouted and sat down with arms folded tightly.
"Fine! I'm also sitting here then…"
She turned to him, trying to sound playful.
"So let's play video games then? Or Uno? Ludo? Chess? Anything…"
Honokage shook his head.
"I don't like games."
Yuki kept trying, voice growing desperate.
"Why?? At least play these… You aren't doing anything… then why not spend time with me?"
Honokage kept his eyes closed.
"I am not doing anything that doesn't mean I will always be free… Let me sleep in peace."
He started snoring almost immediately.
Yuki stared at him in disbelief, heart shattering quietly.
"How can someone fall asleep and snore this fast!?"
She stood up and observed him from both sides, tears welling up.
"Is he really acting? So he's trying to avoid me now?"
She didn't say anything more.
She walked to her room, picked up her mic, and started practicing singing softly — but her voice kept cracking with unshed tears.
---
**Paras City – Outside, Mid-Morning**
A single drop of water fell from a leaf onto the ground, creating a tiny puddle that sparkled in the sun.
Someone's foot smashed it.
Uraka stood with arms in her pockets, observing the city after the rain.
"After raining, the city looks really good… fresh and clean. Like it's breathing again."
Wano watched her from the side, eyebrow raised.
"Are you sure? There might be mud puddles—"
Her leg slipped.
She fell face-first into the mud with a loud splat.
Uraka's eyes widened in shock.
"How did you fall?"
Wano stood up slowly, wiping mud from her face, glaring playfully.
"I was warning you… This isn't a highway road, it's a muddy road."
Uraka burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"You look so cute in mud, I don't lie—"
She also slipped and fell hard right beside her.
Now Wano laughed louder.
"That's called karma."
They both sat in the mud for a moment, giggling like children, the tension of the city forgotten for a brief, beautiful second.
---
**Back at Yuki's House – Mid-Morning**
In her room, Yuki sat on the bed, head resting on her chin.
Memories flooded her like a tidal wave.
Funny zoo moments with Astra and Honokage — laughing until their stomachs hurt.
The painful moment Honokage left her alone in the Bermuda Triangle, the cold emptiness that followed.
The moment he caught her on Tokyo Tower and saved her — the warmth of his arms she had clung to so desperately.
Her voice broke into a whisper.
"Did he really come for me… right??"
**Flashback – Sai's Dojo, Years Ago**
Young Yuki and Sai sat face to face in the quiet dojo.
Sai's voice was serious, heavy with warning.
"I need to say something about Honokage."
Yuki nodded eagerly, eyes bright.
"Yes, Sensei. You can say anything."
Sai closed his eyes.
"Don't trust Honokage too much."
Yuki's eyes widened in shock.
"Sensei?? Why!!?"
Sai raised one finger.
"He might live inside you… but he is a curse monster after all. He can betray you any time. He is just a monster… He doesn't feel emotions like we do."
Yuki stood up angrily, fists clenched.
"No, Sensei… You are absolutely wrong. He isn't like that."
Sai sighed deeply.
"I am just saying… that's my opinion. So don't mind it much."
He added softly, almost sadly.
"Alright… just stay safe. Don't believe in him too much."
Yuki sweated slightly… but she still believed in him with all her heart.
**Flashback – Hospital Room, After Bermuda Triangle**
Yuki lay injured on the bed, bandages wrapped around her.
Kid Astra sat beside her, sad and angry, small hands clenched.
Astra's voice trembled with protectiveness.
"How could he leave you like that, sister!?…"
Blu stood nearby, arms folded, voice calm but firm.
"I think… to leave him. He left you, so you must leave him. He doesn't matter much. He is just a curse after all…"
Yuki sat up suddenly, voice shaking with anger and pain.
"Who? Who said that he doesn't matter for me? Please don't say something like that… It hurts! He isn't like that! He is good! He might be a curse for the world but not for me…"
Yuki breathed heavily, tears in her eyes.
Blu didn't push further, but his voice was firm.
"Remember my words… He isn't as lovable as you see him."
Astra rubbed her forehead gently, eyes worried.
"Sister… I don't know anything, but as I watch Honokage… he is good but not safe either…"
Yuki turned to him, voice angry for the first time.
"Astra… don't say something like that. You even know who he is? I know him better than any of you… So better is don't interfere…"
Astra backed off, hand shaking, scared for the first time by Yuki's anger.
Astra's voice was small and hurt.
"Why did you say it in this way…?"
Yuki closed her eyes, regret already creeping in.
"I just said the truth… It depends on the way you take it."
Blu sighed.
"You shouldn't be this rude for someone like Honokage… You even shouted at Astra…"
Yuki didn't reply.
**Flashback Ends**
All those memories hit Yuki's head deeply — years of pain compressed into one crushing moment.
She started sobbing, covering her mouth with both hands.
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
"I… I protected him for years… Never let anyone feel that he is cursed… Disagreed with Sai… Got angry and shouted at Astra — the one person who cared about me after all… How sad he was… I didn't even say sorry… Even I said the same thing to Blu… Even though Honokage quit me for a gunpowder joke in the Bermuda Triangle and hurt me too… but still I chose to protect him."
Her voice broke completely into quiet, heartbroken sobs.
"And now today… Astra isn't here, he's gone for training with Blu… Sensei Sai quit the city many days ago. Now there is no one who can understand me… I… I really pushed them too far… It's all my fault… And now, even Honokage doesn't care about me."
She stood up, wiping tears roughly from her eyes.
"I hate you, Hono-kun… You are something worst… I don't deserve Astra or anyone… I really pushed them far from me."
She rushed down the stairs, opened the main door, and ran out into the city.
Rain started falling heavily — cold, relentless drops.
She ran through the rainy streets — empty, cold, and silent.
Her dress soaked through instantly, clinging to her skin like regret.
But she kept running.
Yuki whispered through sobs, voice lost in the rain.
"I don't need you… Honokage. I can survive without you… You are just a curse. Everyone was right. I pushed them all for you… only for you. And you betrayed me."
She kept running, tears mixing with rain, heart shattering with every step.
**At the Bus Stop**
Uraka and Wano sat under the shelter, watching the rain.
They saw Yuki running past, crying openly in the downpour.
Uraka stood up quickly, eyes wide with worry.
"Is that Yuki? Why is she running like that… in the rain?"
Wano watched with deep concern.
"Something feels wrong… We should tell Honokage."
Uraka stepped forward.
"We can stop her by ourselves."
Wano grabbed her arm gently but firmly.
"No… don't. It can get worse. Let her run… sometimes people need to feel the rain to cry."
Yuki finally slowed down and sat by the river side, kicking pebbles into the rushing water.
Rain poured down harder.
She sobbed under the heavy rain, whispering brokenly to the empty night.
She turned around… there was no one.
Yuki's voice cracked, full of pain and finality.
"You didn't come, Hono-kun… You really didn't come… I will remember this day…"
The rain kept falling.
And Yuki's heart broke a little more with every drop.
(End of Chapter 6 – Volume 3)