After the tearful conversation last night, Hana went to sleep in the guest room that had never been used since the house was built. She woke up and found Kenjirou in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for her. She wanted to help him, but the elderly man shooed her away and told her to take a bath instead. So that's what Hana did.
Now, they were sitting at the dining table, eating the breakfast he had cooked for her and himself.
"Kenjirou-san, do you have a spare map that I can have?" Hana asked after swallowing the food.
"Yes. Wait a moment."
Kenjirou disappeared into his room. He didn't even ask why she wanted it, probably because he could already guess the one she had been using for her whole trip was soaked and blurred now. He returned to the dining room with a map in his hand. He gave it to Hana, who opened the roll and laid the map on the table.
"Thank you. So where's your village?" Hana asked bluntly.
Kenjirou narrowed his eyes at her. "Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious," she shrugged.
"Hana, you're not planning to go there, are you?" He eyed her suspiciously. He had only known her for a night, but he was more than sure that this orange-haired girl had that kind of idea in her mind now. "They won't admit you in. You'll just get in trouble if you go there."
"Of course not," she said dismissively, waving him off. "Even I know how stupid of an idea that is. But since I'm on an adventure, I'd like to know places even though I don't get to visit them."
Kenjirou was not entirely convinced. Nonetheless, he had a soft spot for this young girl, so he couldn't refuse her even if he wanted to. Thus, he took a pencil that he always kept on the table and drew the direction to the village. The whole time, he was aware of the smile Hana was fighting back so hard.
"You will find an entrance here, marked by a rock next to a banana tree," he used the pencil to point at a spot on the map. "Do not enter," he said sternly.
"Alright boss," she saluted him.
Kenjirou sighed. "When are you leaving?"
She sipped the tea he had made for her. "Tomorrow."
—
Tomorrow came quickly, and now it was time for her to leave. Hana embraced the old man who had given her his hospitality for two nights and a day. "Thank you for everything, Kenjirou-san. I will remember you wherever I go," Hana said.
"So will I. I will miss you, Hana. Thank you for giving me a chance to experience the feeling of having a child," he smiled.
Tears brimmed her eyes again. "Don't make me cry," she whispered and rubbed her eyes before she started crying.
"I'm sorry. You look tough but you have a gentle heart," Kenjirou laughed lightly. He kissed her forehead before pulling away.
Hana climbed into the saddle on her horse. "Goodbye, Kenjirou-san," she said. Her heart clenched at the thought of him living his life alone, again. A part of her told her to stay there for a few more days, but she knew she must continue her adventure. There were so many more places she wanted to see.
"Goodbye, Hana. Come again another time," Kenjirou waved at her.
"I will. I promise," she raised her pinky finger, making the elderly man chuckle. She rode forward to the north, waving at Kenjirou until she could no longer see him.
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Hana of the Dusk | Akatsuki no Yona
Fanfiction[on hold] Hana was the eldest daughter of King Il of the Kingdom of Kouka. She was 18 years old, the same age as Hak and Soo-won while also being two years older than Yona. In contrast to Yona who had striking velvet-red hair, Hana was born with nat...
