"I..." Aoki's voice was soft, nearly drowned out by the crackling of the fire. "I don't know where to start."
Aoki lowered his head, resting both hands on his knees. His voice came out quietly but clearly, with a tone that felt honest and heavy.
"If I have to be completely honest... I don't even know you, Mei. Yes, I've heard about you. I guessed that you might be the child of Aunt Nansa. But I'm not sure. I don't know if you're really the person in question. I have my doubts. And... I'm afraid of being wrong."
"This engagement... at first, it was just an obligation for me. A family promise that I had to fulfill. But once I met you... I felt there was something more than that. That's why I chose to stay silent for now. I wanted to get to know you better. Not as an obligation, but as someone I want to protect."
Mei bit her lower lip, trying to hold back a sob that was about to burst. Her eyes remained fixed on Aoki without blinking, but the sharpness in her gaze had dulled. Now it was deeper... deeper and filled with pain.
"I could have just said that I know your mother and given you the letter from the start," Aoki continued. "But I was afraid. What if you hate me? What if you accuse me and my family of being the reason for your separation from your mother? I don't know how you would react. You're strong, Mei, and I know you can be very dangerous when you're angry..."
Aoki turned to look directly at Mei. "And I don't want to hurt you. I promised to protect you, even if it means hiding the truth for a while."
Mei looked down again. She held the letter tightly, like the last root she was clinging to in the midst of a storm.
"After everything we've been through... all the fights, the journeys, the wounds, and the laughter... I've started to realize that I have feelings for you. It's not just sympathy. I... like you, Mei."
Aoki closed his eyes for a moment. His voice sounded heavier.
"And it's precisely because of that... I'm afraid. Because you will soon return to Kirigakure. I don't know if I will see you again after this. So... I have to tell you. I can't keep this to myself any longer."
Mei was silent. For a long time. The sounds of the night took over again, filling every pause that remained. The wind rustled the leaves, spreading the whispers of nature's sorrow.
"So... all of this is because you're afraid I will hate you?" Mei's voice now sounded calm. But it was that very calmness that sent chills down Aoki's spine—because he knew that behind Mei's tranquility lay emotions that ran much deeper.
Aoki nodded. Slowly. "Yes..."
Mei closed her eyes, taking a slow breath and then exhaling. Her hands now hugged the letter to her chest, as if wanting to feel the warmth of her mother's last letter.
"Is my mother... happy?" Mei's voice came out almost like a whisper. But Aoki heard the question.
Aoki turned his face away, looking into the campfire that was beginning to weaken. The glowing embers were red, like a heart that was nearly extinguished.
"No," Aoki finally answered. "Your mother is not happy. Your mother lived with the pain of not being able to be with you. But your mother seemed to remain calm. She accepted the reality, even though she never stopped missing you. In her last breath, Aunt Nansa left... with a small smile on her face."
Mei covered her mouth with one hand. Her shoulders began to shake. Mei's sobs finally broke free, melting away all the burdens she had been holding.
Mei's cries did not explode. They did not roar. But they were calm, deep, and heartbreaking. Like a lament that could only be heard by those who understood loss.
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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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