Jitsu -A different story-

"There's something I want to tell you…" Once she heard Kurono's words, besides feeling a bit curious about them, Shizune could perfectly notice how he still didn't really see her and only turned his back on her at that moment.

Shizune didn't hesitate much before walking until she reached the terrace's railing. Besides experiencing the sensation that the fresh environment outside gave against her skin, her attention focused on how Kurono had his sight focused on the distance.

"What do you want to tell me?" The reality was that Shizune was aware of the silence that had formed between them, which lasted a couple of seconds, but she felt the need to ask that question driven by the same curiosity as before.

"Sorry, I got a little lost looking at the landscape. I wanted to ask if you enjoyed these days." With Shizune's question, Kurono had come back to reality, and although it was true that one could say that he was absorbed in the image given by the river accompanied by the beauty of the night view, he was somewhat lost in his thoughts.

"So that was it… For a moment I was a little scared by the seriousness with which you spoke before." Shizune had just let out a small sigh after what Kurono had told her, but understanding his words, some enthusiasm began to generate in her. "Of course, I enjoyed this trip a lot. I experienced many new things and memories were formed that I never want to forget, but the most important thing is that I was able to be accompanied by you all this time and live all this with you."

As Shizune let out her honest thoughts, she was also bringing her body closer to Kurono's so that the distance between them was gradually reduced to the point that she was able to feel their shoulders lightly touching. Following this, Kurono listened attentively to Shizune as he raised his hand and placed it on top of hers, and a moment later it was noticeable how both were intertwined with each other.

"You don't know how much it makes me happy and reassured to hear that… And I'm sorry if I sounded too serious before, haha…" Kurono couldn't help but scratch his cheek a little while letting out that somewhat nervous laugh while feeling a little embarrassed. "My feelings are quite similar to yours, and obviously, the goal I always had in mind was to be able to accompany you and be with you at all times… Although I think it sounds a little selfish of me to say it that way."

"I don't think you're being selfish, rather I would consider it a normal feeling since I feel the same way…" Shizune had shaken her head a little before starting to speak. "Kurono, you have come to love me and fully accept who I am, and I hope you are aware that I also love you in the same way."

Shizune had to say that she felt that Kurono was acting a little different than usual, but that didn't stop her from letting him know and emphasizing even more what she felt for him.

"Maybe it's true that we can't express it all the time, but for me, being able to be with you makes me truly happy, so there's no need for you to think that you're being selfish since I also want to be with you all the time, and at the same time, I'm glad to know that you feel the same way." Hearing that, Kurono's sight completely moved away from the sights in front of him to be replaced with the image of Shizune, who was giving him a small but beautiful smile, one that completely captivated him, and once again, he couldn't help but remember everything they had been through, and at the same time, he couldn't help but tell himself how lucky he was to be able to experience Shizune's love and that she allowed him to love her the same way.

"Shizune, do you remember what I told you the day I was honest with my feelings?" That question had taken Shizune a little by surprise due to its content as she didn't know what to say.

It was true that Shizune still remembered the day Kurono had confessed to her, but the fact that she was experiencing many feelings and thoughts, plus all the time that had passed since that day, Shizune only had a general memory, but she still kept that moment as one of her most precious memories, so she didn't know what answer Kurono really wanted.

"You don't need to think too much about it, I can't remember all the details of that moment either, but there's something I haven't forgotten, and it's something I want to adapt to what I feel right now."

Shizune didn't really know what Kurono was trying to do by telling her all that, but that didn't stop her from keeping a bit silent as she began to listen to what he was thinking.

"Shizune, I love you, but more than that, and as you said, I have learned to love you for who you truly are, a beautiful, cheerful, and interesting woman, and you have become irreplaceable to me… I think that at this moment you have come to understand all those positive aspects that there are in you and how special you really are, but at the same time, I want to keep repeating it to you… I want to be that person who is always there for you and can make you feel more special than you already are." Kurono's voice had not stopped for a moment, and if they had to ask her, Shizune would say that she was experiencing several feelings due to Kurono's words.

Although she was aware of Kurono's feelings, and she really liked hearing everything that he felt for her, she could notice the complete honesty, as well as the importance that he was giving to those words at that moment. She believed that he felt the need to tell her all that, so she wasn't going to interrupt him, but at the same time, Shizune could feel her heart starting to beat faster with each word he dedicated to her.

"Shizune, you also know who I am, you know what my personality is, you know about my past and my present, and I want to believe that you know that everything I've told you is what I truly feel for you. I am a man who fell deeply in love with you, I am someone who doesn't want to lose you for anything in the world, and from today on, I want to make it clear to you that, in the future that lies ahead, I want to continue loving you and making you the happiest woman in this world, so... Would you like to continue being a part of my life from now on?" Maybe the question wasn't entirely necessary, but Shizune remembered that that question was quite like the one Kurono had used to declare his love to her. Perhaps that moment could be understood as a repetition of what Kurono wanted to tell her that day, but other than that, Shizune was completely speechless.

She had let go of Kurono's hand before using her hands to cover her mouth, she was aware that her heart was beating like crazy, but more importantly, it was the slight glow that was slowly taking over her eyes as she remained silent.

Perhaps someone would think that she was feeling that way because Kurono's words had touched her quite a bit, but anyone present at that moment could perfectly notice the small ring that Kurono was holding in front of Shizune and that he had just shown her just as he finished saying that question, which made clear the true reason for him expressing his feelings that way.

Kurono felt incredibly nervous, he had reached the point that he had been thinking about all day, and now, in addition to feeling his heart beating hard waiting for Shizune's answer, he also had all his attention on her expression.

For her part, Shizune had perfectly understood what she was seeing and what it meant, but at the same time, she had been left completely speechless as she only focused on her thoughts and the feelings inside her; Especially since Shizune had never experienced anything like this, even though she was married, she never had the chance to live through the process or the question that was in front of her right now because of how abrupt everything had been in her past.

"No… This isn't a dream, right?" It took Shizune a while to say those words, but even though reality was in front of her, she needed to ask that question and hear Kurono's answer.

"Of course not… It's not a dream, it's not a joke, both you and I are real right now, and what I want to tell you is the most honest thing I feel and the proof with which I want to show you all the love and affection I feel for you…" Kurono was confident in what he was doing, he had long ago left any kind of doubt aside, and at the same time he said those words, he took Shizune's left hand while he properly put the ring he was holding on her ring finger, ending with that question that would confirm to Shizune that everything that was happening was completely real. "Shizune, will you marry me?"

It was at that moment that Shizune felt like everything stopped, it was when she felt her breathing cut off, but, above all, it was that moment in which those feelings she was experiencing completely overwhelmed her causing a couple of tears that previously threatened to come out to finally do so.

She was lost looking at that ring she was now wearing, which carried many meanings and feelings that she didn't know how to describe, but, even so, she felt an enormous tranquility running through her body as her sight focused completely on Kurono.

"Kurono… All this time that we have been together has been something wonderful… I am also aware that you know many aspects about me, especially about my past and the life I have now, so at no time have I doubted the love you feel for me since you have always known how to show it to me…" Shizune felt that she had to correctly express to Kurono what was on her mind. The last year was replaying in Shizune's mind, mainly everything she had come to experience with him and the happiness she had obtained from being loved once again "At first, I had a lot of doubts about myself, I felt that you would never notice someone like me, my confidence had gone a long time ago… And I came to think that what I had started to feel for you would only be a passing feeling that I would try to bury deep in my heart, but despite that, you made my world change."

Every little talk, every laugh, every show of affection, all the time she spent with Kurono… It was the only thing that mattered to Shizune at that moment, it was the only thing she needed to remember, and that, in turn, was all the memories and feelings that made Shizune happy.

"I am aware that some things will change, but at the same time, I want to continue experiencing and sharing the happiness I feel from being with you… I also want to continue being a part of your life from now on, I want to continue being that special someone for you, I want to love you and be loved by you, and yes…" Despite the small tears that ran down her cheeks, that didn't stop a beautiful smile from appearing on Shizune's face at that moment after saying that answer that she never imagined she would say again, but now, it carried all the love she felt for Kurono. "I want to marry you."