Inside Kyouko’s mind, a flicker of surprise bloomed gently beneath her composed smile.
If I go out with Haruki today...
No one will question it.
Not even Satomi or Satoshi—if they bothered to ask.
It wouldn’t be called a date.
It would be grocery shopping.
Yet her heart beat a little faster.
Because it meant time.
Time to walk beside him under the sun.
To speak freely—smile without caution.
To be near the one person who made her feel...
Kyouko lowered her gaze and picked up her cup, sipping quietly to calm the warmth rising in her chest.
But her fingers trembled just slightly against the porcelain.
And her smile lingered, A soft, secret glow that no one at the table noticed.
Who never took his eyes off her.
Kyouko’s smile lingered as she set her cup down gently.
I don’t know what reason Satomi had to be mad at Haruki...
Maybe I’ll ask him later.
But... knowing him, she thought, eyes flicking briefly to the quiet man beside her, he won’t tell me.
He would just endure it.
She looked at his face. The way he sat with perfect posture, quietly respectful even at a breakfast table.
If you don’t cherish this tall, gentle, beautiful young man, Satomi...
Her fingers lightly brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
After breakfast, the clatter of dishes faded into the background as the family moved into their daily rhythm.
Satomi peeked out from the second guest room, her hair slightly tousled, eyes still carrying the edge of her earlier frustration.
"Mom..." she whispered.
Kyouko turned slightly and saw her daughter standing there.
She walked over quietly, her steps light against the tatami.
Just before she reached the door, Hanako who had been wiping the table, noticed the movement and followed, curiosity in her eyes.
Kyouko slid the door open.
"Hmm? What now, Satomi?" she asked softly.
Satomi looked down for a moment, then said, "I just got a call. The company has a big client coming tomorrow. Me and Dad have to return to Tokyo today."
Kyouko let out a quiet sigh, rubbing her temple. "Again?"
Hanako stepped in behind them and sat down near the doorway.
"If that’s the only problem, your father going alone should be enough, right? Why do you need to go too?"
"Grandma..." Satomi said with a sigh. "I’m the president’s daughter. A shareholder. They expect me to be present too."
Hanako shook her head. "You young people with your titles. Shareholder or not, you’re still a wife. If you leave, who’s going to look after your husband?"
"He’s an adult, Grandma," Satomi said flatly.
"Still," Hanako said firmly. "He’s your husband. A wife’s duty is to look after her husband. He’ll be in Okinawa for what, another two months? He’s handsome, polite, tall... You don’t think women will be flocking to him while he’s alone?"
Then her eyes shifted toward Kyouko.
"...This is why I want to ask help from Mom."
Kyouko blinked. "Hah?" she said, pretending to be surprised. "Help with what?"
Satomi looked directly at her.
"Can you live with Haruki and look after him while we’re gone?"
Kyouko crossed her arms lightly, her voice calm but firm.
"Haruki is your husband. Living with him? Are you serious, Satomi?"
Satomi pouted slightly, her tone pleading. "Mom, please... it’s not like Haruki would do something to you."
Kyouko raised an eyebrow. "It’s nearly three months, Satomi. Do you really expect me to live there for another two just to ’look after’ him?"
Satomi glanced toward Hanako, then back. "But Mom... it’s just cooking and cleaning. Keeping him company, that’s all. Besides, Haruki told me the house he’s staying in has two rooms."
"So, Haruki was the one who asked you to live with him? To accompany him here?"
Satomi nodded. "Yes... but I didn’t know I’d be called back so soon."
She turned to Hanako quickly. "Grandma, help me out here..."
Hanako looked between the two women—her granddaughter, and her daughter.
Then she spoke, her tone gentle but thoughtful.
"Kyouko... if it’s just helping him settle in and not letting him eat convenience food every day, I don’t see the harm."
Kyouko stayed silent.
Satomi added quietly, "Please, Mom. You always know how to take care of people. And Haruki listens to you more than anyone."
Kyouko didn’t respond.
"I didn’t come here to babysit your husband, Satomi," Kyouko said flatly, arms folded across her chest.
"Please, Mom..." Satomi murmured, lips pressing into a pout.
Kyouko sighed, clearly growing tired of the circular conversation. "Haa... I don’t know what’s in your head sometimes, Satomi."
Hanako, seated near the doorway, gave a small smile and tilted her head. "Kyouko... just help her this once."
Kyouko turned toward her mother with a slow, unreadable look.
"But if I do that... who’s going to look after the house?" Her voice softened, but the undertone remained. "And besides," she turned to Satomi, "your father didn’t have any say on this."
"He’s the one who suggested it to me," Satomi replied quickly.
Kyouko’s eyes narrowed. "Hmm? I thought your father was still lying down with a hangover."
"He’s in the shower now," Satomi said, straightening. "He told me about the big client. That’s why we’re both flying back this evening."
Kyouko let out another soft sigh, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. "I don’t know..."
"Please, Mom...?" Satomi’s voice was smaller this time.
Then she turned to Hanako with wide, imploring eyes.
"Grandma, please...?"
Hanako looked again at her daughter.
"Kyouko," she said gently. "He’ll be alone otherwise. And it’s not forever. Just two more months. He’s a good boy. Quiet. Respectful."
Inside Kyouko’s mind, the storm had already passed.
If I live with Haruki... he’ll keep ravishing me... holding me... loving me the way he always does...
And soon... he’ll forget about you, Satomi.
She could already feel it—
The warmth of his hands.
The way he whispered her name, not in haste, but in hunger.
The way his lips moved across her skin with worship, not obligation.
This was the moment she had been waiting for.
She didn’t need to ask for it.
Didn’t need to make excuses.
And all she had to do... was step through.
I can’t just accept it so easily...
I can’t look eager. I can’t look like I want this.
Even if her heart was already soaring.
Even if every part of her body remembered last night’s heat.
She had to remain calm.
The one they all trusted.
Her lips parted as she prepared her reply,still hesitant on the surface, but deep down...