I taught them a technique, a way to feel chakra through their fingertips, and how to concentrate chakra into one point. Their eyes sparkled as they successfully ignited a bit of chakra in their palms.
Days passed, the sun rose and set relentlessly, and time seemed to flow out of control.
...
...
...
Ten days had passed since I met Aoki.
In that time, everything changed.
My relationship with Aoki... slowly grew. But with every glance from Aoki, every silence between us that was no longer awkward, felt like unspoken words.
Sometimes Aoki would sit near me, quietly offering warm tea, and we would just sit side by side, listening to the sound of the leaves. There was nothing to say, because the companionship itself was enough.
The wound on my shoulder was now almost fully healed. The skin that was once torn like a ripped piece of cloth was now covered with a new layer—still pink, but strong.
The scar might always be there, but the pain was slowly fading. I could move my left arm more freely, and when I raised my hand to the sky, I no longer felt as if I were pulling a weight from hell.
Aoki remained persistent in training the children. Sometimes Aoki seemed a bit strict, their voice rising, but I knew it was because Aoki cared. Aoki wanted Tetsu and Ajisai to be able to survive in a cruel world.
But Aoki also knew when to smile, when to gently pat their heads, or to soothe them with a short sentence, "…it's okay, you've tried."
I occasionally stepped in, especially when Aoki ran out of words to explain overly technical concepts.
I explained how chakra could be used to enhance physical attacks, how to combine movements with the flow of energy for greater efficiency.
Tetsu listened with sparkling eyes, and Ajisai nodded occasionally—even though I knew they didn't fully understand yet. But they were trying, and that was more than enough.
But behind all of that...
There was one thing that kept my chest rumbling.
I... I think I'm starting to like Aoki.
It felt silly, like a teenager falling in love for the first time. But I couldn't lie to myself.
Every time Aoki looked at me—even just a glance from afar—my heart raced, as if trying to explode from my chest. And every time Aoki smiled, my eyes were glued, my chest warmed, and the world felt like it stopped for a moment.
I kept thinking about Aoki. Even when night fell and the world sank into silence, I was still awake, staring at the ceiling, remembering the time Aoki carried me.
I could feel Aoki's strong arms again, my body leaning against Aoki, and the warmth that made me feel... safe. Safer than I had ever felt before.
My cheeks often flushed, and my breath became erratic just from remembering simple things. Aoki's voice. The way Aoki said my name. The way Aoki watched me when I pretended not to see.
But we had only known each other for ten days...
Could it be that I was really falling in love?
I bit my lip, feeling foolish. "Mei Terumi, you're an adult! What are you doing?! Don't think too deeply!" But no matter how many times I reminded myself, that feeling couldn't be silenced.
And another thought began to emerge...
What if Aoki already had someone? What if there was another woman in Aoki's life that Aoki had been thinking about all along? Imagining Aoki holding another woman's hand—smiling at her the way Aoki smiled at me—made my chest feel tight. Even bitter.
Jealous?
Yes... it seemed so.
I pulled the blanket over my face, curling up like a child. "What's wrong with you, Mei..." I whispered to myself. But there was no answer. Just the sound of my heart beating, loud, full of doubt.
Did Aoki feel the same way? Or was this all just a trick of my mind?
I didn't know.
What I did know was that I had changed.
And Aoki... was the reason for all of this.
------------------------------
[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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