Kushina Uzumaki understood why Hyuga Shinichi was apologizing, so she responded thoughtfully.
"Zhenyi, I'm really all right! Everyone at home cares about me now, and you've always looked after me, too. I'm just a little envious that all my classmates graduated and became Genin.
And... I just miss my mom and dad..."
Her voice grew fainter as she reached the last sentence. The hand that had been gripping the rope loosened, and she clutched Hyuga Shinichi's sleeve instead.
The hand Hyuga Shinichi had placed on Kushina Uzumaki's head felt her body trembling slightly.
Faced with this, he didn't know how best to comfort her.
Just then, Kushina Uzumaki could no longer hold back her feelings and threw herself into Hyuga Shinichi's arms.
Feeling the dampness spreading across his chest and hearing her muffled sobs, Hyuga Shinichi knew she couldn't stop herself from crying.
He didn't say anything. He simply stroked the back of Kushina Uzumaki's head with a gentle hand.
He knew that no matter how many things he said, they probably wouldn't calm her emotions.
Perhaps it would be better to let her cry it out.
After all, he had been the same way once.
After a while, Kushina Uzumaki's sobs gradually subsided. Hyuga Shinichi was a little surprised and couldn't help wondering.
She was done crying already? But then he remembered how strong Kushina Uzumaki was, and it didn't seem so strange after all.
Kushina Uzumaki looked up at Hyuga Shinichi, her face streaked with tears.
"Zhenyi, thank you. I feel much better."
Hyuga Shinichi smiled, then gently wiped the tears from Kushina Uzumaki's cheek with his sleeve.
"If anything upsets you in the future, Kushina, you can always come to me. Don't feel embarrassed. It's only natural for an older brother to look after his little sister."