Chapter 16: Weird Adults and Rika's Insecurities

After we reached Aunty Hana's home, I was surprised to see that despite just getting acquainted recently, Rika and Aunty Hana seem to be relatively much more comfortable with each other.

Maybe because of Rika's cheerful nature? Also, it could be because of the first impression she gave when they first met at the park.

Whatever the reason was, it helped me in the end.

Rika was obviously jealous about the fact that Eri was more accepting of me than her. But I didn't care about it. I was too focused on playing with my cousin.

It was all good and relaxing until the moment of truth came.

I was feeling a little nervous. So, instead of fidgeting around, I decided to say it all at once. After hyping myself up a little I said,

"Aunty Hana, I think I should tell you about my mom a little. Her name is Yuhi Uzumaki. Formerly, Yuhi Hassaikai."

Aunty was shocked a little, but soon regained her composure. But this time she was a little more guarded against me than before. It was really disappointing to see her being like that, but I can't blame her for that.

Even if I can, I won't. What would it even change? I'd rather try to fix the problem then pointing at who created it.

"And why did you come here?" She asked me. I could see her eyes subconsciously moving towards Eri for a moment. She was worried about her daughter.

I ignored it. As long as we are talking about sane people, all mothers are the same. Their child is their first priority, instinctively.

[A/N: Some times fear triumphs over it though. It doesn't justify them abandoning their child, but rather explains why they did so.]

"Because I wanted to meet my aunt? Mom told me about you a lot. That always made me curious about meeting you.

After I saw you that day in the park, I checked tho old pictures of you in the album that mom still keeps. It has your teenage pictures in it.

I asked Rika here about your name. That's how I figured out that maybe you're the same person in the picture. I wasn't really sure, but your reaction says I was right about it."

I replied. Leaving the part that Mom has her recent pictures too. But that's not something she needs to know.

"*sigh* No point denying it now, is there? I-Is... Is she doing alright?" She asked me with a little bit of guilt apparent on her face.

"She's fine. Aunty Nana lives with us right now. She's got a job now. Although they're happy, they still miss you a lot. That's part of the reason I'm here. I don't know what I can do, but I want to try and fix this as best as I can. I know that I shouldn't interfere in the matters of adults, but I can't just sit around and watch my Mom and Aunty being sad all the time." I replied honestly. In such matters, honesty is the best policy.

"I.... I want to fix this too. I really do. I made that mistake on impulse. I shouldn't have run away. I know that. The more I lived my life dealing with.... everything, I realised what I left behind. I wanted it back. I wanted to be back. But didn't know how. How can I just go back as if I did nothing?

Later when I gathered enough courage and went back, Yuhi-nee had already moved out of the old man's house, Nana went overseas for her studies. Everything seemed to be fine. They were moving on. I couldn't bring myself to disturb it. Their lives were getting better. Without me being in it. I would've just ruined it all, if I tried to go back.

Maybe it was just an excuse to hide my guilty conscience. I stopped trying to contact them anymore after that."

She was crying when she was saying that. She definitely still wants to meet them. I just don't understand why don't they just meet each other and apologize. Why do they make it so complicated. Adults are so weird sometimes. Rika stood up from her place, went to Aunty and gave her a hug.

I almost forgot she was here too. It's unlike her to stay silent as much as she is right now. I guess, she understands the situation. But I know she's going to ask me a lot of questions once we leave here.

"Mom wanted to meet you too. A lot. But she blames herself for not being a good sister. She said it's her fault that she couldn't make you feel safe. Aunty Nana.... Well, she's just angry with you... and sad that you left them

behind. But nonetheless, they still love you. They want you back as much as you want to be back.

And I also recommend that you go for therapy. You still seem to be depressed."

I said with a calm voice and making sure to use chakra influence to keep Aunty calm and relaxed.

"I think we should leave now. I'll let you think about it. Just have a little faith in your sisters. They'll accept you no matter what. All you need to do is try to reach out." I said without waiting for her response.

I had already put [ Barrier seal ] on her house, giving her the authority over it, without her knowing. If she doesn't allow, no one can enter here. One of the additional effects are that it keeps a soothing atmosphere inside the barrier. Home is a place where you can relax at after dealing with frustrating world afterall.

"I hope you won't mind if I come visit you from time to time." I said after standing up.

"You are always welcome here." She said while sniffling because she's been crying quite a lot.

After that Rika and I went to the front door. Eri followed us with her mother. She was playing by herself when we were having that serious talk.

"Bye Eri-chan. I'll be back to meet with you soon." I said to Eri with a smile.

"Nii-san." She said in a meek voice and stretched out her hands towards me. Maybe indicating that she wanted a hug. I felt my chest being tightened.

I did what anyone in my place would do. I carried her into a hug.

To her, I'm a kind big brother. I love the chakra influence effect of mine. Although it was a bother at first, but it's been more than useful after I got the hang of it.

Eri just put her head on my shoulders and held on tight to my shirt. I was feeling really giddy at that time.

Rika was smiling. I could see that she's a little jealous, but she was still smiling genuinely at how cute Eri looked right now.

"Next time I come here, we'll go to play in the park, okay?" I asked Eri while gently patting on her back.

Being a 2 year old, Eri fell asleep after a few moments.

Rika and Aunty, both chuckled after seeing her like this. I handed her to Aunty and left with Rika after saying bye to her by just nodding. She nodded back understanding that I didn't want Eri to wake up.

On our way back,

Rika was awfully silent. That was really unusual. She was deeply thinking about something.

I couldn't hold back how awkward it felt watching her act like this. So, I asked her,

"You're awfully quiet. What are you thinking about?"

[ Rika's POV ]

I was feeling awkward. The way Haruki handled things back there with his aunt, I don't know what to think about them. But he seemed more mature than others. I couldn't help but compare myself with him.

It's kinda painful, to see that your friend is so ahead of you that you can't even stand beside them.

Everytime we had sparred, he never even once was at disadvantage against me. I was feeling insecure. How will I be able to achieve my goal if I'm that weak.

It was really frustrating, and now I find that he's ahead of me even when it comes to things like this. I can't let it be like this. I have to improve.

"You're awfully quiet. What are you thinking about?" Haruki asked me, bringing me out of my stupor.

"Nothing too important. I was thinking if we should take a detour?" I asked him.

"I don't mind, but why?" He replied.

"I want to have a spar with you. Again." I said to him with a smile. I know it will remind me of the gap between us again. But that's the only way I know of how to relax.

[ Haruki's POV ]

"I want to have a spar with you. Again." Rika replied with a smile trying to hide the fact that she's just trying to distract herself from something.

'Seriously, how much of a brute do you need to be that the first thing you want in order to distract yourself is a fight?' I thought to myself.

"Not happening." Whatever her reason is, I'm not going to waste my time on this.

"Fine." She said with a dejected tone.

That's even more weird. She's not someone who'd back down so easily.

"Ok, enough. What's the matter with you? Are you seriously that upset seeing Eri and me becoming friends faster than you?" That's the only thing I could think of that would even slightly upset her.

I know it's nonsense, but I still said it. Maybe me being like an idiot will cheer her up?

"No. It's not that. It's just... Look, can we not talk about it." She said with a sad expression apparent on her face.

"You know what. We are going back home. I will be asking your mom for permission. You are coming with me to my home. End of discussion. We'll be working on the life flame you talked about."

I said in a stern voice. I don't care what it is that's bothering her if she doesn't want to tell me. But if she's looking for distracting herself, then I'd rather let her be distracted by something that is productive.

"Right! I almost forgot about it! You said it was possible, but how are we going to make it?" She seemed to be distracted already.

"Your quirk actually doesn't let you manipulate the vitality in your body, rather it replenishes it after you use it. That's why you are only able to use it for a limited amount of time.

What your Quirk actually does is that it absorbs heat energy in the atmosphere, converts it into vitality. In doing so, it recharges your cells with it. Making the cells life span longer than normal people.

It also makes the cells in your body more active and strong. It stops working when you faint, because as I said, it wasn't the quirk that allows you to manipulate the vitality, you do that by yourself."

She's like someone from one of those cultivation manhuas I once read. I thought that when I first discovered about this.

Your other drawback is that it doesn't make you as strong as you'd expect. It just makes your cells to be more active, making it possible for you to use them to it's limits. At a certain age, your strength will stop growing because of reaching a point of equilibrium with your quirk." This point was a sudden realisation for her.

"[ Life Flame ], just like Ell, will be an extension or embodiment of your quirk. Even when you're unconscious, it will still keep absorbing the heat energy from outside and convert into vitality in your body. Making you be able to heal, even after you faint.

The longer it keeps replenishing itself, the stronger it'll get while also making it's host stronger to be able to handle it.

If your body is in no need for extra vitality, it will stop absorbing it and start using the stored vitality. It'll stop."

She was about to ask something but I continued. Holding my hand up indicating that I'll answer after I'm done explaining.

"So, the catch is, each time you get stronger, you'll need to increase your training intensity to inhumane levels. You'll need to exhaust yourself to point you faint. Only then will it trigger the life flame to level up your body to become stronger." I finished my explanation.

"Will it make me buffed? I don't want to look like a man when I get older!"

She asked with expression that said it clearly that she's weirded out by the idea. Not gonna lie, I don't like that idea much either.

"It won't. Your strength is energy type. You need to put in your vitality to siphon that strength. So what it's going to do is make your body strong enough to handle the strain." I replied.

Hearing me say that, she was visibly relieved.

By this point, we were already in front of her home.

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Next chapters:

Chapter 17: Time skip of 2 years

Chapter 18: Confrontation with a certain blonde a*shole

Stay safe folks! See you in the next chapter!