Yana's frustration melted as she looked at her son, her heart swelling with pride. "You and Erika sure are close," she remarked with a soft smile.
Itachi chuckled, a rare warmth in his eyes. "You could say that."
Finishing his meal, Itachi stood up and said, "I'll be going now, Mother."
Yana quickly stood up as well. "Wait, Itachi!" she called, stopping him in his tracks. He turned to face her, curiosity in his eyes.
Yana walked over and pulled him into a gentle hug, kissing his forehead tenderly. "Make some friends today, okay?" she whispered.
Itachi looked up at her, a soft smile on his face. "I will."
And with that, he turned and left, his heart feeling just a little bit lighter as he walked toward his first day of school.
Itachi stepped into the sleek, black car, and the driver silently began the journey to the nursery school. The hum of the engine was the only sound that filled the air, while Itachi gazed out of the window, his thoughts already racing ahead. This is the first day, he thought. Another beginning, but this time, everything's different.
As they arrived, the car stopped in front of the brightly colored school building. The playground outside was filled with children running and laughing, carefree in their joy. Itachi stepped out, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. They're so carefree… but they're just children, he mused, watching them chase after one another. Just like me now, I suppose…
The realization struck him oddly, like an echo from a life long past. He was physically four years old, yes, but mentally, the weight of his previous life—his experiences, his decisions—still bore heavily on him. He watched the children with a quiet detachment, feeling both a part of them and completely alienated at the same time. How strange... to be among them and yet feel so far away.
He made his way inside, where a warm-faced teacher greeted him. "Good morning! You must be Itachi Yaoyorozu," she said with a smile.
"Good morning," Itachi replied, his voice polite, calm, and measured beyond his years. He offered a respectful bow, which earned him a slightly puzzled look from the teacher, but she quickly masked it with another smile.
As he entered the classroom, the vibrant atmosphere washed over him. The walls were covered with colorful posters, drawings from students, and alphabet charts. Children were scattered around, chatting happily with one another, sharing toys, giggling, and whispering. They all seemed so lost in their world, so blissfully unaware of anything beyond the present moment.
Itachi stood at the entrance, observing them. This innocence… It reminded him of a distant time, a life that felt like it belonged to someone else now. His mind drifted back to his days in the Academy—those fleeting moments with Izumi and Shisui.
He remembered Izumi's soft laughter, the way her eyes would brighten whenever they trained together. And Shisui—his brother in spirit, his mentor, his friend. The thought of Shisui brought a pang of pain, a deep ache in his chest. They were both gone now, lost to a world of violence and sacrifice. If only things had been different…
He could still see their faces, clear as day. Izumi's kind smile, the one she always wore just for him. Shisui's strong, reassuring presence, the way he always stood by Itachi's side no matter how hard things got. We were children once, too, he realized. But we never had the chance to be this carefree. Our world never allowed it.
As the voices of the children swirled around him, a strange sense of nostalgia mixed with sorrow welled up inside him. He knew what lay ahead for all of them—the loss, the pain, the weight of decisions too heavy for someone their age. He had lived through it once and now, here he was, starting again.
But this time, he was determined. I won't let this world break me like the last one did. I won't let it break them.
A small voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Hey, are you new here?" A young boy stood in front of him, looking up at him with curious eyes.
Itachi blinked as he brought himself back to the present. "Yes," he replied, offering the boy a small smile. As he observed him, Itachi noticed something unusual—a pair of wings sprouting from the boy's back.
"Wings?" Itachi commented, raising an eyebrow.
The boy grinned widely, proud of his quirk. "Yeah! That's my quirk—Fierce Wings!" He extended his hand enthusiastically. "Hello, I'm Keigo Takami! And you?"
Itachi took the boy's hand and shook it politely. "I'm Itachi Yaoyorozu. It's nice to meet you."
Keigo's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So, what's your quirk?"
Itachi paused for a moment, then replied, "It's an ocular quirk."
Keigo tilted his head in confusion. "Ocu-what?"
Itachi sighed softly. "An eye quirk."
Keigo stared at Itachi's eyes with excitement. "Whoa, that's so cool! So you can, like, grow eyes anywhere?"
Itachi sweatdropped at the misunderstanding. "No, not like that… Let me finish."
Keigo, nodding eagerly, stayed quiet, his wings fluttering slightly in anticipation.
Itachi activated his Sharingan, and Keigo gazed at his eyes, saying, "Wow, your eyes look so cool."
"I have an eye quirk that allows me to see everything in slow motion. I can predict movements before they happen," Itachi explained calmly.
Keigo's eyes went wide in amazement. "Whoa, that's so awesome! That means you can see every move people make, right?"
Itachi nodded, watching Keigo's infectious enthusiasm.
Without warning, Keigo thrust his hand out again, gripping Itachi's hand with a firm shake. "So, let's be friends!" he declared with a huge grin.
Itachi stood still for a moment, processing the boy's boundless energy. But then, a small, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Friends," Itachi said softly, allowing the warmth of the moment to seep into him.
Keigo, beaming, flapped his wings lightly in excitement. "Great! We're gonna be the best team, I just know it!"
As the day started, Itachi and Keigo sat together in the nursery classroom. The teacher called for everyone to gather, and Keigo quickly pulled a chair beside Itachi, his excitement radiating from every word.