However, Aoki... Aoki stood unscathed. No scratches, no signs that Aoki had gone through this battle.
Where Aoki stood so perfectly amidst this chaos, I felt as if I was part of a world that would never be able to understand Aoki.
Aoki then began to walk closer, each step so calm and controlled, not in a hurry, as if time was moving very slowly just for Aoki.
Every step Aoki took on the blood-soaked ground felt so firm, as if Aoki was the only one who knew the direction amidst this confusion. In an instant, Aoki was in front of me.
I could only stare at Aoki, my body seemingly frozen in place. My heart raced, each beat felt like it was pounding against my chest.
My face felt hot, as if there was a fire igniting within me, and my breath was uncontrollable, coming in quick bursts.
All the feelings I had suppressed suddenly bubbled up, as if the world was exploding within me. Tears slowly streamed down my face uncontrollably, wetting my cheeks. I wanted to hold them back, but I couldn't.
I knew... I knew for sure. I was in love with Aoki. Aoki Sora.
Unconsciously, my body moved on its own. I walked towards Aoki, my steps felt heavy yet full of conviction. I hugged Aoki tightly, as if I didn't want to let go, afraid that if I did, everything would vanish.
All the feelings of confusion, anxiety, and fear that had been there seemed to disappear without a trace. Perhaps, this was not a wrong thing. I didn't care anymore.
"Thank goodness... Thank goodness you're safe, without a scratch," I murmured, my voice breaking, swaying between happiness and anxiety that I couldn't suppress. I buried my face in Aoki's chest, my body trembling.
I cried, as hard as I could, like a little girl who had just found her refuge after being lost for so long in a world full of violence and fear.
I felt Aoki respond by hugging me back, Aoki's hands gently stroking my head, providing the comfort I longed for, as if the whole world existed only between our embrace.
Unbeknownst to me, a faint smile appeared on my lips, even as I continued to shed tears that wouldn't stop. That smile was filled with relief, and perhaps, a little hope.
"Hey, don't cry, I'm okay." Aoki's voice sounded so soft in my ears, and I immediately nodded my head silently.
"Who's crying! I'm not crying... Hiks..." I said in a quiet voice, trying to hold back my sobs, though it was futile. Everything felt so real—the warmth of Aoki's body, Aoki's heartbeat, and the reality that Aoki was here.
"Hehe, really? But I can hear your sobs. Besides, I can see your tears. If that's not crying, then what is it?" Aoki said playfully with a teasing smile, as if trying to lighten the tense atmosphere.
"I told you! I'm not!" I quickly pulled away and glared at Aoki, my embarrassment and confusion merging into one, making me look like a child caught in the act.
However, Aoki immediately grabbed my hand and hugged me again, this time tighter, as if not wanting to let me go, as if Aoki knew there was something greater than the words or feelings I could express.
With Aoki's face resting on my left shoulder, I could feel my old wound, which had previously healed, now reopening. My shoulder ached, but it was nothing compared to the warm feeling that began to spread within me, flowing along with my heartbeat, which was now starting to falter.
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[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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