Chapter 258 Children Holding Hands
Jiraiya's gaze inadvertently fell upon a framed photo of them as children, neatly arranged on a shelf, and he touched his chin with a curious expression.
"I didn't expect you to value this group photo so much. I was definitely the most handsome kid, hahaha!"
Hiruko rolled his eyes speechlessly, took the photo frame back from his hand, and carefully placed it back in its original position before he was satisfied.
What brings you here?
"I'm going on a trip with my third apprentice!"
Jiraiya proudly raised his chin, ignoring the way he looked at him like he was an idiot, and put his arm around the man's shoulder.
"You too, you're such a grown man, and you're still all alone. Even Orochimaru, that vampire, has a disciple, but you haven't found one yet."
Hiruko gave a perfunctory smirk, "I just like one person."
"Hmph, you're just being stubborn!"
Jiraiya leaned a little closer. "I've noticed you've changed a lot. You're not even clapping my hands anymore. You've changed just like Orochimaru."
Upon hearing this, Beiliuhu immediately slapped the hand that was on his shoulder down and moved further away from him.
What it means to show disdain is something you put into practice.
Hiruko asked, "Orochimaru? What happened to him?"
Not annoyed by his reaction, Jiraiya whispered to him as if gossiping, "Although he still speaks in a sarcastic tone, he's become much more docile."
"Meek? That word really doesn't suit him."
"Right? Right? This is absolutely amazing!"
When he noticed that the man was deliberately glancing at him while sighing, Hiruko felt extremely uncomfortable and, unable to bear it any longer, shooed him towards the window.
"Stay away from me."
"Okay, I just came to say goodbye, so I'll be going now."
As Jiraiya spoke, he stepped onto the window.
Seeing that he was about to leave through the window again, Hiruko's lips twitched, he sighed, and called out to him.
Under Jiraiya's strange expression, Hiruko took the things the robot handed him. His hand was outstretched in front of Jiraiya's eyes; there were several tiny bullet-shaped objects.
"This is a miniature bomb I recently developed, just in case, so we don't die out there."
Amused by his unabashed concern, Jiraiya grabbed the gift and put it in his pocket with a rough and unrefined manner.
"I am Jiraiya-sama, one of the legendary Sannin, who knows no east, west, south, north, or north, and is invincible throughout the land. How could I possibly be injured? Don't worry about me!"
He jumped out of the window and ran away behind him, his voice filled with shame and anger as he cried out, "I wasn't worried about you!"
Jiraiya always carried the vigor of a youth, and no matter how time flowed by, his enthusiasm for his friends seemed to never change.
Even towards Hiruko, whom he considered to have only a casual relationship with.
Sometimes Hiruko felt that Jiraiya was the person most like Haruko—sunny, radiant, and sincere. Whether it was towards him or Orochimaru, Jiraiya was able to understand their personalities and cherish them.
So from childhood to adulthood, Hiruko envied him the most, envying his brilliance, just like Haruko's.
When Haruko came to see him again, Hiruko directed the intelligent machinery to thoroughly clean the room and add some decorations that she would like.
Then, suppressing her excitement, she sat upright and waited for the door to open for her.
Upon entering and seeing two completely different styles, Haruko's face showed surprise.
Curious, I asked him if he had renovated the place.
Hiruko got up to greet her and walked to the table a few steps away, explaining shyly that she felt she looked more cheerful.
The robot that drove over to pour them tea heard its owner's words, and its gray-black screen on the front flashed blue light, emitting a cold, mechanical voice.
"The owner hoped that Ms. Haruko would like it, so the decorating style was inspired by keywords such as sunshine, warmth, and liveliness."
Hiruko's pupils dilated, and he slapped its smooth, round head. Unfortunately, this not only failed to stop its chatter but also left his own hand red.
Why did my master hit me?
The round-headed robot makes a cute pixelated expression of confusion.
Hiruko's blood pressure soared at the sight of the innocent yet foolish robot, while Haruko across from her laughed with interest, praising the robot as truly amusing.
After dismissing the annoying robot that was flashing a shy heart emoji, Hiruko felt a sudden flush rise in her face when she met her smiling eyes.
Seeing that he lowered his head and dared not look at her, Haruko gently comforted him.
"Just be yourself, Hiruko. That way you'll feel at ease, and I'll feel at ease too."
His gentle words relaxed Hiruko, and he looked much better now than before when he was sensitive and tense.
Haruko doesn't feel anxious or fearful when she senses that Haruko is unhappy or displeased. Although she still pays close attention to Haruko's emotional changes, it makes Haruko feel very gratified.
"I'm going to carry out a special mission in place of Huan Chen. Because it's classified, I can't let you watch over me."
When Huan Chen came into contact with Qing Zi, Hiruko had thoroughly investigated her background. Hiruko was also aware that the two of them had met under Qing Zi's permission and were using the ANBU's identity.
Therefore, when he learned that he would not be able to see her on screen for a period of time, Hiruko was only slightly disappointed.
While mentally calculating when she would finish her mission, Hiruko kept his eyes downcast, unaware of the complicated look in Haruko's eyes.
"Hiruko, I don't know when I'll be back."
Before he could ask in surprise, Haruko continued, "So I hope you're not lonely."
"I don't……"
Seeing her obvious disbelief, Hiruko lowered her voice.
"Go out more, make more friends, and you might meet people who share your values and interests, other than us."
Although he didn't share the same views as the other three, to be fair, Hiruko preferred to stay in their circle of five.
This is something he's used to and comfortable with.
However, he never refuses Haruko's wishes.
"I understand, I will...try not to be lonely."
For some reason, after he said that, Haruko's smile seemed to carry a faint sadness. She looked at him quietly, as if she was worried about him before their permanent separation.
Before Beiliu could investigate further, she withdrew her gaze, stood up, and said it was almost time to leave.
Reluctantly following her to the door, Hiruko unconsciously clasped her hands together and cautiously asked, "Are you leaving so soon?"
His tall figure paired with his pitiful expression was really funny, and Haruko nodded with a smile.
Have you ever considered finding Haruko a friend?
"What?" Hiruko was a little confused.
"How about your system assistant creates a little bastard? That way, the two of them can become best friends."
"How did you know...?"
Hiruko stood there, stunned. He probably had never mentioned the system assistant, which was still under research, to anyone else, let alone Haruko herself.
But Haruko just smiled mysteriously, revealing a rare slyness.
Her thought struck Hiruko instantly; it was a more subtle idea he hadn't considered, especially coming from Haruko's mouth.
Hiruko felt as if he were soaking in a honey pot, intoxicated and dizzy, with a sense of unreality.
He had previously felt that the existence of the system assistant was disrespectful to Haruko, so he quietly buried it.
But now, everything has a different meaning.
Haruko and Kohime.
Haruko Hayama and Hiruko.
So he locked himself in his room day and night and worked hard.
Finally, Hiruko created a second intelligent agent, and with various improvements made to the first intelligent agent, it took him a lot of time.
When they opened their eyes on the luminous blue screen, the hidden void in Biruko's heart was completely filled at that moment.
He couldn't help but reach out and stroke the two children holding hands.
The silver-haired girl, and the black-haired... Haruko.
Hiruko paused, staring blankly at the little girl who was smiling at him.
The misty vapor instantly turned into two lines of clear tears that slid down her cheeks. Hiruko withdrew her hand to wipe the moisture off her face, staring blankly at the tears on her hand.
Haruko...who is she?
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