As night deepened, the lights in the Hyuga residence extinguished one by one.
The chirping of insects in the courtyard rose and fell, weaving a natural rhythm in the quiet night.
Hinata softly returned to her boudoir, her knuckles pressing slightly as she closed the paper door behind her.
The firmness she had feigned earlier when facing her father in the hall now receded like a tide, leaving only a heart full of bewilderment and apprehension.
She walked slowly to the window, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the cold window frame. Outside, the moonlight was hazy, casting long shadows of the courtyard.
Her father's admonition, "Shun-sama is noble but also a philanderer. You must be careful with your words and actions," and Shun's image, repeatedly tugged at her mind. Her heart felt as if it were blocked by something, a mix of conflicting emotions.
Just as she was lost in thought, the door was gently pushed open a crack, and a slender figure tiptoed in, light-footed.
"Sister... I want you to sleep with me." Hanabi's face held an undisguised joy.
She quickly burrowed into her sister's quilt, her bright, sparkling eyes smiling as she stared at her sister, Hinata.
Hinata turned around and, seeing her sister sneak in, frowned helplessly.
She reached out and rubbed her cheek. "Hanabi, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet? Go back to your own room, you have to get up early tomorrow."
Hanabi shook her head, clutching the quilt tightly with both hands, adopting a stubborn stance of not leaving.
"Sister... I'm not leaving. You're going to marry Shun-sama soon, and it'll be hard for me to see you again. I want to sleep with you tonight. I want to spend more time with you."
A hint of grievance quietly welled up in her eyes, her lower lip slightly pursed, her gaze so firm that it allowed no room for her sister's rebuttal.
Hinata patiently tried to persuade her a few more times, but Hanabi either lowered her head, pursed her lips in silence, or repeatedly used the excuse of "wanting to spend more time with sister." No matter how much her sister tried to make her leave, she clung to the bed, refusing to move.
Suddenly, Hanabi looked up at her sister, a sly, mischievous smile on her lips. "Sister, could it be that Shun-sama will come over tonight, which is why you're in such a hurry to send me away?"
"Hanabi, what nonsense are you talking about? That's not it."
Hinata's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she hastily turned her face away, a hint of embarrassment on her face.
She was thinking, 'If Shun really does come tonight, what should I do?'
Seeing her sister's childish stubbornness, Hinata ultimately couldn't bring herself to be firm and could only sigh in compromise. "Fine, Hanabi, if you want to stay, then stay."
Hanabi's face instantly lit up with joy. She cupped her sister's head and kissed her forehead. "Sister, you're the best."
She lay down next to Hinata, and the two sisters lying together added a touch of warmth to the room.
The two were silent for a moment, then only their steady breathing echoed in the room.
Hanabi turned on her side, gazing at Hinata's profile in the faint candlelight, her long eyelashes casting a shallow shadow beneath her eyes.
She hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but speak, her voice tinged with curiosity and seriousness. "Sister, what do you like about Shun-sama?"
Hearing this, Hinata's body stiffened slightly, and her gaze returned to the window, lost in thought.
She unconsciously clutched the quilt, the lamplight casting a soft, hazy glow on her face.
She pondered for a moment, a faint smile unconsciously blooming at the corners of her lips. "I can't quite pinpoint it, but if I had to list them, his good qualities are actually hidden in many details."
"He is the master of ten planets, yet he is never arrogant. When I encountered a bottleneck in my Senjutsu training, he never disliked my clumsiness and always guided me patiently."
As Hinata spoke, her eyes grew softer, and her expression relaxed considerably.
"He also understands many principles and listens to my grievances, then helps me analyze solutions."
"And although he is a philanderer, he is gentle and considerate to every woman. He remembers all of our birthdays, and he occasionally creates little surprises to make us happy."
Hanabi's eyes grew brighter and brighter as she listened. What was initially just curiosity gradually turned into obvious infatuation.
She unconsciously clutched the quilt tightly, her breathing becoming lighter.
Hinata saw this and reached out to playfully tap her nose. "What? After hearing me say all that, you think he's not bad?"
Hanabi's cheeks flushed, and she hastily turned her face away, with a maiden's shyness. "Sister, Shun-sama is indeed quite likable."
Hinata was amused by her appearance and gently tickled her armpit. "So, our little Hanabi is starting to like people too, even though you used to pretend to be indifferent."
Hanabi was both shy and annoyed, laughing as she snuggled into Hinata's embrace, reaching out to tickle her waist. "Sister, you're so mean, you just like to tease me."
The sisters instantly dissolved into playful chaos, the bedding on the bed becoming disheveled.
Under the warm yellow light, there was a long-lost intimacy.
The two sisters played for a while until both were breathless and tired, then they leaned against each other and lay down.
The bedroom returned to quiet, but the atmosphere was now warmer than before.
Hinata gently patted Hanabi's back, her tone tinged with a hint of melancholy. "I know the outside world says he's a philanderer, that he's never lacked women around him, but love is not about status or the past. I believe in his feelings for me and I'm willing to gamble once. Gamble that his promise to me isn't just a fleeting whim."
Hanabi leaned on her shoulder, her mind filled with the scenes Hinata had described, her heart still beating rapidly.
She was silent for a moment, then reached out and hugged Hinata's waist, her tone serious, with a hint of a maiden's lingering shyness. "Sister, I think... I've also fallen for Shun-sama."
Hearing this, Hinata's body paused slightly.
Before she could speak, she heard Hanabi continue, "Sister... why don't I marry Shun-sama too? That way I can be with you every day, and we can both stay by his side, and no one will dare bully you."
Hinata's heart warmed, and she gently patted her sister's hand. Her eyes welled up slightly, and her nose felt a little sore.
With her sister's words, even if the road ahead was unknown, she felt a little more confident.
She turned on her side, hastily lowering her voice, afraid of being overheard by anyone outside. "Hanabi, what nonsense are you talking about? You can't just say things like that."
Hanabi replied playfully, "Sister, I'm serious, I'm not talking nonsense."
Hinata gently tapped Hanabi's forehead, her touch soft, with a wry smile. "Shun-sama's status is special. Not to mention he already has so many consorts, your idea is simply absurd, and father wouldn't agree. You have your own life, you should find someone whose heart and eyes are only for you. How can you have such a thought?"
Hanabi, however, wrinkled her nose, pushed her hand away, and spoke with a serious stubbornness, "I'm not talking nonsense. You are going to such a distant place, without anyone close to you. If I also marry him, I can be with you every day, and no one will dare bully you. Besides, Shun-sama is excellent and I actually like him a lot. Besides, I can protect you, so father can also rest assured."
As she spoke, her eyes were full of innocent consideration, completely unaware of the complex entanglements hidden behind this proposal, only feeling that this was the best way to protect her sister.
Hinata looked at her sister's serious expression, her heart filled with both tenderness and warmth.
She gently embraced Hanabi, feeling her sister's warmth, as if cherishing a rare treasure, and softly stroked her disheveled hair.
"Silly girl, I know you mean well for me, but I can't be so selfish. Marriage is not a game, nor is it a bargaining chip for companionship. You deserve a better destiny. I only hope that you can grow up safely and find happiness that belongs solely to you, not sacrifice yourself for me."
Hanabi leaned in Hinata's embrace, listening to her sister's gentle words, her nose tingling.
She mumbled softly, "But I just don't want to be separated from you and I really like Shun-sama. I used to only dare to think about it secretly."
Hinata held her in her arms, gently patting her back, her tone tinged with melancholy. "Silly girl, you're still young, you don't understand what love is. You will definitely meet a better person in the future. He will cherish you and only be good to you."
Hanabi looked up, her eyes shining with stubbornness. "Sister, I'm not small anymore and age is not a problem. I heard that time in Immortal Village is different from the Ninja World. Six years pass there for every one year in the Ninja World, so if I just stay there for a few months, I'll be old enough to marry, and then I can marry Shun-sama with you."
Looking at her sister's determined eyes, Hinata felt a headache coming on.
She couldn't help but raise her voice slightly, "Hanabi, how can you have such thoughts? Marriage is never just about 'being old enough.' You can't decide your entire life so rashly for me or for a momentary liking."
Hanabi was startled by Hinata's serious tone and her eyes instantly reddened, but she still bit her lip, unwilling to give up her idea.
"Sister, I'm already grown up and the key is, I've secretly liked Shun-sama for a long time."
Hinata looked at her sister's serious eyes, unsure what to say. "Hanabi... are you serious?"
***
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