The walls of the community center weren't the only thing Urime was rebuilding.
Bit by bit, the cracks inside him were being patched too.
But some damage…
Was harder to fix.
---
It started with a news article.
Another hit piece.
Old headlines dragged back to the surface.
"Fraud. Scandal. Liar."
Urime sat at the bus stop, phone in hand, reading the words that once destroyed him.
Even now, they stung.
Beside him, Hinata sat quietly, watching him spiral.
> "Let them talk," she said softly.
Urime scoffed.
> "It's easy to say that when it's not your name getting dragged through the mud."
Hinata didn't argue.
She reached over, gently took his hand.
> "You buried the old you. You're building someone better. That's what matters."
Urime stared at her.
At the quiet confidence in her eyes.
At the warmth in her touch.
And for once… the noise faded.
---
That night, they painted the final wall of the center together.
Fresh. Clean. Solid.
Hinata dipped the brush, smirking.
> "You ever think you'd be here? Painting walls? Starting over?"
Urime chuckled, shaking his head.
> "I thought I'd be on top of the world by now."
"You are," Hinata teased.
"The foundation of the world, anyway."
He smiled.
And this time… it wasn't forced.
---
Outside, the city whispered.
The past lurked.
But inside these walls?
Urime was finally laying the bricks of something real.
---
To Be Continued…