kaoru sat at Kyusei's bedside, her small hands clenched tightly together.
She had never imagined things would turn out like this.
Never imagined that she would be the one to beat Kyusei into this state.
He was clearly so strong…
So why—why hadn't he fought back at all?
Kyusei looked at the girl sitting beside his bed.
She looked like a child who had done something terribly wrong—head lowered, eyes full of unease. Even her beautiful golden hair seemed to have lost its shine.
This was all his fault.
kaoru shouldn't have to bear such a burden.
"kaoru…"
Enduring the pain coursing through his body, Kyusei slowly reached out and placed his hand over hers, which was clenched so tightly.
Earlier, he hadn't felt much.
But now that he was awake, it felt like every inch of his body hurt.
…Still, he deserved it.
"I'm sorry."
The moment the words left his mouth, kaoru's entire body stiffened. She trembled slightly, gripping his hand even tighter.
She didn't know what she was supposed to say.
All she knew was that the person she loved most had nearly—nearly—been beaten to death by her own hands.
"J-Kyusei…"
"I… I didn't mean to…"
Tears welled up again in kaoru's clear blue eyes.
She didn't even know how she'd survived the past few days. Every moment, she'd watched him carefully, terrified that he might disappear at any second.
And every time she remembered that this was all her doing—
Her heart ached unbearably.
"I… I didn't think…"
"I never thought… that Kyusei would…"
Her tears fell like broken pearls, one drop after another, landing on the hand she was gripping so tightly.
"Don't… don't cry."
"When kaoru cries… you're not pretty anymore."
Kyusei's words didn't stop her tears—in fact, they only made them fall faster.
"I really… really like you…"
"I like you so much, Kyusei…"
Watching her cry until she could barely breathe, Kyusei felt his chest tighten in pain.
He wanted to say something.
But at this moment, he couldn't say a single word.
Anything he said now would be unfair—deeply unfair—to kaoru.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry…"
kaoru continued crying, her eyes—once as bright as gemstones—now red like a rabbit's.
She sobbed, her chest rising and falling violently.
She was terrified.
Terrified of losing Kyusei like this.
All Kyusei could do was keep wiping away her tears, again and again.
"Kyusei…"
She pressed his hand against her cheek, looking at him with red, pleading eyes.
"Don't leave me…"
"Please… don't leave me…"
Kyusei felt his own eyes grow damp.
An indescribable emotion surged in his chest. He didn't even know how to put it into words.
He only knew one thing—
He really was a bastard.
"That line… should be mine."
"kaoru, please don't leave me either."
His words finally broke her.
kaoru burst into loud, uncontrollable sobs.
If Tsunade hadn't walked in and stopped her, no one knew how long she would have cried.
"Kyusei just woke up," Tsunade said firmly.
"He needs rest more than anything right now."
She gently but firmly pulled the still-sobbing girl out of the room.
Kyusei's gaze never left kaoru—not until the door closed completely.
Staring at the ceiling, he let out a long sigh.
He really had messed up.
—
"Isn't this a good outcome?"
Hashirama's voice sounded from Kyusei's chest.
"kaoru has forgiven you—and she even seems willing to accept Nao."
"What more could you possibly want?"
"Uncle Hashirama," Kyusei replied softly, "you don't understand."
Hashirama paused, then scratched his head awkwardly.
"I'm not very smart, but I do know this—if the girls are willing to go this far for you, then continuing to sigh and mope will only make things worse."
"Remember what I told you?"
"A real man takes responsibility."
"Don't let the people who love you feel sad."
Kyusei chuckled quietly.
"Uncle Hashirama… you really live up to being the First Hokage."
"You're actually very wise."
"Hahaha! If that's a compliment, then I'll happily accept it."
—
Outside the ward, kaoru walked slowly down the hospital corridor after being ushered out by Tsunade.
She looked lost.
Then, a figure stepped in front of her.
"I'm sorry, kaoru."
Nao looked at the girl, her tear-streaked face filled with pity.
But a choice was a choice.
Nao had never regretted the paths she chose. If things went wrong, she blamed herself—never others.
"Na-Nao… big sister…"
Seeing her, kaoru sniffled softly.
"If you're going to blame someone… blame me."
Nao gently pulled the girl into her arms.
She felt deeply sorry toward kaoru—but this was her decision.
She didn't regret it.
Feeling the warmth of Nao's embrace, kaoru fell silent for a moment. Slowly, she raised her arms and wrapped them around Nao's waist.
To Nao, kaoru was like a little sister.
Well-behaved. Gentle. Cute.
And yet, because of her own choice, she had hurt her.
Even without regret, guilt still remained.
kaoru buried her face into Nao's neck, her eyes lowered so her expression couldn't be seen. After a long moment, she spoke quietly:
"Nao… when did you start liking Kyusei?"
Nao gently patted her back, then answered softly:
"Probably from the moment Kyusei asked me to stay by his side."
"At first, it was just curiosity."
"Then curiosity turned into fondness."
She didn't say the rest.
She didn't say that it was when Kyusei had gone alone to face the Mist Ninja and reclaim her Byakugan that she truly understood her own heart.
"That's how it was…"
kaoru didn't know what to say.
She hadn't realized their feelings had begun so early.
"I'm sorry, kaoru."
Nao stroked the girl's golden hair and apologized again, sincerely.
kaoru didn't reply.
She only tightened her embrace slightly.
—
Not far away, Sarutobi and Tsunade stood together, watching the two girls holding each other.
Sarutobi felt a headache coming on.
So… was that it?
Did this whole mess just resolve itself?
Then what about kaoru becoming the next Hokage?
If word got out that the Fourth Hokage and the future Hyuga clan head shared the same man…
That didn't sound very good at all.
Tsunade, on the other hand, crossed her arms and watched with satisfaction.
As expected of her little brother.
Even a deadlock like this—and he still managed to break through it, getting both girls to accept it.
Worthy of being my brother.
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