The Weeping Xia

"Hmph, why are you pulling me? Shouldn't you be off keeping your female deskmate company right now?" Hyuga Natsu shook her arm, but unfortunately, she couldn't break free from the hand Hyuga Gen had clamped firmly onto her.

"Xia, I didn't explain myself clearly before. The only reason I've been looking for Izumi these past few days is to ask her for advice on Fire Style ninjutsu. I haven't done anything else," Hyuga Gen said hurriedly.

"So you're saying you want to do other things with her? Then please, tell me, what exactly are these 'other things'?" Hyuga Natsu asked, even angrier now.

Hearing Hyuga Natsu put it that way, Hyuga Gen was momentarily stunned. It was true—you should never argue with a girl, because you can't win, and even if you do, it's still your fault.

Hyuga Gen fell silent. He didn't want to say anything more; he was afraid that the more he spoke, the more wrong he would be.

Seeing Hyuga Gen standing there in silence, Hyuga Natsu grew even more furious. She wrenched her arm free from his grip and stormed off in a huff.

Hyuga Gen watched her retreating figure but didn't chase after her. Hyuga Natsu was in the heat of the moment, and he decided it would be better to let her cool down first.

"What are you still standing there for? Go after her! Just follow her and keep her company without saying anything. Leave Yu Zhihui to me; I have to head back," Yu Zhihui said urgently, seeing Hyuga Gen still standing there like a fool.

Hearing Yu Zhihui say this, Hyuga Gen realized she was right. As it turned out, women really did understand women better.

"Thank you, Zhihui," Hyuga Gen said, immediately setting off to follow her.

In truth, Hyuga Natsu had started to regret her words the moment they left her lips. She felt she had been acting quite unreasonably.

She didn't know why, but the mere thought of Hyuga Gen and Uchiha Izumi together filled her with dread—the fear that he would choose Uchiha Izumi over her.

She still remembered the day the Ninja Academy opened, when Hyuga Gen had stared at that little girl, completely lost in thought. She regretted ever pointing her out to him in the first place.

As luck would have it, that girl ended up becoming his deskmate. For some reason, she had felt uncomfortable back then, though she had still managed to greet her with a smile.

Later, when Hyuga Gen walked to and from school with her every day, she felt her worries had been unnecessary. However, when Hyuga Gen treated her to a meal—even if she wasn't the main focus—Hyuga Natsu's heart tightened once again.

But then, the days returned to a peaceful routine, and Hyuga Natsu convinced herself she was overthinking things. They were just ordinary deskmates, nothing more.

Yet, when she saw Hyuga Gen teaching Uchiha Izumi the Rasengan hand-over-hand, she could no longer remain calm. She had assumed he would only teach her, that she was special to him, but the reality was...

Still, she knew she was being unreasonable. After all, the ninjutsu was his; he could teach it to whoever he wanted. What right did she have to interfere?

Besides, wasn't it normal for classmates to study ninjutsu together? What was wrong with her? She felt a suffocating tightness in her chest, and before she knew it, her face was covered in tears.

Hyuga Gen seemed to sense that something was wrong with Hyuga Natsu up ahead and quickly ran to catch up.

"Xia, what's wrong? Don't scare me like this," Hyuga Gen said, shocked and pained to see her face streaming with tears.

"Brother Dongyi, sob... I'm sorry. I broke my promise. I promised you I wouldn't cry, but... I don't know why, I just can't control it, sob..." Hyuga Natsu said, gasping for air as she wiped away her tears.

Even now, she was still thinking about their past agreement, leaving Hyuga Gen at a loss for words.

He pulled her into a hug, his hand gently stroking her back, over and over again, in the quiet.

The sun set, casting the evening glow upon them, and it felt as if the light itself reached out to gently brush the tears from Hyuga Natsu's face.

Before long, Hyuga Natsu calmed down, her sobbing ceased, and the two stood there in the sunset, holding each other as if time had stood still.

Night fell, and as Hyuga Gen lay quietly in bed, he replayed the scene in his mind.

He hadn't expected Hyuga Natsu to cry. In his memory, she hadn't shed a single tear since the day they made their pact.

Yet this time, she had wept uncontrollably. It pained him to think of it, and he still didn't quite understand why she had been so upset.

As childhood sweethearts, he knew her very well. Though she appeared soft, weak, and adorable, he knew she was a remarkably strong girl.

She didn't fear hardship or fatigue; she had perseverance and determination. While her talent wasn't exceptional, she worked incredibly hard.

There were very few things that could make her cry, and the times she had cried before...

Hyuga Gen suddenly understood, feeling like a complete fool. Of course. Most of the times she had cried before were because he had been hurt—it had always been about him.

So this time, it must have been about him as well. Recalling her words, it was clear she was likely jealous of the Uchiha girl.

She cried because she was jealous, but Hyuga Gen felt it wasn't just simple jealousy; there had to be something deeper.

He remembered what Hyuga Natsu had said after she stopped crying:

"Brother Dongyi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten angry, and I shouldn't have cried. I won't do it again," she had said firmly.

Hearing her apology, Hyuga Gen felt a faint ache in his heart. She was simply too sensible for her own good.

Afterward, he had walked her home, where they naturally ran into her mother. Hyuga Mikoto seemed to notice something was off with her daughter.

"Xia, why are you crying? Did Dongyi bully you?" Hyuga Mikoto asked, casting a hostile glare at Hyuga Gen.

"No, no! It wasn't Brother Dongyi. He didn't bully me," Hyuga Natsu said quickly.

"Hmph, who else could make you cry? Today, I'll teach this brat a lesson for you," Hyuga Mikoto said, activating her Byakugan. She looked genuinely angry.

It was no wonder; Hyuga Natsu was her precious treasure, and it would be strange if she weren't furious.

Hyuga Gen could only stand to the side, offering an awkward, apologetic smile. At the end of the day, this was definitely his fault.

Hyuga Natsu suddenly stepped between them, arms outstretched, shielding Hyuga Gen behind her. She also activated her Byakugan, looking at Hyuga Mikoto with a firm gaze.

"Hmph, if I see Xia crying again, just wait until I beat you—and I'll have your grandfather join in, too. Let's see if you dare bully her again," Hyuga Mikoto said, shaking her head helplessly as she saw the determination in her daughter's eyes, though she still threw out a final threat.

Is this really the Hyuga Mikoto I know? he thought. A mother's love truly makes her fierce. I'd better be careful from now on. Hyuga Gen played the part of the long-suffering victim, too cowed to say a word.

Under Hyuga Mikoto's watchful, tiger-like gaze, Hyuga Gen could only bid Hyuga Natsu goodbye until tomorrow before heading home.

Staring up at the ceiling beams, Hyuga Gen suddenly recalled every little moment he had shared with Hyuga Natsu, and he finally understood.

Hyuga Natsu's feelings for him were likely far deeper than he had ever realized. Her tears were born not just of jealousy, but of the terrifying fear that he might leave her for Uchiha Izumi.

At that thought, his heart felt heavy.