When she came out, Hitomi's mood was complex.
"Hitomi." The man, her elder brother, walked up to Hitomi, followed by a pair of twin brothers.
The two children were short, looking only two or three years old.
Hitomi glanced at the little brats, then looked at her elder brother, who had almost been lost.
This guy's eyes could make her Byakugan evolve.
But putting someone else's eyes into her own eye sockets was still too disgusting.
Hitomi didn't want to deal with him, even if this man was the Clan Head.
"Hitomi, Father is almost gone. Where else do you plan to go?" Hyuga Bunjin said, trying his best to maintain a serious face.
"Notify me when he's dead. I'll sit at the kids' table," Hitomi said coldly.
Bunjin couldn't hold back. His fair face turned red, veins pulsed on his forehead, and he struggled internally to convince himself that this was his biological younger sister, that she was just going through a rebellious phase, and that he needed to stay calm.
"No matter which table you sit at, you must be there!" Bunjin said, "Father doted on you the most. He would be disappointed if you weren't there when he passed."
Hitomi looked at her elder brother's smooth forehead, then at the two little brats behind Bunjin, and sneered, "Twins, huh? So, who's the Main Family, and who's the Branch Family?"
Hearing this, Bunjin truly couldn't hold back. One hand trembled under his sleeve, and the other lifted.
"If you dare to hit me, I dare to fight back," Hitomi said, "Do you believe I'll beat you up in front of the entire Clan?"
"Clan Head Gege, you wouldn't be thinking of activating the Cage Bird Curse, would you? Everyone in the Clan is watching."
The Clan members coming and going nearby were busy with their own affairs and did not notice the tension between the siblings.
Bunjin finally lowered his hand and said, "I am your brother."
"My brother dares to eat shit, do you?" Hitomi sneered, "If you don't dare to eat shit, are you even fit to be my brother?"
Today, Hitomi was more aggressive than usual. Had Father said something strange?
Bunjin remembered Hitomi's cute appearance as a child, clinging to his leg and begging for a piggyback ride, and couldn't help but sigh.
"These are Hiashi and Hizashi," Bunjin said, "Hiashi, Hizashi, say 'Little Auntie'."
"Little Auntie!" The two brothers obediently called out, even though this Little Auntie looked quite fierce.
But she was very beautiful.
Hitomi looked at her elder brother's two sons but didn't respond.
The two little ones nervously watched Hitomi.
But in the end, Hitomi still gave the two little brats her back and walked away directly.
Hitomi didn't want to take her anger out on the two innocent little brats, but she was simply feeling resentful.
Bunjin watched Hitomi's retreating figure, opened his mouth, but still said nothing.
He took the children to Father's room.
After kneeling down, there was silence.
Since childhood, he had been particularly afraid of this Father.
Yet he also admired him. He wanted to soar majestically in the sky like Father.
But Father had never looked at him, always engrossed in his own world, never noticing his efforts.
The occasional glances he did receive contained only indifference and disappointment.
Later, when Father spent his days sparring with Hitomi, even if Hitomi cried out for Mama from the beatings, he, watching from the side, felt not only envy but also jealousy.
An old eagle pushing its eaglet off a cliff to make the eaglet desperately flap its wings.
This was something he had never experienced.
Father's earnest expectations.
"Bunjin…"
"Yes."
"Don't hate me…"
"I won't. I've grown up, Father."
"Let Hiashi and Hizashi go out."
"Yes." Bunjin looked at the children.
The two little brats got up and ran out together.
"When Hitomi is here, the Hyuga Clan can speak."
"When Hitomi is gone, keep your mouths shut in the Village."
Hyuga Hayabusa only warned him thus.
"Don't let her fly too far. You need her protection."
"Yes, Father."
"Don't use the Cage Bird Curse on her. It will force her to fly away and never return."
"I only have this one younger sister, Father."
"Protect your younger sister at home. Don't let the other branches find any weaknesses."
"I will."
"Wait a while longer. When Hitomi grows a bit more, she will open the Cage Bird Curse. Your children won't have to be caged anymore."
"I understand, Father."
Father was leaving. Could he, this ground-dwelling chicken always sheltered under his wings, truly bear the pressure of the Clan?
Bunjin thought of this, and in addition to his sadness, there was fear of the unknown.
Hitomi walked down the street, feeling exhausted and lost.
The surrounding hustle and bustle seemed out of place with her, and she didn't know where to go for a while.
Suddenly, she stretched out her hands and slapped her face, sobering up a little.
Now she was no longer that little girl who only cried.
No matter what, flying into the sky was always her goal.
But…
What then, after truly flying into the sky?
What should she do next?
Never land?
Hitomi couldn't help but think of such things.
But…
"Ah!" Hitomi exclaimed in surprise.
She suddenly realized she had nowhere to go.
She had resigned from the Hospital, and her dorm had been returned.
The only place she could go was there.
But compared to Miki's house, Hitomi preferred to go to Chiri's house, because every time she saw Yumi, she would think of her mother.
And her mother's appearance was already fading from her memory.
She needed to rent a room, she wondered if Chiri would be willing.
Walking aimlessly on the street, she unknowingly looked up and saw Miki and Chiri walking towards her.
It seemed like a chance encounter.
But Hitomi knew that if Miki wanted to, she could find her anywhere.
Hitomi composed herself and went to meet them.
"Wow, you didn't even invite me to play! That's too much!" Hitomi took the initiative as soon as she approached.
Miki handed the dango in her hand to Hitomi and said, "Where do you want to go to play?"
Taking the dango and biting into it, Hitomi said, "There's nowhere really to play, is there?"
She didn't know where to go.
"I do know a place where we can have fun," Miki said, walking to a nearby shop and starting to buy things.
Some fruit.
Fruit was a versatile gift. When you didn't know what to buy, a few pieces could suffice.
Miki glanced at a flower shop.
This didn't fit the aesthetic, no need.
Buying some milk and other things would be enough.
Chiri and Hitomi followed behind Miki. As Miki bought each item, she naturally handed it to Chiri.
Chiri then handed it to Hitomi.
Hitomi rolled her eyes at Chiri and said, "Um, your house is quite big, isn't it?"
"Mm-hmm." Chiri nodded.
"Aren't you scared living alone?" Hitomi asked.
"Please speak in words I can understand," Chiri smiled at Hitomi.
"Um, I want to live with you," Hitomi said, struggling, "I'll pay."
"No, you can't," Chiri said, "There's only one bed."
"What do you mean? There are clearly several, and I'll buy a bed too," Hitomi argued.
"No, you can't," Chiri said, "At least, not recently. There's something going on at home."
"I see…" Hitomi was a little upset, stuffing the things in her hand back to Chiri.
"Scary." Chiri smiled as she took them, asking, "Are you angry?"
"No!" Hitomi snorted.
Miki turned and glanced at the two behind her.
Today, both of them were in low spirits.
Miki walked ahead, picking things, her mask looking 'pensive'.
These two…
"Let's go." Finished shopping, Miki said, "Let's go find some fun."
"Yay!" Hitomi cheered.
Looking at the large bags of items, Chiri keenly sensed the 'fun' Miki was referring to.
A corner of her mouth curved, and she said, "Isn't that a bit much?"
"Not going?" Miki asked.
"It's time to go," Chiri nodded.
"Let's go~" Miki led the way.
Hitomi quickly followed, and beside Miki, she asked inexplicably, "Oh right, Miki, I've never asked you, after flying into the sky, after standing shoulder to shoulder with the sun, what then?"
"Hmm…" Miki pondered for a moment, then said to Hitomi, "I haven't thought about it yet."
"Eh?" Hitomi exclaimed in surprise.
"Because there are too many things you can do," Miki said, "Just being able to do whatever you want is already incredibly amazing."
Do whatever you want?
Hitomi remained silent, then brightened with a smile.
"Thank you."
"Thank me for what?" Miki asked.
"Uh, nothing." Hitomi shook her head, smiling, "A mere Byakugan, I don't need it anyway!"
"???" Miki said, "So, you're finally going to become Zatoichi?"
"Who?" Hitomi questioned.
"A formidable blind man," Miki said.
"I won't become blind," Hitomi snorted.
These Byakugan are my precious treasure.
I will use these eyes to surpass him!
Fly higher and higher!
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