The Tale Of An Utterly Old Lady. [Jiraiya x OC]

Chapter 2 | Not According To Plan

Chapter 2 | Not According To Plan

I became busy after my short meeting Jiraiya.

Well, I technically didn't do much except sit around while Umika-san and the other medics worked in the clinic, but what else could I do? Umika-san had me under her watch, still not letting my earlier delay with the grocery-shopping go although clearly it wasn't my fault for feeling shocked at Jiraiya's sudden appearance. Unfortunately, Umika-san didn't know who Jiraiya was. She also didn't want me fooling around during working hours—which I thought was dumb considering I wasn't even needed there. Still, I begrudgingly complied, knowing defying her would only spell trouble for me.

Sometimes, watching and listening to her nag reminded me of my own mother. My mother was someone very hard-hearted—if that was the right term to describe her as—but she was rightfully so. My father passed away in an accident shortly after I was born, and so she had to take on the burden of raising my older brother and I alone. There were a lot of times that I disliked her for being so strict that it was almost suffocating, but there were also times that my dislike would dissipate during the better days in our household.

My brother was the opposite of her. He was a soft-hearted guy who always somehow got himself caught up in the drama and troubles of other people. It was frustrating seeing him let others trample all over him. Both Mom and I always yelled at him to learn how to defend himself and set some boundaries, but he was always too soft to do it. Now I missed his empathy, and the way he always knew what to say whenever I went to him for advice.

I missed the both of them. I missed our rented home. I missed our living room's 55-inch TV that I watched shows on. I missed the old, kind of broken couch. I missed my room, the small bed, the rainbow flag, and the hand-made decorations I'd put up on the walls and felt proud of. I missed dreading to wake up not because I could never see any of the things I missed, but because I had school to attend and assignments to do.

I missed it all so badly...but missing something won't bring it back, and I was painfully aware of that.

As I was fiddling with my thumbs thinking of my past life, someone sat next to me, and I looked over to see Umika-san giving me a smile.

"What's up with you? You look serious," she questioned light-heartedly, and I smiled back at her.

"Nah...it's nothing, really," I answered, moving my gaze from her face to my own hands. "I was just thinking about a guy I met today."

"Oh?" Now, she looked very interested.

"He's a shinobi from Konohagakure no Sato," I informed. "Jiraiya was his name."

"Konohagakure, huh..." When I looked over at her, Umika-san had a faraway look on her face. I wondered what she was thinking, until she lowered her head with a smile and said, "They're allies to my home village."

"Uzushiogakure?"

"Oh, so you did know which clan I was from!" Umika-san exclaimed in a cheerful tone.

"Of course I knew," I chuckled. "Anyone could tell through your hair color."

Though I thought it was already destroyed before I caught sight of Jiraiya.

Which makes me wonder why Umika-san and Usumi-jiisan aren't living in the village...

"Yes, but when we first saw you, you didn't seem to know anything," Umika-san pointed out. "You didn't even know we were in Hi no Kuni until I told you about it."