Chapter 371: Mixed Doubles
"Dismissed."
As the applause faded, Kawakaze bowed and stepped off the stage, marking the successful conclusion of the opening ceremony.
The moment the word "dismissed" rang out, the orderly formation of children dissolved into chaos. Excited chatter filled the air as they rushed to reunite with their parents.
"Goodbye."
Hayate Gekkō, Yūgao Uzuki, and their newfound friends vanished into the dispersing crowd, exchanging farewells as they went.
Once most of the attendees had cleared the area, only Ginji and his group of five lingered behind.
"Where should we meet?" Shisui asked, breaking the silence with a simple, innocent question.
"Meet in hell," Ginji replied, his voice laden with despair.
"Be optimistic. Maybe Uncle Kawakaze's in a good mood today, and you'll get off easy," Shisui offered, though even he didn't believe it. Still, he felt compelled to try and comfort Ginji, however slim the chance of reprieve.
"Hey~" Ginji sighed heavily, fully aware that such optimism was futile.
"It's just a beating; it's not the end of the world," Naruto chimed in, his casual tone hinting at a troubling familiarity with such situations. Clearly, they were all in the same boat.