Hinata sat alone in her room, her hands still trembling uncontrollably.
But compared to physical exhaustion, what she couldn't bear more was the anger and grievance in her chest—nowhere to put it.
Her reason told her it was unfair to take out what she'd seen in the simulator—a possible future—on the father in front of her. Those things hadn't happened yet.
But…
"I really can't control it…"
Why?
Why couldn't Father listen to her just once—seriously investigate the truth about the border, or… at least talk to her about it?
He said she was the heir of the main family… yet when it actually mattered, he treated her like a child who didn't understand anything.
Using the Caged Bird seal on his own, thinking that would force everything back to how it used to be?
Seriously… Uncle Hizashi had already told him: "A bird that has tasted the freedom of flight will never grow used to life inside a cage again." Once the clan members woke up and finally realized it was a shackle, was he still going to place his hopes in the shackle itself?
Hinata couldn't help resenting Hiashi.
But she also knew—deep down, she wasn't so different from her father. Neither of them had a truly perfect solution. The difference was that she had a Life Simulator and could keep making mistakes and trying again, while Father had only one option: whether to use the Caged Bird.
And until she found that solution… she also hoped the clan members could remain asleep.
Just then, gentle knocking came from outside her door.
Knock-knock—
"Hinata-sama, the hot water is ready. Please go wash up." It was the maid Hinata Natsu's voice outside.
"Mm. I know."
Hinata answered softly. She pressed her hands against the tatami beneath her, trying to stand.
But that fight had nearly drained her completely. She'd only just steadied herself when her knees buckled—
"Ah—"
A short cry slipped out as she tipped forward, losing balance.
The floor in her vision rushed closer and closer. Just when she thought she was about to hit it, the door slid open with a swish, and a pair of gentle, strong arms caught her in time.
"Milady! Are you alright?"
Seeing the floor stop and hearing Natsu's anxious voice, the tightness in Hinata's nerves finally loosened a little.
"Sorry… Natsu-oneechan. My legs have no strength at all."
"It's okay, milady. You don't need to blame yourself." Natsu held Hinata securely, supporting her body and arms, slowly helping her back upright.
"Come—watch your step. I'll help you to the bath. A soak will make you feel better."
Steam filled the bath room. Natsu carefully guided Hinata inside, then began removing the clothes that were already soaked through with sweat.
"Hinata-sama, I could hear the sounds from the dojo even outside… You must have fought Clan Head-sama very intensely."
"Mm… it was okay."
But once Hinata's clothes were fully removed, her body was covered in harsh, glaring marks from training. Her arms were mottled with obvious bruises, and her shoulders were dotted with tenketsu strikes—shockingly vivid against her pale skin.
After sparring in the past, she never had this many injuries. But today was different.
She'd activated her Byakugan.
"Milady!"
Natsu gasped and immediately crouched to check Hinata's injuries. As her fingers brushed over the blue-purple bruises, her face filled with pain and tenderness.
"It's okay, Natsu-oneechan… just surface wounds…"
Hinata shook her head, trying to look strong—to chase away the worry in Natsu's eyes.
"How can you say it's okay?" Natsu's voice carried clear reproach. "You only feel like it's fine because your body hasn't come down from battle mode yet! Once it does, you'll feel the pain. Soak for a bit—I'll go get medicine from Clan Head-sama."
Natsu helped Hinata toward the bath, then carefully lowered her into the water. Warm water wrapped around Hinata's exhausted body—almost like it wrapped around her soul too—making her let out a soft, relieved sigh.
"Is the water temperature okay?"
"Mm. It feels really nice. Thank you, Natsu-oneechan." Hinata closed her eyes, letting the warmth soothe her—but soon her thoughts drifted back to the simulator.
Natsu knelt beside the bath, dipped a towel into the water, and began gently washing Hinata. Her movements were careful, afraid of hurting Hinata's wounds.
To the sound of water rippling, Hinata couldn't help asking, "Natsu-oneechan…"
Natsu immediately stopped, worried. "Milady—did I hurt you?"
"No." Hinata shook her head. "It's not that. Have you ever thought about… what you'd do if you weren't a maid?"
Hinata's question made Natsu freeze. Confusion and blankness surfaced in her eyes, but her hand holding the towel continued to wash Hinata gently.
"Not a maid…?"
Natsu repeated the words softly, as if forcing herself to imagine a possibility that had never existed in her life's path. In the end… she only shook her head.
"I don't know."
"Why? Haven't you ever imagined a version of yourself completely different from now?"
"No," Natsu said, calm as if stating a fact. "I've never thought of it. I don't even know how to think that way."
"Since Hinata-sama was born, I've stayed by your side. And I'll stay by your side in the future too. As long as I can watch you grow up well, I'm already satisfied."
There was no doubt Natsu's feelings were sincere. She truly meant it.
Yet that answer stirred an indescribably complicated emotion in Hinata's heart.
When you can't change your fate, people become astonishingly adaptable. Was Natsu-oneechan's "satisfaction" simply because she'd never had a choice in the first place?
Hinata didn't know. But asking further would only put Natsu in an uncomfortable position. More importantly: if she woke someone up, but couldn't help them after they woke—what was the point?
"Alright. You're all clean. I'll go get your medicine now."
Natsu wrung out the towel, set it aside, and left the bath room.
After she was gone, Hinata took a deep breath, sank her head completely under the water, opened her eyes, and blew bubble after bubble.
No special meaning.
She just didn't want to think about those painful things anymore—she wanted to… play for a little while.
"Glug-glug…"
~~~
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