Chapter 27: The Second Life, Rely on Me

What is Haruko Hayama to herself?

If it was the Bai from before, he would answer without hesitation: it was his salvation, his dream, and the whole reason for his existence.

However, the moment he saw Zabuza, Bai's unshakable belief was shaken.

Is this a dream? Or some kind of illusion...

Bai sat quietly on the grass, thinking about his life.

When he was five years old, on a snowy night, he met a snow elf who saved him from a desperate situation...

No, the one who took me away should be Zabuza-sama...

Bai's two memories collided violently in his mind.

Then he heard Haruko Asagi sitting down next to him.

This should be your trick, right?

Bai couldn't help but think maliciously, he is obviously the enemy, but he still pretends to save his childhood self. Is he trying to highlight his own greatness?

But looking at her cautious eyes, Bai couldn't say anything to hurt her.

What do you think of me?

Is he a poor man, a fool, or...

"Bai is the most gentle and powerful person in the world! He is also the most important person to me!"

Bai heard her say that.

It's all because of this dream! Because of this dream, you look at me so tenderly!

If it weren't for this dream, we wouldn't have formed a bond at all...

"If that's the case, I must snatch Bai away! After all, Bai promised to take care of me for the rest of my life!"

Bai heard her say again.

Unfortunately, there is no "if" in the world. You will say these words, and they are all based on your current memories.

But...why am I so happy?

His heart was pounding as if it was filled with passionate love, and he was so happy that he wanted to cry.

Bai felt a little relieved.

Yes, thank goodness.

I am glad that I can have this dream, glad that in another possibility I will be saved by Haruko Hayama, and glad... even if I recover my memory, I can still be by her side.

but……

Every dream will end.

However, Bai did not expect that the ending of the story would be Haruko Asama's death.

"Haru...ko..."

"Haruko!!!"

Bai looked at the shocking scene in front of him and shouted his hopes at the top of his lungs.

Isn’t this a dream? Isn’t this a dream!

Why haven't I woken up yet? Why?!

Give my Haruko back to me!!!

Bai's vision was blurred by tears. He knelt on the ground, heartbroken.

Finally, the surrounding scene began to make a "cracking" sound.

At some point the only people left on the bridge were the crying Shiro and Hayama Haruko lying in a pool of blood.

"Haruko... Haruko!"

Bai crawled to Haruko Hayama's side in panic. He held up the blood-stained face with trembling hands, and tears dripped down his cheeks onto Haruko Hayama's body.

"...Will you also be sad about my death?"

Haruko had somehow recovered her breathing in the morning and tried to smile at him.

When Bai saw her wake up, his tears flowed even more violently.

"Wow... Haruko..."

Haruko raised her hand and touched his face in the morning, as if she wanted to wipe away his tears, but it was no use, he had too many tears.

"Don't cry...Bai..."

"I don't want you to die! I should be the one to die!" Bai roared so miserably for the first time.

"What nonsense are you talking about... I can't bear to see you die..."

In the morning, Haruko seemed to have no strength left, and the hand that was stroking him fell down, but was quickly caught by Bai in mid-air, who took her hand and pressed it against his face.

"Actually... I'd like to know whether you will choose me or... that muscular guy."

"But... I really can't bear to see you suffer like this."

"So... wake up, Shiro."

The surroundings around Bai finally cracked and shattered into pieces like a mirror.

*

Kakashi Hatake covered his eyes after Haruko emitted a strong white light in the morning. After a few seconds, the white light finally dissipated.

He looked at the dead Bai who was hugged by Hayama Haruko at some point, and beautiful flowers bloomed in Hayama Haruko's eyes.

This is her pupil technique...

"Bai, wake up!"

Haruko used a secret technique in the morning. Although her mother told her not to use it in front of others, there was no other choice now.

Both she and Bai's bodies emitted a gentle purple light. In the morning, Haruko took out the flying needle from Bai's head. As Bai's soft long hair fell to the ground, she inserted the flying needle into her own heart and then pulled it out, letting the blood flow.

The moment the Flower God's Phantom Eye was activated, a wisp of natural dancing life force emerged from Haruko Zaoma's heart and flew into Bai's heart.

"Sasuke, that is..." Uzumaki Naruto looked at the ray in disbelief.

Uchiha Sasuke frowned, but did not step forward to stop him, "It's Haruko's secret technique."

After about a minute, Haruko Asagumi finally couldn't hold on any longer and lost the connection with her life force.

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a pair of white, slender hands covered with blood embraced her body.

Bai actually came back to life!

Everyone was shocked.

The resurrected Bai quietly looked at the tired Zaoma Haruko in his arms. Zaoma Haruko raised her hand and stroked his face as if in a dream.

"You have repaid Zabuza's kindness to you with your life... Now your life is given by me..."

"If you must rely on someone to exist, then rely on me..."

After saying that, Haruko couldn't hold on any longer and fainted, but Bai didn't catch her hand like in the illusion.

"Hahaha Bai, come here quickly!"

The happiest person was undoubtedly Zabuza who regained his tools.

Bai gently laid Haruko's body flat on the ground, then stood up.

"Hey! You are not allowed to let Haruko down!" Uzumaki Naruto became anxious when he saw Bai walking towards Zabuza.

Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Sasuke also looked nervous and held their weapons tightly.

Bai walked about two meters away from Zabuza and stopped.

Zabuza sensed something was wrong and said impatiently, "Are you really moved by that brat? Come here quickly!"

Bai was neither happy nor sad, he just watched all this quietly. He suddenly knelt down and kowtowed three times to Zabuza.

"Master Zabuza, I would like to thank you for your upbringing."

Zabuza suddenly became angry, "You wouldn't...!"

After Bai finished his kowtow, he stood up and looked at him firmly.

"As Haruko said, I have already repaid your kindness with my life. My life now... belongs to Haruko, so the meaning of my existence is to stay by Haruko's side!"

In another possibility, Haruko Hayama took him away, taught him, cared for him, and loved him unconditionally...

That was a completely different kind of love from the one Zabuza brought to him.

Even though she tried her best to weave the illusion and even dedicated her life force to him, Haruko Hayama still kept the decision-making power to herself.

But Bai couldn't bear to leave such a beautiful morning Haruko, so he chose to live for her.

My Haruko...

My whole reason for existing...

Even if it's fake, I will never allow tragedy to happen again...

Under Zabuza's unfriendly gaze, Bai returned to Haruko Hayama and hugged her with heartache.

Before the battle was about to break out, the black-hearted boss Cardo actually brought a group of armed thugs, wanting to take the opportunity to kill them.

Fortunately, the drunk uncle's grandson Inari brought the villagers to drive them away in time, and Kakashi Hatake and others were saved from the battle.

Because Zabuza was betrayed by his client, he had no reason to continue fighting to the death with Hatake Kakashi, not to mention... Haku chose to stay.

In the end, Zabuza left without saying anything.

"Hey! Let me hold Haruko!"

Uzumaki Naruto shouted as they walked back to the village.

"With your small body, I should be the one to hold you." Uchiha Sasuke laughed.

"No, I know how to hold Haruko so that she will feel comfortable." Bai smiled and rejected them.

Uzumaki Naruto: ...

Uchiha Sasuke: ...

Why didn't they realize before that this guy was a piece of cake? !

Hatake Kakashi looked at the still sleeping Morning Haruko and sighed: "It's good to be young."