TSSITWON Chapter 255: The Story of Mei Terumi 10

"I know you have important matters to attend to and are in a hurry. But right now, you’re injured. Wouldn't it be better if you stayed until your wounds are fully healed? Even though we’ve just met, I don’t want the person I just helped to die in vain just because of unnecessary stubbornness."

Aoki's words echoed in my mind like the relentless ringing of a bell. I lowered my head, my eyes cast down deeply, while my fingers tightened their grip on the fabric of my clothes. The tension was palpable, as if two worlds were colliding within me.

On one hand, Aoki was right—my shoulder still hurt, and I knew that a long journey would be a heavy burden. However, on the other hand, I felt there was something more important, a responsibility I had to fulfill. I needed to return soon, to deliver that information to the Mizukage.

But as Aoki's gaze pierced through me, I felt myself soften a little. I couldn’t deny that in Aoki's eyes, there was something that reminded me of a truth I had long ignored—that sometimes, we need to pause for a moment, to give ourselves time to heal.

Finally, after a moment of silence, I took a deep breath, as if releasing a burden that had been binding me. "Alright... I will stay."

Aoki smiled faintly, a smile that didn’t fully convey happiness, but rather a sense of relief contained in his gaze. As Aoki leaned back slightly, his posture became more relaxed, yet his eyes remained alert. "Good. Then help me while we’re here, okay?"

I turned to him, my eyebrows raised high, a sense of caution immediately appearing on my face. "Help with what?" I asked, my voice sounding tenser than before, even though I tried to remain calm.

Aoki smirked slightly, his expression turning more mischievous, though there was no malice in it. Aoki's bright gaze suggested that he knew more than I thought. "Of course, helping with something. You don’t think I brought you here without asking for something in return, do you?"

I huffed quietly, feeling annoyed even though I couldn’t completely hide a hint of curiosity that was beginning to emerge. I crossed my arms in irritation, staring at Aoki with a slightly sharp look, trying to conceal my anxiety. "Of course not. So, what do I have to do?"

"You just need to accompany me, Tetsu, and Ajisai to look for something in the forest and a few places around the village," Aoki replied casually, as if it were the easiest request in the world.

I tilted my head, not believing what I had just heard. "Huh? Is that all?" I asked, my voice sounding higher and incredulous, as if I had heard something absurd.

"Yes, that’s all," Aoki answered in such a relaxed tone, as if nothing could be easier than that. Aoki's smile widened slightly, indicating that he was quite confident in his answer.

I stared at Aoki for a few seconds that felt long, assessing his expression, before finally letting out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight on my chest lessen a bit. "Alright, that’s fine."

"So, when are we going?" My voice was louder than usual, sounding more assertive. My arms were tightly crossed in front of my chest, my body slightly leaning forward, signaling the firmness I wanted to convey. I couldn’t let Aoki think I would hesitate again.

Aoki lifted his head from the bowl of food, his eyes, which had been focused on the meal, now turned to me, looking at me attentively. "Tomorrow. It’s better for you to rest today," Aoki replied, his voice softer than before, yet still carrying a tone of careful consideration.