After a day of training, Hyuga Hitomi stealthily followed behind Miki and Chiri on their way home.
She looked like she wanted to approach but was hesitant.
"Hitomi, she's really scared of you," Chiri said with a mischievous smile.
They had both noticed Hitomi following them a while ago.
Hitomi hadn't hidden herself, just maintained a certain distance.
"Few people aren't scared of me," Miki said softly, referring to children her age. "Only Tsunade is so open-minded. She was buried by insects, experienced that, and still dares to challenge me. Truly the Princess of Konoha, so magnanimous."
"Tsunade is very cute," Chiri said. "I also want to live as unrestrained and free as she does."
"Unrestrained, huh?" Miki murmured, "Tsunade is also in a cage. The only thing adults can give her is a happy childhood."
"A cage…?" Chiri asked, "Then what about you, Miki? Are you also in a cage?"
"Everyone is in a cage. As long as you have connections with people, you will be bound by your heart," Miki said. "Doing things you don't want to do, walking paths you don't want to walk. That's why I hate people."
"Then what should we do?" Chiri asked, "Miki, you're so smart, do you have a solution?"
"Unless you transcend humanity," Miki chuckled.
"???" Chiri looked at Miki, confused.
"It means to stop being human," Miki said.
"Ah?" Chiri was puzzled. What would she be then?
At this moment, Miki stopped, turning to look at Hyuga Hitomi.
Chiri also stopped, her question unasked, as she turned to look at Hitomi.
Seeing this, Hitomi was forced to stop, looking at them hesitantly, appearing as if she wanted to turn and run.
"Come here," Miki said indifferently.
Chiri's eyelids twitched, feeling like she had heard that phrase somewhere before.
Upon hearing this, Hitomi didn't hesitate for long, quickly trotting over.
Looking at Hitomi, Chiri had a sudden realization; she looked like a pitiful little puppy.
Quite adorable.
Hyuga Hitomi looked at Miki timidly, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"What is it?" Miki asked.
"Thank you for your…" Hitomi said, lowering her head shyly and struggling to say, "gift."
"Oh, you're welcome, you were just an afterthought," Miki said directly.
Hitomi, with her head down, felt a pang in her chest, her mind buzzing.
An afterthought…
An afterthought…
I knew this monster never truly saw me!
Hitomi swayed slightly, feeling an urge to turn and bolt, to rush home and bury herself in her warm bed, to cry her heart out in secret.
That was the only place she could cry.
Gritting her teeth, Hitomi whispered, "Well, thank you anyway, Mushi-Hime."
"You're welcome," Miki said. "Anything else?"
Miki had seen this situation quite often. When a child wanted to join a certain established group, she had seen even more desperate attempts.
To have friends, some children would put in an extraordinary amount of effort.
She remembered when she was in fifth grade, a boy, to become Miki's friend, secretly took five hundred yuan from home and treated Miki's little group of friends to food and entertainment. When it was discovered, he not only had to repay the money but also got a beating.
It was far beyond the adult calculation of benefits.
Friends, in a child's world, could be more important than parents.
Miki didn't think she could be that kind of friend.
Too beautiful and too heavy!
Heavy in every sense of the word.
With Chiri already clinging to her all day, Miki didn't really want another one.
It's heavy! Damn it!
She hadn't even studied to be a preschool teacher, who knew what kind of trouble these brats could cause.
Such a hassle!
But…
She hated crybabies the most.
"Um, no, that's all…" Hitomi whispered, taking half a step back, ready to leave.
"Wait," Miki said.
Hitomi looked at Miki, confused.
Her eyes were a little red.
Miki extended her hand, and insects crawled onto it. She said, "Want some?"
Upon hearing this, Hitomi stood rigidly.
If I run now, will she get angry?
She really won't get angry, right?
After a while, Hitomi sniffled, swallowed hard, and tremblingly extended her hand.
"Oligie," Miki said. The way to conquer fear is to face it, but Miki didn't say that part.
Chiri tilted her head in confusion, watching Hitomi tremblingly place her hand on Miki's outstretched hand.
Is this bullying Hitomi?
Should I stop it?
Hitomi looks so pitiful.
But I've never seen someone bully another by giving them candy.
Chiri took some from her pocket and put it in her mouth.
Licking it slowly made it more flavorful, with a lasting aftertaste.
As the insects crawled onto Hitomi's hand, visibly, all the hairs on her entire arm stood on end, and goosebumps covered her skin.
"Eat it," Miki commanded.
Hitomi watched a large clump of big-butt insects in her palm, dragging their milky-white bottoms, committing suicide on the spot. They dragged their separated front halves, stubbornly crawling away, falling from the edge of her palm to the ground.
At the sight before her, Hitomi felt a bit overwhelmed, sensing her rationality plummeting rapidly, just like these falling insects. The scream caught in her throat was almost impossible to suppress.
This is too terrifying!
This!
"Not eating?" Miki urged, as if calling for her death.
With trembling hands, Hitomi slowly stuffed these milky-white, black-patterned, rather pretty little balls into her mouth all at once.
"Chew! You're not trying to swallow them whole, are you?!" Miki continued.
Hitomi mechanically moved her cheeks.
Immediately after, a wonderful milky fragrance and sweetness gently exploded in her mouth.
So delicious…
Hitomi stared blankly at Miki, mechanically chewing. After a while, the delicious taste disappeared.
Her hand unconsciously reached out and placed itself in front of Miki's eyes.
When she came to her senses, Hitomi pulled her hand back as if shocked, her face flushed crimson.
"It's not scary," Miki said. "Right?"
Upon hearing this, Hitomi nodded.
"Is it delicious?"
Hitomi nodded.
"Want more?"
Hitomi nodded quickly.
No little girl doesn't love sweets.
Miki was not at all surprised by this situation.
"Take these and eat them," Miki said, putting a large handful of lively, wriggling insects into Hitomi's pocket.
"There's more if you run out, don't be shy."
With that, Miki turned and left.
Hitomi clutched her bulging pocket and stared blankly at Miki's retreating figure. The series of events had completely bewildered her.
What was happening now?
She had come to say thank you, and it was already impolite not to bring a return gift, but now she had received another gift.
"What are you standing around for? Let's go!"
Ahead, Hitomi watched Miki turn and impatiently tell her.
The next second after hearing this, her body reacted first, and she quickly trotted to Miki's side.
"If you want to walk together, then walk together," Miki said.
"Hitomi, we're teammates in the same class. We'll be together always from now on. Please take care of me in the future," Chiri said with a smile.
Gentle and generous.
Hitomi nodded heavily and hummed softly.
As she lowered her head, she secretly wiped her eyes.
The three walked together on the road.
A moment later, Hitomi softly called out.
"Chiri."
"Hmm?" Chiri responded.
"Miki."
"Something wrong?" Miki asked.
"Nothing, I just wanted to say your names," Hitomi said, covering her mouth and laughing.
The little bird in the cage met two other little birds, and they were flying freely outside the cage.
The little bird was so, so envious.
One day, the two little birds landed by the cage, accompanying the lonely little bird.
At that moment, the cage wasn't scary at all.
And she wanted even more to leave the cage and fly up to the sky with the little birds.
She was already so happy now.
That day would surely be even happier, right?
The little bird tightly clutched the insects in her pocket, and flowers smiled gently by her side.
She would never be afraid again.
She wouldn't be afraid of anything.
"Hitomi." Miki called Hitomi's name.
Hitomi looked at Miki.
"Here," Miki said, placing something in Hitomi's hand.
Looking closely, several white, fleshy worms wriggled in her palm.
Hitomi screamed!
"Awooo awooo awooo awooo!!!"
"Hahaha!" Miki laughed loudly.
She had wanted to do this for a long time.
Chiri held her stomach, bending over with laughter. Hitomi was too timid, but very cute.
"Secret Art: Medical Ninjutsu: Fear Elimination Targeted Therapy."
"Progress! She didn't faint this time."
Tears streamed down.
In Hitomi's heart, a mix of emotions swirled.
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