"That moment led to the point where she told me her feelings, the fact that she was in love with me and that she had decided to tell me after all this time." If Shizune had to say it, she couldn't express great surprise since this situation did not seem strange to her at all.
She only needed to pay attention to Kurono's words and the tone in which he said them, as well as to remember all the moments and interactions he and Mei had in the past. Everything told her that one of the sides would begin to develop an affection beyond a simple friendship.
It wasn't like Shizune had taken it for granted, she completely believed in pure friendship between two people, so she had to clear her doubts a bit before coming to that conclusion. She could even compare that scenario with the one that she passed together with Kurono since both of them were just friends with no hidden intentions… Although that same friendship also turned into something deeper…
"And what did you say?" The silence produced by Kurono was the signal for Shizune to encourage him to continue with what was on his mind, in addition to the fact that her own curiosity and interest prompted her to ask that question, but that did not mean that she was not worrying deeply for Kurono.
"She didn't let me do it." And receiving that answer, a new expression of confusion adorned Shizune's face, which Kurono would take care of satisfying. "As I told you, she expressed her feelings for me, but when I wanted to say something, she prevented me from doing it by covering my mouth with her hand and saying that she still didn't want to hear my answer."
That description made Shizune realize even more that Mei was surely quite a unique person.
"Yes, I got very confused at that time too, but she told me that she wanted me to ask her out on a date first and that this time she would listen to what I had to say, she even told me the date and place at a great speed before to run away without allowing me to do anything else." And without taking it anymore, Shizune couldn't help but laugh a little at that situation. She quickly got back up, but Kurono was not bothered by any of that since he felt the same way. "And there I ended. Alone, confused, somewhat scared and worried for some reason, and I came home not really knowing what to do."
Kurono took the time to take in what was coming next, though he also took the opportunity to take both of Shizune's hands this time as he stared at her before looking slightly down and continuing to speak.
"Several days passed, days in which I tried to get in touch with her, but all ended in failure or rejection, receiving as the only answer that she would talk to me in detail on the day we had agreed, which made the complicated feeling that tormented me even stronger." Although he was not aware of it, Kurono was having a bit of a hard time vocalizing his words, but Shizune understood perfectly what it was, so she simply moved her body even closer to his to serve as a kind of support. "In the end, that day came and I was in the place we had agreed. It was already late and the slight evening light made me aware of it, but it was still perfect for anyone thinking of getting out and enjoying what the city had to offer. I was constantly looking at my watch, mainly to ignore the nerves that were eating me little by little, although contrary to what many might think, that was because I didn't know how everything would turn out because of what I wanted to say to Mei."
And as if Shizune entered that group of people who were guessing what Kurono's answer would be, she was slightly confused.
"I didn't plan to accept her feelings... It wasn't because I disliked her or didn't feel special affection for her, it just wouldn't make our relationship go beyond the friendship we had because I didn't want to hurt her." A new sigh threatened to come out from Kurono's mouth, but he resisted that small action.
"But…?" Shizune didn't understand Kurono's decision, but she couldn't finish asking her question as his voice continued to be heard, and with it the explanation he wanted to give.
"Back then I didn't feel ready for a relationship, not after all I had been through, mostly related to Kazumi-nee. I guess being in love for so many years was not that easy to get over, but besides that, I was sure that many changes would happen in my life and I might not be able to pay proper attention to Mei or really focus on our relationship if we started dating." Again, Shizune felt the need to talk about it, but since it had happened so many times, she couldn't do it if she didn't want to interrupt Kurono. "I was a simple teenager or adult as you want to consider it, who had never been in that kind of situation and who was afraid that another person would feel that kind of affection for you, maybe I was just letting myself drown by my cowardice, but back then it was the only thing on my mind and I would make sure to hurt Mei as little as possible with what I wanted to say to her."
"But you shouldn't take everything for granted, Kurono!" Shizune couldn't take it anymore once she heard all that. "You could be sure that Mei was honest with what she felt for you, and I'm sure that she was very important to you, just with that I know that both of you could have made everything It will work despite the difficulties, and I know that I am speaking without considering many aspects or your fears, but it is what I feel at the moment."
Kurono looked up at her again the moment he heard Shizune. He could feel the feelings she was expressing in all of it, and even though he knew that the choice she had given him might have been the best choice, the damned fate wouldn't have even let him take that path for one simple reason.
"Even so... I couldn't even tell her that." Shizune hadn't taken a second to calm down again once she saw Kurono's expression... One that could be clearly differentiated from all the ones she had shown up to this moment. "I waited... And I waited in that same place, as the hours passed and I kept calling the same number over and over again… But she never showed up."