"But Mother..." Kyouko said quietly, turning to Hanako. "I didn’t even talk to him much..."
But before she could continue, Hanako interrupted gently.
"Then this is your chance to at least treat him well."
Kyouko pressed her lips together.
You don’t know what you’re saying, Mother...
Satomi stepped forward slightly, eyes pleading.
"Please, Mom... help me on this one."
Kyouko looked at her daughter, and for a brief moment, felt nothing but detachment.
And yet she still responded with a sigh, a soft act of reluctant grace.
"...I’ll ask your father first, Satomi," she said at last, voice calm.
"I’m sure Papa will say yes~" Satomi chimed, already satisfied.
"And you should tell your husband about this, Satomi."
Satomi nodded quickly. "I will. Thank you, Mom."
Kyouko gave a soft sigh, one hand brushing her hair behind her ear as she stepped into the hallway.
Thank you for the opening....
You’ll never know what you just handed me.
No eyes. No excuses. No guilt.
Hanako was already seated in the living room when Kyouko stepped in.
She walked over calmly and knelt on the tatami across from her mother, her father flipping through his newspaper nearby.
Hanako looked up, and without waiting for Kyouko to speak, explained everything that had just happened.
The company’s client. Satomi and Satoshi returning to Tokyo. The request.
Kitayama paused mid-page.
He lowered the paper and looked at Kyouko, his expression unreadable.
Then, with a slow nod, he spoke.
"Now Kyouko... that boy is well-mannered and good."
Kyouko listened silently, hands resting in her lap.
"I believe you should help Satomi this once," Kitayama continued. "He’ll be alone here for months. And at least this way, someone will care for that young man’s food. His house. His health."
He set the newspaper aside.
"You’re the one who told us he grew up in an orphanage, didn’t you?"
Kyouko’s fingers tightened slightly in her lap.
But her voice was steady.
"...Yes. That’s true."
Kitayama grunted approvingly. "Then be kind to him. No man should live alone eating convenience food. Especially one as polite as that boy."
Hanako gave Kyouko a soft, encouraging look.
Kyouko lowered her gaze.
"...I understand, Father."
Kitayama gave a small nod.
Kyouko stood and moved with her usual grace, her steps quiet across the tatami as she headed down the hallway toward the first guest room.
The room she shared with her husband.
She slid the door slightly and peeked in.
He was sitting on the futon, half-dressed, towel still around his neck.
"Father’s calling you."
Satoshi paused, then gave a faint sigh.
"Umm... is this about Satomi asking you a favor?" he asked, not looking directly at her. "If yes... I’m the one who told Satomi to ask for your help."
"Since I knew Mother wouldn’t agree to let Satomi fly back with me unless... someone looked after Haruki."
Just watched him quietly.
Satoshi rubbed his temple, still not meeting her gaze.
"I don’t know... you should just talk to Father."
Kyouko turned without another word.
But as she walked away, her lips curled into a faint smile.
So... he’s already set the path.
Whether knowingly or not..
Her husband had given her the very thing she could never ask for.
This meant she could stay beside Haruki.
Be the one who cooked for him... listened to him... greeted him when he came home.
Be the one he woke up to.
Not as a mother-in-law.
For someone who truly wanted it.
finally give herself.
But with the quiet grace of someone who had earned it.
No one would question her place at his side.
She doesn’t need to find a way anymore.
No more searching for excuses.
No more quiet desperation or carefully crafted justifications.
Before, she was always thinking.
"What reason can I give?"
Now, she didn’t have to ask.
The path had been opened for her.
Wrapped in family duty.
Shielded by innocence.
Now, she could live in that seaside home with him.
Wake with the sound of waves.
And the heat of his body next to hers.
She could cook for him.
Hear him laugh softly in the living room at night.
And at dusk... feel his arms around her again.
But as something that felt right.
Kyouko’s steps slowed for a moment in the hallway.
Her hand touched the wooden beam beside her.
And for the first time in years.
She didn’t care that her husband no longer cared for her.
Not after over twenty years.
Twenty years of silence.
Of being left behind.
You abandoned me, Satoshi.
I made myself beautiful. I kept my body young. Soft skin. Perfect curves. I remained the woman you once chose.
I did it all for you.
I waited—for your hand, your warmth, your love.
I built a home for you. I cared for it. I cared for you.
You never looked at me.
You never touched me.
You never desired me.
Did those things make you forget I was still here?
That I was still yours?
If you think I’ve grown old.
Then why did Haruki look at me like I was a dream?
Why did he hold me like he’d die without it?
Why couldn’t he stop himself?
Why did he fuck me like I was the only woman left on Earth?
His size—his strength—any woman would give herself to him.
He could have chased someone younger.
He could have had anyone.
Like he was starving for my body. For my skin. For my soul.
He fucked your wife, Satoshi.
And when he was inside me, he didn’t see a woman past her prime.
He saw the woman you forgot.
He saw everything I still am.
This—this is the proof.
That I am still wanted.
By a man who didn’t just see my body—
And no—I’m not a whore.
I am a woman who once gave everything to her husband.
Now I give myself to someone who truly wants it.