"I know you have important matters to attend to and are in a hurry. But right now, you're injured. Wouldn't it be better if you stayed until your wound is completely healed? Even though we just met, I don't want the person I just helped to die in vain just because of unnecessary stubbornness."
Mei fell silent. Aoki's words echoed in her mind, breaking down the walls of defense that Mei had built up until now.
As Mei looked down, her fingers tightened around the fabric of her clothes. Deep down, Mei knew the young man was right. Her left shoulder still hurt, and she probably wouldn't be able to endure a long journey in this condition. But on the other hand, there was an uncomfortable feeling within her. She didn't like feeling weak.
But…
Aoki's eyes.
That gaze made Mei relent.
With a heavy heart, Mei finally let out a long sigh and said, "Alright... I'll stay."
Aoki smiled faintly, then leaned back slightly in his chair. "Good. Then help me while we're here, okay?"
Mei turned with raised eyebrows. "Help with what?" she asked cautiously.
Aoki smirked slightly, his gaze a bit mischievous yet harmless. "Of course, helping with something. You didn't think I brought you here without asking for something in return, did you?"
Mei huffed softly, crossing her arms in annoyance. "Of course not. So, what do I need to do?"
"You just need to accompany me, Tetsu, and Ajisai to look for something in the forest and a few places around the village."
Mei tilted her head, looking skeptical. "Eh? Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all," Aoki replied casually.
Mei stared at Aoki for a few seconds before finally sighing. "Alright, that's fine."
From the side, Tetsu, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. "So we're still going, Boss?" Tetsu asked with a confused expression.
"Of course," Aoki answered lightly, but with conviction. He shot a sharp glance at Tetsu that made the young man shiver slightly. "Do you think just because I said I would wait for Mei to recover, we would just sit idly in this village?"
"Hehe, I thought so, boss." Tetsu scratched his head slowly, a sheepish smile forming on his face. His slightly messy hair was brushed by his fingers, creating a soft rustling sound.
On the other side of the table, Ajisai remained silent. Her slender hand slowly lifted her chopsticks, where she picked up the last grains of rice in her bowl. Ajisai's eyes, which had been focused on her food, briefly glanced at Tetsu, but she didn't say a word.
"So, when are we leaving?" Mei finally spoke up, her voice a bit louder than usual. She looked at Aoki with a serious expression, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Aoki lifted his head from his bowl, looking at Mei calmly before finally answering, "Tomorrow. It's better for you to rest today."
"Today!" Mei immediately protested, her voice filled with determination. She shook her head vigorously, causing her long reddish-brown hair to sway. "I'm fine!"
Aoki looked at Mei doubtfully, his eyes briefly glancing at her left shoulder, which was still wrapped in a white bandage. "But you're still injured," Aoki said, sounding confused, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Mei clicked her tongue softly. "I'll still be injured tomorrow, so we might as well start today," she said, looking at Aoki with confidence. Her gaze seemed to challenge him, waiting to see if Aoki would continue to argue.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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