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TSSITWON Chapter 62: Speaking in Front of the Grave
🕑 Added 2024-10-20 13:11:35 +0000 UTC"I need to tidy up the house first before I go," Aoki said with a long sigh, feeling the burden of obligation starting to weigh on him. "Once everything is in order, tomorrow I just need to say goodbye to everyone else."
With a lazy step, Aoki got out of bed, starting his day as usual with physical training. In the small yard of the house, Aoki began his routine movements that he had memorized by heart: push-ups, sit-ups, and a light jog around the yard. Aoki's muscles tensed and relaxed in a soothing rhythm, his body trained to respond to the physical strength needed in the world of ninjas.
After finishing his workout, Aoki returned inside the house to prepare a simple breakfast. "As usual," Aoki thought. Rice, grilled fish, and warm tea. Aoki ate quickly, without much enjoyment, just to refuel.
Once the meal was done, Aoki started cleaning the house. He began in the living room, picking up food scraps and dusting off the tables. Aoki's steps continued to his parents' room, a space he rarely entered, filled with memories that now felt foreign.
There, Aoki stood for a moment, allowing the shadows of the past to touch his heart before he began to clean diligently. Then, Aoki returned to his own room, picking up the remnants of the night before.
He threw away food that was no longer edible, while the items that could still be used he sealed in storage rolls he had made himself, a simple technique he had mastered.
After finishing, Aoki took a deep breath and looked at the house once more. A house that was once filled with laughter and the voices of the people Aoki loved, now silent and merely a stopping place for him. Today, Aoki felt more ready to leave it all behind.
Aoki stepped out of the house, making his way to the graves of his parents. There, under the shade of a large old tree, Aoki knelt. The wind blew gently, as if carrying whispers of the past full of memories. A small smile graced his face, and gently, Aoki began to speak. "Father, Mother... it's been five years, hasn't it? So much has happened..."
Aoki's words flowed freely, bringing memories of his growth, of every step he took without their guidance. As if his parents could still hear him, Aoki spoke calmly, recounting his life journey filled with challenges.
After speaking for a long time, Aoki stood and moved to Aunt Nansa's grave, the second parental figure who had long left Aoki. A smile returned to Aoki's face, though it felt bittersweet. There, Aoki spoke again, this time reminiscing about their adventures together and how the ninja world was no longer the same without Nansa's presence.
Aoki stood in front of Aunt Nansa's grave, a faint smile still adorning his face. After sharing extensively about his experiences over the past five years, Aoki fell silent for a moment, staring at the gravestone that now felt so quiet. However, there was something still lingering in Aoki's heart, something he needed to express.
"Aunt Nansa," Aoki's voice started softly, but grew clearer with each word. "I want you to know, I will take good care of Mei Terumi. Maybe... one day, I can love Mei, and if that happens, I will marry her. But... I will never marry someone I do not love."
Aoki's eyes gazed far into the horizon, thinking of Nansa and all the moments they had shared together. "I want to be honest with myself. If I eventually feel happy, joyful, and finally fall in love with Mei... I promise, on that day, at that moment, I will express my feelings to Mei right away."
