While listening to Tsukiko's story, Shishio wondered whether Hina or Rui might not understand her mother's remorse. Even he wouldn't be surprised if Akihito Fujii also didn't understand Tsukiko's feelings.
The reason why Tsukiko accepted Akihito was probably because of his honesty, sincerity, and persistence. Still, even if they were together, it didn't mean she was alright now. She was just a normal human after all, and even if she was a mother, she was also a woman, hurt and damaged from her previous marriage.
Tsukiko had gained a new life and a new husband, so she hoped to forget everything, yet Rui reminded her of everything.
Shishio didn't say anything at that moment and just listened to her outburst. It might be her first time saying all of that, everything she kept in her heart, yet inwardly, he hoped she wouldn't say this to him. Instead, he hoped for her to talk about this problem with her new husband.
Shishio sighed inwardly before he heard Tsukiko apologize.
"I-I am sorry, Shishio-kun." When Tsukiko realized what was happening, she was embarrassed since she didn't expect she would say all of the things she kept inside her heart to Shishio. A boy who was decades younger than her. She was an adult, yet she felt like she acted like a child in front of him, which embarrassed her. "I-I hope that you can forget what I have said before..."
Her tone was flustered, and she was slightly panicked since she didn't expect she would lose her control, but at the same time, she felt good since she could talk about what she kept inside. After all, she had kept this matter for so long, but it was her first time to be able to say all of it.
Still, Tsukiko realized the problem since the first person she talked to about this was Shishio instead of her new husband.
"It's okay. I am happy that you can tell me all about this Tsukiko-obaasan. I understand your reaction toward Rui."
Tsukiko took a deep breath and also started to calm down, so she said, "Rui is with you, right?"
"Yes."
"Then, can you tell her to change her mind?" Tsukiko asked.
Shishio didn't lower the sound of the call. Instead, he turned on the loudspeaker, so Rui could hear their conversation.
Because of this, Rui tightened her grip on his leg.
Fortunately, it was his real leg instead of his third leg.
"I am really sorry, but I can't do that."
However, his answer was obvious, and there was no hesitation, which made Tsukiko and Rui dumbfounded.
Rui had thought about giving up her dream since she also realized what kind of hurtful thing she had done to her mother. She had prepared to give up, and she also thought Shishio was also the same, but who would expect he would refuse her mother's request without hesitation.
"..." Tsukiko was in silence for a while, then asked, "Why?"
"I don't think Rui chose her career aspirations because she wants to spit on you. While I don't know how you feel, I understand how you were hurt by that accident. I understand why you reject her dream without hesitation, but don't you think it is unfair for Rui? She knows your situation and has been hesitant to talk about this matter, so at least, can you see how serious she's with what she wants to do in her life?" Shishio took a deep breath and said, "Also, it is already in the past. You have a wonderful husband now. Why should you look into the past?"
Shishio was enough with two sisters, so he didn't want to add another.
"...Wonderful husband."
Tsukiko was silent for a while and took a deep breath. She knew she was being childish since she got angry with her daughter because of the choice of her career since she thought Rui wanted to become a chef to spit on her, but when she thought about it clearly, she also understood Rui's personality, and it was impossible for her daughter to do so.
Tsukiko had been with Rui the longest, yet Shishio might be the one who understood Rui the most. She showed a bitter smile, somehow feeling slightly jealous of Rui. After all, she only met her current husband when she was at this age, but if they had met earlier, she might not need to swallow everything so bitterly.
However, Tsukiko also knew that if they met early, she might not give Akihito a chance to enter her heart.
'If it's Shishio...'
Tsukiko shook her head before she looked around and sighed in relief. She was lucky she was talking with Shishio in her room, and Akihito hadn't gone home yet, which made her sigh in relief. Still, somehow she felt slightly wrong, but in the end, she put this matter on the side since they needed to talk about Rui.
"How can you tell if she's serious?" Tsukiko asked. After all, it was her first time hearing her daughter who wanted to follow in her father's footsteps, so she didn't understand how serious Rui was.
Shishio looked at Rui, and she also happened to look at him. "Then, how about giving her a test?"
"Test?" Tsukiko was surprised.
'Test?' Rui also looked at Shishio in surprise.
"She will prepare you a dish, and you can see whether she's serious or not from how well her dish is," Shishio said.
"Hmm..." Tsukiko thought for a while before she let out a long sigh. "I understand. Can you tell her that, Shishio-kun? I am sure she won't accept my call after all.
"Alright, I'll tell her when she wakes up later," Shishio said while looking at Rui, who was right on his side.
"Thank you, I'll leave her in your hands," Tsukiko said formally.
"....."
"...Er, do you want me to marry her?" Shishio joked with Tsukiko.
Tsukiko chuckled, then asked sternly, "Then you don't plan to marry my daughter at all even after what you have done?"
"...." Shishio was speechless and wondered why Rui also looked at him with such a gaze. "No, I plan to. Even if she gets pregnant now, I can take responsibility."
"...While I hope I can see the face of my grandchildren as soon as possible, I hope that you can wait until you graduate from a university and get a job first." While Tsukiko wanted to see the face of her grandchildren, she didn't want to see them too early.
They talked for a while before they ended the call by saying she would leave Rui to him for a while.
Anyway, Tsukiko knew Shishio already and knew her daughter would be alright. The only thing she was worried about was that her daughter might return while getting pregnant. Still, they should be able to take care of themselves, right?
Right?
Tsukiko felt she needed to discuss this matter with Hina, and of course, with her husband. Since they had married, she wanted to rely on him. Of course, if Shishio didn't remind her, she might not have done this and done everything on her own since she had gotten used to doing everything alone.
While Tsukiko might agree to marry Akihito, it was hard to change the habit.
When the call ended, Shishio looked at Rui and gently rubbed her head. "You have heard everything, right?" Still, he wondered why Tsukiko and Akihito didn't plan to have children, but their relationship might be different from what he imagined. A relationship had many forms, so it wasn't his place to talk about their relationship.
Also, while Shishio might take it lightly, having a child in this country was tough.
Rui didn't answer his question for a while before she asked, "Shishio, do you think it is the right choice for me to become a chef?"
"..."
Shishio looked at Rui in silence before he lifted her and pulled her in his arms. He put her on the bed and hugged her from behind. "Are you worried that you're hurting your mother?"
"Um." Her eyes were red, and she was already crying since she didn't expect her mother would hurt so much from the previous marriage. If she met her father again, without a doubt, she would beat that man. She might not know the circumstances, and there might be something hidden by her real father, but without a doubt, her real father had hurt her mother.
Her mother was about to recover from the damage of the previous marriage, yet she reminded her mother of that memory. This made her wonder whether her decision to become a chef, like her father, was the right choice.
Rui had always seen everything from her point of view. She was angry when her mother rejected her and didn't even listen to her about why she wanted to become a chef, yet she didn't see what her decision was from her mother's point of view.
Rui felt she was selfish, and she was ungrateful to her mother. It was the reason why she wondered whether her decision to become a chef was the right choice.
"Do you want to become a chef because you want to spit on your mother?"
"No!" Rui said without hesitation since there was no way she wanted to become a chef because she wanted to spit on her mother. She liked making delicious food and wanted to make it into her job.
That's all.
"Then you don't need to think too much. No one is wrong. It is just that the situation of your family is quite complicated, and because there's nothing wrong with showing your conviction to your mother that you don't decide to become a chef because of the moment of heat." Shishio caressed her cheek gently, staring into her eyes gently, and said, "I have done everything to convince your mother, so the rest is in your hand."
Rui stared at Shishio, holding his hand, which caressed her cheek. She was glad that she could be with him. She was glad that she was his, and she was glad that they could be together.
"I know. I'll show her my conviction."
"Should I talk with your father too?" Shishio asked.
"...Won't it trouble you?" Rui felt she had troubled him so much.
"You're silly. You're my woman. Of course, I want you to trouble me. Rely on me, alright?" Shishio said with a smile.
Rui couldn't handle it anymore and kissed his lips without hesitation.
Shishio was pushed by Rui, who was so excited.
When their lips parted, Rui said, "I love you."
"Me too."
"Let's do it again."
"...Let me get a condom." However, Shishio was stopped by Rui.
"Le-Let's do it without that thing."
"....."
Shishio felt he might break his promise with Tsukiko tonight.