"Good morning, Kakashi-kun."

“……”

"Why are you looking at me with that strange look? Did I make any rude moves? ”

Looking at the delicate Kakashi of Hachiki standing at the door of the writing room, Aizen asked with a pleasant face.

"It's the first day of the new year, so if you want to go out with your companions as soon as possible, it's better to hurry. After all, the research team only gave a seven-day holiday after the New Year, and it was only fleeting for those who cherished it. ”

“…… It's so long-winded, it looks like it's really a real person. ”

"Huh? What's wrong? ”

"Nothing."

Kakashi opened his mouth as he sat in the writing room, surrounded by calligraphy and paintings, and swallowed what he wanted to ask.

Originally, Kakashi Hachiki wanted to ask where Aizen had gone during the New Year, but after all, everyone had been looking for a long time and couldn't find it. Female fans like Nohara Rin almost blocked the door on the way back.

As a result, as soon as I woke up in the morning, I saw that Aizen sat back in the writing room like an NPC refresh. I was going to ask, but Kakashi thought about it, and the relationship between himself and Aizen was also delicate, so he ended up stuck here.

For Aizen, Kakashi's mood is really very delicate.

In fact, after such a long period of contact, Kakashi almost understood that Aizen was farting when he said that he was a shinobi or something.

You have so many theoretical studies and forbidden secret methods to swing over there, and you say that you have not studied anything, pure theory, which is as outrageous as standing in the middle of the corpse all around you and saying that you didn't do anything and they suddenly died.

It's just that we've been living together for almost half a year. In Kakashi's life, the man in front of him can be regarded as occupying almost one-seventh of the time from the beginning of his life to the present. But Aizen Sosuke didn't show any thoughts against him.

Generally speaking, you see, some behind-the-scenes people who want to take the enemy's son are often trying to instill some hatred, some malice, such as pursuing a twisted pleasure, making the enemy's child call his father, and so on. But in fact, Aizen didn't do anything, just literally protect him.

It also gave him a new time to study at the ninja school, and opened him to various theories and forbidden arts. He will also give full support to some of Kakashi's whims. As for thinking about life, he didn't even give any so-called reversal or choice, but gave everything to Kakashi himself and let him choose.

According to Aizen, Kakashi is a young man, but he is also a ninja with self-esteem and self-confidence. He doesn't make choices for someone who has his own ideas.

This development has made Kakashi a bit of a mess. He didn't know what kind of feelings and state he had to face Aizen.

Many times he doesn't speak because he pretends to be cool or doesn't want to talk, but because he really doesn't know how to face people like Aizen, who know that there is a problem, but he just does it in an orderly manner and has no problems.

So looking at the indigo dye who was sitting in the writing room and began to deal with the documents that had recently piled up, Kakashi held back for a long time and finally held back a sentence.

"Actually, there are a lot of people in the village who like you."

"Really? That's an honor. ”

"There are also a lot of people who want to go to the festival with you and make a New Year's wish or something. People actually care about you. ”

"Well, I understand. That's great. If my work can make people happy, and if my efforts can make the world more stable and peaceful, and if I can make progress in the world, then that is the reason why I am doing my best. ”

“……”

No, you've worked so hard until now for your own ideas.

Looking at the Aizen in front of him, who had started to deal with official duties again after coping with two sentences, Kakashi always had a feeling of irritability coming out of his head.

Kakashi wanted to say something to him, wanted to question him, but didn't know how. It's not that he doesn't have courage, but he doesn't have evidence. If there is really evidence, I'm afraid he will be able to put his mind at ease.

However, whether it was his father's consideration or the village's consideration, Kakashi could only keep his mouth shut.

It's just that Kakashi didn't say anything in this spring year, but Aizen opened his mouth instead.

"Actually, you don't have to worry too much. Kakashi-kun. ”

In this courtyard, where there is no New Year's atmosphere at all, and it is still peaceful and elegant, Aizen sat in front of the board and said softly:

"You just have to say what you think, what is true in your heart. Too many worries and too many thoughts often cause too many misunderstandings and embarrassments. If you want to communicate, just say what you think. ”

"Did my father really commit suicide?"

"Yes."

“……”

Calm answers, crisp and neat.

But it was like thunder.

Listening to Aizen's unhesitating words, Kakashi froze in place for a moment.

As if to break the last remaining illusion in Kakashi's mind, Aizen pushed his glasses and sat in the writing room and said in a deep voice:

"It's not just suicide in front of you, Kakashi-kun. He was not polluted in any way, nor was he forced to do so, but he couldn't accept the reality himself, so he chose to die in front of you. ”

"There is no illusion, no physical transformation, everything is his own, out of his own heart, the truest choice. At that time, public opinion had not yet been completely spread, mainly fermenting and fighting between the two sides, and your father's death was a complete confirmation of all this. ”

"In the end, I was the one who put it all down, and I was responsible for restructuring, organizing, covering it up. But this kind of thing, you should understand, Kakashi-kun. He died in front of you, literally. There are no miracles, he can't come back. I'm sure you're as smart as you are, and you're already aware of what's right. ”

“…… Be. ”

Looking at the still gentle smile, the white-haired figure that looked short exhaled a long breath.

It's as if there's a burden in my heart, and it's as if I'm really aware of something. Even Kakashi himself didn't know why he felt relieved.

Maybe it's just that he has always been unwilling to accept his god-like father, and will eventually choose such a way to die. But in Aizen's mouth, he has never had the need to deceive himself.

If you want to lie to yourself, then I am afraid you have already deceived yourself countless times. And more importantly, he gave an alternative answer.

"So, Kakashi-kun, did you see the New Year's dream?"

“…… See. ”

"That's also Shuo Maojun's own choice, and you don't have to do anything, or face anything. Although Shuo Maojun is your father, he also made his own choice. ”

Looking at Kakashi, who seemed a little stunned, Aizen returned his gaze to the document on the table and whispered:

"That's growth, Kakashi-kun. Sometimes what you expect doesn't happen, and people you feel are truly great and more vulnerable than you think. You may be blinded by love for others, but reality doesn't lie. ”

"There are no miracles or biases in this world, only indisputable, pure facts. Shuo Maojun made such a choice that made everyone's heart ache under his own thinking. And Kakashi, no matter how you think about it, how you glorify it, it's an objectively existing, indisputable fact. ”

"Your father chose himself over you. That's the answer to all the questions you want. No matter how you understand it, how you forgive, it's a real 'result'. As a researcher, Kakashi-kun should understand. When the factual results do not match the theory, and the facts are confirmed to be correct after many comparative tests, you should understand what is wrong. ”

“…… That, of course, is a theoretical error. ”

His own father, who used to be like a god, really didn't think of himself at the time.

He's just like that figure, just a man who cares about himself.

Although it was a little cold, and with some kind of heartache spike, Kakashi, who was the son of Hachiki Saushige, breathed a sigh of relief.

Anyway, it's amazing, but there's also a sense of peace of mind. It's as if it's certain that something isn't your own problem, but is really the opposite.

For this sense of reassurance, Kakashi had to say that he did feel a little guilty. That's his own father after all. But there is an inexplicable amazement, because the man who escaped everything is also his father.

So there is no need to understand his choice, only the facts exist. So let's do our own thing from now on.

It's a bit brutal, but it's probably the most acceptable New Year's gift for Kakashi.

Then, now that you've got what you want, there's no reason to stay any longer.

"Then I'll go out first. You keep working. ”

"Ah, yes, Kakashi-kun."

Sitting in the writing room and starting to deal with paperwork, Aizen suddenly said to Kakashi Hachiki, who was about to leave:

"If you don't have an opinion, there is a diplomatic note from Cloud Ninja Village this afternoon, and I will take you to the meeting as the developer of the Static Blood Suit and the Kinetic Blood Suit. This is a diplomatic meeting of Cloud Ninja Village, the level is relatively high, you must be mentally prepared at that time. But if you want to go a step further, you can do it. ”

“…… Huh? ”

You said you didn't have a job for the New Year?!

Looking at the calm Aizen, Kakashi's face gradually became difficult to look at.