TSSITWON Chapter 67: The Story of Shizune Part 3

"Aunt Nansa," Aoki's voice started softly, but became clearer with each word. "I want you to know, I will take good care of Mei Terumi. Maybe... one day, I could love Mei, and if that happens, I will marry Mei. But... I will never marry someone I do not love."

My heart stopped beating. It felt like thousands of needles were piercing my chest when Aoki mentioned that name. Mei Terumi. I didn't know who the woman with that name was, but from what I heard from Aoki, Mei seemed to be Aunt Nansa's child, the daughter of the same person whose grave we were now facing.

I tried to hide my shock. This sudden pain made my chest tight. A tear fell before I could stop it. I didn't know why I felt this way, but I knew one thing: it hurt so much.

Aoki continued to talk about Mei, about how Aoki was trying to get closer to Mei. I listened without really hearing, my mind filled with swirling thoughts. I didn't want Aoki to know how broken I felt right now, so I stayed silent and forced a disingenuous smile.

After a while, Aoki left me alone in front of Aunt Nansa's grave. Once Aoki was truly gone, I couldn't hold back any longer. The tears I had been holding back spilled over. I cried loudly, letting all the pain, confusion, and sorrow out. It felt like there was a huge hole in my heart that I had never realized was there before.

I thought about going to see Miss Tsunade. Maybe Miss Tsunade could explain this feeling, maybe she knew why my heart felt shattered. But something held me back. I knew that if I asked, it would only hurt me more. Reluctantly, I decided to walk away, leaving the grave and heading to the garden—a place where I could be alone with my thoughts.

I sat on a park bench, accompanied by a gentle breeze that seemed to remind me that I was truly alone. In the midst of this silence, my mind kept spinning, trying to understand the pain that was tormenting my heart. Why did I feel this way? Why did my chest feel tight every time I thought of Aoki and Mei?

I tried to remember old advice, searching for answers that might explain this feeling. Then, faintly, I recalled my mother's words. She once said, "If one day you feel pain when thinking about a man, it might be because you are jealous. And jealousy is a sign that you are in love."

Jealous? I am in love with... Aoki?

The thought made my heart race faster, but not just because of that confession. More than that, fear and anger began to creep in. If I truly loved him, how could Aoki marry someone else? How could Aoki choose someone other than me? I had always been by Aoki's side, always cared for him for years.

Slowly, my thoughts turned darker. Strange, uncontrollable thoughts began to emerge in my mind.

I have to... I have to stop this.

I have to kill Mei Terumi.

The thought came like a whisper. Initially faint, but then growing stronger, pressing. If Mei Terumi were gone, Aoki would surely choose me. Without Mei, Aoki could be mine, only mine.

That's right. I have to kill Mei Terumi.

Once again, the whisper echoed in my mind, becoming clearer, more demanding. I could feel it like darkness beginning to envelop me.

I have to kill Mei Terumi.

Those words resonated in my mind, like a mantra I couldn't stop. Each time I repeated that thought, the feeling of helplessness within me seemed to fade away, replaced by something else—a desire to possess, and obsession. It was the only way I could be with Aoki.