Chapter 321: The Best of All Three Worlds
Kitahara Kaede remained where he was, his thoughts still in chaos.
He rubbed his chin as he considered the situation.
Mei and Pakura had definitely been getting along differently lately compared to when Tsunade was around. There was none of that tense, ready-to-explode atmosphere between them.
But getting those two to completely accept each other—and then adding Tsunade on top of that…
No matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t going to be simple.
He was considering finding a chance to test the waters when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded nearby.
Kaede instinctively looked over, then froze when he saw who it was.
Mei?
She had actually walked out from behind the water tank. Her eyes were locked on him with the look of someone who had decided to throw caution to the wind.
In a corner Kaede couldn’t see, Pakura was completely dumbfounded.
She stared at Mei’s rapidly retreating back, her mind full of question marks.
Wait a second, weren’t you barely able to walk back in the hospital room? Didn’t you refuse to move unless I supported you?
How are you walking faster than anyone now?
Pakura was so confused that she simply remained hidden where she was, deciding to watch how things unfolded first.
…
Seeing Mei approach, Kaede quickly went to meet her, concern in his voice.
“Why did you come all the way up here? You’re still injured. You should be lying in bed!”
Only after she came closer did he notice that her expression wasn’t good.
Oh no.
She must have been hiding back there and heard everything Tsunade had said.
She was here to demand an explanation!
Kaede’s mind raced as he tried to figure out how to calm this seriously injured patient down first.
But he quickly realized something was off.
The way Mei looked at him held none of the anger of someone catching her man in the act.
Instead… it looked uncannily similar to Tsunade’s expression from earlier.
Her eyes were full of grievance, and beneath that was a trace of almost obsessive madness.
She stared at him, her eyes abruptly reddening.
“Kitahara Kaede!”
It sounded as though she had used every ounce of strength just to shout his name.
“I used to think I would never, ever be able to share you with another woman!”
“I, Terumi Mei, have my pride. I would never accept some incomplete kind of love!”
Her sudden outburst stunned Kaede. His mouth opened, but no words came out.
Before she had even finished, tears began rolling down Mei’s cheeks without warning.
“But on the battlefield, when I saw that you were about to die…”
Her voice began to tremble, already choked with tears.
“I suddenly understood. I can’t leave you at all.”
“I don’t dare imagine what I would do if you weren’t in this world anymore.”
“Compared to losing you forever… even sharing you with someone else would be better!”
The more Mei spoke, the more emotional she became.
She suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Kaede by the collar, glaring at him through tear-filled eyes.
“You bastard! If you ever favor Tsunade and neglect me, then I’ll… I’ll punish you by… never letting you see me again!”
That threat sounded far more like a tearful plea than a warning.
Hearing it, Kaede felt his heart ache and swell at the same time.
He had expected a storm, but he had never imagined that this proud woman would go this far for him.
How many times must she have torn her own pride apart inside her heart before she could say something like this?
Kaede was both moved and heartbroken.
He didn’t say anything more.
He simply raised both hands and gently cupped her tear-streaked face.
With his thumbs, he carefully wiped her tears away, his voice low and tender.
“Alright. Don’t cry.”
“I promise you everything you just asked for.”
At that promise, Mei’s tear-stained cheeks puffed up in grievance, like a child who had finally gotten the candy she wanted.
Then, with a small laugh, her tears turned into a smile.
She buried her face directly in Kaede’s chest and refused to lift her head again.
…
Behind the water tank, Pakura watched Mei do the same thing and, for reasons she couldn’t explain, felt something inside her loosen.
She was quietly happy for Kaede. Even the tension in her brows finally eased.
This was good.
Kaede would never have to struggle because of them again.
Pakura slowly lowered her gaze to her hands, a trace of loneliness flashing through her eyes without even realizing it.
She didn’t know what she truly meant to Kaede.
And she didn’t dare hope for the kind of passionate response the other two had received.
Someone like her was probably better suited to being alone after all.
Seeing that he had finally found the best possible ending, she… seemed to have become the unnecessary one.
Pakura drew in a breath and prepared to quietly leave, returning to her own lonely path.
She had just turned around when Kaede’s voice suddenly rang out.
“You’ve been hiding back there watching for so long. Aren’t you coming out, Pakura?”
Pakura’s body stiffened.
The foot she had raised to flee froze in midair.
After hesitating for several seconds, she finally walked out slowly.
Pakura came to stand beside them. There was no embarrassment on her face at being discovered, and no grievance either.
She simply wore a faint smile and spoke softly.
“Kaede, this is wonderful. You finally don’t have to be troubled anymore.”
“I’m happy for you.”
Kaede looked at the loneliness she couldn’t quite hide between her brows, and his heart clenched painfully.
This woman was always like this, carrying everything herself.
He didn’t follow along with her words. Instead, he looked directly into her eyes, his tone forceful enough to allow no escape, yet full of concern.
“What about you?”
“You’re always thinking about me. But what do you want?”
The smile on Pakura’s face froze.
Kaede gave her no chance to dodge the question and pressed forward.
“If I said…”
He deliberately drew out the words, staring straight at her.
Before he could finish, Pakura’s lips trembled slightly, and she blurted out almost entirely on instinct.
“Okay.”
Kaede shook his head with a helpless smile.
“I haven’t even finished speaking, and you’re already agreeing?”
Pakura looked deeply into his eyes. There was complete, unreserved trust in her gaze.
“Whatever you say, I’ll agree.”
The smile on Kaede’s face finally opened completely.
He said nothing else. He simply reached out with his free hand, took Pakura’s, and interlaced their fingers tightly.
The warmth of his palm and the unmistakable firmness of his grip made Pakura understand instantly.
He wanted her to stay.
Her eyes suddenly grew hot.
At last, Pakura smiled in relief.
She took a small step forward and gently rested her head against Kaede’s other shoulder.
The three of them leaned tightly against one another on the rooftop, and no one spoke again.
The breeze passed over them, gently stirring their hair.
Kaede felt the warmth on either side of him, and the enormous weight that had hung over his heart for so long finally disappeared.
He had always thought this would be an impossible, fatal question with no correct answer.
Only now did he realize that their love really could accept every part of him.