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But when Itachi called that night, she forced herself to answer, putting on her cheerful voice. "Hey, Itachi! Sorry, I've been so swamped. How are you?"
"I'm good, Kaina," he replied, his voice calm as ever, but there was a pause. "You sound tired though."
Kaina chuckled, masking her exhaustion. "Nah, just a long day, that's all. You know how it is with hero work."
"I understand," he said softly. "But you've been saying that for a while now. Are you sure everything's okay?"
She hesitated, not expecting his gentle probing. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine! You know me, always running around," she said with a laugh. She could almost picture him on the other end, his dark eyes seeing through her facade.
"It's just... you don't have to always act like everything's perfect, Kaina. I know something's on your mind. You don't have to tell me, but... just know I'm here."
Kaina's heart clenched. She hated how easily he could read her, how his words always made her feel understood, even when she didn't want to be. For a moment, she thought about telling him everything—about the HPSC, the missions, the darkness creeping into her soul. But she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Instead, she smiled through the pain, her voice bright. "You always know how to make me feel better, Itachi. I'm okay, really. Just... a little tired. But talking to you helps."
Itachi didn't push any further. "I'm glad I can help. Just remember, I'm here whenever you need to talk. You don't have to carry everything alone."
His words were a comfort she hadn't realized she needed. She laughed lightly, though the tears she held back threatened to spill over. "I know, Itachi. Thank you."
Their conversations continued, light and filled with warmth. Kaina never revealed the truth about her work, and Itachi never pried, even though he could sense the weight she carried. He understood what it was like to keep secrets, to protect the ones you care about by not burdening them with your own struggles.
As they said their goodnights, Kaina hung up and sat in the quiet of her apartment. Her heart ached, but it was a little lighter, thanks to him. She wiped her eyes and whispered, "Thank you, Itachi... I'll keep moving forward. For you."
Though the darkness of her work remained, Kaina found solace in the fact that there was someone out there who cared about her—someone who could see through her mask, even if she wasn't ready to let him in completely.
After about a month of silence, Itachi decided it was time to reach out to Kaina again. He picked up his phone and called her, determined to hear her voice and check on her. At first, the call went unanswered, but he was persistent. After a few attempts, the familiar click of the line picking up filled his ear.
"Itachi?" Kaina's voice came through, tired but still carrying that lightness he had grown accustomed to. "Sorry, I've been really busy."
"I figured," Itachi replied, his tone gentle but with a hint of concern. "I wanted to check on you. We haven't spoken in a while."
"Yeah... HPSC has me working nonstop. It's been pretty crazy these days," Kaina explained, though her voice masked the deeper strain she was feeling. "But hey, what about you? How's the hero license exam preparation going?"
Itachi smiled softly to himself. Even when she was overwhelmed, Kaina still asked about him. "It's going well. A lot of training, but I'm ready for it."
"That's great to hear!" Kaina's tone perked up, a little more lively now. "I'm sure you'll pass with flying colors. You're a natural."
"Thanks," Itachi replied. There was a short pause before he added with a chuckle, "But you know, I was thinking... once I get my license, how about I become your sidekick? You could show me the ropes."
Kaina's heart ached at his words, but she masked it with a soft laugh. "Itachi, as tempting as that sounds, I don't think I can take on a sidekick right now. The work with HPSC is keeping me more than occupied. I've barely had time to breathe lately."
There was a hint of sadness in her voice, but she quickly tried to brighten it up. "But hey, don't let that stop you from being an amazing hero on your own. You don't need me to guide you."
"I get it," Itachi said with a nod, even though she couldn't see him. "But you know I'll always be ready to stand by your side when you need me, right?"
Kaina paused on the other end, her heart warming at his words. She knew how genuine he was, and it made it even harder to keep up the wall she had built around herself. "Yeah... I know," she whispered. "Thank you, Itachi. That means a lot to me."
"Just promise me you're taking care of yourself," Itachi added, his voice a little softer now. "I know you've got a lot going on, but don't forget to take breaks. You can't carry everything alone."
Kaina smiled, even though her heart felt heavy. "I'll try. I promise."
There was a comfortable silence for a moment, both of them simply enjoying the connection, even if it was over the phone. Kaina felt a bit of the weight lift off her shoulders just by talking to him.
"All the best for your exam, Itachi," she said warmly. "I know you'll do great."
"Thanks, Kaina," Itachi replied, a slight smile in his voice. "And when I pass, maybe I'll still try to convince you to take me on as your sidekick."
Kaina laughed, the sound light but a bit bittersweet. "We'll see," she teased, though deep down, she knew things wouldn't be that simple.
"Take care," Itachi said finally.
"You too," Kaina replied softly before ending the call.
As Kaina put her phone down, she leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. A small smile lingered on her lips, though her heart was still heavy. She felt conflicted—on one hand, she cherished these conversations with Itachi, but on the other, she knew her line of work with the HPSC made it hard to keep close connections. She didn't want to pull him into the dark, tangled world she had been navigating.
"I'm really proud of you, Itachi," she whispered to herself, wiping away a tear before it could fall. "But I have to keep my distance... for both of us."
But for now, she allowed herself to hold onto the warmth his words had given her, knowing that despite everything, he would always be there for her when she needed it. And that made the weight she was carrying just a little bit lighter.
Just as she began to gather herself, her phone buzzed on the desk, drawing her attention. Kaina glanced at the screen, and her heart skipped a beat. It was the HPSC president calling.
Her brow furrowed as a sense of dread washed over her. She knew this wasn't going to be a simple conversation. She picked up the phone with a steady hand, answering it with a cold, detached tone.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was formal, calculated, and it immediately set her on edge. They exchanged pleasantries, but it was clear the president wasn't calling for small talk. Kaina listened intently, her expression hardening as she absorbed the information.
The president spoke of threats, of plans, and of her place in the larger scheme. The implications of what they were discussing settled over her like a dark cloud, suffocating and oppressive. It became clearer with every word that her time was running out, that she was a target—an expendable asset in their eyes.
Kaina's jaw clenched, her grip tightening around the phone.They think they can control me. They think I'll just fall in line.
Her blood boiled, but she kept her voice calm, controlled. She wasn't about to let them hear her anger. "Understood," she said curtly, before ending the call without another word.
For a moment, she just sat there, the silence in the room almost deafening. But then her eyes narrowed, and a dangerous determination flared within her.
"Just wait…" she muttered under her breath, her gaze darkening. "After I get the information I need, I'll bury you myself."
Kaina stood, her resolve hardening with every second. She wasn't going to let the HPSC control her. She wasn't going to let them dictate her life or threaten her existence. And more than anything, she wasn't going to let them hurt anyone close to her—especially not Itachi.
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If you want to read ahead by 10 chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.
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