TSSITWON Chapter 69: The Two Women

Tomorrow, everything will change—Aoki will leave this village, and he may not return anytime soon.

Suddenly, Shizune's soft voice broke the silence.

"Are... are you really going to marry someone named Mei Terumi?" Shizune's voice was so quiet, almost like a whisper she didn't want to say, but strong enough to make Aoki freeze. Aoki turned quickly, his gaze immediately directed at Shizune, surprised and full of confusion.

"How do you know about that?" Aoki asked, his voice sounding bewildered, his eyes not leaving Shizune, who was still looking down.

"So, it's true?" Shizune replied in a hushed tone, as if confirming something she didn't want to hear.

Aoki shook his head quickly. "No! But... how did you find out about it?" Aoki's determination to know the answer made him repeat the question, his eyes showing a mix of anxiety and curiosity.

Shizune took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she spoke again. "I... I heard you talking in front of your aunt's grave. You mentioned the name Mei Terumi... and said that you would marry her."

Every word that came out of Shizune's mouth weakened her further, as if eroding the remaining strength within her. Aoki fell silent, feeling confused and guilty at the same time. He never intended to make Shizune feel this way.

"Oh, is that so? I'm not marrying Mei. But maybe someday, I will only marry the woman I love," Aoki said with a wide smile on his face. "If someday I find someone I like and eventually love, that’s when I will say that I will marry that woman."

Shizune, sitting next to Aoki, suddenly felt her cheeks flush. She quickly turned away, trying to calm herself. However, the embarrassment was hard to ignore.

"But... if you end up liking Mei Terumi, will you say that you love that woman?" Shizune asked, cautiously returning to the topic, trying to dispel her nervousness.

Aoki nodded with a smile. "That's right! But that will only happen if I truly like Mei. If not, I won't say that. If I end up loving someone else, then I won't marry Mei Terumi."

Hearing that, Shizune blushed slightly, but she quickly hid her feelings again. She didn't want to be too obvious.

"Then... what if you end up loving both Mei and someone else? Who will you choose?" Shizune looked at Aoki with hope, trying to find an answer that might help her win Aoki's heart.

Aoki tilted his head, pondering for a moment, then smiled somewhat bitterly. "Hmm, of course... I would choose both women."

"Eh? Both women? You wouldn't choose one of them?" Shizune asked, her face full of confusion. She truly didn't expect such an answer.

"Yes, if I love both of them, and they love me too, why should I choose one?" Aoki replied lightly, his gaze becoming a bit more relaxed. "If both women love me, I will marry both of them. But if only one truly loves me, I will marry the one who loves me wholeheartedly."

Shizune stared at Aoki in shock. Aoki's smile widened, as if he were carefree. It was the brightest smile Shizune had ever seen from Aoki—and for some reason, it made her heart race faster.

'I know now... how to win Aoki's heart. I just have to make Aoki see me as the only one! I will be perfect—I will excel in the medical field, I will learn to cook, do laundry, clean the house, and do everything perfectly!' Shizune thought, her smile starting to turn dark and cold, like a Yandere born from her subconscious. 'Aoki... will fall in love with me, only me! Hehehe...'