Chapter 107: Confession – Let's Watch the Celestial Flame Rain

Chapter 107: Confession – Let’s Watch the Celestial Flame Rain

Lightning Country was a truly magical place.

Unlike River Country, where villages and cities sprawled across mountain peaks and valleys, Lightning Country was built atop towering mountains that pierced the clouds. During the day, mist swirled thickly, occasionally broken by deafening thunderclaps. Hidden within these clouds lay the military base known as Kumogakure.

But it was at night—especially on the rare cloudless nights—that the country revealed its breathtaking beauty.

“Izayoi, look! The stars feel so close, they’re so beautiful!”

At nine o’clock in the evening, Izayoi and Hinata Hyuga reached the summit of a towering mountain after climbing from its base. Unaware she’d crossed into another country, Hinata had assumed Izayoi was simply inviting her for a post-dinner walk. Excited, she’d eagerly scaled the mountain. Now, standing at the peak, she clutched Izayoi’s hand, pointing at the star-studded sky with triumphant joy.

“The stars may be beautiful,” Izayoi replied smoothly, “but they don’t compare to even half of Hinata Hyuga’s beauty.”

His words made her cheeks flush, but her happiness overpowered her shyness. She looped her arm through his, leaning against his shoulder as she gazed at the stars. “Thank you for the surprise, Izayoi. I’ve never seen the stars from such a high place before.”

Izayoi blinked, momentarily taken aback.

Looking down at her radiant smile and the innocent joy lighting her face, he couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her cheek. “This is just the beginning. I’ve prepared many more surprises for you.”

Taking her small, trembling hand—warm from the sudden affection—he led her to a cliff’s edge. There, a long stone bench sat waiting, clearly placed there in advance.

Hinata’s heart swelled. She imagined Izayoi scouting the location days earlier, searching for the perfect spot, crafting or moving the bench himself. It was obvious he’d been planning this for weeks, perhaps even longer.

Just like how she’d spent months agonizing over his birthday gift, debating between a scarf and a sweater, learning to knit from the clan elders, painstakingly weaving every stitch herself. She’d scrutinized the fabric for his clothes just as intensely, rejecting anything that didn’t meet her standards.

Now, her efforts felt reciprocated. This was mutual devotion—a shared journey. Even if this was the only gift she received this year, it would be more than enough.

In past years, her birthdays had always carried a tinge of regret. Back then, Izayoi hadn’t yet earned her father’s and clan’s approval, and her father had forbidden her from celebrating her birthday outside the clan. Every gift from Izayoi had been given hastily during daylight hours.

But this year was different. From now on, Izayoi could visit her family freely, just as she visited his. No longer would he miss her or her sister Hanabi’s birthdays.

The thought brought another smile to her face. She shifted his arm to her shoulder, leaning into his embrace as they sat side by side on the stone bench, gazing at the stars that painted the silent, romantic night sky.

Suddenly, a red box appeared before her eyes, accompanied by Izayoi’s gentle voice.

“Happy birthday, Hinata Hyuga.”

“This is…”

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. Izayoi playfully tapped her nose. “Don’t tell me you thought watching the stars was my only gift? Do I seem like such a stingy person?”

“Izayoi isn’t stingy at all! It’s just…” She took the box, turning it over in her hands before grinning. “Your past gifts were so… unique.”

“Unique? They were full of heart! They were handmade, you know!” He cupped her chin, pinching her cheeks lightly as he mock-glared. “Choose your words carefully, or I’ll make you my grip trainer!”

“Tenth… Izayoi’s gifts were very heartfelt. I loved them!” Her voice muffled by his fingers, she squirmed playfully.

“Hmph. Since it’s your birthday, I’ll let it slide.”

Satisfied, he released her and urged, “Open it. Let me see if you like it.”

“Okay!”

With eager anticipation, Hinata lifted the lid. Her eyes widened instantly.

“A beautiful necklace…”

But as she examined it closer, her expression shifted to concern. “Izayoi, this must’ve cost a fortune! You didn’t need to spend so much.”

“No money involved. It’s handmade too—materials gifted by a generous soul.” He pinched her cheek again, grinning. “Take it out. Do you like it?”

“Okay!”

Hearing it was handmade, her guilt over its expense melted into warmth.

As she lifted the necklace, her eyes sparkled, reflecting a spectrum of colors. The design was simple yet elegant: natural pearls strung together, glowing softly under the moonlight. Interspersed among the pearls were diamonds. At the center hung a round-cut blue gemstone, beneath which dangled a pear-shaped purple diamond.

Izayoi held up the eight-carat purple stone. “I originally wanted a light purple diamond to match our eye colors, but it looked too garish. This deep shade suits it better.”

Mu~~a!

Without a word, Hinata impulsively kissed his cheek, then cradled the necklace to her chest, her face radiant. “Izayoi, does this necklace have a name?”

“It’s called the Margarita Necklace.”

“Margarita? What does that mean?” she asked curiously.

“It’s another name for a flower…”

He leaned close to her ear, whispering the alternative name.

“Oh! So it’s a daisy,” Hinata nodded, oblivious. “That does sound nicer than Margarita.”

“…”

Izayoi fell silent, a rare flicker of embarrassment crossing his mind.

Once a pervert, always a pervert, he mused.

“Let me put it on for you.”

“Okay!”

He took the necklace, stood behind her, and fastened it around her neck. Then, wrapping his arms around her from behind, he rested his chin on her shoulder. “Like it?”

“Mm-hmm…” She nodded vigorously, her voice trembling with emotion. “This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever received… Thank you, Izayoi.”

Mu~~a!

She kissed his cheek again, this time deliberately.

“As long as you like it. But the surprises aren’t over yet.”

Flipping back to sit beside her, he pulled her into his arms but changed the subject. “Hinata Hyuga, I’ve always had a question. How did you dare run away from home alone that night, wandering the empty streets?”

The memory surfaced instantly, vivid as ever.

Her expression shifted—guilt, sorrow, joy, and fear mingling.

“If that night nine years ago was life-changing for me,” Izayoi mused, “then for you, it was that snowy night.”

Leaning into his embrace, she whispered, “That night was my uncle’s funeral—my father’s twin brother, Neji’s father. I ran out because… he died protecting me.”

Izayoi tightened his hold.

“I was asleep when someone broke into my room and kidnapped me. Father rescued me when they tried to escape over the wall. Two days later, I heard my uncle had died. I didn’t understand why… until I overheard my parents say he’d taken my father’s place. I thought I’d caused his death, so I ran out of the clan grounds.”

Her voice brightened, sorrow replaced by joy. “But I’m so glad I ran out that night. Otherwise, I’d never have met you. We might never have crossed paths.”

The thought still haunted her—nightmares of that possibility.

For Izayoi, that snowy night had meant pacing the streets outside the Hyuga compound in a training suit, waiting for hours until his face turned red from the cold.

Now, he pressed his forehead to hers, gently nuzzling. “I’m glad I couldn’t sleep that night and decided to take a walk. Otherwise, I’d have missed my runaway princess.”

Meeting his blue eyes, Hinata’s heart swelled with familiar warmth. Summoning her courage, she finally voiced the words she’d once failed to say: “Izayoi… I like you.”

He froze, staring at her flushed face—no evasion, only shy determination.

Then, his lips curved. “I like you too, Hinata Hyuga.”

“So… will you be my boyfriend?”

She extended her hand, heart pounding.

Though winter’s chill lingered, her palms were sweaty with nervous heat.

Izayoi, knowing her limits, acted swiftly.

“Aren’t we already?”

He placed his palm against hers. In perfect sync, they flipped their hands, fingers interlacing tightly as they smiled at each other.

Before Hinata could throw herself into his arms—her first public embrace of her boyfriend—Izayoi suddenly turned skyward, pointing. “Look! The surprise is here!”

Following his gesture, Hinata’s eyes widened, reflecting the orange glow in the heavens.

“Beautiful!”

Across the starlit sky, a cascade of crimson meteors blazed—a phenomenon that wasn’t merely fleeting.

If Hinata activated her Byakugan, she’d realize these weren’t ordinary meteors.

They were the Celestial Flame Rain.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end