𝒦𝑜𝓃𝑜𝒽𝒶 𝐻𝒾𝑔𝒽

𝓐 𝓣𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓣𝓲𝓶𝓮

⸻⸻⋅☾  🍙☽⋅⸻⸻

After finishing dinner, a sudden knock on the front door broke the silence of the evening.

He was here.

My heart raced, pounding loudly in my chest as a strange, fluttering sensation twisted in my stomach. Every step toward the door felt heavier than the last, like the ground beneath me was shifting. When my trembling hand finally reached for the door handle, I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect.

Then, I saw them. My mum and dad were standing just outside, the dim light from the porch casting long shadows on the ground. Mum's face lit up with a wide, joyful smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth. But it was Dad who caught my attention more than anything. His gaze was fixed on me, a mixture of surprise and something I couldn't quite place flickering in his eyes. For a brief moment, he seemed almost lost in the moment, as though he hadn't quite processed what he was seeing. Then, just as quickly, his expression shifted back to normal.

"Sarada..." His voice was unexpectedly gentle, laced with a trace of awe. "You've grown." A small, sincere smile tugged at the corners of his lips, as if, in that moment, all the years and distance between us had vanished

Damn it. After all these years, all the effort I put into convincing myself that it didn't matter, that I didn't care... it hurt more than I could have ever imagined.

"You saw me just a few weeks ago during summer break," I said, a hint of sarcasm creeping into my voice. "Didn't you notice I've grown?"

Mum immediately frowned, her eyes narrowing as she shot me a look that clearly said she was about to speak up. But before she could, Dad spoke first.

"Of course I did..." He shifted uncomfortably, his words stumbling as if unsure how to continue.

"It's just been a while since then, and... you've changed a bit," he added, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

I almost shot back with something witty, but then, for a brief moment, our eyes met—Mum's gaze pleading, silently asking me to let it go.

I sighed

"Come in," I muttered.

Mum smiled awkwardly, quickly turning to face Dad as she reached for one of his suitcases.

"Sarada made dinner tonight—tomato soup, your favorite," she said with a forced smile.

"Did she?" Dad glanced at me, his eyes meeting mine. "Thank you."

I nodded quietly, then walked away without another word.

When I reached the staircase, I paused for a moment, just enough to glance over my shoulder. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mum and Dad staring at each other. I caught the soft sound of Mum's voice, barely a whisper, as she said, "Give her some time. She still loves you."

...

As awkward as it was, dinner was somehow even worse.

Dad kept trying to make small talk, but I barely responded.

"So, how was school? Sakura said it was your first day back."

"It was alright," I mumbled.

"Did anything happen?"

"Nothing really."

He dropped his gaze, a hint of disappointment flickering across his face.

Mum noticed the shift and quickly jumped in. "Sarada joined the student council this year. She's hoping to run for school president next year."

"That's a wonderful opportunity," Dad said, managing a smile. "Did you know I ran for school president when I was your age?"

I hadn't.

"No," I replied flatly, sarcasm lacing my tone.

Dad hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should continue. His eyes flickered to Mum, who sighed in response.

"He lost, though," Mum said, laughing softly. "I remember—Naruto and I practically went to every class to get votes for him. But Shikamaru and Hinata ended up winning."

Dad chuckled quietly along with her.

"I'm actually glad Shikamaru and Hinata won," he admitted, his voice softer now. "Back then, I only signed up out of competitiveness. I guess I needed that reality check."

"You'll make a great school president. Don't give up." Determination filled his voice, and for a brief moment, it gave me a sense of courage.

"You haven't touched the onigiri I made. It's one of your favorites."

I added natto to it.

"Why don't you give it a try?" I asked, a smirk tugging at my lips.

He hesitated for a second before slowly reaching over and taking a bite.

He looked like he wanted to spit it out.

"How is it?" I asked, feigning curiosity.

"It tastes good." He smiled, immediately reaching for a glass of water.

I smiled to myself, glancing at Mum. She was giving me that look—telling me to stop torturing Dad—but I could see the faintest smile on her face too.

"I'm done eating. I'm heading to bed now."

Dad nodded, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, while Mum looked like she wanted me to stay but smiled anyway. "Goodnight, honey."

...