BT

One evening… The Kazekage Residence buzzed with activity. Kaito sprinted into the hallway. “Dad!” Gaara caught him before he crashed into the wall. “You’ve gotten faster.” Mina reached up with tiny arms. “Papa!” He lifted her effortlessly. A rare smile appeared. “Hello.” Standing a few feet away… Destiny held a folded report card. Straight A’s. Top kunoichi in her class. “…Dad?” Gaara glanced toward her. “…Give me one moment.” She nodded. “…Okay.” One moment became twenty. Eventually… She quietly folded the paper again. He never asked what she wanted. ⸻ Weeks later… Destiny stopped bringing him her report cards. Stopped asking to spar. Stopped asking to walk through the desert together like they used to. She simply… Stopped asking. ⸻ One afternoon… The Sand Academy held Family Appreciation Day. Parents filled every seat. Destiny sat alone. A teacher smiled gently. “Your father is probably busy.” Destiny forced a smile. “He always is.” She wasn’t angry. Just… Used to it. ⸻ Back inside the Kazekage Office… Gaara signed another document. Baki entered quietly. “…Lord Kazekage.” “…Yes?” “…Weren’t you supposed to attend Destiny’s Academy ceremony today?” The brush slipped from Gaara’s hand. Silence. Then… His eyes widened. “…No…” He looked at the calendar. Today’s date. Family Appreciation Day. His heart stopped. ⸻ He arrived too late. The academy courtyard was empty. Only one instructor remained. “You just missed her.” Gaara asked quietly, “…Did she wait?” The instructor sighed. “Until everyone else had already gone home.” “…She kept looking at the gate.” Gaara closed his eyes. He understood immediately. She hadn’t been waiting for the Kazekage. She’d been waiting for… Her dad. ⸻ That night… He found Destiny sitting alone on the rooftop overlooking the Sand Village. The same rooftop where they used to count stars together. She didn’t turn around. “I figured you’d find me.”