Hinata froze for a moment, eyes wide. She only moved when Jin gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she looked at him, then at the photo, then back at him. again and again, as if trying to make sense of it all.
"You're saying. this man is your father? The strongest person in the world is my father-in-law?" she asked, still waiting for confirmation.
"Yeah, yeah, that's my dad," Jin said casually. "I know you're a fan, but let's eat first I'm starving. I'll answer your questions later." He grabbed her hand with a playful grin and pulled her toward the dining hall.
"Who isn't a fan of his in this world?" Hinata said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "So where is he? Can I meet him?"
Jin stopped mid-step, suddenly stiff. He didn't say anything right away. Instead, he sat down at the table without meeting her eyes.
"Let's eat first," he replied quietly.
Hinata was about to speak again but paused. She knew that expression he rarely made it.
"Alright. Let's eat," she said gently, trying to ease the tension in the room.
-----
After lunch, the two of them sat together on the couch in the living room. Jin suddenly stood up and offered his hand.
"Come on, I'll show you around," he said with a soft smile.
He took her hand gently and led her outside. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the grass. A light breeze rustled the leaves, and birds chirped quietly in the distance. They walked hand in hand in silence, the path behind the mansion winding through a peaceful garden.
With every step, the atmosphere softened. The cool grass under their feet and the quiet rustle of nature made it feel like the world had slowed down just for them.
After a few minutes, they reached a clearing filled with flowers bright colors blooming in every direction. They stopped walking.
Jin stood there for a moment, just watching the flowers sway. He held her hand a little tighter.
Hinata glanced at Jin, noticing how his grip on her hand had suddenly tightened. Then she saw it—two simple graves tucked quietly among the blooming flowers. No names, no ornate markers. Just humble stones resting in the earth.
She looked at him, her voice quiet.
"Whose graves are these?"
Jin didn't respond right away. He just stood there, eyes distant, as if lost in a memory. After a long pause, he finally spoke soft, almost like a whisper.
"My parents. The one on the right is my father. Left my mother."
Hinata froze, stunned. She turned back to the graves, her mind racing.
"What do you mean?" she said after a long silence. "That incident. it's not even been ten days. And the one who used that attack it was him. Everyone saw it. The whole world's calling it his return"
She looked at Jin, confused.
He slowly turned to her, his gaze calm but heavy.
"Did you actually see him that day?" he asked quietly. "I mean really see him? No one did. They just saw the attack.. and assumed."
Hinata's heart pounded. Jin continued, his voice gentle but steady.
"And if he was alive.. where has he been all these years? Why wasn't he there for the last ten years? Not once. Not even a sign."
Hinata opened her mouth to argue but the words caught in her throat. He was right. No one saw him. Just the aftermath the power.
"But still," she said, holding onto the thought, "no one else could use that technique. You know that. It's not just powerful it's precise. No one has control like he did. No one else can."
Jin looked at her, eyes steady.
"That was me," he said softly. "I was the one who used it."
Her breath caught. "What do you mean, you.."
She didn't finish.
A memory hit her like a wave. Ryuto, scolding Jin.
"Don't you remember what happened last time? It was fine back then because Dad was there."
She remembered the words clearly, right before she walked into the bedroom.
Her mind started piecing it all together. Jin falling sick that day. The way he healed her wounds so effortlessly. The way Ryuto looked at him with both fear and concern.
It all made sense now.
She stared at him, speechless.
"If what you're saying is true..." she said slowly, voice trembling, "then how? How can you use that attack? Is your power.. similar to his?"
"My powers.." Jin started, staring at the graves, "even I don't fully understand them yet. But you could say I can use almost any contact-based like just a little taste of the power and i can use it but just in smaller amounts."
He paused, then smiled faintly.
"As for that attack… Dad created it for me. It was his gift on my ninth birthday."
He let out a soft chuckle, then shook his head. "But using it drains everything out of me—my powers, my stamina. Nearly knocks me out cold every time."
He stepped closer to the graves, eyes clouding over.
Hinata stood still, her expression shifting into concern.
"How did he die?" she asked quietly. "Did he fight someone?"
Jin didn't turn around. His voice came soft, like a breeze.
"Nah. There's no one who could even come close to him. He didn't die in battle."
He paused, then whispered,
"He took his own life… after Mom passed away. He was lovesick, couldn't live without her."
Hinata's breath caught.
"If this gets out. if people find out he's gone, the peace we have now. it'll crumble." Her voice was tense.
"It won't," Jin said, finally turning back. "Ten years have passed. People still don't know the truth. And that attack I used? It gave them hope and fear. They believe he's still watching."
He began walking slowly, back toward the mansion.
"Let's just hope nothing like that incident ever happens again. Because if it does, you know what it'll bring."
Hinata turned to the graves and gave a quiet bow, her heart heavy. Then she followed him, catching up and slipping her hand into his.
"Is this why you wanted me to know about your family?" she asked gently.
Jin looked down at her hand in his, then gave a tired smile.
"Well, you're my wife. You were going to find out eventually." He yawned. "It's been a while since I came here. But now I'm feeling sleepy."
They walked on, the flowers rustling gently in the breeze around them. The mood had quieted, softened.
Hinata glanced at him again.
"So why did you leave this place? Was it because of their deaths?"
"You and your endless questions." Jin muttered, but his tone was playful now, lighter.
"It wasn't anything dramatic. I just felt. awkward staying here back then. That's all."
Then after they walk for few minutes. Jin glanced at her with a teasing smile, then smirked.
"You know.. since Hana's off with Miss Anna, we've got a little time to ourselves."
He gently wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her a bit closer.
"How about I give you a proper tour. starting with my room?"
Before Hinata could say anything, he leaned in and kissed her-soft and slow, like he had all the time in the world. In the middle of the kiss, he snapped his middle finger against his thumb with a playful flick.
And just like that, in the blink of an eye-they vanished.
[Chapter 31 end]