“This is where Tori Kage died protecting her family, her only daughter.”
“...”
Everyone held their breath as they stood in silence.
They all recognized the dark wide tunnel. It had been closed off for years now, ever since the incident with Kerberos. It was being closely investigated for any potential paths that may lead into the Shadow Valley, rather than the surface outside.
On top of that, the simple reminder of Tori Kage’s sacrifice on that day was enough to make everyone hesitant about reopening the path at all.
It was unfortunate that crossing in front of it was basically a must when traveling within the Kage Village itself.
And now, in this very place…
Jun had her back to them, looking up at the wide dark cave.
“...” Lawkey watched her from behind with narrow eyes.
“Junjun, are you okay?” Emi broke the tension, “Let’s go somewhere else! We still need to celebrate your birthday!”
“Read the room, Emi. No one is in the mood for that anymore.” Mai cut in.
“But we have to!”
“It’s okay everyone.” Jun turned back suddenly, a wide and genuine smile on her teary face, “I’m fine, we can keep going.”
“?!”
Everyone was taken aback, some opened their eyes wide seeing her heartwarming reaction while some felt their hearts beat faster inside their chests.
“Junjun!! You’re so precious!”
“Back off, she’s mine.”
Emi and Mai fought over who to hug her first.
“Jun, are you sure?” Yasuto stepped forward, “We don’t have to do this today if you don’t want to.”
“The Mochi… Heavenly Mochi is already ruined…” Zenga mumbled.
“...”
The last two boys didn’t make any remarks.
“It’s okay, I just need a minute.” Jun added.
“All right, everyone! Let’s give her some space!”
Yasuto declared, quickly making eye contact with Mai.
“Nooo! Let me go, Meimei!”
She understood the assignment and quickly began to drag Emi away from Jun.
“Let’s go, boys.” Although much less forceful, Yasuto pushed Zenga and Kojiro forward.
He took a peek behind him, seeing Lawkey crouching on the ground with his Bokken resting on his shoulder.
He didn’t bother to call for him, realizing the situation for what it was.
On the other hand, one of the boys he was pushing forward took a glance of his own, but unlike Yasuto’s understanding of the situation, he felt a sudden heat rise through his body.
“...”
“...”
As everyone stepped away from them, the two left behind stood silently for a moment.
Stolen novel; please report.
Too many things were running through their minds.
Their pasts, their first meeting, the last month, the recent event and conversation…
Their current location…
Where would they even begin?
“...” Lawkey decided to take the leap, “Do you remember her?”
“... A little.” Jun looked down to the side, “For me to lose the memory of her face… I must be a bad daughter…”
“Is that what she would think?”
“...”
“If she were here now, would she be mad at you?”
“I… I don’t know…”
“I think you do.”
Lawkey got up and walked forward, only stopping next to Jun.
He kept his eyes on the wide cave in front of them, then continued.
“We might not be able to remember exact faces after a while, but our feelings towards them will never change.”
Jun tightened her grip on the hem of her outfit.
“I think you don’t realize how important you are.”
Jun’s eyes widened slightly as she felt him turn to look at her.
“The old man does everything he can because he still has you.” Lawkey asserted, “Seeing you happy is all he would need to keep on living.”
Lawkey paused for a second, then added.
“Everything you have done so far is the reason why he is where he is now.”
Tears welled up in Jun’s eyes as she turned her back to the boy next to her.
“So, don’t say you can’t do anything.”
“B-but…” She kept trying to wipe her tears away, “I…”
“Everyone is here to celebrate you, aren’t they?” Lawkey added, “this past month, you’ve helped me a lot too…”
As he paused, Jun turned to face him directly.
“Without you… I don’t think I would’ve stayed this long…” He scratched the back of his head, then adjusted his body and looked her in the eyes, “Thank you…”
Jun felt her heart beat faster as she reflexively held her breath.
“Why… Why are you saying that now?” She took a step forward, wiping the last of her tears away, “You can stay… right? You will stay… with us…”
“...”
Lawkey hadn’t been able to come to a decision after what she had told him.
Should he stay, knowing the trouble he would be causing the two who took him in and cared for him?
What about the curse, his nightmares? Wouldn’t he just be putting them in grave danger again?
Or should he leave? He hadn’t become stronger yet. Even if he hated to admit it, there was no way he could go up against the ones he was pursuing, not anytime soon.
That might result in him breaking all the promises he made.
He clenched the back of his teeth.
“P-please… Just stay until a decision is made!” Jun put her hand on her chest and stepped into the boy’s personal space, “I’m sure my dad will convince them, okay?”
“...” Lawkey looked into her blue eyes, still glistening from the recent tears, “All right… Just for a while longer.”
If it was for her, for his promises, he can push through all the hate and glares too.
Hearing that, Jun immediately hugged him, pushing her head against his chest.
“That’s good! That’s enough!” She muttered, “I’ll do my best to help…”
“You already are though…” Lawkey scratched his cheek, having barely caught himself from falling at the sudden action.
He looked down, then stretched his other hand to hug her back…
“Ahh!” Jun suddenly jumped back, her face red as a tomato, “Sorry! I-i just did that without thinking…”
“Haah…” Lawkey sighed, a smile forming on his face, “Then make it up to me with some pancakes already.”
“That again?!”
“Come on, let’s go.” Lawkey took a step forward, “They’re waiting.”
“Wait!” Jun stopped him, grabbing his arm, “When we’re done…”
“Yeah?”
“Would you come with me somewhere?”
Lawkey saw the determined look in her eyes, he guessed it must be important to her.
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Okay!”
With a smile on her face, Jun immediately jumped in front of him to lead the way.
“What are you waiting for? Come on.”
Lawkey simply sighed again as he followed her to the others.
As they saw them coming, the other students all reacted in their own way.
“Junjun!! I missed you!”
“Weren’t you complaining about the cold this entire time?”
“Hey! That’s not nice, Meimei!”
“I know! Let’s all head to the artificial hot springs together! It’s the best in the winter!”
“Zenga, that might not be a good choice to bring up now…”
“Yasuto, you should back me up here! They have mixed bathing too!”
“Not Happening!!” All the girls shouted in unison.
Watching Jun smiling with her friends, Lawkey didn’t notice the hidden animosity being carefully directed at him.
And so, they managed to spend the rest of the trip without issue, celebrating Jun as their most reliable and kind friend.
**👑**
“Come on! It’s this way!”
“What is this place?”
Lawkey looked around him in astonishment.
After they bid farewell to their friends, Jun had brought him somewhere he hadn’t been yet.
It looked like a tall and wide building from outside, but seeing the ceiling far away held by many long pillars, Lawkey felt a little nauseous due to the overwhelming presence.
He hadn’t even felt like this when he was faced with the dark ravine, so he couldn’t quite understand why that was.
Perhaps the sheer size of the hall inside, spanning as big as the entire building as if it was built with no other rooms in mind, were part of it. Or perhaps it was the big lanterns that were systematically positioned at just the right angle and height to make sure all the edges of the walls were lit up.
He could see why that was needed, for no one stood in the middle of the room. The people inside beside the two were all scattered across the opposite walls, not bothering to turn back.
“We’re almost there!”
Jun brought him out of his trance as they walked towards the middle of the hall.
That’s when he noticed that the walls were not actually walls, but small square glass compartments spanning the entire hallway from left to right, even as high up as the ceiling.
“Ah!”
Jun suddenly stopped as she got closer to her destination.
“Dad…?” She muttered with raised eyebrows.
Lawkey looked past her to see the old man sitting in front of some glass compartments himself.
Upon hearing them, Munisai looked back and wore a slight smile.
“I knew you would end your day by coming here, so I waited.” He said, standing up.
“...” Jun looked down, having briefly noticed his expression before it changed.
“Let’s show your mother how much you’ve grown already.”
----------------------------------------
image [https://i.imgur.com/KQmIY8F.png]