Chapter 320: Kurisu Reveals Her Feelings
Those words struck like lightning striking a calm lake. They didn't explode, but they pierced the silence with a single, honest gleam.
Kurisu smiled—a gentle, soulful smile. But it clashed sharply with the firmness of her voice. The contrast created an emotional conflict that gripped the atmosphere between them.
Aoki tried to smile. “Hey! Hey! How could that be?” Aoki said nervously, his hands waving slowly in front of his face as if to deny the reality.
But from the look in Aoki's eyes, it was clear he was overwhelmed. The smile on his lips couldn't hide the panic that was beginning to spread through him.
Kurisu lifted her chin slightly, her expression remaining calm, but her eyes were like arrows shooting straight to his heart. “Of course I can. All the care and tenderness you've given me all this time… without realizing it, it's made me fall in love. I know it might not have been your intention, but… my heart still falls for you, President.”
Aoki swallowed. Aoki's throat felt as dry as desert sand. His hands, which had been hanging loosely, were now clenched into fists at his sides.
"You... you're joking, right?" Aoki asked, trying to laugh. But the laughter was merely a reflection of his desire to escape reality. Aoki knew Kurisu wasn't joking. Not this time. Not with that look.
But Kurisu didn't answer.
Kurisu's smile faded. What remained was an honest face—unmasked, unadorned by emotion. Kurisu's eyes remained unmoved, staring straight at Aoki, as if daring him to reject the truth before her.
Aoki was now completely silent.
Aoki's face slowly lowered, as if he couldn't bear Kurisu's gaze, which felt so sincere... yet so painful. The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the scent of leaves and damp earth, but it wasn't enough to calm the turmoil that was now churning inside Aoki.
"... I'm sorry, I..." Aoki said, barely audible. Aoki's voice sounded soft, drowned out by the whispers of the wind and the pounding of his own heart, which was now so loud in his ears.
Kurisu took a deep breath. Her shoulders rose slightly, and she closed her eyes for a moment before exhaling slowly.
"I see..." Kurisu said in a low, but unwavering voice. "You already have a woman in your heart... right, Leader?"
Kurisu's tone was calm. But the calm was false, like the surface of fragile ice. Aoki could hear the subtle tremors beneath it. Small tremors that could only be heard if one truly paid attention. The tremors of a heart that wanted to remain strong, but was beginning to crack.
Aoki fell silent.
His tongue felt numb. His heart pounded faster. His head felt heavy, and his thoughts spun. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't form. All that came to mind was guilt and a lingering, silent pain.
A few weeks ago, Aoki had just escorted the girl he was engaged to on a ship to the Land of Water. The goodbye was still fresh—too fresh. The girl's last smile, Mei's gentle hold, and her final words still burned like ink in Aoki's memory.
And now, Kurisu stood before him, carrying those same feelings… but in a much more direct and honest way. Without reservations. Without hesitation.
But Kurisu wasn't the only one.
Shizune, too… Aoki knew she liked him. He could tell from the way she cared for him, from the effort she put into making him food, even if it sometimes tasted awful.
From the shy glances they shared when they talked. From the worry hidden behind Shizune's smile. She had even told him directly.
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