bubblegum princess

epilogue

⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒
welcome to the final show;
WAIT FOR ME !
⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒

𝞋𝞎

It didn't take long before the soft hues of dawn began to spill across the morning sky - warm gold and pale lavender washing over the rooftops of the village.

Boruto, still carrying the weight of everything that happened, had spent the early hours humbling himself.

One by one, he approached every opponent he had faced during the tournament, bowing his head in sincere apology for using an illegal scientific tool. His words were honest, his tone steady - not to clear his name, but to take responsibility.

Meanwhile, Seiren was tangled in her own whirlwind of preparations. Her papers were in order. Her train ticket secured. She would be leaving later that day with Shizune, headed for the Land of Tea, where Lady Tsunade and a woman named Ai would oversee her rehabilitation.

Friends had come by the apartment all morning - some with bright smiles, others with tears they tried to hide behind jokes. Seniors had gifted her letters of encouragement and snacks packed in colorful pouches. Little goodbyes in quiet moments.

"You have everything, right?" Kaizen asked, his tone tinged with concern as he strolled beside her.

Seiren nodded cheerfully, though the smile she wore was a touch too bright. "Hm! Mama triple-checked everything, so I'm good."

Kaizen smiled gently, the kind that didn't press or pry - just stood beside her.

"Tsunade promised to take good care of you," he said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

Seiren tilted her head slightly in surprise. "You talked to her?"

He chuckled, hands tucked into his pockets as the breeze played with the edges of her coat. "I sent her a letter a few days ago. Told her you'd be arriving in a few weeks." He paused. "She might be surprised to see you come this early."

Seiren blinked, touched by the quiet thoughtfulness. "Kai-oji... Thank you."

He shrugged, brushing off the gratitude with a lopsided smile. "Just wanted her to know who she's looking after."

They continued walking down the quiet morning street - past shuttered shops, past the swings at the park swaying in the wind, past the memories etched into every corner.

Kaizen glanced at her again, voice softer this time. "You nervous?"

Seiren nodded slowly. "Yeah... a little."

"You'll be okay."

And though the parting hurt, and her chest ached with unspoken feelings, she smiled. "I hope so."

Seiren sat quietly atop the Hokage Monument, her figure small against the vast sky. She had chosen the very edge of the Seventh Hokage's stone head, legs dangling freely over the ledge.

The breeze was gentle, brushing strands of her hair across her cheeks as she stared out at the Hidden Leaf bathed in the warm, golden hues of the setting sun.

The village looked peaceful from up here - like it hadn't just been turned upside down days ago. Like she wasn't leaving it behind tonight.

"Who would've thought I'd find you here?" Boruto's voice broke through the silence.