Chapter 58

"It's okay," she said, though her voice wavered. She looked away for a moment, trying to gather herself. "I just... wasn't expecting that."

He knew she wasn't used to closeness, not after what she had been through. 

But for him, this was more than just a reunion with a friend. 

"I missed you," he said softly. "More than you know."

Konan's eyes flickered with emotion, but she quickly masked it with a small smile. "I missed you too, Hiro."

But there was still distance between them—an invisible barrier that Hiro wasn't sure how to cross.

Hiro gave Konan a soft smile, preparing to walk alone, but before he could take another step, she called out.

"I'll come with you," she said, her voice a mix of determination and uncertainty.

He turned to face her, surprised, but nodded without hesitation. They walked together through the dense forest, the hidden path winding between towering trees and rocky slopes, leading them deeper into the mountains. 

The only sounds were the crunch of their footsteps on the underbrush and the occasional bird song echoing through the trees.

After some time, they reached the concealed entrance—nothing more than a thick curtain of vines hanging against the rockface. 

Hiro gently pushed them aside, revealing the hidden sanctuary inside. 

The cave stretched deep into the mountain, its entrance dark and unassuming, but as they ventured further, the light from torches mounted on the stone walls illuminated a vast, carefully constructed space.

Carved into the rock, it had expanded into multiple rooms with stone pillars supporting the ceiling and tapestries hanging on the walls. The flicker of firelight gave the cave a warm, almost homely glow.

As they walked inside, Konan looked around, she was the one who with the help of Mikoto and pakura turned this cave into a house not any house but it seems like some kind of luxurious house. 

Several maids moved about, attending to their tasks quietly,

He looked at the women wearing maid's costume he was quite.. confused what is going on from where did these maids come from?

"Hiro!" A familiar voice echoed through the cave.

Mikoto appeared from one of the side chambers, her face lighting up with joy. She hurried toward him, her steps careful due to the round swell of her belly. Hiro's eyes widened in surprise as he realized she was pregnant—four, maybe five months along.

"It's been so long!" Mikoto said, her smile full of warmth. She embraced him gently, mindful of her condition.

Behind her, another figure emerged—Pakura, who was also visibly pregnant, her expression more reserved but still warm. She walked over to them, placing a hand on Hiro's shoulder in a quiet greeting. 

Like Mikoto, she too was about five months along, and the closeness between them was evident.

Konan stood off to the side, watching the interaction. She felt her heart tighten as she saw the way Hiro easily slipped into conversation with the two women. 

The way they looked at him—the way they touched him so familiarly—triggered something in her, something she hadn't expected. 

She felt a pang of jealousy rise within her, unbidden and powerful, as if she was an outsider watching something she didn't belong to.

Her mind raced as she saw the tenderness in Hiro's eyes, the affection he shared with Mikoto and Pakura. It was something deeper than friendship, something she couldn't quite grasp. 

Unconsciously, her fists clenched at her sides, and though she tried to push it down, the jealousy gnawed at her, growing with every second.

Hiro, unaware of Konan's inner turmoil, spoke casually with Pakura and Mikoto.

Mikoto noticed the confusion on his face "Ill explain everything to you let's get inside to the bedroom"

As they Entered the room Hiro both of the women asked him to sit on the bed 

".."

Hiro's gaze shifted between Mikoto and Pakura as the weight of their situation settled in. Both women were carrying his children, and yet, they hadn't told him before he left. 

"You knew," Hiro finally said, his voice soft but with a note of disbelief. "You both knew you were pregnant before I left, didn't you?"

Mikoto nodded, biting her lower lip before speaking. "Yes, Hiro… we knew. But…" She paused, exchanging a quick glance with Pakura, who took a deep breath and continued.

"We didn't tell you because we didn't want to distract you. You had a lot on your shoulders, and we knew you needed to stay focused on your mission—on your goals," Pakura explained, her voice calm but carrying a weight of emotion. "We didn't want you to worry about us."

Hiro stared at them, processing their words.

"I could have stayed here for you two..—" he started, but Mikoto interrupted him gently.

"We know, Hiro. That's why we didn't tell you. You would've dropped everything, and we couldn't let you do that." Her voice was soft but resolute. 

"You needed to focus on what you were doing. We were safe here."

Pakura nodded, her hand still resting on her belly. "We're strong, Hiro. We could handle it. And now that you're back, We can live as a normal family..."

Hiro's heart swelled with conflicting emotions. He understood why they had kept it from him, but part of him wished they hadn't. 

Konan, who had been sitting quietly, watching the exchange, felt her jealousy twisting inside her. 

Konan shifted uncomfortably. The way they spoke, how easily they shared these intimate details with Hiro, made her feel like more of an outsider. 

She clenched her fists, trying to push down the jealousy that surged through her. She had followed Hiro here, hoping to reconnect, but now, seeing how deep his bond with Mikoto and Pakura was, she didn't know where she fit in anymore.

Hiro glanced at Konan, noticing her discomfort. "Konan…" he said softly, his concern clear in his eyes.

She forced a small smile, but inside, the uncertainty and jealousy still lingered. "It's fine, Hiro," she said, though her voice wavered slightly. "This is your family."