Chapter 53: Of Course, I Passed
Souta glanced at Pakura, who was still standing calmly with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Pakura-chan's gaze remained the same as usual—calm and hard to read.
"I just wanted to wait for you," Pakura replied briefly.
"Waiting... Haah... Alright, thank you for waiting for me," Souta said, this time with a sincere smile that was rare for him.
Pakura nodded slightly, then looked at Souta with eyes full of interest. "So, did you pass?"
"Yes! Yes! How about it, Souta? Did you make it or not?! Hurry up and tell me!" Makima suddenly shook Souta's body with enthusiasm.
"Hm... Of course," Souta replied casually, nodding his head without much expression.
"Awesome! Hehehe!" Makima chuckled softly, then leaned in with sparkling eyes. "So... does that mean you've got money?"
Souta looked at Makima with a confused expression. "Money? What money?"
"Money! Don't you know about money? Isn't it true that if someone works, they earn money?" Makima said with an excited tone.
Souta sighed before shaking his head. "Of course not. I haven't even started working yet. How could I have earned money?"
"Ouh... You're right," Makima nodded slowly, her expression slightly disappointed as if she had just realized something that should have been obvious from the start.
Souta looked at Makima with a hint of suspicion. "By the way, why are you asking about that?"
"Hehehe... I thought you could treat us by buying snacks after you got the job..." Makima said in a shy voice, lowering her head a bit.
Souta snorted softly, amused by his friend's behavior. Before he could say anything, Pakura stared at Makima with a shocked expression.
"You...," Pakura murmured in disbelief, while Makima just chuckled softly.
"Uh? I'm sorry! I was wrong! Really, I'm so sorry!" Makima, feeling the cold stare from Pakura, immediately felt her body stiffen.
Out of fear, Makima's lips trembled slightly. Her usually calm eyes now looked anxious as she searched for a way to fix her mistake.
"Enough! Enough! I'll buy snacks later after I have money! But not now! Are we still going to your house, Makima?" Souta asked in a softer tone, trying to ease the sudden tension.
Souta could feel the discomfort in the air and didn't want to make the situation any more awkward.
"Hah? Ouh! Of course! Let's go! We're going to my house!" Makima replied with a somewhat forced smile, although it was clear she felt relieved to divert attention from the tense situation.
Makima's wide smile hid her worries, but the meaning behind her slightly shining eyes showed that she wanted a brief escape from the silence that often filled her life.
"Yes! Yes! Wait for me to throw this away first!" Souta nodded quickly and stepped away. He walked to the left side of the building where they were standing, heading towards a large trash bin made of old wood and faded brown.
The sound of Souta's footsteps was muffled by the damp ground due to the swirling dust. Swiftly, Souta opened the white bag containing paper waste and tossed it into the trash bin. After that, he returned and continued on his way.
Makima was already ahead, leading the way. Souta followed behind her, while Pakura walked lightly, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
The village of Amegakure, known for its sand-structured houses, appeared quiet. A gentle breeze blew, carrying small grains of sand swirling in the air. The atmosphere that afternoon was somewhat gloomy, yet there was still a sense of calm enveloping it.
Before long, they arrived at Makima's house.
The house stood sturdy in the middle of the village, different from the surrounding homes.
...
Chapter 54: Makima's House
Like other houses in the village of Sunagakure, Makima's house is made of compacted sand, but hers is better maintained, with two elegantly designed floors and a small yard adorned with several flowering plants in soft colors that decorate the outer walls.
The fence surrounding it is made of solidified sand shaped to resemble stone, giving it a sturdy and slightly luxurious appearance. The house looks larger than the neighboring ones, suggesting that Makima comes from a fairly prosperous middle-class family, though not excessively so.
They passed through the gate, which is made of wood that looks somewhat weathered but still functions well. Souta glanced back for a moment, feeling that this house was a bit warmer compared to the others in the village.
They walked toward the front door, where Makima took a small key from her pocket and carefully used it to unlock the door.
"Hmm... It's very quiet? Where are your parents?" Souta asked curiously. He noticed that the house seemed empty, as if there was no life inside it besides the three of them.
Inside, the atmosphere felt quiet and somewhat different from what he had imagined. In the corners of the room, things were organized, but there was a sense of loneliness that enveloped the air within.
"Oh! About that, my dad is working at the hospital, while my mom is... kind of writing seals? I don't really understand it. Mom just said that..." Makima paused for a moment, her words seeming to stumble as if she were searching for the right term. She gazed toward the empty living room with a hint of anxiety that she couldn't hide.
"Fuinjutsu," Souta interjected, mumbling softly, recognizing the term that is quite known in their world.
"Yes! That! Fuinjutsu!" Makima nodded quickly, her expression brightening for a moment. She felt relieved to find the right word, even though her heart still felt empty remembering how her mother often got lost in her writings.
"Hmm... So this house is always this quiet?" Pakura asked gently, her eyes scanning the house that seemed filled with unexplainable memories.
"That's right... Dad and Mom often come home late, so by seven in the evening, I'm usually alone at home," Makima replied with a somber smile lingering on her face. That smile was not one of happiness, but rather one that tried to cover a deep wound.
Souta and Pakura exchanged glances, feeling sympathy for Makima. They both could sense how deeply loneliness permeated Makima's life. As orphans, they understood the feeling of solitude that often arose in their lives.
"So the reason you always invite us over is that you want friends, so you're not alone until your parents come home?" Souta asked frankly, not intending to offend.
However, Pakura immediately shot a glare at Souta, looking surprised and a bit worried. Pakura's reaction left Souta taken aback, realizing that his question might have been a bit too honest.
"That... is true, I'm sorry..." Makima lowered her head, her voice filled with regret. Her previously bright expression suddenly turned gloomy again, like a shadow of loneliness lurking in the corners of her heart.
"... It's okay," Pakura said gently, approaching Makima and hugging her affectionately. "Don't worry, we will play with you often. If you feel lonely, you can come to our house anytime."
"Really?" Makima's eyes lit up immediately, the smile that had previously faded now blossoming again. For the first time, relief was clearly visible on Makima's face.
"Of course!" Pakura nodded firmly, assuring her with her words.
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