Haruki was ushered into the living room, where the familiar sound of laughter and clinking glasses had already begun.
Inside, Mr. Kitayama sat cross-legged at the low table, drinking happily with Kenji and Kazuma. The room smelled of grilled meat, smoke, and sake. The television played softly in the background, ignored.
Haruki bowed as he entered, then sat down properly.
Kyouko paused at the hallway corner.
They poured drinks generously, the living room filled with warmth, chatter, and the clink of ceramic sake cups.
"Haruki-kun! Drink!" Kitayama called out with a wide grin, raising his cup.
"Thank you, Mr. Kitayama," Haruki said politely, lifting his own with both hands before taking a sip.
"No need to be that stiff, Haruki-kun," Kenji added, grinning. "You’re family, right?"
"Ah, thank you, Kenji-san," Haruki replied, relaxing just a little.
Kazuma leaned forward, cup in hand. "So, Haruki-kun... where do you work?"
"Yamashita Corporation."
"Oh!" Kazuma’s eyes widened. "That big company! I heard they opened a new branch here in Okinawa."
"Right," Kitayama chimed in. "Ichiro mentioned his son works there too."
Haruki gave a polite nod. "Yes... Kajima-san is the current branch chief."
Kazuma blinked. "So you’re working under him?"
Before Haruki could respond, Kitayama waved his hand and said proudly, "No, no—Ichiro’s boy said Haruki was his superior."
There was a brief silence.
Then Kenji let out a low whistle. "Seriously?"
Haruki gave a small, humble smile. "I was sent from the Tokyo head office to Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!.. just for a few months."
Kazuma leaned back, impressed. "So you’re the real deal, huh?"
Haruki chuckled awkwardly. "Not really..."
But Kyouko, who had just returned quietly in clean clothes and slightly damp hair, stood at the edge of the room and watched.
"Kyouko!!" Kitayama’s voice boomed from the living room.
Kyouko, just stepping in from the hallway with her hair still slightly damp and wearing a simple blouse and skirt, blinked.
Kitayama squinted at her, then pointed accusingly. "What’s with that hair!? And those clothes! You’re at home! Not in Tokyo! Go change into a kimono!!"
"Ehh?" Kyouko pouted slightly, frowning like a scolded child.
"Hanako!!" Kitayama shouted, calling toward the kitchen.
His wife’s voice floated back calmly. "Yes, dear~?"
"This city girl forgot where she came from! Drag her and help her change into a proper kimono! "
Kyouko gave a small sigh.
"Kazuma!" Kitayama barked again.
"Yes, Father-in-law?" Kazuma straightened a bit from his seat, setting down his cup.
"Ah... I think she’s in her room. She was trying to put on a kimono earlier."
"Yes, Father..." Kenji answered with a sigh of someone used to this routine.
"Call your wife in here! They should be serving their husbands while we drink!"
"Alright, alright... chill..." Kenji muttered as he stood up.
Haruki, still seated with his sake cup in hand, couldn’t help but smile softly.
It was loud. It was chaotic.
But it felt like family.
And across the room, Kyouko met his eyes.
Rolling hers just slightly before following her mother down the hallway.
"Drink more, Haruki!!" Kitayama laughed heartily, raising his cup high.
"Yes..." Haruki replied with a polite smile, lifting his own cup and taking another sip.
Kenji leaned in slightly. "Father, I don’t think he can drink too much... he’s got work tomorrow, right, Haruki-kun?"
"Umm... yeah..." Haruki nodded, still maintaining his respectful tone.
"Hah!!" Kitayama bellowed. "No way! You’re drinking tonight—and just take the day off tomorrow!"
Haruki chuckled awkwardly and gave a small bow. "I’ll try, Mr. Kitayama."
"That’s what I like to hear!" Kitayama slapped the table with a satisfied grin.
"Ah... I’m still on holiday until tomorrow," Kazuma said with a relaxed smile. "So I’m good."
"Perfect!" Kitayama turned to his son. "Since my son Kenji works with me on the farm, he can drink with me tonight!"
Kenji just laughed nervously. "I figured you’d say that."
"Hanako!!" Kitayama called again, lifting his cup toward the kitchen.
"Yes, dear~?" came her ever-patient voice.
"More sake!! We’re just getting started!"
Laughter echoed through the room again.
And Haruki glanced quietly toward the hallway—wondering how Kyouko looked right now.
The living room buzzed with laughter, the clink of glasses, and the low hum of nostalgic conversations.
Keiko, dressed in her soft blue kimono, sat beside Kazuma, quietly pouring him another cup of sake.
Hitomi, calm and composed in her patterned kimono, sat close to Kenji, refilling his drink.
Hanako moved between them and Kitayama, topping off his cup while keeping a close eye on the flow of the evening.
Kitayama leaned back with a contented sigh, face flushed from the alcohol, eyes scanning the room.
"Yes, dear?" she answered, already knowing what was coming.
"Where’s that city girl?" he grumbled, adjusting his seat. "She’s taking too long!"
"Call her!!" he barked. "She should be pouring drinks for Haruki—it’s her fault for not bringing my granddaughter here! And that damn Satoshi, always working working working!!"
Hanako gave him a patient look. "Dear~ don’t start complaining about Satomi and Satoshi again."
Kitayama waved his hand dismissively.
"I raised her to be a good wife," Kitayama muttered, swirling the sake in his cup. "A woman who knows how to care for a family... gentle, responsible, graceful."
He sighed heavily, glancing toward the hallway.
"But I don’t know why she chose that workaholic man."
"I don’t mind a man who works hard. But what’s the point if he can’t make time for his wife? For his child? For family?"
"Just because he comes from a good family... he thinks money solves everything."
"One day, when he’s old, that money won’t matter. Not when no one’s by his side."
He looked down at his drink.
"And when he dies... he can’t take a single coin with him."
"Remember that, Kazuma! Kenji! And you too, Haruki!!" Kitayama said, his voice strong despite the drink in his system. "Money’s important, yes—but family is just as important."
He looked at each of them in turn, eyes clear despite the flush on his face.
"Having a good family... a warm home to return to, a wife who waits for you, children who call you father, these are the true rewards that give meaning to all the work you do. The money, the titles, the achievements—they’re just numbers, fleeting and hollow without the love that fills your home."
He raised his cup slowly.
"That’s what success really means. Not just climbing the ladder, but finding happiness along the way. Being surrounded by those you love, sharing laughter and warmth, knowing your efforts bring them joy. That’s what makes all the nights of hard work worth it."
"Don’t chase success so hard that you come home to no one. Because in the end, that emptiness is the greatest loss of all."