Chapter 25 Love is a strange thing

"Look at you, all abandoned and pathetic. I don't even need to ask to know that Zaoma-kun must be fed up with you!"

"Someone as popular as Zaozai would never play house with you. He's definitely just messing with you! He's just messing with you!"

"Exactly! How could anyone possibly want to be friends with you? Don't be ridiculous."

Haruko Hayama, who was used as a topic of provocation: ?

No, what does it have to do with me?

Barely convincing herself that this was one of the few things about the villain that could be satirized, Haruko suppressed her urge to punch, her brows furrowing.

Hearing their words, Naruto, who had been listless, suddenly retorted loudly, "No way! Haruko just went on a trip!"

"Really? It seems that saying was indeed true."

The boy in the lead grinned wickedly, and as the other two watched with amusement, he slowly uttered, "Only an annoying guy like you would go to such lengths to fawn over others!"

Amidst their grating laughter, Naruto Uzumaki's shoulders trembled with anger. He strode forward and grabbed the leader of the group by the collar.

"Take it back! Take back what you said!"

"ha?"

Meeting his eyes blazing with fury, the leader scoffed disdainfully, "You, a loser, dare to defy us?"

After saying that, the leading boy swept his leg and, before Naruto could react in time, grabbed his hand and shoved him away.

Naruto Uzumaki, pushed aside, skimmed low through the air before collapsing to the ground in a flurry of dust. He bit his lip, trying to suppress any cry of pain.

After curling up for a few seconds, he slowly got up from the ground.

Intertwined with the laughter were the rumors and gossip that had surrounded me in my memories, the inner torment, and the invisible pain that had been silently lurking, waiting for the opportunity to erupt.

The sharp, piercing sneer finally snapped the taut string at that moment. Instantly, a substantial pressure enveloped him, eroded him, and completely overwhelmed him.

Seeing him swaying as he was about to get up, the boy in the lead leisurely led the two behind him closer to him.

"Looks like I didn't hit him hard enough... Hayato-kun?!"

Recognizing the name he had longed for day and night in that unpleasant voice, Naruto struggled to break free from his dark and hopeless inner world. He raised his head, his vision blurred, and looked at the figure blocking his way.

"Haru...Haruko?"

Naruto stared blankly as she turned her head slightly, soothing him with her usual gentle gaze.

"Is Naruto injured?"

"N-no, but...but Haruko, aren't you only coming tomorrow..."

"We'll talk about that later."

She turned her head away, her voice soft, yet her words were unusually cold.

"I'll avenge you now."

Upon hearing the words "revenge," the three boys who had come to provoke him panicked and stammered in their defense.

"No, no! We just thought he was being too persistent in bothering you..."

"Enough!" Haruko interrupted him sharply. "I love having Naruto by my side!"

Naruto's clear eyes reflected her straight back, his gaze unwavering, as if he wanted to etch the scene before him deep into his heart.

Haruko shines like a hero...

All his repression and confusion vanished without a trace in that one sentence.

A single, glistening tear silently slid down his cheek. Realizing belatedly that he was crying, Naruto Uzumaki quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

He hadn't intended to cry, he could have held on, he could have...

But for some reason, the moment he saw Haruko Hayama appear, tears welled up uncontrollably.

Love is a strange thing. Before you get it, you crave it intensely, but after you get it, it makes you feel weak.

I used to be able to do many things on my own, and I could endure any hardship or loneliness. I wasn't afraid to wander the streets alone. But now, I want to curl up next to someone over the smallest things. I've become easily aggrieved and prone to tears. I can hardly bear being away from them even for a short time. I feel incredibly lonely.

Before Haruko could even make a move, the three of them were so frightened by her aura that they hurriedly ran away, leaving Haruko feeling both breathless and frustrated.

"Naruto."

Naruto sniffed, and only after confirming that he could control his emotions did he lower his hand, revealing his pitiful yet slightly comical face.

Haruko Hayama's anger vanished the moment she turned around and saw this scene. She had to suppress her laughter and wave at him, "Come here and let me see if you're really not hurt."

A light suddenly flashed in his shimmering eyes, and Naruto Uzumaki pouted before rushing towards her.

His running was somewhat clumsy and filled with urgency. He couldn't help but wipe away the tears that welled up again with the back of his hand. He had only one thought in his mind: to return to Haruko's side.

When Naruto rushed over and hugged her, Haruko was stunned for a moment. Feeling the trembling from his body, Haruko hugged him back with heartache and gently patted his back.

In the silent comfort, all his sadness and joy found refuge in this warm embrace.

"Oh, by the way, I brought you a souvenir."

Seeing that he had calmed down but was still reluctant to pull away from her embrace, Haruko patted his shoulder helplessly.

When he stood up straight, rubbed his red eyes and showed curiosity, Haruko Hayama took out a glass bottle about half the size of her hand from her ninja toolbox.

"Sand Village's specialty—sand!"

Taking the glass bottle from her, Naruto Uzumaki exclaimed in agreement, "Amazing!"

It was small in size, but had a considerable weight. Naruto Uzumaki examined the glass bottle with great affection, turning it over and over. Although there was nothing particularly special about it, he just liked it from every angle.

This was the first gift Haruko had ever given him, and it was a gift that only he could have...

These realizations made Naruto Uzumaki laugh even more heartily. He tightly wrapped his hands around the glass bottle, carefully feeling the cool exterior of the bottle gradually warming up in his palms.

"I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely love this gift!"

Looking into the golden retriever's bright eyes, Haruko gently stroked his soft hair with satisfaction. "I'm so glad you like it!"

So Naruto likes sand. I should have dug up a whole box for him, Haruko thought to herself.

In order to protect the gift that Haruko Hayama gave him in every way, Naruto Uzumaki couldn't wait to take her back to his house.

Standing at the narrow doorway, Haruko peeked inside. This was her first time visiting Naruto's house. From the outside, the building looked old and cramped, and once inside, it truly was.

Scanning the few pieces of furniture and various messy trash in the room, Haruko was momentarily at a loss as to whether to politely compliment him or subtly remind him to clean the room.

Clearly, Naruto had forgotten what his own home looked like and hurriedly turned around to block her view inside.

"Um, um! Let me tidy up first!"

Amused by his embarrassed expression, Haruko cupped his cheeks in her hands, making him look into her eyes, and said, "Let me help you put it away."

Naruto, who had been jumping around, suddenly stopped. Even though Haruko had already withdrawn her hand and walked past him, he stood frozen in place as if he had been immobilized.

The next second, his face flushed red, as if it were on fire, and this strange feeling left him somewhat at a loss.

After a moment of internal struggle, Naruto followed his heart and hesitantly raised his hand to the spot where Haruko had touched him earlier that morning, keeping his mouth shut to prevent his secret joy from leaking out.