Chapter 2: Life is cruel

"So you're my new neighbor," said the voice of a girl dressed in orange shorts and a green and orange sweatshirt.

Across a small table, sitting with serious eyes and drinking coffee from a cup, a boy of the same age as the girl spoke. "Yes, I am your new neighbor and I am so sorry. I didn't want to hurt you, I didn't mean to hurt you," said the boy's voice with a clear hint of guilt.

The girl dismissed him with a radiant smile that made her whisker-scarred cheeks deepen.

—It doesn't matter, I heal very quickly and I never get sick. I'm amazing like that— said the girl with a radiant smile, but for Kofa, an observant man, he could see the immense loneliness in those blue eyes that for a moment lost all trace of clarity, becoming opaque.

Seeing this situation, Kofa decided to ask, "Can I live with you?" he asked in a somewhat careless manner. He didn't forget to take a sip from his cup of coffee and watch the girl's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

When Naruko heard this question, she felt like a thunderbolt went through her from head to toe. She couldn't move from happiness, in all the years she had to have the use of reason, never. No one had bothered to live with her.

Naruko watched as Kofa put down his cup and prepared to get up, scared and not wanting him to leave. She approached quickly, not caring about spilling the hot coffee on herself, and in one leap she grabbed Kofa's hand tightly.

Kofa was startled by the girl's sudden action and in his heart he was preparing for a sudden murderous attack. What he never expected was to lower his head and see very lonely, lifeless eyes. Empty ones that look at him with a desire to have a strength or someone to turn to.

Kofa felt incredible, he had never seen in his entire life eyes that showed this kind of extreme emotions of loneliness and then he heard it.

—Don't abandon me— The weak voice without resistance, just a sad sigh. As if the girl's happy and energetic voice was just an echo.

Kofa squeezed the little girl's small hand and came closer, surrounding her in a hug full of true warmth and courage. Deep in his soul, he wanted to show her all the feelings of encouragement that were floating around in his head with this hug.

Naruko felt Kofa's thin arms surrounding her in a hug, she didn't know what this strange feeling was. A very timid warmth began to rise in her heart and without realizing it a few salty drops slid down her cheeks and fell to the ground.

Kofa saw this, Naruko is crying with her head completely buried in his chest. Wanting to feel this warm feeling.

Naruko spoke — I-I-I'm not crying, I'm strong and I will become hokage. -Dattebayo- — she said with a broken voice.

Kofa, seeing this, just came closer and said to her — You are no longer alone, you have me. Don't hide all your loneliness behind a smile. Stop carrying all the weight on your shoulders, you are hurting yourself and your dreams will be left in ruins—