C77 You Can be My Girlfriend!

Snowballs pelted down, striking her relentlessly. Hinata didn't fight back; instead, she curled up, hugging her head and crouching on the ground, her spirits sinking lower and lower, her sadness deepening.

"I really must be someone people dislike. My own family doesn't care for me, and neither do others..."

Eventually, perhaps tiring of their game, the children dispersed one by one.

But Hinata's heart only grew heavier, as if plummeting into an endless, dark abyss.

"Hello!"

Just then, a warm voice cut through the gloom. It was like a beam of sunlight piercing the abyss, reaching down to rescue her from the pervasive darkness.

"You... hello!"

Lifting her head, Hinata saw a boy her own age. Despite the chilly, snow-filled air, he wore only a black outfit, seemingly impervious to the cold.

"I'm Gekka Ming. What's your name? Your eyes are so beautiful. Can we be friends?"

Yang Ming asked with a smile.

"I'm Hinata. You... you're not scared of me?"

She asked cautiously, looking at Yang Ming.

A look of incredulous joy spread across her face.

"Friends? You want to be my friend?"

"Why would I be scared of you? Your eyes are so beautiful, I'm already a fan. Of course, I want to be friends. And not just friends—if you could be my girlfriend, that would be even better. You're so pretty; you're going to be stunning when you grow up. I've got to stake my claim early, or I'll end up single!"

Yang Ming declared, gazing at the five-year-old Hinata without a hint of doubt.

"This... This... Mr. Gekka is just too..."

Overwhelmed by his forwardness, Karin, who was hiding nearby, was at a loss for words and turned to Kawabata Nozomu.

Kawabata Nozomu watched Yang Ming, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

"Is this the same Mr. Gekka known for his Unparalleled Abnormal Strength? And isn't this a bit much? She may be a pretty little girl, but she's only five. Who does this at five years old?"

"Ah!"

At that moment, Hinata heard his words and promptly passed out.

"She's out cold, huh..."

Yang Ming couldn't help but roll his eyes. He was well aware of Hinata's tendency to faint at the slightest embarrassment, but he hadn't expected it to be a trait from her youth.

"Sigh..."

He let out a sigh, built a bonfire nearby, and waited for Hinata to come to.

Roughly an hour later, Hinata stirred, waking from her faint with a start. She quickly sat up, and upon seeing Yang Ming still there, she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Feeling hungry? Have some roasted sweet potatoes!"

Yang Ming offered a warm smile as Hinata regained consciousness, passing her the sweet potatoes he had cooked over the flames.

"Ah... Thank you, Mr. Gekka!"

Hinata's cheeks flushed as she accepted the sweet potatoes, then shyly bowed her head, avoiding Yang Ming's gaze.

She clearly hadn't forgotten the words he had spoken earlier.

"Hinata, what do you usually eat?"

Yang Ming deftly steered the conversation elsewhere, inquiring about her usual fare.

"Well, I eat..."

Hinata pondered the question seriously before giving a solemn response.

"Really? I enjoy that too, but..."

Yang Ming chuckled, sparking a lively conversation between them.

As they talked, Hinata began to unwind, and the two engaged in a spirited exchange.

Perhaps it was the novelty of having someone like Yang Ming to talk to, someone close in age who exuded a comforting presence, that allowed Hinata to open up and share all that was on her mind.

Eventually, she succumbed to fatigue and fell asleep.

Yang Ming sighed at the sight, glanced back at the forest, and stood up.

"Mr. Gekka, we've got a Ninja approaching!"

Just then, Kawabata Nozomu appeared abruptly, issuing a warning.

"Understood."

Yang Ming nodded, gave Hinata one last deep look, exchanged a knowing glance with Kawabata Nozomu, and together they departed.