The clouds of war had hung over Konoha for long enough, and pedestrians had become accustomed to the oppressive atmosphere, and they hurried through the streets, ready to reach their destination early and end the oppressive day. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

However, suddenly, a piece of news came from the front at breakneck speed, shattering the clouds of war.

"We've won!"

"Iwa Shinobu was defeated by Hokage-sama, and Sand Shinobi also retreated!"

Like a wildfire, the news spread throughout Konoha in an instant.

"Ah...... This, this is too sudden, right? “

"It's a rumor, right? That's how the war ended? “

It's not that there are no voices of suspicion, such rumors have been spread in the past, and once they even almost caused some trouble. This time, however, the voices of doubt stopped when the ninjas shouted the news of victory in the streets, and when they saw one sign after another being quickly posted, and were replaced by cheers of disbelief and ecstasy.

"Victory?!"

"We won?!"

"Victory! We've won! “

……

Click, click, small footsteps sounded on the floor, and Mieko, who was concentrating on her lunch, squeezed out a smile and turned her head.

"Hmm, Mieko! Na, na, listen to me, everyone is talking, saying that the war is over! “

The ignorant daughter's eyes were wide open, her face was full of excitement, and she spoke with an astonishing speed.

"Mieko, what does it mean that the war is over? Does that mean Sariko can go to school again? Can we get together again? “

"And, also, in other words, Daddy will be back!"

Mieko tried her best to smile and said in a normal tone, "Sarika, how many times have I told you, how can I call my mother by her name?" “

Sariko pursed her lips: "What's the matter, Dad also calls Mom Mieko!" ”

"Gee, that's not a problem. Now, is that so? Daddy will be back, right? Sariko can go to school again, right? ”

Mieko covered her mouth: "Ah, ah, yes, Sariko will be able to go to school soon." ”

"Dad, although the war is over, there are still some things, so I have to come back later. Dad, he's always been a workaholic. “

Sariko slumped her shoulders in disappointment: "Really...... Dad still has to work, the work is heavier than Sariko, right? Is it heavier than Mieko? “

"Wouldn't it be nice to come back earlier? Sariko misses her father very much, and Mieko must miss it too, so let's write to my dad and ask him to come back soon! “

The feeling of vertigo came up in a surge, and Mieko's body was shaky.

She hugged Sariko tightly.

"Sariko would go to school, cook delicious meals every day, buy toys and storybooks and beautiful clothes. Mom will work hard, and she will definitely buy a good one for Sariko. “

"Daddy, daddy...... He's ...... Woo......"

The ignorant Sariko also hugged her trembling mother, and said in an ignorant tone: "Mom, why are you crying? It must have been Sariko who made you angry, Sariko apologized to you, don't cry, I won't speak. “

In the middle of the hall, a small shrine sits with a slightly bleak glow of incense sticks, giving off its characteristic scent.

By the time Mieko cleaned up her mood, the heat of the prepared dishes gradually weakened.

"Alright, Sarika, Mommy is fine. Let's eat, the food is almost cold, you eat a little to fill your stomach first, and then Mom will heat them up. ”

Sariko sat obediently on the table, and the dishes on the table were very delicate and large. Even though they are all vegetables with a little minced meat, they still have an attractive aroma.

Sariko doesn't like vegetables very much, and in the past, she would probably complain, and maybe squint and pick out the minced meat to eat, but she hasn't complained lately.

As if she had changed her temper, she was able to eat the green peppers she didn't like at all, even though she still hated the smell.

The chopsticks touched the minced meat mixed with the vegetables, and as if she didn't see it, Sariko picked up a piece of vegetables and muttered: "Mom, there has been more and more meat recently, and Sariko has grown up, and people say that adults should eat more vegetables and less meat." ”

She picked out all the minced meat and placed it on the side of the plate.

"But my mother is still a child, and she needs to eat more meat to grow her body. Sariko don't eat meat, it's too naïve, and it won't grow up. ”

Mieko's nose was sour, and she smiled forcefully: "Sarika, you can't be a picky eater!" Vegetables should be eaten, meat should also be eaten, don't listen to other people's nonsense, if you don't eat a little more meat, you won't grow tall! Mom should eat more vegetables, and she has gained weight recently, so it will be very annoying to go on like this. ”

Sariko muttered, "Mom is obviously thin." ”

She obviously saw it, and her mother has been getting up very early recently, making breakfast and going out. When I came back at noon, I hurriedly made lunch, and then I would go out again, and I would not come back tired until late at night. How can you be fat like this?

Mieko was walking over with a hot meal when there was a soft knock on the door.

She wiped her hands on her apron: "Sarika, eat obediently, I'll be back soon!" ”

Hurrying to the door, Mieko was wondering, not knowing who was coming to visit the house. Maybe my husband's friend heard the news of the end of the war and came to inquire.

"Ah, you...... Hello? When she opened the door, there was a clerk-like figure standing at the door, who didn't look like her husband's friend, and Mieko made a puzzled voice.

"Hello, it's the Snow Lady, right?" The clerk asked in a gentle tone.

Mieko said, "Yes, may I ask who you are?" “

The clerk let out an "ah" and said busily: "I'm really sorry, I'm the little bird who is in charge of the pension payment overnight, and this time I came to inform you about the pension payment." ”

"Huh? Is there a pension? Mieko had a surprised expression on her face.

The clerk nodded, "Ah, it's inevitable. The family of the war hero, how could the village be left alone, otherwise it would be too cruel. ”

"Please come in and talk, I'm really sorry, I haven't had a guest at home for a long time, it's rude." Mie welcomed the clerk in and hurriedly made him a cup of tea.

The clerk politely took the teacup and handed Mieko a document in his hand.

"Snow Lady, these are some relevant policies, or do I hope you can take a closer look."

Mieko flipped through the papers, and was startled by the numbers on it.

"Ah, this, that's too much......"

The clerk said respectfully: "This amount is really insignificant compared to the loss suffered by your family, but it is better to say that this is the limit of what the village can do." ”

"I'm so ashamed that we can't soothe your pain. But at the very least, making sure that every family can live a life without food and clothing should be our bottom line. ”

"I've also heard that Lady Snow has been working so hard lately that everyone I know is afraid that you will break down because of your hard work. If you have such a pension, it should be much easier, at least please pay attention to your body and don't work too hard. ”

"There are also various matters in the future, whether it is a problem with school or a problem with ordinary times, if you have any trouble, please feel free to contact me. There is so much we can do, and we are really ashamed. ”

Mieko bowed deeply to the clerk: "Thank you so much. ”

"Frankly speaking, I'm ready to work hard for Sariko to study, but even if I work hard, it's hard to guarantee Sariko's living conditions. If I let my children be wronged because of my incompetence, then I am too incompetent as a mother. ”

"Thank you very much, so I don't have to worry too much about it."

The clerk hurriedly picked up Mieko and said, "No, no, madam, this is what we should do, and we should apologize for the loss your family has suffered." ”

Both of them bowed deeply to each other, and after some humility, the clerk said, "Then, madam, I will leave first." It's really a shame to disturb your lunch, and there are a few more that need to be notified. ”

Mieko said: "It's really a pleasure to take up your time. ”

The clerk shook his head humbly, and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something.

"Yes, ma'am. Names have already begun to be engraved on the memorial monument, and a few days later, there seems to be a collective mourning for everyone in the village. “

……

"Mieko? What were you talking about, the food was cold? ”

"Sariko has already washed her own dishes. Your portion is sealed with plastic wrap, it should still be warm, hurry up and eat it. ”

"Ah, yes, I've grown up, Sariko."