Jitsu -A different story-

"Thank you very much for saving Shizune, Kurono-san!" Kyoko had listened attentively to Shizune's story and it didn't take even a second for her to focus her attention on Kurono and then say those words of thanks to him as she bowed until her forehead touched the ground.

"You don't need to do that, Kyoko-san!" It was impossible for someone not to notice Kyoko's action, and Kurono especially tried to do everything possible to make her stop at that moment.

Kurono felt overwhelmed again by the feeling of gratitude for having saved Shizune, and although he accepted that feeling, he didn't think it was right that Shizune's mother showed that somewhat exaggerated scene.

Shizune had also helped her mother get her posture back together, and Kyoko took advantage of that to pull Shizune towards her and look at her carefully as if looking for a wound on her, but it didn't last long before she breathed a small sigh of relief and she herself realized that she was worrying too much.

While that was happening, Kurono's gaze had turned to the figure of Shizune's father, Ryo stared at Kurono, but instead of saying anything, he too bowed a little in thanks before sitting back down with his back straight, and despite his attitude, Kurono accepted the sincere gesture.

Obviously, all of that had happened after Shizune finished her little story, she talked about those men cornering her in an alley, what she had felt at that moment, but above all, the fact of meeting Kurono after she had been saved by him.

After that scene and her parents calmed down enough, Shizune continued talking about everything that had happened in recent months, her encounters with Kurono, her life in the city, the fact that she started exercising... But especially, how she started a relationship with Kurono and expressed the same feeling of happiness as in each of those moments.

Kyoko was quite interested in all this and, just like before, she could perfectly notice Shizune's feelings and happy expression whenever she mentioned that, it wasn't the first time she had seen her like that, but it had been a long time since she had seen that sincere smile on her.

"I must admit that the way they met was quite peculiar." It was the first thing Kyoko said once Shizune finished telling everything that was on her mind.

"We know, but it was also thanks to that that I can now be with Kurono..." It was Shizune's turn to take Kurono's hand since she knew that it was necessary to show him how she felt without the need for words.

"Although it seems strange to me that Rena could bear to keep this a secret." Kyoko's gaze had gone to her pretty granddaughter.

"You don't know what I suffered all this time, many times I was about to pick up the phone and call you to tell you everything, but I knew I shouldn't do it for mom"

Rena rejoined the conversation, in addition to the fact that she had already finished with her plate of food.

"Hmm… I guess I can't say anything if we get to this point, so I'll be completely honest." Kyoko had turned her attention back to Shizune and Kurono's direction. "Shizune, Kurono-san. I want you to know that, personally, I'm quite happy for you, there is clearly nothing more I have to say, so… Kurono-san."

"Yes?" Kurono didn't have to think too hard to know that Kyoko had something to say.

"Please continue to care for and love Shizune as now." It was a fairly simple request, and although Kurono felt that someone didn't need to remind him of that, he still nodded honestly.

"Don't worry, Kyoko-san. I assure you that I will take good care of Shizune." Kurono said that firmly, it was a request from Shizune's mother, so he couldn't let her down.

Kyoko only laughed a bit after that, but her attention was quickly caught by Shizune's voice.

"Mom… Thank you for supporting us, I…" But before Shizune could say anything else, Kyoko motioned for her to stop and then used her eyes to let Shizune see what she meant by that.

Shizune had noticed how her father was completely silent and his eyes were somewhat lost in nothing indicating that several ideas were going around in his head, Shizune was about to also express some of her feelings regarding Kurono, but it seemed that she was not going to have time for that.

"I had forgotten what this felt like." The words that had come out of Ryo were not something that anyone could understand, but both Shizune and Kyoko knew what he meant. "Shizune, I really appreciate that you care about our opinion, and clearly we are calmer in this way to know that you found someone special for you, but I think I must tell you this right now."

Apart from Shizune, everyone was paying close attention to what Ryo would say next.

"If you are happy and you know that you are not harming anyone in any way, there is no reason for you to doubt your decision, besides, you are no longer the little girl who still said that she wanted to marry me when she grew up, hahaha." That very thing had made the serious atmosphere from before vanishing at the same time that Shizune was a little embarrassed as heard both Kyoko and Rena laugh near her. "What I want to say is that time has made you a great Woman, even I can see what Kurono has done for you, so I have no reason or right to come between you."

Shizune felt somewhat strange, not only hearing Ryo's words, but also the fact that the situation seemed to be turning out better than she expected. Ryo had only said that, maybe he wanted to say something else, but the situation wasn't quite right.

Shizune had managed to control herself at that moment, she subconsciously wanted to approach her parents and show them how grateful she was to them, but she decided to do it in a rather simple way.

"Mom, dad. Thank you very much for your words, you really don't know what it means to me to know that you support my relationship with Kurono, and I'm also sorry I waited until now to tell you about him." Shizune was apologizing once again, but she didn't really wait for an answer, now her back was completely straight as she was looking at her parents directly, it seemed that everything was already said, the emotions were expressed correctly, so there was something equally important to mention at that time. "Well... Is anyone still hungry?"

Shizune's little comment brought with it Rena's approval since she hadn't had enough, that was the same case for Akio, and seeing that there was still a lot of food on the table, they all chose to continue enjoying that little lunch that gave a quite a nice feeling… Although Kurono was somewhat busy with his thoughts…