Haruna stood at the base of the mountain with her hands on her hips. "Kohana-chan, you had something you wanted to ask me, right?"
Kohana nodded, clearing her throat. The question had been lingering in the back of her mind for the past week since she had found out. "You're not scared about going on your first mission? I mean I know I asked you the week before, but you seemed so nonchalant about it." Now that I think about it, Haruna's nonchalant or at least pretends to it be about a lot of things, thought Kohana.
The dark skinned female looked back at her petite companion, smiling. "Sigh. You want the truth, Hana? Of course, of course I'm scared. But, I can't let fear muddle the mission. If I did I wouldn't hear the end of it from Hasegawa Keiichi, and you know I don't need him thinking he's beaten me in anything." She paused, pursiing her lips. "Stupid feline loving-"
"Haruna!" Kohana snapped, hands clapped together. "I don't want to hear you ranting about him, not again." She chuckled, lowering her hands back to her side. "I mean I understand what you mean, but I don't see how showing fear equals being weak, you know? I mean my mother- no, using her wouldn't be a good example. Your grandmother-"
Haruna cut her off. "Don't. I don't need you recounting my grandmother's tales too, alright? I hear it enough from Sensei about how I'm tarnishing her legacy by not following more in her footsteps." She raised a hand and smoothed back her hair. "Your mother is more than worthy of using as an example. I don't see why more people don't follow in her footsteps, instead of trying to imitate dear old grandmother's."
"But Haruna-"
"Don't 'but' me, Aisawa-san!" She leaned against the tree behind her, eyes staring up at the cloudless, blue sky. "You of all people should take more pride in Touka Hanabusa. She's your mother. She saved countless lives during the attempted Second Great Ninja War. And so what if once she fell in love, married, and had children that she decided to retire and become a housewife? Your mother's actions weren't weak. You're the weak one if you think that, Kohana. Your mother's one hell of a woman and I know one woman in particular who would've died to be related to someone as capable as she."
Kohana listened in silence as her friend ranted. She didn't want to listen, but Haruna was telling the truth.
"Do I even need to name said woman, Kohana?" She turned her attention to the petite, black haired girl. "I don't mean to be snappy at you, Aisawa, but I thought we were past the whole housewife thing with your mom. She's still a kickass woman."
Haruna crackled her knuckles and began walking down the hill, hands sliding into her pockets. "Anyway, I'll be seeing you, Aisawa Kohana. I have a few things I still need to pack before heading out tonight."
"Right," said Kohana, placing her hands on her knees, as she rose to stand. "Do you think you'll have time to stop by before you leave?"
Haruna came to a halt, sighing. "No, sorry. Sensei said that once we're all done packing to meet him immediately at his house. I'll leave a special message for you with my brother, which you can get sometime tommorrow." There was a brief pause before a light chuckle escaped her lips. "I'll be seeing you, Hana-chan. Don't change too much while I'm gone, okay?" And with that, Haruna bounded down the hill, with her arms outstretched.
Kohana waved, her smile forced. Why can't I be more like her? Why can't I accept things as how they are? She wondered, looking down at the overview, before trekking down the hill in the opposite direction.