Kurono's gaze was focused on the ceiling of the gym while he let his body continue with the movements of his exercise routine as if it were automatic. He wasn't even aware of the tiredness that gradually built up as the minutes passed as he was busy with his own thoughts, but that same concentration had to disappear as a familiar voice entered his ears.
"Are you sure you're not overexerting yourself?" Kurono put aside what he was doing and turned his gaze away only for both Kazumi and Shizune's figures to appear in front of him, and he didn't take long to answer the question he had heard while wiping away the sweat that was dripping down his forehead.
"It's nothing I can't bear; it's been a long time since I felt like I reached my natural limit and I was just trying something more demanding." Even though Kurono gave that explanation, he was already aware that Kazumi had noticed something strange so he was psyching himself up to speak or lie in some other way that was a little more believable.
"Really? I won't say that it's something strange… Well, actually it is very strange. You are one of the people who know how important body care is in these cases, but hey, I'm not going to mention anything else." Kazumi shrugged and then shook her head.
"It's not good for you to hurt your body for no reason, Kurono. Do you want to stay in bed because of some kind of injury?" Shizune took the opportunity to enter the conversation and agreed with Kazumi that he shouldn't push himself too hard, although now she was also well aware that the way Kurono acting was a little different... But that wasn't enough that he couldn't catch her off guard.
"If thanks to that I receive special care from you, I wouldn't mind." And in the next moment, what appeared in Kurono's vision was Shizune's shocked face with a slight pink hue on her cheeks before feeling how he was gently pummeled by her.
"Sigh… Can you not show your deep love in front of the unfortunate, please?" And as if that really affected her, Kazumi let out that comment that Shizune understood what she meant, but it was the complete opposite for Kurono.
"Something happens?" Kurono had adopted a somewhat serious look, and it would turn into a complicated one after he heard the following.
"Marina and I broke up, so I'm single again." Yes, again Kazumi had said it directly, but they couldn't blame her, when the situation called for it, she thought it was best to make things clear instead of trying to go around the problem... Although she didn't show that on some occasions.
Kurono didn't say anything immediately, he closed his eyes a bit before opening them again and turning his to Shizune. Their eyes met, Kurono as if he was looking for some kind of further explanation and Shizune didn't know what expression to put on exactly, but it wasn't like he could talk of Kazumi either.
"Um… Do you want us to go home and buy ice cream on the way?" And without her being able to come up with anything better... That was what came out of Kurono.
Shizune subconsciously turned her gaze back to Kurono, but before she could say anything, Kazumi cut off any attempt as she caught her attention.
"I told you he's bad for this…" And at that, Shizune could only giggle. "You… Do you think I'm a little girl who's sad after losing a contest?"
"Does that mean you don't want to?" Kurono understood what she meant; it was true that in the past he would try a little harder... But he didn't remember how many times he had gone through the same situation.
"Of course, I want to!" And to Shizune's surprise, Kazumi didn't continue complaining about the way Kurono was treating her. "But that will be for another time, there are some things I have to take care of and they can't wait for another day, besides…"
And without expecting it, Kurono felt a sharp pain in his head, not enough to make him complain, but he could feel the stinging pain near his temple, and all of it was the result of the blow he had just received from Kazumi.
"That's for acting as a fool again, and this..." Kurono was about to apologize, but he wouldn't have time for it since Kazumi's action caught him by surprise again. "Thank you for trying to cheer me up a bit."
The scene was quite simple to describe, Kazumi's body was embracing Kurono's figure when he snapped out of his slight surprise and heard those words that were combined with some feelings that Kazumi rarely expressed, though they weren't the least bit strange or nasty.
"Anyway, I'm sorry I can't accompany you more, I just stopped a bit from work to take a little break and say hello, I want to hear how the trip went, but we can leave all that together with the ice cream for another day." The hug ended as quickly as it had been present, but that was enough for both of them. Kazumi had started to walk away as she raised her hand in the air and waved it excitedly in Shizune and Kurono's direction, but her last comment from that moment could still be heard. "Shizune, take out everything on his mind, I don't like to see my little brother being upset."
And without receiving an answer to those words, Kazumi finally advanced at a fast pace until her figure disappeared behind one of the doors of the place. Both Kurono and Shizune knew what she meant, but they both knew that this was not the time to talk, so Shizune wanted to mention what was on her mind.
"It seems that you and Kazumi love each other a lot even though you don't show it that often." Shizune had just seen the scene which, from his point of view, was quite cute and pleasant to watch.
"Well... We've been together practically all our lives; I'd do anything to make her happy... Well, almost anything." Kurono didn't want to put a rope around his neck with that statement, but anyone could understand what he was trying to convey. "Of course, which is the same case with you."
"Hehe, I'm glad to know that." Shizune wasn't going to say that it was unnecessary to make that point clear, but even though those were her thoughts, she couldn't help a little happiness from forming inside her.