"Zhang Tian, can I ask you a question?" Hinoa asked, her eyes gentle as she looked at him.
"Of course, go ahead," Zhang nodded.
"Why are you so desperate for strength? You're always coming and going in such a rush, so busy, with no time to rest. You and your monsters are constantly training, never just having fun. I feel like you're in too much of a hurry. What are you so worried about? Why do you have such a thirst for power?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.
Hearing her words, Zhang's mind filled with images of the enemies Kamura Village would face in the future: Magnamalo, Scorned Magnamalo, Ibushi, Narwa, Allmother Narwa, Gaismagorm, the Archdemon of the Abyss, Primordial Malzeno, Amatsu, Kushala Daora, Chameleos… just thinking about the list made his scalp tingle. According to the game's timeline, these terrifying monsters would appear in a year at most, each one capable of destroying cities, even entire nations.
That was why he was so urgent.
In this real world, there was no "player" to hunt these terrible monsters. There was only him. If he couldn't get stronger quickly, not just Kamura Village, but perhaps the entire world would be wiped out. Those monsters wouldn't listen to reason. They only knew how to kill, destroy, and fight.
"If I told you that the future is incredibly dangerous, and that even Kamura Village could be destroyed, would you believe me?" Zhang said after a moment of thought, his expression serious. "Many powerful monsters will appear, ancient dragons that won't listen to reason, that will only fight us and destroy everything."
"So, you want to be a savior?" Hinoa asked, a small smile on her face.
"I don't want to be a savior. I just want to protect you," he replied earnestly. "Otherwise, no matter how strong the Elder Dragons are, I could just escape, couldn't I? Kamura Village is your home, and I know you wouldn't abandon it. But in the same way, you are also my home, and I won't abandon you."
In the game, without the player, Kamura Village would have been wiped out long ago. They couldn't even handle Scorned Magnamalo, let alone the Elder Dragons. Scorned Magnamalo, a powerful variant of Magnamalo, was an existence that surpassed ordinary Elder Dragons, on the same level as Malzeno.
"What you just said was really sweet. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were confessing to me," Hinoa said, her face happy, though her expression quickly turned complicated. "Zhang Tian, do you know how courageous you are? An Elder Dragon has never been truly defeated, only repelled at best. We can't even handle Magnamalo, let alone those powerful Elder Dragons you mentioned."
As she spoke, Hinoa's shoulders slumped. Compared to the Elder Dragons, humanity was just too weak. Even the most powerful hunters were vulnerable.
"I'm very strong. Don't worry," Zhang said with complete confidence, reaching out and gently tapping her forehead. "It won't be long before even an Elder Dragon is no match for me."
"Okay. You can do it," Hinoa said, raising her hand into a small fist to cheer him on.
"I will," he smiled.
"If you get tired, come find me," she added with a smile of her own. She didn't know how to help him get stronger, but she could at least be there for him when he was exhausted.
"I will," Zhang replied softly.
Just as the saying goes, good food is even better with good company. Being with a beautiful person could lift anyone's spirits.
"Walk with me," Hinoa said, and she took his hand. They began to wander aimlessly through Kamura Village, walking slowly, with cherry blossom petals drifting around them. They chatted as they walked, talking about trivial, everyday things. But for the two of them, these boring trifles felt like the best parts of life.
"Zhang Tian, I know you don't like Dango," she said. "So, I'm not taking you to Yomogi's tea shop today. I'm going to cook for you myself." Hinoa pulled him toward her house.
"Sis, you're…?" Minoto, who was sitting inside eating Dango and playing a game, looked up at them with a confused expression. She knew her sister and Zhang were close, but this was progressing a bit too fast. She was already bringing him home? Minoto was floored.
"I'm bringing him home for dinner. Don't get any funny ideas," Hinoa said, her cheeks flushing slightly as she noticed Minoto's strange look.
"Oh, right," Minoto nodded perfunctorily before sensibly getting up to leave.
"Minoto!" Hinoa's face turned an even deeper shade of red as she watched her sister go.
"Hahaha," Zhang couldn't help but laugh as he sat down. "Hinoa, you look so shy."
"Hmph," she replied softly, then disappeared into the kitchen to get busy.
Watching her bustling around in the kitchen, Zhang felt a warmth spread through his chest. Growing up, very few people had ever cooked for him. His parents were always busy with work, and for as long as he could remember, he had made his own meals. He still recalled watching cartoons as a child and feeling most envious of the characters whose mothers made them breakfast.
Does this feel like home? he thought. If only I could have this feeling every day.
Looking at Hinoa's back, he felt the urge to marry her. No one dislikes being cared for, having someone to talk to, and coming home to a hot meal. Zhang was no different. To be honest, for most men, a home was a place with a virtuous wife. Everything else was secondary.
After a while, Hinoa emerged with the dishes she had prepared. There was a large plate of grilled meat, onigiri, seaweed salad, sashimi, and a bowl of soup—a very traditional meal.
"Zhang Tian, try it," Hinoa said with a bright smile.
"Okay," he nodded and took a bite of an onigiri. A piece of fish was hidden in the center, tender and delicious. The sashimi was incredibly fresh as well.
"Hinoa, you're an amazing cook," Zhang said, his satisfaction growing with every bite.
"I'm glad you like it, Zhang Tian," she replied, her face beaming with happiness.
"Hinoa, I really wish I could eat your cooking every day," Zhang said with a sigh.
"Maybe one day you will," she replied, her face blushing slightly, a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
Good times always seem to fly by. Before long, it was time for Zhang to leave.
"Hinoa, I'm going now. I have to hunt that Garangolm."
"Be careful on your journey. Go and come back safely," she said, waving goodbye with a concerned look.
"I will," Zhang nodded. He mounted his Arcanine and rode off.
"Sis, why didn't you have him stay the night? I was all ready to stay out all day," Minoto said, stepping out from the side with a teasing tone.