章 172: 172
Haruto had just finished his shift at the hospital, walking beside Shizune as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the village in a warm, soft glow. The quiet streets were peaceful, with only the distant sounds of birds and the occasional villager finishing their day. Haruto appreciated moments like these—the calm after a long day, the chance to unwind. Beside him, Shizune kicked at a loose pebble, her usual composed expression relaxed.
"You always walk this slowly?" Shizune teased, glancing over at Haruto with a grin.
Haruto smirked, pretending to think it over. "I'm just giving you a chance to catch up."
Shizune rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face was unmistakable. "Sure you are. I bet if we had a race, you'd still be dragging your feet."
"Nah," Haruto replied, playfully nudging her with his shoulder. "You wouldn't even see me once I take off. I'm fast when I want to be."
Shizune laughed at that. "Uh-huh. I'm sure. But I think you just like to enjoy the walk, huh? Get all zen with nature and stuff?"
Haruto chuckled. "Something like that. Besides, what's the rush? The village looks nice at this time of day."
Shizune shrugged, glancing around at the quiet streets. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Sometimes it's nice to just walk around without worrying about… you know, everything else."
They fell into a comfortable silence after that, just walking at a leisurely pace. It was rare for them to have moments like this—where they weren't training, studying, or rushing off somewhere. Being around Shizune always had a calming effect on Haruto. She wasn't loud or dramatic, and she didn't feel the need to fill every moment with chatter.
"You ever think about getting lost on purpose?" Shizune asked suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "On purpose? Why would I do that?"
Shizune grinned, nudging him again. "Because it's fun. You know, wander around, see where you end up. No plans, no goal—just exploring."
Haruto chuckled softly. "Is that what you do when you disappear for hours?"
"Sometimes," Shizune admitted, her smile widening. "It's kind of freeing, you know? Not having to know where you're going for once."
Haruto thought about that for a moment, the idea of just wandering off without a destination in mind. "I guess I can see the appeal," he said. "But what if you get lost and can't find your way back?"
Shizune waved him off. "Please, I have an excellent sense of direction. Besides, if I ever did get lost, I could always just blame you for it."
Haruto grinned. "Of course. I'd be the one to get the blame."
"Well, you are the 'responsible' one," Shizune teased, mimicking his calm, collected demeanor.
Haruto laughed. "I don't know where you got that idea, but I'll take it."
They reached Shizune's house not long after, the walk feeling shorter than usual. The warm glow of the setting sun lingered on the horizon, casting long shadows across the path. Shizune paused at the front door, turning to face him with a smile.
"You know, it's nice to just hang out without all the training and responsibilities for once," she said, her tone softer now.
Haruto nodded, returning the smile. "Yeah, I agree. Sometimes it's good to just be… normal, I guess."
Shizune laughed. "Normal? You think you're ever going to be normal, Haruto?"
"Probably not," Haruto admitted with a grin. "But I can try."
"Good luck with that," Shizune said, rolling her eyes. "But hey, thanks for walking with me. See you tomorrow?"
"Definitely," Haruto said, giving her a quick wave. "See you tomorrow."
As Shizune stepped inside, Haruto turned and began making his way back to his own apartment. The air felt cool against his skin, and as the last rays of sunlight disappeared, he let himself relax completely. It was moments like this that made everything else—the training, the missions, the long days—worth it. Just walking home, sharing a few jokes, and enjoying being a kid for a little while longer.
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