The tale of Mayumi

Chapter 9: A New Beginning

The next morning, I woke up feeling well-rested—probably because I hadn't drowned myself in alcohol the night before. Hikaru, on the other hand, was still dead to the world, sprawled across his bed like he had fought in a war.

Glancing at the time, I saw it was already noon. Figures.

Since he was going to have a brutal hangover, I decided to do something nice for him and make breakfast. As I moved to the kitchen and started cooking, my mind drifted back to the events of last night—Kakashi, the invitation to the Hidden Leaf, the long walk home...

I wouldn't admit it out loud, but the thought of moving excited me. For years, we'd lived in the middle of nowhere, drifting from place to place, never staying long enough to belong anywhere. And now...

Now, we had a chance at something different. A home.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even hear Hikaru enter the room.

"Please tell me you feel as shitty as I do," he groaned, his voice thick with exhaustion.

I turned to see him rubbing his temples, eyes half-open like the light itself was betraying him.

"Sorry, man, you know I don't get hangovers." I grinned, flipping something in the pan.

"I hate you." He poured himself a glass of water, downing it like his life depended on it.

"Well," I said, smirking, "I did make breakfast, but since you hate me, I guess I'll just eat it myself."

Hikaru immediately perked up. "Come on, you know I meant 'I love you.'" He nudged me with his elbow, and I laughed.

"Sit down, you idiot."

He obeyed, still rubbing his forehead as I placed a plate in front of him. He muttered a quick thanks before digging in like he hadn't eaten in days.

"So..." I started, leaning on the counter. "What do you think we should do?"

Hikaru barely looked up. "About what?"

I raised an eyebrow. "You don't remember anything from last night?"

He paused, thinking. "...Not really." His expression shifted. "Wait—how did we even get home? Don't tell me you made me levitate."

I laughed. "No, though I wish I could've. Kakashi brought you."

"Who?"

"The masked guy from last night." I tilted my head. "What's the last thing you remember?"

He sighed. "Drinking."

I rolled my eyes. Typical.

So, I filled him in—the encounter with Kakashi, the scroll, Tsunade's invitation. Everything.

Hikaru listened quietly, which, honestly, drove me insane.

I crossed my arms. "Are you gonna say something, or are we just gonna sit here in awkward silence?"

He exhaled, setting his fork down. "There's a lot to think about, Mayumi. We've stayed away from crowds for a reason—"

"Yeah, and I can control it now. At least enough not to hurt anyone," I argued, cutting him off. "And besides, moving would be good for you, too." I gestured toward him. "It's the Hidden Leaf, Hikaru. You could actually become a shinobi there. And don't think I haven't noticed how much you hate putting your life on hold because of me."

Hikaru's expression tightened. "...That's not true."

"Yes, it is. And you know it." I softened my voice. "I hate that you're missing out on life just to keep me safe."

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly conflicted. "Even if you have better control, what if it's still risky? Maybe we should wait a little longer—"

"I'm tired of waiting." I cut him off again, my frustration bubbling over. "I'm not saying I don't appreciate everything you've done for me, or that I don't love our life together, but... I want more."

He stayed quiet, so I pushed on.

"I want to meet other people. I want to connect with them. Tsunade knows us, she knows what we're capable of—she can help us find people who can make us stronger. We could actually matter to someone other than ourselves."

Hikaru finally met my gaze, his orange eyes searching mine. "...You really want to do this?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I do. But not without you." I held his stare. "If you want to stay, then I'll stay, too."

His jaw clenched. I knew he was struggling with the decision, but I needed him to want this, too.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he sighed. "I just want to keep you safe."

I smiled. "And you will. Especially if you're with me."

He let out a slow breath, rubbing his temples again. "...Okay, fine. I guess we're moving." He lifted his hands in defeat.

I clapped, victorious. "Great! Then we better start packing—we're leaving tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!"

"Yep. Kakashi's coming to escort us."

"Damn it, Mayumi," he groaned, slamming his head onto the table. "I don't want to pack. I'm hungover!"

I grinned. "You already agreed, so no backing out now."

He let out a dramatic sigh. "Crap."

"Don't be so dramatic. I'll help you pack."

Hikaru lifted his head just enough to squint at me. "...Wow. You really want to go."

I smirked. "Yep."