"I'm home."
A sigh escaped from Tobe's lips as he opened the entrance to his house, where his father and the rest of his clan members were waiting, having some sort of discussion that not even Tobe could understand. Not that he wanted to, anyway. The Kurokage clan was nothing more than a mess.
He didn't really want to come home. No. He wanted to continue his life living with a friend instead of his own clan. Garu, Abyo, Pucca, Ching, Ring-Ring... even their girly houses would be of no problem to him. But this was his home, his only place to come back to. He didn't have a choice.
"Welcome back." His father Hachiro greeted him, though the hollow tone in his voice was as cold as ever.
Tobe didn't hate his father in any way. In fact, he actually loves him with all his heart. But how could he be so sure if his father ever loved him back?
Even though the Kurokage clan and the Akahato clan were enemies, Tobe and Garu were surprisingly and ironically friends. Tobe didn't want their friendship to be torn apart simply because their clans were rivals. It shouldn't work that way.
Unlike Garu whose mind was filled with a pure loving innocence, Tobe was forced to enter the 'real world' even in the youngest age of three. His innocence lasted for a good three years, until it was thrown down the drain by his own father. It was a miracle how Tobe couldn't even bring himself to hate him.
"I heard you've been friends with an Akahato, Tobe." His father said darkly. "Is that true...?"
"Huh...?"
Tobe felt his heart racing, almost coming out of his mouth. Both he and Garu always kept their friendship a secret, knowing that their clans wouldn't approve of it.
Then, how come? How come his father knew about the hidden friendship he had with him? They were sure that they did their best to hide it from their own clans. They kept that secret for years, and he thought they never knew about it...!
"N-No, father." Tobe lied.
"Liar."
"I'm not!"
"Do you value his friendship that much that you lie to your own father? I'm ashamed."
"I'm not friends with him, dad!"
"I just sent a spy here on you. You've been friends with him for quite some time, hm?"
"We're not friends! I... I'm just... using him, yeah! He doesn't know what I'm up to!"
"ENOUGH LYING! If you truly were tricking him, you wouldn't have hidden it from me. We would've planned it out together. ...Out of all the people you could be friends with, you chose to be with him. You are a disgrace."
"........."
There was nothing Tobe could say to that. He wanted to prove his father wrong. He wanted to tell him a lie that he could not see through. But no matter how many times he tries to hide it, something so big can always be seen.
Panic had consumed Tobe at this point. Now that his father had found out about his friendship with Garu, what was he planning to do? He knew how ruthless his father could be, and that man would do anything to achieve his goals. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong.
"I can't believe it." His father said coldly. "I thought I disciplined you properly, that you must never go out with an Akahato no matter what. And yet here you are. You betrayed me. Your own father."
"I'm sorry." Tobe was forced to reply. "I'm sorry, father."
His father snorted sarcastically, rolling his eyes as if telling Tobe that there was no room for apologies anymore. Tobe hung his head in shame. He didn't want his father to find out, and he began to wish that he had been more careful. He should've known there was going to be a spy.

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Tale of Our Love // Pucca
FanfictionLong before the main story of "Pucca" took place, the little village girl was a goddess who fell in love with a human, Garu. However, was it even possible for a goddess and a human to fall for each other? But Pucca loved Garu endlessly, not willing...