Slender fingers pinched the corner of a page, flipping it with a faint rustle.
Sumika read the manga in her hands, the shifting patches of sunlight quietly illuminating her profile.
It was just before noon, and the bookstore had grown quieter. Golden light spilled onto the walls and seeped between the pages of books on the wooden shelves.
The hum of the air conditioner exuded a drowsy warmth, and passersby who happened to glimpse the girl quietly reading in the manga section would instinctively hold their breath, reluctant to disturb her.
Fashion, serenity, and manga… these clashing elements blended seamlessly around her, as if they had always belonged together.
"This girl, Mai… Logan, it seems you've done quite a lot in the past, huh?" Sumika stared at the exquisitely drawn character on the page, letting out a soft, ambiguous hum.
Recalling the first half of this volume, the girl's relentless efforts and determination to see Hattori, Sumika's expression grew even more composed and serene.
She had noticed this girl mentioned in the 'Land of the Moon's Aurora Arc' for a while now. The story and the pure emotions revealed in the battles were moving, but that was beside the point. Sumika clenched a small fist.
Naruto had recorded a significant number of Hattori's appearances, whether during the Chunin Exams in Year 60 or his later return.
As someone uniquely brought from the Ninja World to Earth, Sumika naturally knew about the wonders and dramas hidden behind these phenomena, including the digital tablet that connected the two worlds.
Logically, the story shouldn't have continued to follow its original trajectory. But even after the spacetime imprint was erased, some residual influence seemed to remain.
Logan's 'unnecessary' act of returning the tablet to the author had somehow synchronized the events with the manga's serialization.
However, beyond faithfully recording events, the tablet no longer had any power to interfere.
These were all speculations between Sumika and Logan. Whether they were correct or not, and whether they needed verification, held no practical significance for either side anymore.
A sudden commotion erupted at the entrance, as a group of high school students, laughing and joking as they walked in, shoulder to shoulder. There were about seven or eight of them, evenly split between boys and girls.
Likely students from the nearby area killing time after lunch, still in their uniforms, their youthful energy instantly shattering the bookstore's quiet atmosphere.
Four girls chattered excitedly, their short skirts rolled up even higher, carelessly revealing smooth thighs as they beelined for the prominently displayed manga merchandise.
The three boys, on the other hand, were far more subdued, plainly dressed, awkward, the epitome of herbivorous otaku.
"Finally, we can relax here…"
"Whoa, it's Naruto! So much Naruto today!"
"Ahhh! Raiden Hattori! I love him so much!"
In Japan, people rarely made loud noises in public spaces like streets or stores. Adults lived cautiously in society, rushing through their duties with quiet efficiency, except for students, who were the complete opposite of this dull world.
Barging in boisterously, they instantly dispelled the bookstore's lazy afternoon ambiance, rudely shattering the serene image of the girl quietly reading manga. Many customers grumbled inwardly.
'You can disturb me, but don't ruin my view of the beautiful girl, you idiots!'
"Hey, hey, this one seems to be about Raiden Hattori and Itachi working together in Anbu! The official release is feeding us… ahh, so happy!"
"They've always been a popular pairing, right? I really love Logan's dialogue, it feels like he's speaking from a three-dimensional perspective."
"Exactly! That Deadpool comic from America that's getting popular lately is totally copying him."
The girls crowded around the Naruto section, flipping through volumes with excitement, their chatter never ceasing. The three boys, initially planning to browse the manga as well, silently retreated to the light novel section instead, wisely avoiding the chaos.
Sumika was also drawn by the girls' voices. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the bright sunlight refreshing her gaze as she pulled herself out of the manga's immersion.
She didn't mind being disturbed, as she understood the joy of seeing something one loved. But the topic of their discussion made her sigh.
"Hattori stepping between Sasuke and Itachi just as they were about to fight, so cool! And that position is so suggestive, hehe…"
"Right?! And that scene where Hattori lectures Naruto, ending with the forehead flick… Oh my god, I can't even describe it!"
"It mirrors Itachi's gesture in the flashback! Couple telepathy~"
"…"
Sumika's head throbbed slightly. Logan's friendships often get misinterpreted by the audience here. She had always stood firmly against such wild speculations, trying to correct these misconceptions.
Unfortunately, over time, the misunderstandings hadn't lessened, instead, they'd only grown stronger as the fanbase expanded.
She was both annoyed and amused, but Sumika knew the truth, 'As long as he's straight.'
"Um, miss… are you a Naruto reader too?"
Suddenly, a tentative male voice sounded beside her.
Turning, Sumika saw a boy in a school uniform. She nodded slowly.
The boy, accompanied by two friends, smiled with what could be described as sunny confidence, at least compared to his companions, he was slightly better-looking.
"I saw you reading the latest volume, so…"
The boy seemed somewhat experienced in striking up conversations with strangers, steering it in a friendly direction, "It's great to meet a fellow fan! We're all from Izumino High… Maybe we can chat sometime? Oh, I'm Takashi Horibe."
After introducing himself, Horibe, the brave soul initiating this exchange, even extended a hand. Sumika glanced at it but didn't take it.
"Is that so? What a coincidence."
Sumika reached for her phone, wondering why that guy still hadn't shown up, 'At this rate, four chapters could pass, enough for a whole fight scene in the manga.'
She returned the book to its place and stood up.
Horibe's two friends, seeing Sumika preparing to leave, exchanged helpless glances. As true otaku, they were utterly useless in this situation.
"Ah, we just finished the latest volume too! I wonder what Hattori will do after the fight between the Uchiha brothers…"
Horibe had noticed the stunning girl bathed in sunlight the moment he entered. While he had some interest in ACG, he was more of a social butterfly at school.
He desperately signaled his friends for backup.
On familiar topics, otaku could chime in. They managed to create a cheerful atmosphere, but Sumika was ready to end the conversation.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side, as the group of girls noticed Sumika standing up and, exclaiming, "What a pretty girl!" before eagerly joined the circle.
Sumika had no choice but to humor them for a while. Fortunately, when she checked her phone again, there was finally a reply.
"I'm here. Where are you?"
"In the bookstore across the street."
It was the warm afternoon sunlight. The high schoolers continued their discussion.
At the end of the latest volume, the younger brother, having learned the truth, departed.
The older brother refused to abandon his mission. With Mai also urged to return to Konoha, only Hattori remained.
The perspective cut off abruptly.
To the audience, Hattori was an incredibly complex, multifaceted character, someone who could effortlessly get along with Ninja from vastly different factions, yet exude terrifying, cold lethality in critical moments.
He cherished his bonds deeply, hiding convictions outsiders couldn't fathom.
Every time he seemed to align with the antagonists, his kindness would shine through again.
People wanted to know his ending.
"Miss, what do you think Hattori will do next?"
The question, having gone full circle, was now passed to Sumika.
Sumika thought for a moment. Just then, she spotted someone peeking into the bookstore, looking around.
"Raiden Hattori…"
The man, bathed in sunlight, waved at her, holding two ice cream cones he'd painstakingly bought.
"…might've gone to buy ice cream."
Her answer left everyone stunned. Then, with a click-clack of her shoes, she dashed over.
"Bye, everyone~" Sumika nestled into Logan's arms, turning back with a radiant smile.
The bookstore's collective gaze automatically shifted to the man.
"…"
Logan froze, scanning the crowd. For some reason, he made eye contact with multiple people. Clueless, he scratched his head before finally walking out with Sumika.
"You're so slow…"
"You have no idea how long the line was! If you hadn't insisted…"
"Say that again."
Their faint bickering melted into Harajuku's bustling streets, vanishing into the city's flow. The onlookers stood dumbfounded, watching them leave.
A breeze flipped a few pages of the manga in the corner, as if everything had been a dream.
Summer vacation had just ended. Many were about to start a new chapter.
And many would no longer drift apart.