Genya held Nami a little tighter in his arms and spoke softly.
"Thank you, Nami."
Nami lifted her tearful face and looked at him in confusion.
Before Genya could explain, more noise came from downstairs, followed by his mother Izumi's slightly surprised voice.
"Hinata? You're here too? Come in, come in!"
Then hurried, slightly flustered footsteps approached up the stairs.
Genya's bedroom door was pushed open again.
Hinata Hyuga stood in the doorway, her little face flushed from running. Her eyes brimmed with tears, filled with panic and worry.
She immediately spotted Genya on the bed, along with... Nami leaning against his shoulder.
Hinata paused for a moment, but then her worry overrode everything else.
Forgetting her usual shyness and manners, she rushed straight to Genya's bedside.
"Genya!"
Hinata cried out through a sob, tears rolling down her cheeks.
She reached out, seemingly wanting to touch Genya's injured hand too, but she did not dare. Her hand hovered helplessly in midair as she stared at him without blinking.
"I heard... you were badly hurt... and... and you made that oath... I was so scared..."
Looking at another girl crying over him, Genya felt both warmed and at a loss.
He quickly used his right hand to gently pat Hinata's shoulder, which trembled as she sobbed.
"Hinata, don't be scared. I'm fine. Look, my hand's already bandaged. It'll be better in a couple of days. The oath is all behind us now. Don't worry."
As he comforted Hinata, he felt Nami tense a little against his left shoulder.
The atmosphere in the room grew a little awkward.
Nami lifted her face, wiped away her tears, and looked at Hinata.
Nami knew how Hinata felt about Genya. Normally, she did not mind much, but seeing Hinata rush over to fuss over him