Uchiha Sasuke’s Collapse Chapter 013

Drizzling rain poured down from the sky, which was overcast with dark clouds and flashing silver lightning. For Nagazora City, winter rain was undoubtedly a trying time for everyone, especially during the morning rush hour on a workday.

Sasuke stood atop the ME Corp building, the cold wind howling and making his greatcoat flap like constantly beating black wings.

He looked up at the sunless sky, the strong wind blowing out the unpadded left sleeve of his shirt from beneath his greatcoat.

He looked like a one-legged hawk perched on a crumbling branch.

The fine rain showed no sign of stopping with time; from day to night, it only seemed to intensify. Today, Sasuke did not go to the academy entrance to wait for Mei; instead, he stood quietly at the city’s highest point.

Having lost his ideals, he still didn’t know which way to go.

After slaying the Honkai-infected zombies that appeared due to Honkai energy leakage in the suburban factory, Sasuke continued to stand by the railing on the factory’s rooftop.

“It’s still raining,” the system’s voice rang in Sasuke’s mind.

“December is the driest season in Nagazora City. Such heavy rain in this place at this time is quite rare.”

“Always getting soaked in the rain isn’t good for your health,” a clear female voice and the system said in unison.

“…”

Sasuke didn’t turn around, but a gray umbrella was already held over his head, and an energetic voice sounded in his ear: “Hey, aren’t you going to thank me for my umbrella, or else you’d be a drowned rat.”

“You don’t need to meddle.”

“You!” Kiana instantly bristled. She had spent half the night searching the city for this scoundrel instead of staying in her warm bed, only to be met with such a remark.

She should just let this scoundrel freeze to death on the street!

“Why are you looking for me?” This time, Sasuke took the initiative to ask.

Kiana had initially wanted to answer defiantly, “Who do you think you are for me to actively seek you out?” but thinking of her missing father, she suppressed her anger.

“Hey, I’m asking you, do you know someone named Siegfried?”

“No.”

“Really?” Kiana stared intently into Sasuke’s eyes.

“Mm.”

“Oh—alright.” Kiana suddenly seemed deflated, but although her face was full of disappointment, it wasn’t too difficult for her to accept.

Having traveled across the ocean, she was already used to such disappointment.

“Why are you looking for him?”

“He’s my dad,” Kiana shrugged.

“I’ll remember that.”

“What?” The sound of the heavy rain was too loud, and Kiana didn’t hear Sasuke’s voice.

“…”

Kiana looked at the boy beside her who seemed disinclined to repeat himself and immediately got annoyed, muttering: “Just because he can run fast, what’s with the attitude?”

Sasuke ignored her, simply gazing at the rainy night.

Kiana glanced at her watch, then nudged Sasuke: “Hey.”

Sasuke didn’t answer, just turned to look at her.

“Here, take it. I’m going back. It’s getting late, and I have school tomorrow morning.” Kiana handed over the umbrella.

“Don’t need it.”

“You!” Kiana turned her head away. “Take it or leave it. Don’t say I didn’t save you if you get a fever from freezing tomorrow.”

“…”

Another long silence.

Until Kiana couldn’t stand the silence anymore, she couldn’t help but turn back to Sasuke and said, “What’s so good to look at here?”

“Nothing good to look at.”

“Then why are you standing here motionless and looking? Oh—I get it, is this what you guys, men, do nowadays to look cool and moody?”

“…”

“No answer means you admit it?”

“…”

“I knew it!”

“Idiot.”

“Who are you calling an idiot!” Kiana was furious, baring her teeth and claws, ready to pounce on Sasuke.

However, Sasuke couldn’t be bothered with the restless idiot beside him.

She was simply as stupid as a certain fox, cut from the same mold.

“This young lady has a broad mind, I won’t bother with you, hmph.” Kiana turned her head away, looking in the direction of Sasuke’s gaze into the dark rainy night.

A moment later, she spoke: “Hey, those Honkai beasts and zombies, did you take care of them?”

“Mm.”

“Then your strength is pretty good.”

“Mm.”

“Why do you always say ‘mm’? Haven’t you learned how to interact with people?”

“Mm.”

Kiana, who had initially wanted to converse with a “colleague,” finally couldn’t hold back and rolled her eyes at Sasuke.

He was like a block of wood.

Raindrops as big as beans fell from the sky, hitting the stone slabs on the rooftop with crisp sounds. But for Kiana, she still couldn’t grasp the atmosphere before her.

A stormy day, to her, was just a relatively cold, unfriendly type of weather.

So what exactly was this guy, who always wore a perpetually sour expression as if everyone owed him a fortune, looking at?

Kiana couldn’t help but secretly glance at Sasuke’s profile.

A jawline like it was carved by a knife, and black pupils as deep as a bottomless abyss.

Indeed… he was quite handsome.

If it weren’t for Mei, she might have even felt a little flutter in her heart?

Kiana’s mind began to wander.

Compared to the restless Kiana beside him, Sasuke was like an unmoving ancient pine. Under the night sky, the two stood together in stark contrast, making for a rather peculiar combination.

Finally, Kiana couldn’t bear it anymore. On one hand, standing next to a motionless, silent, expressionless weirdo made her somewhat restless. On the other hand, this was the city’s outskirts, a long distance from Mei’s house. It was getting late, and by the time she got home, it would probably be dawn. What if Mei called her to wake up in the morning and she didn’t get up…

Well, nothing much would happen.

At most, breakfast would be cold.

Anyway, Mei should be used to her sleeping in and being late by now… right?

Thinking of this, Kiana couldn’t stand still. She looked at Sasuke, who had no expression, and said, “Hey, I’m leaving, Ice Face.”

Always getting the short end of the stick, Kiana decided to give Sasuke a nickname to satisfy her competitive spirit, then pushed the umbrella forward again.

As expected, Sasuke ignored her.

Kiana pouted, made a face at Sasuke, and then turned to leave.

Sasuke made no move until the girl’s white figure appeared on the asphalt road ahead; only then did his eyes slightly move.

After Kiana left, silence returned to the place.

Sasuke, of course, wasn’t gazing at the rainy night for a boring reason like showing off. It was just that the sudden heavy rain reminded Sasuke of the Land of Rain, that perpetually weeping country.

And…

Itachi, do you also gaze at the rainy night like this?