Chapitre 13: Peaceful Day (filler?)
After another day of resting, Kai felt his strength slowly returning. His body, though still sore from the battle, was healing rapidly thanks to his regenerative abilities. He knew it was time to return to Hanabi. He called a taxi to the subway station and rode the subway for four hours, the journey giving him time to think and plan.
Once he arrived at the subway station, he transferred to a bus. The familiar sights of his neighborhood brought a sense of comfort and relief. Kai made a quick stop before heading to Mrs. Kimura's house, buying Hanabi's favorite ice cream. He smiled, imagining her delight when she saw the treat.
He finally reached Mrs. Kimura's house and knocked on the door. Hanabi opened it, her face lighting up with joy the moment she saw him.
"Brother!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms.
Kai hugged her tightly, feeling a wave of emotions wash over him. "I missed you, Hanabi," he said softly.
"I missed you too, brother," she replied, her voice muffled against his chest. "Did you bring me ice cream?"
Kai laughed, pulling back to show her the ice cream. "Of course. Your favorite."
Hanabi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Thank you, brother!"
Mrs. Kimura appeared in the doorway, a warm smile on her face. "Welcome back, Kai. How are you feeling?"
"I'm better, Mrs. Kimura. Thank you for looking after Hanabi," Kai replied, grateful for her help.
"It's no trouble at all. She's a wonderful girl," Mrs. Kimura said, patting Hanabi's head affectionately.
Kai and Hanabi sat down to enjoy the ice cream together. The simple act of sharing a treat brought a sense of normalcy and peace that Kai desperately needed. Hanabi's laughter and chatter filled the room, and for a moment, the worries of the world seemed far away.
After they finished eating, Hanabi tugged at Kai's sleeve. "Can we go to the park, brother?"
"Sure, let's go," Kai agreed, smiling at her enthusiasm.
They walked to the nearby park, hand in hand. The park was bustling with families and children playing, the sounds of laughter and joy filling the air. Hanabi ran ahead, her energy boundless as she explored the playground. Kai watched her, a protective and loving gaze following her every move.
As Hanabi played, Kai found a bench and sat down, letting the peaceful surroundings soothe his mind. The events of the past few days had taken a toll on him, and he knew he needed to be strong for Hanabi. His thoughts were interrupted when a young woman sat down next to him.
"Hello," she greeted, her voice gentle. "Is that your sister?"
Kai nodded, smiling. "Yes, that's Hanabi. She's everything to me."
The woman smiled back. "She looks very happy. You must be a good brother."
"I try my best," Kai replied, his gaze returning to Hanabi. "She's been through a lot. I just want to give her a normal, happy life."
The woman nodded, understanding. "It's clear how much you care for her. Family is important."
Kai turned to look at the woman, noticing her kind eyes and warm demeanor. "I'm Kai, by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Kai. I'm Yumi," she said, extending her hand.
Kai shook her hand, feeling a sense of comfort in her presence. "Nice to meet you too, Yumi."
They sat in companionable silence for a while, watching the children play. Hanabi eventually ran back to Kai, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Brother, come play with me!" she urged, grabbing his hand.
Kai stood up, smiling. "Alright, let's play."
He turned to Yumi, who was still sitting on the bench. "It was nice talking to you, Yumi."
"You too, Kai. Take care of yourself and Hanabi," Yumi replied with a smile.
Kai and Hanabi spent the next hour playing in the park, their laughter echoing through the air. For that brief time, everything felt right in the world. Kai knew there would be more challenges ahead, but as long as he had Hanabi by his side, he felt he could face anything.
As the sun began to set, they made their way back home, hand in hand. Kai felt a renewed sense of determination. He would protect Hanabi, no matter what it took. The future was uncertain, but he was ready to face it head-on.
Before they went home, Kai and Hanabi made a stop at Mrs. Kimura's house to say their goodbyes. Hanabi ran ahead to hug her teacher, while Kai followed, carrying a sense of gratitude for the woman's kindness.
"Thank you so much for looking after Hanabi," Kai said, bowing slightly. "I can't express how much I appreciate it."
Mrs. Kimura smiled warmly, patting Hanabi's head. "It's no trouble at all, Kai. She's a delightful girl."
As they were about to leave, Mrs. Kimura's expression turned more serious. "Kai, I know you and Hanabi have been living in the storage room for many years," she said gently. "Why not just stay with me? My ex-husband and I divorced recently, and there's plenty of space here."
Kai was taken aback, his eyes widening in shock. "Mrs. Kimura, I... I'm so sorry for deceiving you all these years. I didn't want to burden you with our problems."
She shook her head, her eyes filled with understanding. "I knew about it, Kai. Did you think that whenever you asked me to take care of Hanabi, she wouldn't tell me stories about your life?"
Hanabi looked up, confused. "Brother, what does teacher mean?"
Kai knelt down to be at eye level with his sister, holding her hands. "Hanabi, Mrs. Kimura has known about our living situation for a long time. She's offering to help us now."
Hanabi's eyes filled with worry. "Did I do something wrong by telling her?"
Mrs. Kimura crouched down beside them, her expression soft. "No, Hanabi, you didn't do anything wrong. You were just being honest. And because of that, I want to help you both. You deserve a stable, safe home."
Kai felt a lump in his throat, struggling to find the right words. "Mrs. Kimura, I... I don't know what to say. Thank you."
She stood up, her eyes kind. "Just say you'll consider it. Think about what's best for Hanabi."
Kai nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude. "I will. Thank you."
They said their goodbyes and left Mrs. Kimura's house, walking hand in hand. The offer weighed heavily on Kai's mind as they made their way home. He knew Mrs. Kimura was right; Hanabi deserved a stable home, a place where she could feel safe and secure.
When they arrived back at their storage room, Kai looked around, taking in the cramped, dimly lit space. It had been their home for so long, but now it felt even smaller, even less adequate for Hanabi.
Kai knelt down beside his sister, who was sitting on the small bed they shared. "Hanabi, what do you think about Mrs. Kimura's offer? Would you like to stay with her?"
Hanabi looked up at him, her eyes wide. "Would we still be together, brother?"
Kai smiled, ruffling her hair. "Of course. We'd always be together."
A small smile spread across Hanabi's face. "Then I think it would be nice. Teacher Kimura is really kind."
Kai felt a sense of relief wash over him. "Alright, we'll talk to her tomorrow and see how we can make this work."
That night, as they lay in bed, Kai couldn't help but think about the future. Living with Mrs. Kimura would provide a better environment for Hanabi, and it would give him the opportunity to focus on his training and preparing for the challenges ahead.
The next morning, they returned to Mrs. Kimura's house. Kai knocked on the door, and she opened it with a warm smile. "Come in, both of you."
They sat down at the kitchen table, the air filled with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed tea.
"Mrs. Kimura," Kai began, taking a deep breath. "We've thought about your offer, and if it's still open, we'd like to stay with you."
Her smile widened. "Of course, Kai. My home is your home. Let's get you both settled in."
As they moved their few belongings into Mrs. Kimura's house, Kai felt a sense of hope and gratitude. For the first time in a long while, he felt that things were finally looking up. Hanabi was happy, and they had a safe place to call home.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone