If the morning light represents the beginning, it is full of vitality. Then the sunset is the end, which makes people sad. But the smiles that filled the orphanage today covered that sadness.
Except Kakashi.
Kakashi looked at the scene of Hinata Kei playing with the children in the open space. The happier the children seemed at the moment, the more he contrasted them with the wary and defensive expressions he had shown when he had just met them.
This comparison made his thoughts become more and more disordered, and he always felt a little uncomfortable.
The sun has completely set, and it's time to say goodbye. Hinata Kei pulled Kakashi to say goodbye to the children and acting principal Reina.
Feeling the almost overflowing reluctance of the children, Kakashi also came back to his senses and barely smiled and waved to them.
Kakashi walked out of the orphanage gate surrounded by children, but his mind still hadn't recovered. This long yet short afternoon gave him many spiritual shocks he had never experienced before.
Kakashi felt that there was another problem with his cognition. He saw the smiles on the faces of these plainly dressed children, and for some reason, he felt a little ashamed.
It was clear that everything in the orphanage was not caused by him, but he just felt filled with panic. Did his tolerance indirectly contribute to all this? Doesn't that mean he is also a criminal?
At this time, a little girl among the children came over holding two bottles of clay statues. Sensing this scene, Hinata glanced at Kakashi beside him and started to look forward to it.
The little girl's eyes were full of gratitude and expectation. She said, "Brother doctor, brother Kakashi, this is a gift made by everyone. I hope you can accept it."
The little girl held the clay statue with both hands, serious and nervous, and she mustered up the courage to step forward.
This clay statue was made of ordinary clay and had not been polished at all, so it looked very rough. Such a gift is undoubtedly unqualified in terms of actual value.
As long as they have some financial conditions and ability, children will definitely not choose to give such gifts.
Obviously, the little girl and the children behind her knew this. So there was tension in their eyes, and they were afraid that Hinata Kei and Kakashi would not accept this cheap and crude gift.
Hinata Kei squatted down and looked directly at the little girl with his own eyes, showed a gentle smile and said, "Thank you everyone for your gifts, I will definitely keep them well."
"But may I ask, what are you carving?"
In fact, he could sense it, even clearly. Although the clay statue was very crudely made, it was equipped with a blind crutch similar to the one in his hand.
When the little girl saw Hinata Kei taking the clay statue seriously, she smiled and said, "It's you, brother, and brother Kakashi. In fact, we wanted to give some better gifts, but we didn't have anything good. Sorry..." "
"It's not you who should apologize, but those who failed to let you live a good life." Hinata Kei shook his head, and then said: "This is the best gift I have received so far, thank you!"
Hinata Kei touched the little girl's head, looked at Kakashi beside him, and said, "Kakashi, what do you think?"
Hearing this, the children all looked at Kakashi, and their expressions became more and more nervous. They were really afraid that Kakashi would say no words from his mouth.
Kakashi pursed his lips, and quickly took the clay statue given to him by the children with the same seriousness, and said: "Yes, this is the best gift I have ever received!"
After accepting the gift, the little girl and the children reluctantly waved goodbye in joy. Hinata Kei and Kakashi were walking on their way home.
The road here is no different from when we came here. The difference is that Kakashi's footsteps were not so heavy when he came here, but now Kakashi walks very slowly, and he keeps looking at the clay statue in his hand.
After walking for a while, Hinata Kai suddenly stopped and asked: "Kakashi, is this the status quo you want to protect?"
Kakashi paused when he heard this and looked at the clay statue in his hand.
The better the children treat him, the more he feels guilty. Obviously these lovely people only need a little kindness to live happily, but why is no one willing to give it?
Was it because the village didn't know anything about it? Or did the orphanage never tell the village that the children were in trouble?
Or maybe they actually knew, but just like Hinata Kei said, they never cared...
So as Hyuga Kei said, what exactly is he protecting?
Some didn't dare to stay next to Hinata Kai any longer. Kakashi said: "I'm a little tired. If there's nothing wrong, I'll go back first."
Kakashi wanted to escape, but Hinata Kei said: "Kakashi, you can doubt my purpose, question my motives, and even hate me."
"But I hope you don't live up to the gifts the children gave you."
"At least they are sincere and there is no falsehood in them. They use everything they can to give you a gift of love."
"But what about you? Do you want to continue to escape? Sit back and watch more tragedies happen?"
Kakashi turned around and paused in silence.
Hyuga Kei said with a serious and serious tone: "Hatake Kakashi, you claim to be a believer in the Will of Fire, but in fact you are an accomplice of the executioner. You have failed this village!"
"You were a child once, and you felt pain as a child. You should know that the pain children experience is likely to stay with them throughout their lives."
"Now that you are grown up, you should be committed to protecting children from suffering undue pain."
"But what have you done? You are still sitting back and watching the children suffer the same pain you have suffered!"
Hinata Kai shook his head and turned to leave. Before leaving, he said: "The gift in your hand is rough and crude, but I think you may not be worthy of this heartfelt gift."
"Tell me, are you worthy?"
Kakashi's heart trembled, and he held the rough clay statue in his hand tightly, but the heavy pressure made him unable to hold it at all.
Kakashi thought back to his childhood memories and recalled the pain in his heart the day his father died. That day, how he wished someone could stop everything, but no one stood up.
So what now? Are there any big differences between the children in the orphanage and his situation at that time?
No, maybe worse. Because at that time he still had teachers and friends, and his financial situation was also good. And these children have nothing, not even a chance to decide their fate.
But even though they were like this, they still gave themselves a gift and tried their best to express their feelings. Just because he had a meal with them today!
Looking at the clay statue in his hand, Kakashi thought of the adoration and love shown to him by the children in the orphanage. Guilt and self-blame made his vision gradually blur.
I don't know how long it took, but Kakashi finally came to his senses. He wiped his face and carefully touched the clay statue with his hand, his expression gradually becoming firmer.
At this time, he suddenly heard the familiar sound of a blind crutch hitting the ground, and the following words: "How is it, have you thought clearly?"
Kakashi subconsciously took a step back, quickly turned his back to Hinata Kei, and said in a hoarse voice: "Aren't you already gone?!"
"I have been waiting for you, or rather the children and the village have been waiting for you."
"I can promise you temporarily." Kakashi took a deep breath and said, "But if one day I find that you are using me to damage the interests of the village, I will not let you go."
"Don't worry, this day won't happen."
Hinata Kei sensed Kakashi's emotions and said: "In addition, I have something to ask you, and I hope you can agree."
Kakashi was silent for a moment and said, "You tell me what it is first, and then I will consider whether to answer or not."
"It's like this. Recently, my family has been busy worrying about my eye problem..."
After telling Shennong that he might have a way to cure his eyes, Hinata Kai walked directly in front of Kakashi and said seriously: "I hope you can accompany me out of the village by then."
"You know, I'm just a blind man. So I want to hire you to take on the task of guarding. If I encounter any trouble, you can help me solve it."
Kakashi thought about it seriously and said, "Are you sure it's just a guard and there's nothing extra?"
"Of course, it's just a guard." Hinata Kai nodded and said, "You only need to be responsible for protecting me when I am in danger."
"If that's all, I agree." Kakashi said.
Hinata Kai smiled more gently and said, "Thank you, Kakashi. You are such a good person."
"Don't think too much." Kakashi said: "You helped me get rid of the obsession in my heart last time, so I just repay your favor this time. After repaying it, you and I will owe each other nothing!"
"Kakashi, we are friends, why are we so fussy?" Hinata Kei stretched out his hand and said, "What's more, we have to work together in the future to live up to the expectations of the children, right?"
Kakashi didn't extend his hand, but Hinata Kai already knew the answer, so he left first.
