Jitsu -A different story-

"Awww! I feel like I'm eighteen again, and I haven't even tried the spa service yet. I really needed this kind of relaxation." Like when she entered the hot springs, Mio let out that expression that caught Shizune's attention.

"If you'll let me compare them, I think both types of services have their strong points, but the relaxation is quite enjoyable in both." Shizune didn't hold back her comments, and on top of that, she was also enjoying the feeling that all the relaxation she had experienced left on her.

Actually, both Shizune and Mio were now in the living room that was right next to the entrance that led to the hot springs and sauna area. Both of them had already left the sauna long ago, and after bathing their bodies a bit with cold water, they decided to spend a little more time together at the table and seats in the living room.

"That makes me want to try it even more, though I think that will be another day." Mio was already quite satisfied, and she didn't want to squeeze everything the ryokan had to offer her into a single day, so she would leave it for the future. "Now… I wonder if when I get back from this vacation I should start exercising."

With an abrupt change of subject, Mio let out that little comment, though it hadn't just come out of nowhere since one of the topics they had talked about between them was the fact that Shizune liked going to the gym and following her own thoughts, Mio attributed Shizune's great physical appearance to it.

"Well… If you ask me, it's a pretty enjoyable activity as long as you get used to it, plus it's good for your health, it's just that it can actually be a bit difficult to keep up if it's your first time." Now Shizune realized that all the experience she had had this past year had helped her better understand many aspects of exercising, so she calmly spoke to Mio, showing her what she now knew.

"Yes, I'm aware of that too… The truth is that my schedule is a mess, so that would also be an aspect to take into account… But I also know that it sounds like a perfect excuse to avoid all of that." Mio had listened carefully to all of Shizune's explanations, but the fact that her enthusiasm was derived from the idea of ​​looking as good as Shizune, she felt that perhaps it was an important decision and that she should think carefully "Better not listen to me, Shizune-san. The truth is that listening to all your stories made me feel a little impatient."

Shizune tilted her head in a little confusion, which Mio noticed and did not hesitate to explain further.

"You see, my friends are already married, one of them even has a child, and I know that I should not think this way, but sometimes I focus too much on it and I feel somewhat lonely, I even get to the point of feeling that I will continue to be this way forever due to my bad luck in love." Mio's lively expression had disappeared the moment she began to say those words, and Shizune was having her own thoughts upon hearing her. "Sorry, as I told you, I know that I should not think this way, but they are always unconscious thoughts."

"I don't think it's strange for you to feel that way." Mio had a somewhat dejected expression after she finished speaking, but Shizune's voice made her turn her attention to her, although she felt somewhat confused by Shizune's words. "I don't mean that it's okay for you to think or feel that way, but like you said, it's something unconscious, and I understand that feeling since I felt that way for a long time."

Once again, the experience was speaking for her. That same feeling had plagued Shizune for many years after she was able to leave behind most of her sadness about the past. In that time, the memories of being loved remained with her, all the warm and special feelings that formed from it, and that itself made her aware that she had lost that a long time ago.

"I don't want you to think that I'm trying to show off my situation to you, but after meeting Kurono, besides feeling loved for who I am, was when I realized that I shouldn't have focused so much on all the negative feelings that were inside me for a long time." Shizune noticed that all of Mio's attention was on her words, so she didn't stop at any time. "I was able to understand what there was more in my life besides that, I appreciated even more the people who loved me, my family and friends… I was able to realize that, even though before I didn't have that person who I could say was made for me, the truth was that I was never alone in this life. From what you told me about yourself, you have your family who loves you, you have your friends who are always there for you, and you still have a great future ahead of you and you don't know what it has in store… It may not even be much and it hasn't been that long since we met, but I've come to appreciate you as a person, so I can and want to tell you, that you're not alone, Mio-san."

"I…" Mio opened her mouth only for that word to come out a second later before she closed it. She was feeling her eyes start to get wet, and even though she didn't know why, she felt like Shizune's words had reached deep inside her.

"Mio-san…" Shizune noticed Mio's state and started to get a little worried.

"I'm sorry… I don't know… I don't know why I suddenly felt like crying so much, haha…" That small laugh didn't quite match the expression she had, and as she had said, several tears were forming in her eyes as she tried to wipe them away with her hands.

She really didn't want Shizune to see her like that, she didn't want her to think it was her fault that she was in that state, but despite all her attempts, she couldn't help but be moved by her words, which caused many feelings to be generated from it.

Mio had already covered her face while her body trembled slightly and tried to calm down with all her might, she was sure she could do it, but before she continued with that idea, she felt her body being surrounded by something until she was aware that Shizune had just approached her and was hugging her lightly.

That had been enough to make her stop acting strong, and without thinking about anything else, Mio raised her arms and hugged Shizune as well while letting out what she was feeling…

…

...

A few minutes passed like that, a time in which not a single word had been said by either of them, but Shizune could hear the light sobs coming from Mio. Although Shizune understood that her words had made her act that way, she was also clear that she was not that way just because of that, there were surely many more things or reasons in Mio's head, but, even so, Shizune did not separate from her at any time.

"Sorry, Shizune-san…"

"I think you don't need to apologize to me, I do not think there is anything that I need to forgive. I just hope that you are calmer now." Mio had been the first to separate from the hug between them, and although she seemed calmer, the traces of the feelings from before still adorned her face.

"Yes, I think I'm better now… I really feel a little sorry, we've only just met and you had to see me in this state." Mio apologized in her own way, but right now she felt a lot of trust towards Shizune, so she continued talking about it. "I appreciate your words, Shizune-san, and I won't forget them for anything in the world, it's just that that same thing made me remember the past, it made me think of the moment when I could consider that my family was truly united, and that happiness that I lost a long time ago came to my mind, so I couldn't help but have several feelings take over me."

Shizune wanted to say something in response, but at the same time, she understood that Mio was telling her all that not with the idea that she wanted to be comforted, rather, she just wanted to be honest with Shizune.

"Still, thank you once again for everything you told me… It really is something I need to think about a lot, maybe my ideas have always been too simple, and it may be true that I am not very aware of what I have right now… But I can realize something important." Mio wiped her face once more before looking directly at Shizune and continuing with what was on her mind. "It's true… There are many people I love, and I can tell that they love me the same way… I am not alone in this life, and I am happy with who I am and what I have right now, hehe."