Chapter 26 The First Reaction to Happiness
"Naruto, this milk is expired, are you still drinking it?"
Haruko's voice pulled him back to reality. Naruto, hiding the sweetness in his heart, ran towards her with small steps and repeated her words without thinking, "Is it expired?"
"Take a look at the date on it." Haruko Hayama leaned closer and pointed to the date on the milk carton.
The fragrance emanating from her body wafted into his nose, and although Naruto was clearly distracted, he pretended to be seriously examining her.
But then he suddenly remembered something and exclaimed, "No wonder I had diarrhea this morning!"
"You should check the date before drinking it." Noticing the confusion in his clear eyes, Haruko hesitated for a moment. "Naruto, you don't... know how to check the date, do you?"
Caught off guard, Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "Well... it's just... how should I put it..."
Seeing his hesitation and inability to come up with a reason, Haruko suddenly realized that Naruto Uzumaki had always lived alone, and no one could teach him how to check the expiration date of milk, let alone take good care of himself.
Her mood grew heavy, and a bittersweet feeling gradually welled up inside her.
She doesn't remember much about her past life, but the fact that she was an orphan since she can remember is deeply rooted in her heart. This is why she cares so much about Naruto Uzumaki, who is also alone, and why she cherishes her second life with family.
Life is hard, extremely hard. The young body is relentlessly driven to change and grow by life, surrounded by countless strange and pitying gazes.
Growing up in such an environment, Naruto Uzumaki not only did not become pessimistic and lament, but instead remembered every bit of happiness and cherished it in his heart. He was born into a world that rejected him, but he never compromised.
"Hey! Haruko!" Naruto waved his hands to bring her back to her senses, a look of expectant yet nervous smile on his face. "Haruko's illness... is it all cured now?"
"Huh? Ah...yes, it's all healed now." Haruko Hayama almost forgot about it when he suddenly brought it up.
Naruto Uzumaki, despite receiving affirmation, didn't seem as happy as expected. He clenched his fists, stammering but unable to utter a word.
Haruko, noticing his inner turmoil, asked him, "Naruto, is there something you're trying to say?"
"It's...that..." Naruto closed his eyes, finally mustering the courage to ask, "After Haruko recovers, will she no longer need me like before?"
"Huh?"
"Actually... I'm very happy to be needed by Haruko. Although it sounds too much, I really enjoy being with Haruko!"
Every sentence he uttered seemed to imply that Haruko Hayama couldn't live without him, but he failed to realize that the underlying meaning of each sentence was that he didn't want to leave Haruko Hayama.
"Naruto...does he need me too?" Haruko asked again, unsure of his attitude.
"Of course!" Naruto Uzumaki spread his arms wide exaggeratedly. "There are so many needs!"
Haruko was speechless. She originally thought that she shouldn't stay by the protagonist's side, partly because it would bring her danger, and partly because the protagonist didn't need her.
Because the protagonists in manga are all like this, they make friends with all kinds of people who share joys and sorrows through their personal charm. How could such a protagonist lack her care? Haruko kept telling herself not to think too highly of herself.
However, reality did not meet her expectations. Even though she made friends and met kind adults, no one was able to protect Naruto when he was bullied, and he still lived a life without anyone to take care of him.
Perhaps this is simply the protagonist's life; these are things the protagonist is meant to experience...
but……
Naruto said he needed her.
"Let me teach you." As if she had made up her mind, Haruko Hayama took his hand.
Naruto took the initiative, cupping her hands in his own and exclaiming excitedly, "Haruko, are you going to teach me how to tell dates? Sure!"
“No.” Haruko Hayama shook her head, staring at him intently as she said, “I’ll teach you how to take care of yourself.”
Seeing his bewildered expression, Haruko smiled and said, "Naruto has always been alone; it must have been tough for him!"
His vision, which had just cleared, was blurred again by the mist. He had always gone to school alone, eaten alone, and chatted alone. Now, someone finally told him that he was having a hard time on his own and offered to teach him how to take care of himself.
Naruto Uzumaki took a step forward, sobbing, and reached out to hug her tightly.
When she gently stepped into the old, small room, and when I received the expectations and hopes she brought, my first reaction to happiness was one of grievance.
Knowing he might be being too greedy, Naruto couldn't help but think about the possibilities: what if he had met Haruko Hayama sooner? What if he had struck up a conversation with her the moment he saw her? What if... what if...
“Haruko…” Naruto buried his face in her neck, choking back sobs.
"What's wrong?"
"What you say always stands, right?"
"Are you saying I should teach you to take care of yourself?"
Naruto Uzumaki shook his head slightly, his soft hair tickling her neck.
"And... I like having me by your side."
Haruko was amused that he remembered those words so well. So what if it's dangerous? She could just work hard to become a great ninja to protect him. After all... they were friends, weren't they?
"Yes! I'll be there for you as long as Naruto needs me!"
"I will always need Haruko! Forever and ever!"
*
Seeing Naruto Uzumaki and Haruko Hayama enter the classroom hand in hand, Choji Akimichi sighed as if it were a lifetime ago, then silently looked at Shikamaru Nara beside him.
He sat casually, propping his chin on his hand, watching the two people below walk to their seats. If it weren't for Choji Akimichi's understanding of him, one would have thought he was truly indifferent.
However, having already angered him before, Choji Akimichi didn't dare mention anything this time and opened a bag of snacks to start eating.
As a result, the person being considered spoke up first. Nara Shikamaru stood up and said, "Choji, move aside."
"Huh? Oh, okay."
Choji Akimichi hurriedly got up to make way for him, watching him walk towards Haruko Hayama's spot, popping a snack into his mouth while shaking his head and clicking his tongue in admiration.
Naruto Uzumaki had barely sat down in his seat, and before he could even chat with Haruko about his training progress, he was interrupted by an uninvited guest.
"Haruko, can you come out for a moment?" Nara Shikamaru asked, his hands in his pockets, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and asked first, "What?"
Nara Shikamaru then looked away from Haruko Hayama, glanced at him, and said good-naturedly, "I have something to tell Haruko."
"What could possibly be wrong with you..." Naruto Uzumaki hadn't finished speaking when Haruko Hayama patted him on the shoulder, forcing him to swallow his words and glancing at Shikamaru Nara with some annoyance.
Nara Shikamaru: ...I haven't seen him for a day, and he's become even more like a watchdog.
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