Chapter-69
Another day… another damn day…
Naruto opened his eyes as he heard a knock on his apartment door. Glancing at his watch, he realized it was already late, 9:23 AM. Today, he didn't have to go to UA; there were two days of rest for the participants of the sports festival. He had worked late the previous night, but at least he had night work today, starting at dusk and going until midnight. It was a good deal that allowed him to visit UA.
Knock, knock, knock.
He groaned, hearing the door again. Getting up from his bed, he stood, wearing only dark pants. Walking to the door, he opened it to see who was bothering him at this hour. Once he opened it, he was surprised to find Shiori Todoroki standing there. The girl wore a white t-shirt with a dark jacket, long white pants, white sports shoes, and a backpack on her back.
"Good morning, Uzumaki-san," the red and white-haired girl looked at the shinobi impassively, seemingly unfazed by encountering a semi-naked boy. Tilting her head, she noted that the blond seemed to have been asleep not long ago. "Did I come at a bad time?" she asked softly while remaining in front of the door.
"How did you find me?" Naruto asked, still somewhat drowsy as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. It was an unexpected visit, to say the least.
"Internet," the girl responded simply, showing her phone to demonstrate that she had tracked Uzumaki's location through a webpage that seemed to only spread rumors.
"Damn the Internet," Naruto muttered under his breath. He moved away from the door, allowing Shiori to enter. He grabbed one of the many t-shirts he had and put it on. "I'll be right back." With that, he went to the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
Standing in the middle of the room, Shiori looked around with interest. This was a boy's room, but it seemed rather spartan. There was a bed, a refrigerator, a stove in the kitchen, a closet, and, of course, the bathroom that was currently occupied by Naruto. She couldn't help but wonder what this place said about him.
In one corner, she noticed a short, dark sword, presumably belonging to the apartment's resident. She waited patiently for Naruto to emerge from the bathroom. She didn't have to wait long as he returned, now dressed in a gray t-shirt and dark pants. "Alright, I don't have much time and patience today. Tell me why you've come to visit," he said as he went to the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of alcohol, and began to drink without much thought. Shiori watched this with a disapproving look.
"Do you drink every morning?" Shiori asked with a hint of doubt as she observed the shinobi just shrug his shoulders and take a seat in the room's only chair.
"You're not the only one with problems. Alcohol helps drown my worries," Naruto replied. Shiori didn't know what to say. Was he an alcoholic at such a young age? It seemed both sad and dangerous. "I won't ask again... What are you doing here?" Naruto's words held a clear undertone of irritation.
"I've come to ask you a favor, to accompany me to an institution to visit my mother," Shiori said, her voice trembling slightly. An awkward silence enveloped the room, broken only by Naruto's dry laughter. But it soon subsided as he noticed Shiori's serious and impassive expression.
"Are you serious? I'm sorry for laughing, but it's unusual for a stranger to seek someone out to visit their mother in who knows where," Naruto said. He tossed the empty bottle into the trash.
"You're not a stranger... you're the closest thing I have to a friend," Shiori said, her fingers gripping her backpack straps. Naruto merely laughed again.
In silence, he watched as she turned and walked towards the door, apparently dismissing the idea. Staying seated, he pondered why he should care. Was she just a child who considered him her only friend? It wasn't her fault that she was antisocial. Frustrated, he let his head fall back against the table.
Shiori quickly descended the stairs and found herself outside the complex. She maintained her cold and serious demeanor, but internally, she felt like a fool. "I'm a fool," she sighed. She considered postponing the visit until her older sister returned.
"Walk, kid, before the effects of alcohol wear off and make me return to my apartment," Naruto advised as he walked alongside her. He had changed into a dark sweatshirt and had his typical bandages covering his right eye and forehead. Shiori managed a slight smile and continued on her way to the train station.
The hours passed in silence as they made their way to another city. Both teenagers remained quiet, finding comfort in the mutual silence. When they finally reached their destination, it was a large building with plain walls adorned with countless windows. It was the typical mental health facility or something of the sort.
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