Jitsu -A different story-

Kurono's words had stopped coming out of his mouth after telling Shizune about that scene. An enormous heaviness as well as a complicated feeling had left his body at the same time, but it was also obvious that many memories were playing in his mind as if it were a movie. A long sigh had left his mouth, which was enough to break the small silence of the moment, but before Kurono could concentrate again on what was in his mind, his sight once again focused on the figure of Shizune.

She was combined with the atmosphere that was present at that moment, but the expressions that appeared on her face as all this happened always showed concern and understanding towards everything Kurono was sharing with her, only, at that moment, she was again a certain look that anyone could notice.

"As you told me a long time ago, it is not correct to say that I understand your pain." Kurono did not interrupt Shizune since he wanted to know what she had to say. "But that does not mean that I cannot try to imagine all the experiences and feelings for the ones you went through."

Both Shizune and Kurono were already quite close to each other, but that didn't stop Shizune from getting a little closer since she needed all of Kurono's attention to be focused on her.

"I know, Kurono. Losing someone that we consider the most important to us is capable of destroying us, of making such a great pain take root in the depths of our being and that we think that it is impossible to eliminate..." Obviously, Shizune was talking from his own experience, which, like Kurono, was full of pain and sad memories. "But with all of this, comes the memory of those people you once loved and continue to do so. It's like Mei asked you, her memory still lives with you, you are one of the proofs that she was once alive... But using her words, you should not continue accumulating that pain that all that caused you, and I can also imagine how difficult it was for you to tell me everything, but it was the same case for me."

Following Shizune's intention, Kurono did not take his eyes off her and each of her words reached him, making him think deeply.

"It was difficult because it hurt me every time, I saw you suffer from those same memories, it was difficult because I unconsciously thought about my past, and it was difficult because I really felt that I couldn't do anything even if it was to help you a little so that you wouldn't be felt that way... But now I understood that I was wrong." A complicated expression appeared on Shizune's face again, but it was gone as quickly as it came, letting the calm expression from before return to her. "In my case, the memory of Hiroshi remains with me, everything we experienced, the happy and sad moments, and in addition to that, Rena is also proof that he was alive once, and it was thanks to you, thanks to everything you have done and you have shown me that I managed to understand that I should not continue trapped alone in the pain that all those memories brought me. As I told you, the memory of Mei still lives with you, you should consider that as something truly precious to you, but as she told you, don't hold on because of the pain that it brought, you should just focus on the good times and the full memories of happiness in her company, you must make sure that, instead of a sad expression, the only thing that appears on you is a beautiful smile, one that she would be very happy to see on you every time you remember her."

And as if Shizune wanted to set an example, she showed a smile that was not strange to Kurono. He had already seen Shizune smile countless times, but like her words, seeing her smile made him feel happy, and an enormous tranquility flooded him, as a result, the memory of Mei had reached him, a memory where she was showing him a sincere smile that was quite similar... One that gave him the same feeling as Shizune's... And without it no matter what, his lips curved in the same way, as he was able to understand what his dear friend wanted for him all this time.

"That's right, you were wrong." Shizune had to say that she didn't expect those to be Kurono's words after everything she had said, but now it seemed like it was her turn to hear. "You were wrong about not wanting to feel pain because of me. Shizune, I felt the same way countless times when you were telling me about your past, it's something uncontrollable, and that's because, for me, you are incredibly important, you are the person I love, the one I want to be happy in everything moment, that's why it's impossible for me not to feel pain if I see a sad expression on you." Shizune was about to say that it was the same case for her, but she understood that if Kurono said that it was because he could guess her thoughts. "I know, it's pretty clear that you feel the same way, and believe me that makes me incredibly happy, being aware that someone cares so much and cares so much about me is something to be deeply grateful for, and at the same time, also you are wrong for feeling that you can't do anything in this type of situation since the simple fact that you are here with me is a help beyond what you can imagine... But I don't blame you since I also had those same ideas… We were both wrong, but those same mistakes now make it clear to me that the bond between us is the most beautiful thing I have at this moment."

Kurono's words had completely reached Shizune, filling her with a warmth that was difficult to describe. She really felt the need to reach out and kiss Kurono deeply to let those feelings that were slowly forming come out, but before she could move to This, in addition to the fact that Kurono was feeling something similar, he said again what seemed like the closure of that small moment.

"Shizune, thank you for appearing in my life, thank you for filling me with happiness, thank you for being with me all this time… And thank you for loving me and letting me love you in the same way."