Time-Twisted Melody (Boruto - Twinkling Watermelon AU)

Chapter 26

Boruto POV

I woke up to a world that felt both familiar and foreign. The room I was in was nothing like a hospital, but it wasn't quite home either. The bed beneath me was soft, but the sterile smell in the air gave away the fact that this place was meant for recovery-- makeshift hospital, perhaps, but one that screamed wealth and power.

I tried to move, but pain shot through my entire body. My muscles were stiff, my limbs heavy, and for a moment, I was paralyzed by the sheer weight of it all. The last thing I remembered was talking to Sarada—Mr. Sasuke's daughter.

'That's right... I was talking with Sarada... But what happened after that?' My mind raced, trying to piece together what happened after that, but it was like grasping at smoke. There was something loud, a noise that sent a chill down my spine, but the memory slipped away before I could catch it.

Then, a voice cut through the fog in my head, calm yet commanding. "So, you're finally awake."

I forced my gaze to the side, and there he was—a young man sitting beside me with his arms crossed, exuding an aura of authority that made my skin crawl. His long brown hair framed his pale face, and those eyes—lavender eyes—pierced through me like they could see everything. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized them. They were so similar to my mother's.

'Who is this person?'

He watched me, his expression unreadable, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he held all the answers to the questions swirling in my head. His presence was intimidating, much like Mr. Sasuke's, but there was something else, something heavier about him.

"You were unconscious all night. But we took precautions to monitor you closely after the accident." He said.

'Accident...?' My eyes widened in shock.

"It looks like you've been very lucky. The injuries you've sustained are relatively minor, and there aren't any serious issues like broken bones or internal injuries. With some rest and proper care, you should recover well." He continued.

'That's right! I've been hit by a car! Wait-- did he say 'all night'? Then, Dad must be worried if I didn't return home, ya know!' Panic surged through me, and I tried to move, but the pain and the man's sharp gaze kept me in place.

"Don't move," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. "It's our fault you ended up in that accident. The young lady of the house was throwing a tantrum, and the driver lost focus, accidentally hitting you. The Hyuga family will compensate you until you recover, but you must not cause any trouble. Understand?"

'Hyuga?' The name didn't ring any bells, but from the way he said it, I could tell this was a prestigious family, the kind that didn't tolerate scandals.

'So that's it. I got into an accident because of their carelessness, and now they wanted to cover it up, keep their name spotless.' It made sense, but it also didn't.

'But why does this man look so much like mom?'

The man's gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes narrowing as if trying to decipher a puzzle.

"We did a background check on you," he said, his voice cold and measured, "but we found nothing. Not even an identity card. It's as if you don't exist."

His words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.

'Of course not, I'm from the future, ya know. But I can't tell him that!' I could feel the suspicion radiating off him, his stare so intense it felt like it was peeling away layers of my skin. My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to find my voice, but it came out as nothing more than a raspy whisper.