In contrast, there were those trashy otherworld anime that Rin had watched in his previous life.
The protagonists in them were simply mind blowing.
You want to kill me, but for various reasons I still have to let you go, calling it magnanimity.
Especially in one particular series. The protagonist fell into despair and committed suicide by jumping off a cliff because of a teammate's betrayal, only to gain an opportunity.
Afterward, when he saw that teammate again, he actually said that if it were not for your betrayal, I would not have had this opportunity. So not only do I not blame you, I even want to thank you.
When Rin saw that part, he was completely dumbfounded.
No.
Dude, are you serious?
What kind of reversed cause and effect is this?
It was utterly ridiculous.
In some ways, Hinata's values were very similar to Rin's.
If he were in the same situation, Rin would also act without hesitation, even if it meant a complete showdown with the other party.
"These days continued until I met Shizue-sensei..."
In Hinata's memories, the dancing flames were like a gentle warm sun, shining through solid ice and creating cracks within it, though still unable to melt it.
Appearing before that killing puppet was a beautiful woman wearing a mask and wielding flames.
The woman extended her hand, wanting to awaken this puppet again.
"It was you who saved me..."
The brief time spent by Shizue's side was the most peaceful yet most repressed period for the girl since her reincarnation.
Whether it was her fighting stance, standing up for people, or the warm daily life full of care, it all filled the girl with admiration.
However, the girl ran away.
She ran away from that warmth because that warmth caused her pain again.
From Shizue, Hinata felt as if she saw her own mother, and a deep fear rose within her.
She feared that the warm but not strong candlelight would be accidentally extinguished by her own hands.
She feared even more that if she gave up on becoming stronger and indulged in that warmth, she would lose her sense of self and completely become a useless person.
"I ran away."
"Afraid of the gentleness you gave me, afraid of losing it again, so I ran away."
But even after leaving Shizue, Hinata still felt a change within herself.
Her words and actions began to imitate her respected teacher.
No longer plundering power from others, but cutting down evil, upholding justice, and strengthening her beliefs as a human.
"And when I learned from Yuki that you were being persecuted, even facing mortal danger..."
"That was when I truly realized how important you were to me."
The girl who had never received love met her sun.
The thought that such a gentle and kind Shizue might die at the hands of monsters made Hinata ignore everything else.
She had grown stronger, possessing enough power to protect Shizue.
If Shizue died because of her inaction...
Then Hinata would never forgive herself.
It was precisely because of this that Hinata could absolutely not forgive Yuki, who so casually trampled on those feelings.
She understood Shizue too well.
Shizue treated every student equally, and this naturally included Yuki.
Hinata did not expect Yuki to remain grateful forever.
But there had to be a basic bottom line.
No matter who it was, anyone who dared to harm Shizue, Hinata secretly swore that she would never allow Shizue to be harmed again.
"I'm sorry..."
Shizue, who now understood everything, silently walked forward and hugged the girl tightly.
"I didn't know anything. I'm sorry..."
"I'm the one who should apologize, Shizue-sensei..."
Hinata had always regarded Shizue as the best teacher.
She was the one who was wrong.
If she had not feared that gentleness and chosen to run away back then, Shizue might have completely melted the solid ice in her heart.
No.
Perhaps it was precisely because she realized this, because she knew Shizue could definitely do it.
That was why Hinata was afraid.
"It's all over now."
Shizue stroked the girl's hair and gently patted her back.
"Cry if you want. Just for today, you can forget those pains. Just this once, forget them, indulge yourself, and forgive yourself."
"Mhm."
Hinata hugged Shizue's soft body and buried her face in her embrace.
"Please don't leave me, Sensei..."
Choosing to face her vulnerable self and acknowledge her weakness was also a form of growth.
"Fear?"
In a corner unnoticed by either of them, Luminous leaned against the wall, eavesdropping on the conversation between teacher and disciple.
Luminous had known about Hinata's past for a long time.
Rin and Violet also knew, just like her.
Well, it could not be helped.
Rin did not want to eavesdrop, nor was he deliberately doing so.
But this was Monster Nation.
Within his territory, there were no secrets.
Moreover, Hinata was crying so loudly now that it was hard for Rin not to notice.
Noticing that Luminous was eavesdropping, Rin decided to stop beside her as well.
"Do you have such a depraved hobby, Your Majesty?" Rin said.
Luminous looked at Rin, who had appeared beside her. "You're one to talk. Pfft!"
Luminous could not help but burst into laughter. She felt that Rin was truly very different from what she had imagined.
So powerful, yet so approachable.
Hmm, just like her.
She was also this close with her kin and with Hinata.
"Alright, how long are you going to keep eavesdropping here like a lovesick woman?"
Rin stepped forward and grabbed Luminous's hand. Ignoring her surprised gasp, he directly dragged her away.
Luminous was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and immediately retorted unhappily.
"I, I just like her, okay? Hinata, Hinata is so cute..."
Luminous was actually a little jealous of Shizue.
She was a lesbian.
Female by gender, female by preference.
The person she loved most was Hinata, and second was Chloe.
No. To be precise, Luminous only loved one woman, and that was the Hero who once sealed Veldora.
And in Rin's timeline,
To ensure the closed loop of time, it was inevitable that Hinata and Chloe would travel back to the past together to complete the history of the strongest Hero subjugating Veldora.
Therefore, the Hero who saved Luminous and avenged her was both Hinata and Chloe.
From this perspective, Luminous liking both of them was indeed pure love.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)