Capítulo 85: Family Treasures
Hanabi, still flushed but finding her voice, jumped in. "I think baby pictures sound lovely. But only if Ryomaru promises not to make fun of me ever again."
Ryomaru sighed, resigning himself to his fate. "Fine, but no making copies. Those photos are top secret."
Miori clapped her hands in excitement. "It's settled then!"
They spent the next few minutes poring over the baby pictures, each snapshot a trip down memory lane for Ryomaru, and a source of giggles or awws for the others. The room was filled with an aura of warmth and affection, like being wrapped in a cozy blanket on a cold day. Even if they couldn't put it into words, everyone felt closer, united by the shared glimpse into Ryomaru's past.
Hanabi found herself growing fonder of Ryomaru with each picture, seeing a more vulnerable and innocent side to the confident and easy-going boy she'd come to know. As she flipped through the album, Hanabi felt her heart swell a little. She already had a slight crush on Ryomaru, and seeing these baby pictures just made him all the more endearing. 'He's been adorable all his life,' she thought, smiling to herself.
Miori opened the dusty family album on the living room table. It seemed to creak with a nostalgia that only Ryomaru could fully understand. But for Hanabi, each page flipped open was a window into a different side of the boy she was still getting to know.
They spent the next few minutes poring over the baby pictures, each snapshot a trip down memory lane for Ryomaru, and a source of giggles or awws for the others. Hanabi found herself growing fonder of Ryomaru with each picture, seeing a more vulnerable and innocent side to the confident and easy-going boy she'd come to know.
"Aww, look at this one!" Miori pointed to a photo of a baby Ryomaru bundled in a fluffy blue blanket. "This was just a few days after we brought him home."
Hanabi looked at the baby's chubby cheeks and bright eyes, and then back at the young man beside her. "You were so adorable, Ryomaru!"
Ryomaru squirmed a little, his face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and pride. "Yeah, I peaked early," he joked.
"Don't be so modest," Miori winked at her son before pointing to another picture. "Here he is, learning to walk."
Hanabi's eyes lit up seeing a toddler Ryomaru with a determined expression, tiny legs wobbling but never giving in. "You were so determined even back then."
"Yeah, well, I had places to go," Ryomaru quipped, doing his best to maintain his composure. "The playground wasn't going to conquer itself."
Flipping through the album, Miori and Hanabi kept pointing out pictures that made them gush. "Oh, look at him in that tiny karate outfit!" Miori exclaimed.
"Karate baby, huh? Getting ready to kick some butt?" Hanabi giggled.
"I was a force to be reckoned with," Ryomaru managed to say, although his cheeks were flushed a vivid red by now.
Just then, Samui and Mabui moved closer to join the picture-viewing festivity. They'd been watching from the corner of the room and decided they couldn't resist any longer. "Aw, Ryomaru, you were such a cute kid!" Mabui cooed, leaning over to get a better look.
Samui nodded in agreement. "Never would've guessed this little guy would grow up to be such a heartbreaker."
By this point, Ryomaru felt like he was about to implode from embarrassment.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Heartbreaker," Mabui teased, taking another peek at a baby photo.
Samui chuckled, "Guess some things never change, huh?"
"Yeah, I've always been a legend in my own mind," Ryomaru retorted, trying to reclaim some semblance of control.
Just as Miori was about to flip to the next page, a streak of lightning-fast movement caught everyone's attention. Ryomaru snatched the upcoming photo out of the album and cradled it in his hands like a protected treasure. His face flushed a deep shade of red, his hand trembling ever-so-slightly as he grasped the incriminating photo. 'These are some embarrassments that are best kept in the family vault,' he thought, relieved that he'd managed to intercept it in time.
Miori caught sight of which picture it was and chuckled knowingly, but Hanabi's curiosity was piqued. "What's that one?" she asked.
"No, no, no! No need to see this one," Ryomaru shook his head vehemently.
"Why? Something embarrassing?" Hanabi grinned mischievously.
Ryomaru looked her straight in the eyes, his expression dead serious for a moment. "For you, maybe." A smirk then crossed his face. "Unless you're interested in viewing some of my… family treasures."
It took Hanabi a second to catch his meaning, and when she did, her face flushed a bright shade of red. Miori, Samui, and Mabui couldn't help but let out synchronized giggles.
Realizing he'd dodged the bullet and saved some semblance of his dignity, Ryomaru finally relaxed, grinning at Hanabi. "Some things are best left in the past, don't you think?"
"Yeah, yeah, Mr. Mysterious," Hanabi said, still blushing but playful.
"Guess that makes you Ms. Curious, doesn't it?" Ryomaru shot back with a cheeky grin.
"But you can't hide forever!" Hanabi challenged.
"Oh, I don't intend to," Ryomaru winked, enjoying the moment of shared laughter and slight awkwardness. "I'm just selective about what parts of my history get to be public knowledge."
Miori closed the album and stood up, pulling it back toward her. "Well, I think we've had enough fun at Ryomaru's expense for one day."
"Afraid I can't handle it, Mum?" Ryomaru jested.
"Oh, I know you can handle it. But maybe save some stories for another time," Miori said, her eyes meeting her son's. In them, Ryomaru saw the unconditional love that had been the backbone of his life. And right then, amid the awkwardness, the embarrassment, and the laughter, he felt truly at home—even if 'home' was now miles away, in a new village, with new friends and endless possibilities.
It was the presence of his mum, Samui, Mabui, and now Hanabi, that reminded him no matter where he went, he carried a piece of home with him. And that thought made everything—even the embarrassing baby pictures—completely worthwhile.
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