Chapter 6: A Light in the Darkness
Boruto walked aimlessly through the village, his head bowed, his mind lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. The cold night air brushed against his skin, but he barely noticed. His backpack felt heavier than it should, but perhaps that was because his heart weighed him down more than anything. The echoes of the earlier argument at dinner still rang in his ears, each word cutting into him like a blade.
His father's voice, firm yet laced with disappointment.
His mother's gaze, filled with concern yet unable to bridge the distance between them.
His sister's eyes, once bright with admiration, now tainted with fear.
And Kawaki… his presence alone was a reminder of everything Boruto had lost.
He clenched his fists as he walked, the streets gradually becoming quieter as he neared the village's outskirts. He had nowhere to go, and the realization only deepened the void inside him. He had considered staying at an inn, but that would only attract attention. He thought of sleeping near the training grounds, but the memories there were too painful. The only place left was the forest, where no one would bother him, where he could be alone.
Lost in his thoughts, Boruto didn't notice the figure approaching until he bumped into them. Stumbling back slightly, he blinked in surprise as he recognized the person before him—Sumire.
She looked at him with concern, her violet eyes searching his expression. "Boruto? What are you doing out here so late?"
He straightened up, forcing his emotions down. "Sorry," he muttered, stepping past her. "I wasn't paying attention."
Sumire frowned as she noticed the backpack slung over his shoulder. "Are you… going somewhere?"
Boruto hesitated. "It's nothing. Just leave me alone."
But Sumire didn't move. Instead, she walked alongside him, her expression unreadable. "You don't look okay," she said softly. "Did something happen?"
Boruto sighed in frustration, quickening his pace. "I told you, it's nothing. Just go home."
Sumire, however, was persistent. "Did you eat? Where are you planning to sleep?"
Her constant questioning irritated him. With each word, the anger and pain swirling inside him intensified. He stopped abruptly, his fists shaking. "Why do you care?" he snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. "No one else does! Why are you following me?"
Sumire flinched but didn't step back. Instead, she looked at him with quiet determination. "Because I know what it feels like to be alone," she said, her voice steady. "I know what it's like to think no one cares."
Boruto stared at her, his breath hitching. He wanted to push her away, to make her leave like everyone else had, but something in her gaze made it impossible. He turned away, gripping the straps of his backpack. "Just stop… You don't understand."
Sumire followed him in silence, her presence unwavering. They reached the forest, the darkness stretching before them like an abyss. Boruto finally turned to her, his expression twisted with pain and frustration. "Why do you care, Sumire?" he demanded, his voice shaking. "The whole village looks at me like I'm a monster! My own family barely talks to me! Do you even know what I did?"
Sumire met his gaze without hesitation. "Yes," she said simply. "I know."
Boruto let out a bitter laugh. "Then why are you still here? Aren't you scared? Do you think you can fix me?"
Sumire took a step closer. "No. But I know you're not a monster, Boruto."
His vision blurred with unshed tears as he clenched his teeth. "You're wrong. I killed someone. If I wanted to, I could kill you too." His voice was cold, but there was a tremor underneath it. He wanted to scare her away. He wanted her to leave before he hurt her too.
But Sumire only smiled sadly. "You won't."
Boruto's breath caught in his throat. "How can you be so sure?"
She hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Because when I was lost in darkness, when I had no one, you were there for me. You believed in me when I didn't deserve it."
Boruto's eyes widened. He remembered those days, back at the academy, when Sumire had been consumed by guilt and vengeance. He had never seen her as a monster, just as someone who needed saving. And now… she was doing the same for him.
She took another step forward, her voice soft but unwavering. "You're not alone, Boruto. And I won't leave you, no matter what."
He trembled, Momoshiki's voice whispering in the back of his mind.
"She's lying. She'll abandon you. Just like the rest."
Boruto squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the voice, trying to believe in the warmth standing before him. "Why?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why do you care so much?"
Sumire's eyes softened as she reached up, cupping his cheek gently. "Because I love you."
Boruto's entire world stopped.
He stared at her, stunned, as the words sank in. Love? Him? Even after everything? His mind reeled, trying to process it, but before he could speak, Sumire leaned in.
Her lips met his in a kiss—soft, warm, and filled with something he had long forgotten.
Hope.
...
Boruto's body stiffened, caught off guard by the warmth of her lips against his. His mind screamed at him to pull away, to question it, to doubt it. But for the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't listen. He didn't let the darkness consume him. Instead, he closed his eyes and let himself feel—truly feel—the love that Sumire was offering him.
As the kiss deepened, the whispers of Momoshiki faded into the background, drowned out by the steady beat of Boruto's heart. He hesitated before allowing himself to press back slightly, his hands trembling as they reached out to rest on Sumire's arms. This was real. She was real. And in this moment, for the first time in so long, he wasn't alone.
When they finally pulled apart, Sumire's eyes shimmered in the moonlight, searching his face for a reaction. Boruto swallowed hard, his breath shaky. "Sumire…"
She smiled softly, resting her forehead against his. "You're not alone, Boruto. You never were."