Several weeks had gone by since that quiet night. Kyouko and Haruki had returned to their usual way of being—close, but still keeping their boundaries.
That evening, they all sat around the dinner table, enjoying a calm atmosphere.
"It's rare to see you both come home early," Kyouko said, smiling at her husband and daughter.
"We need to rest early," Satoshi replied. "We're going out of town for work."
"Huh? When?" Kyouko's eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Tomorrow," Satomi said, casually picking up a piece of meat and feeding it to Haruki.
"You're just telling me this now?"
"It wasn't planned," Satoshi explained, lifting his glass. "We decided last minute. With so many new projects coming in, we've decided to open a new branch."
Kyouko let out a small sigh but kept smiling. "I see... well, be careful out there."
As dinner was coming to an end, Satoshi put down his chopsticks and faced Haruki.
"By the way, Haruki," he said casually.
"Yes, father-in-law?" Haruki replied.
"If you're not too busy while we're away... could you keep an eye on your mother-in-law?" he asked, glancing at Kyouko, who quietly sipped her tea. "She doesn't feel comfortable being alone or dealing with people outside. If she needs groceries or has errands, maybe you could go with her."
"Umm... okay," Haruki nodded, feeling a bit surprised but staying calm.
"Yeah," Satomi added, smiling as she leaned on Haruki's shoulder. "Don't feel awkward around Mom, okay? She's really easy to get along with if you just relax."
Kyouko focused on her tea, hiding a small smile that wanted to show. Haruki stole a glance at her. No one else at the table knew how close they had become, closer than most would consider normal, but still on the edge of something more.
"All right," Haruki said.
Satomi leaned back in her chair and playfully nudged Haruki with her elbow.
"And Mom, don't be too awkward around Haruki, okay? You know he doesn't have any family left. Treat him like your own son."
"I know," Kyouko replied softly, her voice calm but hard to read.
Satoshi stood up and stretched. "I'll go get everything packed upstairs."
Once he left, Satomi looked back and forth between Kyouko and Haruki at the table.
"What's up with you two?" she asked, narrowing her eyes teasingly. "Still acting weird? Come on, Haruki, you've been living here for months. You should feel totally comfortable with her by now."
Haruki chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah... you're right."
Kyouko smiled faintly, her fingers lightly resting on her teacup.
"Oh, please," Satomi said, rolling her eyes. "This is why I say you both need to loosen up. Have some fun while we're gone or something. Go shopping, get some fresh air. I don't want to come home and find you both stuck inside like two awkward high schoolers."
Kyouko chuckled softly. "We'll be fine."
Satomi pointed her chopsticks at her mother with a teasing grin.
"And Mom! Keep an eye on Haruki, okay? Don't let him wander around alone. He might end up with two or three girls flirting with him."
Kyouko let out a soft laugh and briefly looked at Haruki.
She wouldn't deny it—Haruki was handsome. He was tall, polite, and had that quiet charm that most women noticed, even if he didn't mean to. And Kyouko? She had noticed, maybe a little too much lately.
Haruki scratched the back of his head again and chuckled softly.
"I don't think I'm that popular," he said modestly.
"You'd be surprised," Satomi smirked. "Anyway, don't make Mom worry. Be a good boy while we're gone."
Kyouko hid her smile behind her teacup.
She wasn't worried about Haruki getting caught up with anyone.
What worried her more... was how much she was starting to enjoy spending time with him.
Once Haruki got to the living room and set up his laptop and earbuds, Satomi leaned a bit closer to her mother in the kitchen, just enough to talk without being overheard.
"Mom, while we're away... try your best to make Haruki comfortable, okay?" she whispered, glancing over her shoulder to ensure Haruki was out of earshot. "He doesn't have family, and honestly, I think he doesn't have many close friends either."
Kyouko blinked at her daughter, a soft laugh escaping her lips as she rinsed a cup in the sink.
"Come on, Satomi. He's an adult. A big boy now. I think he can manage just fine without me babysitting him."
"I'm not saying to babysit," Satomi replied with a grin, "but you know... just talk to him. Be nice. Like a friend."
Kyouko dried the cup slowly, her gaze drifting toward the living room. A friend, huh?
She had already crossed that line a long time ago.
"I'll be nice," Kyouko said, her voice light but carrying an undertone that Satomi didn't catch. "Don't worry."
Kyouko stood there for a moment longer, drying her hands on a towel.
If only Satomi knew how easy it was to talk to Haruki. How natural it felt to be close to him. Sometimes, when she laughed at his jokes or leaned against him, she forgot she was supposed to keep her distance.
"Friend, huh?" Kyouko murmured, her voice barely louder than a whisper as she softly chuckled to herself—a small, feminine laugh that faded quickly.
Satomi didn't seem to notice the deeper meaning in her mother's words. She just grinned and opened her phone, scrolling through her packing list.
"Hmm? You're not that old, Mom. Seriously. You still look good for your age. Haruki even said so once, remember?"
Kyouko raised an eyebrow. "He did?"
"Yeah, he said something like, 'Kyouko-san looks really young for a mom.' I remember that."
Kyouko smiled faintly but didn't reply. Her heart fluttered just a bit, though she tried to push that feeling aside.
Satomi continued, cheerful and unaware. "Anyway, just do your best, okay? I know you're shy around people, but at least talk to him. Or take him to a movie or something. Go shopping together. Haruki's not hard to be around. Just don't let him sit at home staring at his laptop all day."
Kyouko nodded slowly, wiping down the counter even though it was already clean.
"Alright... I'll see what I can do."
Satomi leaned over and gave her mother a quick hug. "That's the spirit!"
Kyouko watched her daughter walk away, still smiling.
She wasn't sure what exactly she was agreeing to—but one thing she knew for certain: it had already gone beyond just being friends.