The Child Who Cries

That shout was like a thunderclap, instantly jolting Kakashi out of his daze.

He hurriedly let go, his face filled with regret.

But because he released her too suddenly, and Rin had been struggling desperately, she lost her support and pitched forward. After stumbling, she fell straight toward the ground.

Fortunately, as an experienced jonin, Kakashi's reactions were extremely fast.

He quickly reached out with both hands, trying to catch Rin before she hit the ground.

However, to Kakashi's utter surprise, Rin seemed to use all her strength to shove him away.

Caught off guard, Kakashi was pushed back several steps. Rin, meanwhile, was knocked by the recoil and crashed heavily onto the hard floor.

Kakashi's eyes widened as he stared at Rin in shock, an indescribable mix of surprise and worry rising in his heart.

He took a quick step forward and anxiously asked,

"Rin, what's wrong? Are you okay!?"

Rin merely let out a muffled groan and sat crouched on the ground.

The moment Kakashi approached, Rin screamed, "Don't touch me!"

The sudden cry froze Kakashi's outstretched hand in midair, as though time itself had solidified.

Rin lowered her head, her body trembling slightly as she fell into a long silence.

After a while, she sniffled softly and slowly said in a somewhat hoarse voice,

"I don't like you anymore. I don't want to see you again. Let's... stop being friends."

The words struck Kakashi's heart like a bolt from the blue, turning his face pale as paper.

"Why?"

Even he did not know what he wanted to ask—why had Rin suddenly made such a resolute decision?

Or did he want to know exactly what he had done wrong to bring things to this point?

Memories of the past surged through Kakashi like a tide. He remembered how