Chapter 54: I Do
The training ground was silent.
Under the tall streetlamp, two figures stood side by side—one tall, one petite.
The warm yellow light cast down on them like soft stardust, illuminating their outlines in the quiet night.
Though Ryosuke's thoughts churned with complexity, in reality, less than a minute had passed.
He looked at Hinata, her expression serious and earnest, and asked gently,
"Do you really understand what it ans to be husband and wife?"
Hinata nodded quickly, her cheeks flushed, eyes locked on him.
"I do. Sensei taught so of it, but Ino explained even more..."
She paused, then said softly, "When we're married, we have to trust each other, rely on each other, raise a child—like Hanabi—and we should also..."
"Alright, I get it," Ryosuke interrupted before she could finish.
It wasn't that he didn't want to hear it, but... this world matured fast—ntally, emotionally, even sexually.
Girls in their class openly vied for Uchiha Sasuke's attention: Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura... and Hinata occasionally spent ti with them. It wasn't surprising she'd picked up a thing or two.
And honestly, if word of his engagent to Hinata hadn't spread, there'd probably be plenty of girls chasing after him too. His grades were solid, and though his looks were different from the typical standard, he was undeniably handso.
A guy like him was bound to attract attention.
Still, Ryosuke felt most of this teenage infatuation was childish.
In this world, love was often strongest in school years. Once a ninja graduated and experienced the battlefield, those softer feelings tended to fade—replaced by the hunger for strength and survival.
He glanced at Hinata, still waiting for him to speak, and finally said softly,
"A long ti ago, I understood what it ant to be a husband. And I thought a lot about what our future would look like."
He paused, eyes eting hers.
"But I want you to explain it to —because I want to know that you truly understand what it ans if we beco husband and wife."
His voice was calm, gentle. But in the quiet of the training ground, Hinata heard every word clearly.
"This relationship... it started because of your father," Ryosuke continued. "He wants to marry into the Hyuga clan and beco your husband. But..."
He took a breath, then said,
"...I want it to be your choice. Not his. Not an obligation."
He stepped a little closer, his tone steady but serious.
"Feelings should be mutual. If we take your father's decision out of the equation—if we erase the engagent that's been arranged since we were kids—would you still choose to be with , Hinata? Would you still want to stay by my side?"
"I've thought about this a lot. I don't want you to regret it soday."
Because love needs a reason. And only when it's rooted in clarity—not impulse—can it last.
Marriage is a lifelong promise. It deserves thought. It deserves choice.
Hinata stood frozen.
She hadn't considered that before.
Without her father's decision... would they still be standing here like this?
"I... I like you, Ryosuke," she said, almost in a whisper. "You're always kind to . You make feel safe."
Her voice trembled slightly, but her words flowed fast and raw.
"When you were gone, I felt scared. I kept pushing through, trying to adapt—going to school alone, facing everyone on my own—but I missed you. I missed the comfort of having you nearby."
She bit her lip, eyes lowering.
"I've always known how amazing you are. You're way ahead of everyone in our class."
She took a deep breath and looked up again.
"After I understood what it ant to be a couple... to really be together... I didn't want to stay behind you anymore. I wanted to stand beside you."
Her voice grew steadier, firr.
"I've been training hard, not just to beco a proper heir to my clan, but so I can be soone worthy of standing at your side. I was afraid that once I told you what being husband and wife really ant... you'd see as useless and leave."
She spoke with everything she had, hands flailing a little as she tried to explain what words alone couldn't capture. Her cheeks, once bright red with shyness, gradually returned to their natural pale tone, replaced by an expression of quiet determination.
Ryosuke didn't interrupt. He just listened—silently, intently, letting every word sink in.
When she finally stopped, breathing slightly heavier, eyes full of anticipation, Ryosuke looked at her and—smiled.
Not a polite smile. Not one he wore as a mask.
But a real one—gentle, warm, and honest.
He had almost forgotten what that kind of smile felt like.
"So... this is your answer," he said softly.
He stepped forward, closing the last bit of distance between them, and gently rested his forehead against hers. One hand reached up to brush her hair aside, fingers lightly pressing against her head.
Hinata's breath hitched. Her wide eyes stared up at him, unsure of what he was about to say or do.
She slled faintly of sweat and the lingering aftermath of their spar, but underneath it all, there was a scent—subtle and intoxicating—that pulled him in. Not perfu. Sothing more... natural. Sothing real.
It made him lean in and breathe it in deeper.
"I can't make too many promises," Ryosuke said, his voice low and serious. "But I'll try my best to be a good husband. I'll protect this family."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"Not the Hyuga clan. But this family—, you, my father, and Hanabi. I'll protect that with everything I have."
It was the first promise Ryosuke had ever made like this.
In this life—or the one before it.
He had been an orphan. He knew what abandonnt felt like.
In his past life, he never made promises like this unless he was absolutely certain.
That's why he'd always been alone.
But here, in this world, he felt a kind of warmth he'd never known.
And even though it scared him... he wanted to hold onto it.
He took a deep breath, then asked her clearly:
"From this day forward... Hyuga Hinata, will you be my wife?"
Hinata stared into his eyes, her fear lting away as calm washed over her.
Then, without hesitation, she answered in a strong, unwavering voice:
"I do."
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