Chapter 183 The Sacred Bird
Spending his days listlessly in his cramped room, Hiruko stared blankly at the screen in the center of the room, which emitted a cold blue light.
Seemingly sensing the creator's gaze, countless particles rose and tangled on the screen, but only a blurry human figure appeared, without a face or specific outline.
Its body sometimes stretches out, sometimes shrinks into a child, sometimes has neat short hair, sometimes has long hair spreading out... just like the vague memories he cherishes.
This is a collection of his... incomprehensible thoughts.
Until Jiraiya pulled him out the door, until he was exposed to the blinding sunlight again, until he saw that radiant soul as if from another world.
The memories veiled behind her mask all came flooding back when she removed the veil.
He recognized her, of course; he recognized her even before she removed her veil.
He had spent countless days and nights recalling her existence; how could he not recognize her...?
But the moment his eyes met her clear, innocent gaze, Hiruko flinched.
He had always been a coward. It was Haruko Hayama who pulled him out of his self-enclosed world, and it was Haruko Hayama's departure that brought him back to that impenetrable world with its iron walls.
So how should he face her?
He forgot his meeting with her, forgot her rescue under the moonlight, forgot everything about her...
Forget Jiraiya found a replacement; he's the one who's really looking for a replacement...
He had always been a coward, lacking even the courage to accept the fact that she was still alive.
He slumped down again in a cold corner of the room, his suppressed sobs echoing intermittently.
Haruko...
I miss you so much……
＊
Haruko arrived at the meeting point exhausted and yawning. She almost tripped over a stone, but luckily Rin Nohara noticed in time and helped her up.
"Haruko, did you stay up all night?" Nohara Rin freed one of her hands to support Haruko and cupped her head as she nodded.
Nuzzling against her warm hands, Haruko completely relaxed with the help of Nohara Rin's hand, looking like she was about to fall asleep standing up. Nohara Rin quickly hugged her even tighter.
Kakashi Hatake approached with dead fish eyes, "Did this guy go out stealing chickens and dogs last night?"
Nohara Rin shook her head with a wry smile, indicating that she didn't know either.
But as she held Haruko's soft body in her arms, Nohara Rin counted her long eyelashes and couldn't help but sigh at how adorable Haruko really was.
"Sorry, sorry! I was delayed on the way!"
Obito Uchiha, who had also arrived late, stopped in front of them, panting as he looked at Haruko, whose eyes were closed. "What happened to her?"
"Obito didn't know either?" Nohara Rin was slightly surprised.
If even Obito Uchiha doesn't know, then what exactly did Haruko do last night?
She wasn't the only one with the same doubts. Feeling resentful that he hadn't been kept in sight for a while and had run off, Uchiha Obito poked Haruko's delicate cheek in a fit of pique.
"Tell me, what did you do last night?"
Annoyed by his interruptions, Haruko barely opened one eye and glared at him. "It wasn't me... it was a bug!"
"Insects?" Kakashi Hatake crossed his arms. They all knew Haruko was afraid of insects. Could it be that she went to kill insects last night?
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Minato Namikaze clapped his hands to attract their attention, "Alright, now that everyone's here, let's begin training."
Haruko's drowsiness was finally eased by Minato Namikaze's gentle yet firm training arrangements.
"I'm telling the truth! Last night there was a huge, silver bug peeking at me through the window!"
Haruko angrily accused the culprit who had kept her awake at night.
"Impossible, right?" Nohara Rin pondered for a moment. "What kind of insect is that silver bug?"
Obito stared at Haruko for a few seconds and said with certainty, "You definitely had a nightmare but were too afraid to say it!"
"That's clearly Obito, not me!" Haruko pointed at him angrily.
Seeing that the other two were looking at him, Obito Uchiha frantically waved his hands, "I...I...I didn't!"
"It's confirmed, it's Obito having the nightmare." Rin Nohara and Kakashi Hatake thought simultaneously.
Seeing that none of them believed her, Haruko spent the day sulking, even when Jiraiya came to find her, she claimed she was too busy and ran home.
Late at night, Haruko lay face down on the bed, completely covered by the blanket, staring intently at the closed window.
Just as Haruko was about to be pulled away from her sleepiness, she suddenly heard the sound of flapping wings outside the window. Haruko immediately looked up and saw a small silver bird reflecting the moonlight.
Huh? The insects have evolved?
Or did the little bird eat the worm and thus turn into a silver bird?
Before Haruko's imagination could run wild, the silver bird turned its head strangely, as if it had seen a clump on the bed. It actually opened the window with its beak and gently jumped in.
What an amazing little bird!
Haruko's eyes lit up. She suddenly sat up and used the white thread to catch the bird as it was startled and flew away.
Even after Haruko caught it in her hand, it seemed unable to understand how Haruko had suddenly become so powerful.
"She didn't dare to move at all when we used the mechanical bug yesterday..."
Standing in front of the blue screen, watching the images transmitted through the mechanical bird's eyes, Hiruko's gloomy eyes revealed a look of fascination, and his hand couldn't help but want to stroke Haruko, who was curiously examining the little bird.
"Haruko..."
Hiruko felt he had upset Haruko and knew she wouldn't want to see him, but he couldn't bear not seeing her. So he devised a plan to send a small, lightweight mechanical insect to check on Haruko's situation.
Haruko was indeed afraid of insects when she was a child, but she didn't have this problem when she grew up. So much so that Hiruko forgot about it and quickly replaced it with a mechanical bird twice the size today.
But... even when Haruko is scared, she's still so cute...
"Are you an evolved version of that worm from yesterday? This is the first time I've ever seen a worm hatch into a bird."
Haruko poked the hard mechanical bird, but ended up hurting her own hand. She pouted and said, "You're really well-nourished."
Hiruko smiled, realizing it had been a long time since she had seen Haruko, who was full of childlike innocence.
Haruko thought for a moment and then happily announced, "It's so nutritious, it would be a shame not to cook it!"
"...?"
Hiruko was stunned, and then watched as the screen moved rapidly. Had Haruko gone to the kitchen?!
He hurriedly turned on the microphone, but his face was covered in cold sweat. He opened his mouth but found it difficult to speak and expose his voice to Haruko.
Seeing that a pot had actually appeared on the screen, Hiruko hurriedly added a voice changer to the input sound.
"Wait for Haruko!"
Haruko heard a clear, youthful voice coming from the bird tied to her hand, and her eyes widened in shock.
"The bird spoke! It even knows my name!" Haruko threw it away immediately, and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it couldn't break free of the white line.
The mechanical bird fluttered on the ground like a fish out of water. Perhaps it felt sorry for itself, so it simply stopped moving.
Haruko curiously observed it from a distance, "Are you perhaps the sacred bird that came to fetch the Flower Fairy?"
"...That's right, I am the Sacred Bird." A slightly embarrassed young voice came from behind.
Haruko suddenly realized, "You really are an even more naive liar than Obito."
The mechanical bird tilted its head and collapsed to the ground, utterly defeated.
He thought all children were like that!
******
The list of those who have received thanks as of March 25, 2024:
grateful--
K, the one who sent the update reminder charm
Soda isn't a soda cracker; it's a reminder to update!
Lanling Yue sent a knife blade
I didn't eat the mango; it was a love letter from Lin.
Fu Hua (ヾ), Four-leafclover, please give a like
Salt, a self-disciplined gift, sent 2 flowers.
Flowers sent by Lin Laoji
Dyed Summer Q, Green Mountains and Flowers About to Burn, Lu Lu Lu Lu Xiao Chen, Gulu Gulu Meow, Who Takes You Seriously, Ask Where the Land Shakes Down, Smoke and Mist of Ancient Brother, Red Robe Xiang Yi Sai Gao, Aigelita, The Scum Won't Change 2.5, Early Summer. Starry Sky, yyim, Li Luo Xin, Xuan Chun, Tang Xiao Yu of the North Country, Yun Che Yun of Ancient Desert Island, Fisherman's Song, Lin Chen Lin Who Likes Wild Geese, Why Did I Get Xiao with the Big Guarantee, Night Owl of the World Capital·Padita, Salt and Pepper's Gift of Love
Thank you for the gifts! The author is so touched! (Adult version of Hiruko's dark observation ●)o(●)
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