"Three years?"
After hearing Aoba's explanation.
Yakumo, hearing that he had spent three whole years alone in Roran, felt her heart almost shatter.
In a completely unfamiliar place, with no family, no friends, and none of them by his side, for three years. How painful must that have been?
"Aoba, these three years, you've suffered."
Temari raised her hand, gently stroking Aoba's now more mature face, her expression full of pity.
But counted this way, she and Aoba were now about the same age.
"Aoba-kun, these three years must have been very hard, right?"
Hinata also couldn't help but hug him tighter, as if by doing so she could convey her heart to him.
Kurenai, listening at the side, also felt her heart ache at the thought of that scene, looking at the boy before her.
But for some reason, maybe because it had been too long since she had seen him, the look he gave her when speaking of longing had seemed even more naked.
The emotion within made her almost afraid to meet his gaze.
At this moment, Aoba, hearing Hinata's voice, immediately thought of something even more important.
He quickly raised his hands to cup Hinata's slightly chubby round cheeks, studying her carefully and asking with worry, "Hinata, your eyes, are they okay?"
Seeing that Aoba's first concern upon returning was for her, Hinata's heart was wrapped in deep warmth.
She also placed her hand upon the back of his and shook her head lightly, "They did hurt a little before, but suddenly they don't anymore."
"Other than pain, did you feel anything else?"
Aoba carefully observed her eyes, noticing that within those snow-pure irises of hers, faint streaks of green light seemed to shine.
"Mm~"
Hinata thought for a moment, "Just now, when Aoba-kun opened the seal, I felt as though a massive chakra suddenly rushed into my eyes."
'Massive chakra + pure Byakugan?'
'Add in the cramps.'
Aoba instantly understood.
'Wasn't this the stage right before the Byakugan evolved into the Tenseigan?'
It could be confirmed: Hinata possessed the purest Byakugan, even called the Byakugan Princess.
And then, with the sudden eruption of the Dragon Vein chakra, for some unknown reason it had surged into Hinata's eyes, accidentally beginning the gestation of the Tenseigan.
"Hinata, this might actually be a blessing," Aoba spoke with a serious expression.
"Really?"
Hinata was a little dazed.
"Mm!", Aoba nodded firmly, "I'll explain it more clearly to you later."
"Okay."
Hinata nodded obediently, her gaze flowing, "Aoba-kun, to me, the greatest blessing is simply that you came back safe."
Looking at the girl so openly baring her heart, Aoba felt the strings inside his chest plucked.
He lowered his head and pressed forward.
Lips entwined, this was Aoba releasing three years of suppressed emotion.
But for Hinata, it came a little too suddenly, too intense.
It didn't take long before Hinata grew dizzy and woozy.
Almost fainting.
Yakumo, watching from the side, couldn't stand it anymore and pulled the two apart.
"Aoba, Hinata's about to faint!"
Looking at Hinata, dizzy with spirals in her eyes, Aoba also felt a bit embarrassed.
He had gotten too carried away, hadn't controlled himself.
Then he looked at Yakumo, who was puffing her cheeks angrily, and couldn't help but pinch her face.
Yakumo's pretty face turned faintly red, her voice small, "Hinata can't handle it, but I won't faint."
How could Aoba not understand her meaning? He kissed her as well.
For a while, even the air grew thick.
Hearing those sticky, clinging sound, never mind Seramu, even Temari and Kurenai blushed, turning their faces slightly, embarrassed to watch the two any longer.
"You two, that's enough. With me…and Sara by his side, what suffering could Aoba possibly endure?"
Seramu cut in coldly, breaking off their intimacy. She had just witnessed Aoba exchanging such tenderness with two different girls.
Even her decades of queenly composure was strained.
This was practically no different from doing that kind of thing right in front of her.
Aoba also felt a little awkward. He had missed them so much that he'd gotten carried away.
Indeed, he should've been more discreet.
But while he felt embarrassed, the others did not.
Yakumo glared at Seramu, wiping her mouth, snapping angrily, "If you hadn't asked Aoba to open that seal, would he have had to go through all that alone?"
"That was Aoba's own decision. He said it himself, that his future self would come open the seal."
Seramu wasn't about to back down. After decades as queen, her aura directly suppressed Yakumo.
Seeing the other girl's lips still glistening, Seramu felt a surge of nameless fire within.
"Cough! Cough! Alright, alright, no matter what, today should be a happy day."
Aoba stepped between the two, cutting off their glares.
"Hmph!", Yakumo snorted coldly, "For Aoba's sake, I won't argue with you."
Seramu frowned, but said no more. With her status, she naturally wouldn't stoop to squabbling with children.
She had only been displeased at them doing that kind of thing right in front of her.
But thinking about it again, in her current position, she didn't even have the right to be angry.
"Aoba, Sara still hasn't woken up. Her body's alright, isn't it?", Seramu finally turned back to the real matter.
Sara was still fast asleep in her arms.
Aoba shook his head, "Don't worry. It's just her first time traveling through time, so she's not used to it. She'll wake up in a bit."
Such things get easier the second time around.
The first time he crossed, he had fainted too.
By the second, it was much better.
"That's good."
Seramu let out a breath of relief. Then she gave Aoba a resentful look.
"But… for twenty years, I lost my daughter and cried myself to sleep. Don't you think you owe me a little compensation?"
"And how should I compensate you?"
Aoba looked at her helplessly.
Seramu glanced at the others behind him, then smiled softly, "Better to wait until there are no outsiders."
"What? Who are you calling outsiders?", Yakumo nearly lost her temper.
Quick as ever, Aoba hugged her tightly, laughing, "We'll talk later. Time travel's really draining, I'm starving."
Seramu gave a half-smile, half-smirk, "Come with me, then."
With that, she carried Sara and walked ahead without looking back.
Meanwhile, still in Aoba's arms, Yakumo occasionally shot her proud, provocative looks.
A little scheming, indeed.
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