Can You Keep Me Company and Talk for a While?

Night fell as dark as ink, and the rain poured down relentlessly, ravaging everything in the world with an almost frenzied force.

Raindrops pounded the fallen petals, mercilessly tearing them from the branches. The flowers, helpless and adrift in the wind and rain, struggled and tumbled, until finally, the relentless rain swept them into the depths of the ravines—their destined final destination.

In the dimly lit room, Koki suddenly opened his eyes. A cold breeze blew through the window, bringing a refreshing coolness that gently caressed his cheek, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

He rose, donned an outer robe, its flowing fabric dancing in the wind, and slowly walked to the door. He opened it, the creaking sound particularly clear in the stillness of the night.

Outside the door, the moonlight was like water. Ban, dressed in a black yukata, stood under the moonlight, his upright posture carrying a deep loneliness. He lowered his head and remained silent, as if the world's troubles were none of his concern.

His half-closed eyes seemed shrouded in a thin mist, and at this moment, his expression was more bewildered than ever before.

Koki stood quietly under the corridor, his gaze fixed solemnly on the lonely figure in the courtyard. He heard Ban's breathing, heavy and labored, as if each breath was exhausting all his strength.

Ninjas possess keen senses and can detect even the slightest changes in their surroundings.

Madara noticed the moment Koki got up from the bed.

His back tensed involuntarily as he wondered Koki would come out, and his taut nerves only relaxed slightly after he stepped outside.

The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the occasional patter of raindrops dripping from the eaves.

Madara didn't turn around, Koki didn't speak either. Like a beam of silent moonlight, it slowly flowed into Madara's heart, gently soothing his anxiety and resentment.

For a long while, Ban didn't turn around, stubbornly standing still in the moonlight.

The moonlight gently caressed half of his face, and his sideburns, swaying in the wind, were like a veil of night, casting dappled shadows on his face.

Those subtle shadows, like streams flowing into an endless ocean, quietly seeped into his abyss-like eyes, making his already unfathomable eyes appear even darker, as if they could swallow up all the light in the world.

But in the depths of that thick, impenetrable darkness, a faint glimmer of light appeared, perhaps a fragment carelessly left behind by the moon.

At this moment, Madara's mind was in turmoil. He didn't even know how to face Koki. If Izuna were here, everything would be completely different.

Facing Koki alone, Madara felt as if he were walking through a thicket of thorns. He had to be cautious and could not approach her without any cover. He could not put on a stern face, and he did not want to show any vulnerability in front of Koki.

What a quirky, arrogant little thing.

Koki smiled wryly, a smile that revealed her tolerance for Madara.

He slowly began to walk, strolling deeper into the courtyard. As Koki moved, his footsteps tapped out a crisp rhythm in the stillness of the night. As he stepped down the corridor, the wooden floorboards creaked softly.

He was walking towards him—this realization was like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, and Ban involuntarily held his breath, his body trembling slightly.

Finally, Koki stopped, stepping on a dry branch. A sudden cracking sound rang out as the branch broke off beneath his feet.

A gentle night breeze, carrying the freshness and tenderness of twilight, lightly brushed against the fine strands of hair on Koki's forehead. At this moment, the clothes of the two of them fluttered in the wind, making a rustling sound.

"Spot."

Was it Koki calling him? A thought flashed through Madara Uchiha's mind.

As a ninja, he was one of the most outstanding members of the Uchiha Clan, renowned for his sensory abilities.

Through countless battles and stealth maneuvers, he relied on his keen senses to evade enemy attacks and pursue hidden trails.

But at this moment, he felt a rare sense of bewilderment.

Hesitation was so unusual for him.

Koki's voice, like a gentle breeze in a light rain, softly caresses the face, carrying a hint of coolness, and seeping into the heart drop by drop.

Ban realized he could no longer remain indifferent.

He slowly turned around, his gaze finally landing on Koki. In the clear moonlight, Koki's figure appeared somewhat slender.

"I can't sleep, can you chat with me for a while?" The boy's slightly hoarse voice drifted over.

Koki immediately caught that slight tremor. "Of course," he replied without the slightest hesitation.