Chapter 7: Am I Good-looking?
Confused and at a loss, Hinata was panicking as she stood in front of the three boys. This was different from what Ryosuke said. After she did what he suggested, the three boys in front of her did not apologize. All of a sudden, all kinds of emotions surged into her heart, and fear and retreat once again occupied her mind. Hinata wanted to lower her head, but she found that she couldn't do it.
"Indeed, you are right."
She was surprised to find that she had spoken without realizing it, and her voice was as calm as before, without any panic in her heart. "You are right, you have the freedom to express your own views on people, things, and so on."
"But that doesn't mean it's right, especially when you are talking about my faults right in front of me." Hinata looked at the three boys in front of her who were much taller than her calmly and indifferently. She did not show her usual weakness. Although her tone was calm, it carried a certain sharpness. This was an aura that she didn't have before.
The boys, who had been laughing recklessly, were stunned for a moment, looking at Hinata at a loss as to what to do. But she did not stop talking because of their doubts, and continued, "I originally thought that this was just a matter between us kids, so I came to you and wanted you to apologize to me and pretend that nothing happened in the future."
"But now I feel that reasoning with you doesn't seem to work."
"Then I will visit your home in a while and talk to your family about this matter. After all, someone needs to listen to me explain this matter clearly. I believe your parents will be willing to let you apologize to me at that time."
"You!"
The three boys, who were initially overwhelmed by Hinata's sudden change, suddenly became anxious when they heard that she was going to talk to their parents. They clenched their fists and were about to take a step forward.
"I advise you not use force or harbor any intention on harming me . The two people behind me are Chunins." Hinata's cold voice continued. "I reminded you just now that as long as you don't take the initiative, they won't take action. We, the Hyuga clan, will never do anything to bully children."
As she spoke, Hyuga Souji and Hyuga Hoshicai, who were standing behind her and had been equally at a loss since just now, seemed to remember their mission. They cooperated very well, releasing the murderous intent in their bodies and staring at the three boys coldly. Their gazes were wicked and cold causing the three boys to shiver from head to toe. It was a kind of... unspeakable fear. But compared to the two people behind them, what scared them the most was the small figure in front of them.
They were sure that the girl in front of them was definitely not the person they had often bullied in the past, and was definitely not that cowardly eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan.
"S-Sorry!"
The first person to bend down was the boy from the restaurant. He seemed to have a good relationship with his father, which could be seen from the meal just now. But at the same time, he seemed to be very afraid of his father and didn't want this matter to be brought back to his family.
"I'm sorry we were wrong."
Immediately afterwards, the other two apologized one after another. At this time, Hinata seemed to have returned to her normal self, and waved her hands in a panic, "I...I accept your apology."
Her voice was soft, completely lacking the domineering tone she had a minute ago. Hinata was completely confused now. She didn't quite understand what happened during the whole process. She was of course aware of the whole process, but more like a bystander, her body seemed to naturally refute the three of them, and then... they easily lined up and bowed before her to apologize.
Is this...really what I did? Only after the three boys in front of her fled the park did Hinata raise her hand in confusion and look at her palm with her head tilted.
Standing outside the park, the bulging veins around Ryosuke's eyes slowly subsided, and he calmed down. Of course, it was impossible for Hinata to accomplish this alone. From the beginning, he didn't think that Hinata could make these three children apologize with just one sentence. If a person wants to change their character, it requires a long-term process. It definitely cannot be achieved in one day or with just one encouragement.
Everything Hinata said just now was said by Ryosuke using the unique genjutsu ability of his Byakugan to control her consciousness. The fact that his Byakugan possesses genjutsu abilities is top secret, and the fewer people who know about it, the better. So, when Hinata took Hyuga Souji and the others into the park, he did not follow them, but stayed outside the park and hid.
"Very good, Hinata. Well done."
Without sparing his praise, Ryosuke strolled into the park and appeared in front of Hinata, who was still a little dazed. Hinata felt embarrassed by Ryosuke's praise, but she was still clear-headed. She leaned close to his ear and asked in a low voice: "Ryosuke... Ryosuke-kun, was it me who did that just now? Didn't you... help me?"
"Of course you did it. Everyone here was watching. It was you who spoke up and convinced those three brats to apologize to you." Ryosuke replied with a chuckle.
Next to him, Hyuga Souji was surprised but also very happy. He said, "Yes, young lady, you looked very brave just now. You looked a little like the clan leader."
"Yes, in the past when we held clan meetings, the clan leader liked to scold people like this." Hoshicai also quickly agreed. But the praise from both of them was absolutely from the heart, without any flattery intended. Hinata's performance just now really surprised them.
"I..."
Hinata, with a red face, wanted to explain what had just happened, but she actually didn't know what was going on. But before she could say anything, her hair was held down by a warm hand.
"You did a great job. You see, you are actually very capable, but you just lack a little self-confidence." Ryosuke's voice was very gentle, making her swallow back the words she was about to say. My original lack of confidence, and the thought that it was not my doing, was gradually shattered.
Could it be... that I really did it? Hinata was full of doubts, but soon, her attention was diverted by the warm hand on her head.
"Don't bow your head. As the future head of the Hyuga clan, you must always hold your head up and look directly at everyone in front of you, no matter what the situation is." Ryosuke looked at the girl in front of him with amusement, who half-closed her eyes in comfort, and stopped stroking her hair. "It's almost time to go back. Father should have returned from the meeting."
"Alright..."
Hinata replied with a disappointed look on her face. But for some reason, she felt very comfortable and very... very excited. She felt that she was slowly becoming different.
As soon as this thought arose, Hinata's eyes fell on the center position, on the people who had taken good care of her in the past. They were also looking at her, as if they had been paying attention to what had just happened. Facing her gaze, Shikamaru and the others nodded in a friendly manner.
Faced with their friendliness, Hinata felt that she could do what she had never dared to do before, and she had the courage to try.
"Ryosuke-kun, please wait for me."
Hinata said this and trotted over to Shikamaru and the others under Ryosuke's puzzled gaze.
"Hello."
As always, greet politely first.
"Hello."
Shikamaru and the others responded politely, but they all looked at her strangely.
"Although it's rude to ask this, I've always been very concerned about this. May I ask... am I ugly?"
Under that impulse, Hinata came in front of the few people and blurted out this question. Suddenly, her head started buzzing and blood started to fill up. She stood in front of them with red cheeks, but still forced herself to wait for a reply.
It's so embarrassing. Who would ask others so directly whether they are good-looking or not? Will they think I'm narcissistic? But...but I really care whether Ryosuke-kun praised me for my good looks just to comfort me. Those three guys said they were telling the truth, but was it the truth, or was it just like what Ryosuke-kun said, that they just had no aesthetic taste?
"Pfft...hahahahahahaha."
Sitting on the shoulders of the sculpture of the Third Hokage, Ino couldn't help but burst into laughter, and her laughter was very hearty. Then, under Hinata's nervous gaze, she jumped down and landed steadily on the ground. Although Shikamaru had always warned them not to have too much contact with Hinata, she still couldn't help it now.
Standing in front of Hinata, Ino stretched out her hand and rubbed Hinata's hair, "Very beautiful, you are very beautiful and cute." While rubbing, she also looked towards Ryosuke, "Is that your future husband? You two look very sweet." She imitated Ryosuke's movements. Just now, she saw this
scene from a distance and felt inexplicably sweet in her heart, which broke some of her perceptions of love.
It's just like... the male and female protagonists in the romance stories I've read in the past now have an image.
(End of this chapter)