Slayer: Look directly at the Seraph, standing on the sun

Little Chili still wouldn't let him off easily, laughing as she replied, "You're such a stubborn person, you won't even eat seafood porridge. Eat something, you need to stay healthy to become stronger."

Mikoto couldn't help but laugh and said softly, "That's just how she is, she always likes to interrupt." Her tone was gentle and playful, and her gaze towards Zhang Hai was full of concern.

The morning sunlight streamed into Zhang Hai's room through the gaps in the curtains, and the room was quiet. However, the silence was broken when the door was suddenly pushed open and a teasing voice broke the stillness.

"Little Chili, do you think you're so great?" Zhang Hai looked up impatiently, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Little Chili, holding a breakfast bowl in one hand and her other hand on her hip, looked disdainful: "What's wrong? Look at your dead fish eyes. I brought you breakfast because I care about you, Zhang Hai. Can't you be a little happier?"

Zhang Hai rolled his eyes, his voice still indifferent: "It's none of your business." He hadn't intended to pay any attention to Xiao Lajiao, but his peripheral vision involuntarily caught sight of the delicious-looking seafood porridge. Even though he was weak at the moment, his stomach was still protesting slightly.

Little Chili didn't seem to be letting him off the hook. She waved the bowl in her hand and said, "I brought some for Mikoto, and I'm giving you some too. Are you a reincarnated starving ghost? Don't try to act cool with me." As she spoke, she put the bowl on the bedside table, sat down next to Zhang Hai's bed, and said with a grin, "To be honest, you're just faking it. Who wouldn't want a girl to care about them?"

Zhang Hai frowned, his tone still dismissive: "I can take care of myself, don't bother me." He turned his head to the other side, trying to appear calm.

Mikoto watched the two bantering partners helplessly and sighed, "Little Chili, don't provoke him like that." She gently tugged at Little Chili's sleeve, signaling her to tone it down.

Little Chili glared at Meiqin and pouted, "Alright, alright, do you think I'm going to fawn over him? Just wait, one day, Zhang Hai will be conquered by me!" Although she was being provocative, she couldn't help but laugh.

Mikoto gently patted Zhang Hai's shoulder: "You need to eat something properly. Your body will recover so your mood can improve. It's not good for you to always keep these heavy things to yourself."

Zhang Hai didn't respond, his gaze calm, seemingly unwilling to discuss these topics further. Seeing this, Meiqin didn't insist, simply sitting quietly to the side, gently fiddling with her books. Her concern was silent, yet it was always there beside him, present like the air around him.

"Do you think Shisui is too naive?" Mikoto suddenly turned around and asked Zhang Hai. Her tone was gentle, yet tinged with concern. "He is indeed very talented, but can he adapt to a place like the Anbu?"

Zhang Hai paused for a moment, then replied coldly, "Shisui is indeed very talented, but he is not suitable for the Anbu. The work of the Anbu is not something that can be accomplished with passion and ideals, but rather requires calm and ruthless judgment. Shisui is too soft-hearted and cannot handle these things."

Mikoto nodded slightly, as if she understood something, but couldn't help asking, "Don't you think Shisui does some things no worse than you? He works very hard."

“What good is hard work?” Zhang Hai’s voice carried a hint of helplessness. “He doesn’t understand the darkness of this world. The ideals of the family and the goals of the Dark Division are too contradictory, so he has no choice but to leave.” He paused, a dull ache in his heart.

Mikoto sensed the restraint and pain in Zhang Hai's voice and gently comforted him, "You are not alone, Zhang Hai. The people around you are working hard. You don't need to dwell too much on the past; there is still hope for the future."

Zhang Hai gazed at the sky outside the window, a slight ripple in his heart. The distance between the past and the future seemed to grow ever wider in his mind. Concern for his family was no longer his focus at the moment; he was more preoccupied with how to confront the confusion and emptiness within himself.

Just then, Little Chili threw a bowl of seafood porridge in front of Mikoto: "Stop being a gentle little angel. Look at the way he looks now, I can't stand it."

Mikoto chuckled as she took the bowl and said softly, "You should tease him less. Zhang Hai needs some time to recover, doesn't he?"

Little Chili scoffed, "Recover? He's so stubborn. He's injured himself and won't go to the hospital. I think he's trying to commit suicide."

"Don't talk nonsense." Zhang Hai finally couldn't help but speak, giving Little Chili a cold look. "I'm not that fragile. At least I can stay clear-headed when facing these things."

Little Chili shrugged dismissively: "Alright, alright, who told you to be so meddlesome? But then again, someone like you will never give yourself a chance to relax."

Zhang Hai lowered his head and fell silent. Whether these words came from Little Chili or Mikoto, he could hear the concern and pity in them. But he knew he was no longer someone who could easily face emotions and life. The entanglements of his emotions and the pain of post-war syndrome had already overwhelmed him.

Mikoto seemed to notice Zhang Hai's silence, and she gently took his hand: "Zhang Hai, you don't need to feel guilty or confused. Everyone has their own pace, there's no need to rush into making a decision."

Zhang Hai's gaze softened somewhat; he was no longer as eager to escape everyone's concern as before. Meiqin's care gave him a long-lost warmth, and although he was still unwilling to express it, the ice deep within his heart seemed to be melting little by little.

In the small space between them, although Zhang Hai maintained a cold exterior, he had not completely closed himself off. When Mikoto gently stroked the back of his hand, he felt a faint sense of comfort, as if the world could always offer him a touch of warmth in his most tired and confused moments.

At this moment, Chili finally decided to leave. She picked up her coat and muttered to herself, "I'm going to the hospital to see Shuimen and bring him some news. Anyway, you two just stay at home and there's nothing to do." As she spoke, she left the room with a mocking expression.

Zhang Hai looked down at the bowl in his hands. Although he still had little appetite, the company of Xiao La Jiao and Mei Qin seemed to alleviate some of his anxiety and exhaustion. Perhaps he didn't need to bear everything; perhaps he could slowly let go of some things and start anew.

Mikoto gently put down the bowl and turned to look at Zhang Hai: "When do you plan to visit your family?"

Zhang Hai was silent for a moment, then his eyes hardened. "I've decided to go see the family's stone tablet," he said softly. "I won't go back, but I have to go see it."