Ｈｉｇａｎｂａｎａ- 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 & 𝘓𝘰𝘸

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 4

Everyone instinctively moved aside and let Hyuga pass them as he approached the front of the queue. Makio, who was watching them approach, called Seira to come out. Seira heard her saying to come out and greet someone. Since she was still working with so much concentration and devotion on the portrait, Seira didn't respond to her. Murayama, Furuyu, and Seki were close behind Hyuga, Ukyo, and Sakyo somewhat hidden. " Hyuga-san! Glad to see you at our humble shop." Makio said smiling while humbly bowing to the Daruma Ikka's leader. Hyuga gave a small nod of acknowledgement. He moved closer to have a better look at the painting that caught his attention. It was a painting of a beach with a sunset over the ocean. It was as if the symphony of hues were painting the evening sky over the ocean saying their greetings for the day and promising to return tomorrow. His gaze was immediately drawn to a painting of the magnificent Northern Arura. The night sky in the canvas had swirling rivers of greenish-blue light. Some of the vibrant curtains of greenish-blue light were growing more vivid than others. The slightly shadowed mountains with snow in the landscape were making the whole painting breathtakingly magical. The colours and strokes were so precise that it appeared as if the paintings were live images.

Below the canvas, the place of the painting was mentioned as Ilulissat, Greenland. Seeing the painting Hyuga felt this was the closest he could be in front of a miracle or getting close to a mystery that appeared in Greenland. There were some more paintings on display on the other end which looked equally breathtaking. " How much are these for? I want them all." Hyuga finds himself saying as his gaze moves back and forth between the paintings on display with awe. Hyuga was about to touch the Norther Light painting when he stopped himself for fear of damaging it. Makio gazed at the painting, then at Hyuga. "Well, I'm extremely sorry to say this Hyuga-san but these paintings are not for sale." Makio said with a hesitant smile on her face. She was well aware that Seira would not, under any circumstances, sell any of the paintings that were on display as Seira had clearly told her beforehand. Hyuga looked at her with a deadpan look. " I said I wanted it. That means I want it." Hyuga said in a low tone, the threat hanging in the shadows, making Makio incredibly uneasy and scared. Hyuga's temperament and personality were well-known not only in the Daruma region but throughout SWORD. Even though her brother was a well-known officer of Daruma Ikka and she had met most of the Daruma Babies because of him and knew what kind of people they were, Hyuga, the leader of Daruma Ikka, had so many rumours that most of them were too scary to be true, but given his personality, it wouldn't be a surprise if they were. Saying no to him while knowing everything was immensely nerve-racking and imitating for her. "Cha-Cha! Hyuga-chan! You're making the young lady uneasy now. How about we ask the painter, hmm?" Murayama said smiling trying to break the tense atmosphere as he placed his hand on Hyuga's shoulder, which Hyuga rudely removed without breaking eye contact with her, while Makio glanced down anxiously fumbling with her hands avoiding looking at Hyuga.

Seira, wondering why Makio hadn't sent anyone in, moved closer to the curtain. The dull throbbing in her head was making her miserable, and listening to this unknown man speak to Makio in such a rude and forceful manner was making her crankier than ever. Seira squeezed the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes, trying not to show her annoyance because she knew that if she didn't, she would lose her cool and that was the last thing she wanted to happen today. She had been feeling her condition gradually starting to deteriorate and this situation was making things worse for her.

" Like Maiko-chan said these paintings are not for sale. Stop insisting so rudely on wanting it because I am not selling it." Seira's voice was bold, clear, and loud as she stepped out of the curtain, appearing slightly annoyed. She took a few steps forward and stood near Makio, who looked at her with wide eyes. "I think I made my point clear enough. So, if you don't want the portrait, please go on your way but if you want to, please return to the queue and wait your time, just like everyone else." Seira added looking dead straight in Hyuga's brown eyes trying her best not to snap and be as humble as possible while a sarcastic forced smile on her face made its way. As Hyuga's gaze settled upon Seira, it was as if the world around him had faded into a blur, leaving only her in sharp focus. His heart skipped a beat, an unfamiliar sensation that took him by surprise. She was standing in front of him, a soft glow from the setting sun casting a warm light upon her features, and at that moment, he found himself utterly captivated. Seira's pale green eyes held intensity, and as they met his, he felt a connection, a spark that ignited something within him. His ears seemed to have gone deaf to the sounds around him, and his heartbeat increased swiftly as he kept looking at Seira in front of him. Her eyes were narrowed at him with her arms on her hips in annoyance. Makio pulled her close saying something in a hushed voice that caused Seira to let out an annoyed yet cute tsk sound. "Wait, what? Cute? I find her cute?!" He was taken aback by his emotions for the girl in front of him, whom he had just encountered for the first time. As he stood there, lost in wonder, he knew that he was seeing her not just with his eyes, but with his heart. And as he felt the pull of attraction, stronger and more compelling than anything he had ever experienced, he understood that this was more than just a fleeting interest.