Chapter 366
Returning to my hometown after a long time.
Sumire only stopped by the supermarket in front of her house to buy groceries, but she realized how famous she had become.
“It’s Hanajima’s sister! “I heard stories from Suguha every day!”
“wow! You’re the sister who won the national competition, right!? “Please take a picture with me!”
“Hehehe, everyone in our neighborhood must have seen every game where Ms. Hanajima appears! How excited everyone was that finally a famous hunter came out of Okinawa… … .”
Because it was a cold winter, everyone recognized Sumire, regardless of age or gender, even though they were wearing quite a bit of clothing. How famous has he become?
“If you’re on your way home, please take some of these too. “Hirami lemon is a specialty product, and it’s really delicious when made into a drink!”
“Then these purple sweet potatoes! It’s famous in our store… … .”
Sumire, who could not refuse the elders’ barrage of gifts, began to receive more and more gifts in her arms.
“Ah, yes-! thank you!”
Sumire, who left her pocket at home, went up the hill with her luggage full of luggage. However, contrary to her expectations that she would soon find a house as she passed this residential area, Sumire encountered a familiar face again.
“uh? that. “Isn’t it Hanajima?”
“That’s right! “There’s no way there’s another one with that purple hair!”
Two male students pointing fingers.
“Oh~ I guess you’re back?”
“Wow, you see all the Korean celebrities in a place like this?”
Two female students are looking at Sumire while leaning against the wall in a bad posture. The all too familiar faces were students from the same middle school that Sumire had run away from.
“Oh, hello… … .”
Students who discovered Sumire approached with interest, as if they had discovered a fun toy.
“You were no joke, were you strong enough to participate in the national competition?”
“No, why~ You could have done that. The teacher would have gotten hurt too.”
As the two male students giggled and cheered each other on, one female student nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. “I don’t mean to blame Hanajima, but it was such a mess back then, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was too much. “In a way, it was your fault that your friends got hurt, but you ran away without apologizing, and the undead ran rampant in the dungeon.”
“Besides, how much trouble was it for Isshin when a party member suddenly left?”
The female students naturally took turns questioning Sumire. But perhaps because she thought it was her fault, Sumire bowed her head politely.
“At that time, it was really… … “I’m sorry.”
However, someone placed a hand on Sumire’s shoulder and said:
“… … stop. “Nothing to apologize for.”
Kirishima Isshin.
One of Choten’s three members and one of Japan’s best rookies, widely known to students for his reputation for being sensitive. As Isshin helped Sumire, the male and female students flinched.
“Hey, Isshin!”
“Ah, no, I just think that even though we are Hanajima, we should all have some sense of responsibility for what we have done!”
In middle school, where the gap between academies was not large, even though they were in the same school, the gang that bullied Isshin and Sumire had different levels.
They were so overcome by Isshin’s mere glance that they could not say anything more.
For the students of Hunter Academy, where power and ability are the law, skill is a hierarchy that cannot be broken.
“What right do you have to say such things to bystanders who weren’t even in the same class?” … .”
When Isshin frowned and started pushing the students, Sumire actually stopped him.
“Mr. Kirishima… … . “I am grateful, but it is still my fault.”
Sumire soon regained her composure. She looked at the students who were interrogating her, and then she avoided her gaze again.
But is it because the atmosphere has changed from before? That wasn’t a groveling apology. Rather, his courage in admitting his mistakes stood out.
“It’s true that I ran away at that time. Even though my abilities went out of control and many people got hurt… … I didn’t have the courage to make that mistake. I’m scared to even go to school… … . “I even ran away like that.”
The students avoided eye contact and closed their mouths at Sumire’s honest story. Isshin smiled briefly and felt solemn as he watched Sumire tracing her memories.
“After transferring to Gaon, I was so happy living at Gaon that I almost forgot about it.”
Why? Isshin unconsciously held his breath at the slight smile Sumire gave along with the honest story.
“But I know now. It all happened because I was a coward… … . “The reason we were able to make eye contact and apologize is because we had the courage to look back on the past.”
External oil internal cavity.
Sumire’s inner self was already being completed through her experience in Gaon. Sumire’s insides were soft and hard.
“Especially for Kirishima-san… … I wanted to apologize. “Even though you let me into your party, I left Japan without saying a word.”
However, Isshin looked rather embarrassed by Sumire’s apology.
“that that… … The story is over. It’s already happened in the past and I didn’t come here to get an apology from you… … .”
When Isshin accepted the apology and said it was okay, the students who were watching accepted Sumire’s apology one by one.
“Ooh, we’re sorry too!”
“that’s right. I think we pushed it too hard… … do!”
The students looked at Isshin and left in an instant. Sumire expressed her gratitude as she picked up the luggage she had put down again.
“thank you. “This is my first time seeing Kirishima in Okinawa.”
Apparently, Sumire had heard from Sakura that Isshin had entered closed-gwan training with Seiji. I said it would be hard to see him for a while, but it was amazing to meet Isshin not at Choten Academy, but around his home in Okinawa.
“Yeah, I see. This is my first time meeting you in Okinawa. “Even though it’s quite close to the middle school.”
Isshin scratched his cheek, then glanced at Sumire’s luggage and asked cautiously.
“It looks like you have a lot of luggage, but maybe I can help you…” … .”
“Oh, it’s okay! I learned from Yoosung how to use mana in everyday life. “It’s so light!”
“Oh, I see… … . Surely you are a hunter… … “The burden won’t be that heavy.”
Isshin wasn’t in the sharp mood he used to be. He didn’t know what the problem was, but he was confused by Sumire’s words and kept circling around.
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Kirishima, why are you in Okinawa…” … .”
In response to Sumire’s routine question, Isshin looked away with an embarrassed expression, as if he had been caught in the wrong.
“Oh, that’s… … hmm. Right, because you want to see the sea?”
Isshin, who is known for his cool-headedness, was the only one who could think of a response like this, so he blushed and continued talking.
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“that… … “Hanajima, have you ever been back to the academy we went to in middle school?”
However, this time it was too unexpected a question to naturally change the topic. She meets Sumire for the first time in a long time under the pretense of coincidence, and she suddenly asks her if she’s ever been back to middle school? Even in her opinion, the question was too purposeful and contrived.
“yes? … … no.”
In the end, Sumire, who had little idea of Isshin’s intentions, tilted her head. Isshin ultimately stuck to the Jeonggong method.
“It’s only been a year or so, but when I went back for the first time in a long time, I saw that quite a lot had changed. Well, Hanajima, the flower bed you were managing was still the same… … .”
“Ah, the violets were very pretty!”
When Sumire was happy as if recalling old memories, Isshin must have thought it was an opportunity, so he gained courage.
“If you have time, why don’t we stop by together?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I am grateful, but I decided to spend today with my younger siblings… … .”
However, the result was a polite rejection.
Even though the unexpected development was a huge blow, Isshin did not give up.
“If you’re busy today, then what about tomorrow? I am… … “It doesn’t matter.”
In fact, it was a lie that Isshin came to Okinawa to see the sea. Upon hearing the news that Sumire had returned, Isshin walked around Sumire’s house in broad daylight. In other words, this is an encounter disguised as coincidence. He consoled himself by saying he was apologizing, but the truth was clear.
“It’s close, so I think it’ll be okay in just a little while… … .”
From a young age, Isshin always monopolized the attention of those around him, regardless of whether he wanted it or not. Isshin actually thought that such attention from people around him was bothersome.
Sumire is the first to cling to someone this desperately.
“Before lunch or in the morning?”
In response to Isshin’s request, which now seemed to be servile, Sumire once again lowered her head with a sad face.
“Ah, I have a place I promised to go to with my parents tomorrow morning… … .”
Unfortunately, Sumire had already made a prior arrangement with her parents at the time Isshin asked.
“Then the afternoon… … .”
“sorry. “At that time, I decided to watch a movie with my family.”
There was already a reservation for the afternoon.
“What about the next day?”
“ah… … “I plan to return to Korea before the weekend is over.”
I had a prior appointment the next day as well.
“Well, I see… … .”
Isshin tried not to show it, but the corner of his mouth twitched. It’s been a while since he met Sumire, but let alone a promise, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to see her face again once he got home.
“Hanajima.”
Isshin, wondering what on earth he had decided in his mind, changed his expression and called Sumire in a serious voice.
“yes?”
The Sumire who was answering, the Sumire that Isshin was facing now, had a bright expression on her face, just like when she was in middle school, perhaps even brighter than then.
“… … How are you?”
Nevertheless, Isshin asked.
I asked that question even though I knew how Sumire, who left for Gaon, was doing and how she would respond.
“yes. … … Very much. It’s so full of happy things that sometimes I’m scared. Is it okay for me to be this happy? Do I deserve it? … do.”
Isshin smiled as if relieved to see Sumire smiling so calmly, her smile back as before.
“Thank goodness.”
I took a deep breath as I faced Sumire directly. Then, as if it was difficult to look at her face, he turned her body and looked at the other side of her. There is no time anymore. The only time to tell the truth is now.
That thought was urging Isshin urgently.
“I meant it when I said earlier that I didn’t come to get an apology from you. rather… … “It’s me who wants to apologize.”
Although the weather was cold for Isshin, he looked up at the very sunny sky. After Sumire left, looking at the sunny weather like this left an uneasy feeling in her heart. The same was true on days that were not sunny and rainy.
okay. The weather wasn’t important. The problem was the memories that occasionally popped up in Isshin’s mind.
It was his own weakness that made Sumire the source of all the emotions stained with regret and rebuke that came up from time to time, and the price of all his sins.
“I am an unqualified person. I was in a hurry because it was too much to move forward on my own. The person who was the party leader could not protect even a single party member. “I didn’t know what he was thinking or how hard he was struggling.”
Isshin thought of Sumire, who had darkened drastically after that incident. He thought of Sumire being happy with Shin Yu-seong.
“Maybe it’s because it was comfortable. “Comforting someone is something I’ve never done before.”
Now that I think about it, I have never done anything for Sumire. He thought of Sumire as someone who needed to be protected and an inconvenience rather than a trustworthy party member.
However, I learned about it while watching Sumire in the National Competition. That was my own illusion. He was a fool who did not recognize Sumire’s potential even though he was the party leader.
So what is your heart like?
Unfortunately, the person who made the dark Sumire smile brightly was not him. Isshin knew himself well. I was truly selfish and had no such talent.
I just waited under the pretense of giving time.
“… … Even if I didn’t do something embarrassing like that, I thought you would come back soon. “I thought you would smile like usual and be happy looking at the violets blooming in the flower bed.”
Looking back now, I just thought about everything that suited my taste. The current Isshin understood Sumire. Running away from the Academy and going to Gaon must have been Sumire’s desperate choice to survive somehow.
“… … “I’m sorry until now.”
After saying those words, Isshin took a step forward. I even had the illusion that his steps had become lighter, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his body.
“I! Kirishima-san!”
Spring, when beautiful violets bloom.
A summer where it rained continuously.
Autumn of Regret.
A bitterly cold winter.
Isshin was curious. Why are the memories with Sumire completed as one season?
“huh.”
Despite his deep emotions, Isshin’s answer was too short. Isshin was not yet ready to savor these complex emotions in his heart.
“I am… … I think this is a learning process for both me and Kirishima. I thought of myself as a fool who made mistakes, was pathetic, and only caused trouble… … . “I realized that wasn’t the case.”
Isshin could tell.
“I believed in myself because Yoosung believed in me, and I learned my own worth.”
That humans are two different sides of the same coin, that weakness and strength can coexist, and that a warm and kind heart can bloom even in the midst of extreme frustration.
“I’m sure it’s the same for Kirishima. Everyone looks back on the past and regrets it. … … “We are all moving forward steadily!”
I don’t even have the courage to face it, so I can only hear her voice, but Sumire was proof of that.
“… … It is a process of learning, moving forward. huh. Right.”
Although I didn’t say goodbye, it’s spring. summer. autumn. winter. Isshin said goodbye to a year of snow and rain.
Although it was extremely cold now, Isshin wanted to believe that this cold would not last forever. Just like Sumire said, I believed that this was also a process of becoming a better hunter and a better person, and I recited in a low voice that only I could hear.
“… … Thank you. Sumire Hanajima.”
fantasy,
