Sensei returned with a deep sorrow in his eyes.
He was carrying Kana in his arms.
His body was a mess.
His legs were shaking.
His arms, too.
But he didn't let go.
When he reached the camp, no one spoke.
Everyone had heard.
But the silence… said more than any words.
Sensei didn't look at anyone.
He didn't accept help.
Not even from Renji.
It wasn't out of pride.
It was as if...
he believed he deserved to carry this burden.
As if any other way would be unforgivable.
Renji wasn't smiling either.
Maybe he blamed himself too.
I had never seen them like that.
Something inside me cracked as I watched them.
A sound... but only I could hear it.
I remembered something.
It was raining that day.
The camp was soaked in mud.
Kana had taken off her cloak, standing in the rain.
She was soaked.
She just stood there.
I wanted to go to her.
I wanted to say something.
But I stayed silent.
She turned.
Our eyes met.
And then… she faintly smiled.
That moment…
something in me shifted.
I wanted to tell her.
I always wanted to tell her that I love her.
But I never did.
I didn't want to ruin that smile.
Now her eyes are still closed.
And I don't know if I'll ever see that smile again.
I kept asking myself the same thing:
Why wasn't I there?
If even Sensei couldn't protect her…
what chance did I ever have?
No one spoke in the camp.
Yui cried.
A lot.
In the following days,
she just sat next to Sensei and held his hands.
Quietly.
She still cries sometimes.
Even Takumi didn't say anything.
He looked like he wanted to… but didn't.
I just watched Kana.
She lay there.
Still.
As if she'd wake up any moment—
but never quite did.
Her skin was pale.
Her hands were cold.
Her eyes…
they stayed closed.
And Sensei…
He hasn't left her side.
Not once.
Every night.
Hours.
No sleep.
No words.
I went up to him once.
"Do you need anything?" I asked.
He didn't even turn his head.
No answer.
But something inside him was screaming.
Maybe he was asking himself the same thing:
I couldn't protect her.
I was scared of him when we first met.
He was cold.
Quiet.
Distant.
But now I see it clearly.
He has a heart, too.
Two weeks passed.
Kana still hasn't woken up.
And Sensei is still watching over her.
But this time, I took the night watch instead.
He was already awake.
Standing in the shadows of the trees.
Tired.
But his eyes… still sharp.
As if he didn't want to miss even a single breath.
I walked over.
"You okay?" I asked.
It took him a while to answer.
But then—
"I'm not.
But I have to be."
I swallowed.
It was the first time I'd heard him say something like that.
Sensei was silent.
But something in his posture had changed.
His shoulders were tense.
His eyes, sharper than before.
He wasn't looking at the trees.
He was looking through them—
as if trying to find something he'd lost.
And then he spoke.
His voice was quiet.
But the anger inside it… was deep.
"How did Uzumi find us?
Renji told me that Uzumi worked for Lord Minato."
He clenched his jaw.
"Takumi and Kai… they were supposed to be near that region."
I lowered my head.
Didn't answer.
Then Sensei's voice dropped even lower.
"If they had been there…
maybe Uzumi never would've gotten close.
Maybe… Kana…"
His voice caught in his throat.
I closed my eyes.
He has a point.
But he's not thinking clearly right now.
Still...
I didn't say it out loud.
Then he turned to me.
His eyes...
They were empty.
"Watari…" he whispered.
"What do you think?"
I swallowed.
Then told him.
"I think… you're looking for someone to blame.
Because you can't blame yourself anymore."
He stared at me.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
I'll find the truth myself.
I can't let Sensei tear himself apart.
Then, quietly, he lowered his head and whispered:
"Thank you, Watari.
But I still can't let it go."
Then he looked at me again and said:
"If something happens to me—
you protect Kana and Yui."
There was a long silence.
But inside me, something rose.
It stood tall.
I met his eyes.
"No.
We'll protect them together."
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Coming Soon
Chapters 18 and 19 will release one hour apart.
Chapter 18 – I Have a Heart Too...
Chapter 19 – First Strike At The Lord's Heart