The beekeeper’s slowly flowing words disappeared into the pure white fog.
Shino silently listened to it all.
“All people are lost.” The beekeeper said, “Not just me. Be it shinobi or merchants, man or woman, everyone. And that includes you. You’re lost as well. That’s why you’re wandering, confused, through the fog like this.” He pointed out.
“You’re saying I’m…lost…?”
When had Shino’s mouth gotten so dry? Shino swallowed, and held his breath.
And, for some reason, memories of Hinata and Kurenai rose into his mind.
He remembered the time he’d spent training with Hinata.
He remembered the days of missions he’d done under Kurenai’s supervision.
He had finally made a friend in Hinata. Kurenai had understood him even though he was quiet.
But…
Hinata was getting married soon. Even now, she was busy preparing for the wedding ceremony.
Kurenai was busy raising her child. Now, she was behind a certain line.
The two of them had already started down their own paths. And Shino silently watched the sight of their two backs.
They’d never be able to go back to how Team Eight used to be. Forever.
Shino tried to stay calm, but his breathing was getting harsh and laboured. The fog was filling up his lungs.
Is this what he meant by my being lost…?
Hinata and Kurenai, and everyone, they were heading down their own paths, but Shino was the only one left behind where he began. That was the feeling he’d fallen into.
He wasn’t heading towards anyplace, and he wasn’t settling down anywhere. He felt like he was like the wavering fog, always being the only thing that was left behind.
Were those feelings a deception created by a fog…? No, that wasn’t it.
He’d always, always felt like this.
After they came to this place, and before as well. He had always kept feeling lost…
And, the thought had occurred to him. From some tiny corner of his heart. He hadn’t even noticed it himself, but he’d thought…
I want to go back to those days.
He wanted to go back, just one more time, back to those days when everyone had stuck together as Team Eight.
“You hadn’t even noticed…that you felt lost, had you…?” The beekeeper said, looking at Shino.
Shino was standing stock still in place. He couldn’t move a single step forwards. No matter how much he tried to move forward, he wouldn’t be able to reach the exit anyway, so why bother? He couldn’t even see anything in front of him anyway, thanks to the fog.
“You don’t have to keep pushing yourself forwards.” The beekeeper said. “You can just leave everything, and live here, and it’ll be fine…”
The fog, along with the beekeeper’s kind words pierced through Shino.
That might just be best. Shino thought.
If he couldn’t move forwards, and if nothing was waiting for him even if he did move forwards, then he wanted to just stay here and live his days without changing anything. That could very well become his happiness.
The beekeeper held out a hand. The honeybees that surrounded their arm drew away to reveal a milky-white hand.
“If you want,” the beekeeper said, “Then you could stay here with me.”
Shino looked at the offered hand.
And then, suddenly…
“It’s Team Eight’s Last Mission! Let’s go, you guys!”