Red String of Fate

Chapter 31 - Doubt

Madara secretly watches as Hashirama leads the group into the restaurant, feeling no particular emotion besides from helplessness and sadness.

"Damnit." Madara grits his teeth and curses at himself for being so selfish, but his heart wouldn't allow him to just turn the other way.

Just... just a glance, then I'll go home. He decided as he walked over to the doors, sliding them open as he walked in as casually as one could.

Hashirama who sat there in silence after urging Tadashi and Mito to converse with each other for the last minute immediately sensed Madara's presence, eyes widened as he stared at him with what seemed like...

Surprise? Exasperation? Madara couldn't interpret what thoughts he had going through their head as his black eyes glanced over at Hashirama, before he turned away to sit down at the table diagonal from them, huddled in the corner as he sat down by himself. Maybe Hashirama is finding it difficult to choose whether to entertain his future wife or to spend time with his friend...

"Maybe I should just disappear," Madara whispers as he clutches his cup tightly. Obviously I'll still be there though, I'll just protect him from the shadows if I have to.

"Isn't that right, Hokage-sama?" Mito was afraid that she was leaving Hashirama out too much and asked for his opinion, quickly noticing that he was too distracted to hear her voice.

He's looking at that man... Mito notices, giving Madara a curious glance before resuming her smile.

"Hokage-sama, if you are occupied with paper work, I can always have Tadashi-san show me to my room." Mito suggested, only now did Hashirama finally tear his eyes away, feeling dejected as he did so.

Maybe he hates me for this... Hashirama thought with glum. No, but perhaps I'm just overthinking about our relationship...

"No, no." Hashirama kindly rejects the suggestion with a kind smile, yet it lacked the usual bubbliness it would contain. "Our food hasn't even arrived yet! Don't tell me you've already gotten sick of me!"

Mito did not expect such a friendly reply from a man who looked as if drowning in despair and let out a polite laugh.

"Of course not, Hokage-sama." She replied with respect, as she elegantly lifted up her cup of tea to drink from it.

He's a good man, but it seems he may be mixing up his priorities a little. Mito observed, watching as Hashirama hastily picked up his own cup to drink from it.

A well-mannered, good woman like Mito-san should deserve someone who's willing to give her everything. Someone who'll love her with their whole heart... someone who's not me.

Hashirama couldn't stop the itching feeling to look for that man and spared a side glance at where he was sitting, but returned his attention to his table with an even heavier heart.

He already left.

————

"Can we have a rest here before I retire for the day?" Mito asks as she gestured to the side of the road, the sunlight illuminating how brilliantly red her hair was.

But Hashirama did not notice.

"Of course." He naturally agrees and they stand there in a minute of, perhaps peaceful, silence.

Then another minute passes.

Then another.

"I assume you won't say anything first?" Mito speaks aloud, smiling a more genuine smile as Hashirama shows surprise on his face, clearly caught off guard by her question. "I know you are troubled with something, if you wouldn't mind, can you tell me?"