Red String of Fate

Chapter 28 - A New Friend

"Welcome, Mister." The store owner greeted Tadashi with a friendly smile, bowing as she walked over to him. "What would you like to eat?"

"I'll just have a plate of Dango please." Tadashi answered as he walked over to the bench in front of the store, taking a seat under the red umbrella and letting out a slow and steady sigh.

Then he placed a weary hand over his face, massaging his forehead and closing his eyes.

Neither Madara-sama or Hashirama-sama has woken up yet... If I don't return soon, the paperwork might not be able to fit on my desk anymore, Tadashi removed his hand as he silently snorted in tire.

"Let's rest here, Nagimi-san." A soft voice startled Tadashi to open his eyes, he turned his head over and spotted the two new guests.

"May I sit here?" She asked, a polite smile on her face.

Wow... she's...

"Y-Yeah, sure." Tadashi answered, shifting aside to give room to the two extra people, sparing a glance at the brilliant red hair before looking away.

She's pretty.

"What would you like to eat?" The black haired woman asked politely, seemingly the red hair's attendant.

"I'll have a plate of Dango." She answered, her voice refined yet gentle as she spoke.

"Welcome! Welcome!" The store owner seemed to be very happy with the sudden customers, bowing to the two new guests as she handed Tadashi his plate of Dango.

"Thank you." Tadashi thanked, picking up a stick and consuming one as he stared at the ground.

I'm so worried about Madara-sama that I can't even focus on having a pretty lady sitting next to me, Tadashi thought with spite. How I've changed.

"You seem quite troubled, and stressed." The pretty lady next to him suddenly spoke up, giving him a smile as he showed her a surprised expression.

"Ah..." Tadashi stuttered, expression soothing out as he forced a presentable smile. "Was it that obvious?"

The lady stared at him, causing Tadashi to feel vulnerable under the gaze of those piercing black eyes.

The pretty lady suddenly smiled, this time, more sincerely.

"It is quite obvious." She replied. "But I can sense emotions, and your ones were very strong."

It seems she's not just a normal person.

"It seems impolite to continue this conversation without introducing ourselves." Tadashi spoke up, his expression becoming a lot more serious as he put up his guard slightly. "My name is Tadashi, nice to meet you."

"Interesting..." The lady commented before continuing. "My name is Mito, nice to meet you too, Tadashi-san."

Mito? That name seemed familiar... Tadashi couldn't quite pin why that name seemed to ring a bell, but he ignored the itching feeling and continued to eat his Dango in awkward silence.

I wonder if Madara-sama had ever regretted taking me in as his disciple, I haven't been able to do anything for him.

Tadashi looked up at the clear blue sky and sighed.

It was on a day like this when he...

"Would you like to talk about it?" Mito asked abruptly, showing more of a sincere smile as Tadashi broke out of his daze for the second time this moment.

"What?" Tadashi asked in confusion, watching as Mito covered her mouth politely with a hand, chuckling.

"It's not very polite to be so troubled next to another's presence." Mito stated, before continuing. "Perhaps, if you tell me about your problems it'll make you feel better?"