Still adjusting to the idea of having a fiancé, Miyajima Sakura often instinctively thought in terms of balance.
Realizing her attitude might be misunderstood by Sasaki, she nodded, accepting her friend's advice.
As they chatted about kendo and everyday matters, time passed, and it was soon midday.
Watching the trainees leave the training ground to go home for lunch, Sasaki looked at the now-empty area and, holding Miyajima Sakura's soft hand, said:
"Let's go to the back residence. Aunt Tsubaki should still be cooking."
Remembering the mischievous behavior Sasaki had engaged in earlier when they came from the back residence to the training ground, Miyajima Sakura sensed something was amiss.
However, having just resolved to change her attitude, she didn't refuse his suggestion.
Like before, they walked shoulder to shoulder, practically glued together, along the long corridor.
Sasaki enjoyed the slightly warm breeze and subtly tickled her palm, seeking her opinion discreetly.
Expecting her to pretend not to notice, he was surprised when she genuinely followed through on her earlier promise to Ayaka, not rejecting the fulfillment of their bet.
Feeling her small hand tightly wrapping around his fingers, Sasaki moved to stand in front of her.
Despite being quite tall for a girl, Miyajima Sakura was still shorter than him.
He estimated she was at least 170 cm tall.
Wearing black hakama, her round, firm, and long legs were hidden.
However, the high-waisted design of the hakama accentuated her slim and graceful waist, making it hard for him to resist wrapping his arms around her.
Her appealing figure wasn't the only reason Sasaki was so persistent about hugging her.
Besides her slender waist and well-filled kendo attire, her overall look was enhanced by her height and poise.
Compared to other girls he knew, she had her unique charm.
Furthermore, her dignified expression during training was something Sasaki found hard to reconcile with.
Boys tend to harbor mischievous thoughts when facing girls, wishing to turn the pure and righteous into something more enticing and seductive.
Of course, Sasaki wasn't so perverse as to force his kendo girl into feeling uncomfortable.
But he did enjoy seeing her flustered and embarrassed.
With these thoughts, he looked down at her shy but high-spirited face and slowly leaned in.
His slender, pale hands wrapped around her slim waist, tugging at the ties of her hakama.
Feeling the boy's mischievousness, Miyajima Sakura, who was previously matching his movements, widened her blue-violet eyes filled with confusion and shyly, gazed into his golden-brown eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
"Sakura, I like you~"
His warm breath and affectionate words made Miyajima Sakura, who was already hesitant about pushing him away, move her hand from his shoulder to his neck, instinctively embracing him as she slowly closed her eyes.
Just as her long lashes trembled and her eyes were about to close, a gentle, questioning voice echoed from the end of the corridor.
"Fuyumi? Sakura... Sakura is here..."
Hearing the awkward greeting, Miyajima Sakura's heart raced, and she opened her eyes in panic, trying to push Sasaki away.
But then she heard the boy whispering in her ear:
"Your hand! Breathe in and hold your stomach, don't panic~"
The hakama's ties were long and wrapped around the waist several times.
With the additional back plate, it was hard to climb without fully loosening the waist ties.
But breathing in and holding her stomach made it easier.
While this method was practical, it required her to keep inhaling, which wasn't sustainable.
Seeing her flustered and sweating, Sasaki realized she couldn't calm down quickly.
So, turning around, he held her waist to face the approaching Miyajima Tsubaki, inwardly noting that her slim waist left no room for error.
"Yes, Aunt Tsubaki, are you calling us for lunch?"
"Yes."
In the midday sun, Miyajima Tsubaki's hands, as white and dazzling as freshly fallen snow, were clasped modestly in front of her.
Her elegant posture contrasted sharply with her seductive figure as she walked gracefully towards them, nodding lightly.
Then, she looked at her blushing daughter, held closely by Sasaki.
"It seems you two are getting along very well~"
.
.
.
After a brief greeting, Miyajima Tsubaki, being a perceptive woman, quickly noticed something off about Sakura's demeanor.
She wasn't blind or foolish.
With the two of them so close—Sakura's bowed head, flushed face, and their earlier embrace—it was easy to deduce that Sasaki had been teasing her daughter.
So, in order not to embarrass the two, Miyajima Tsubaki tactfully refrained from continuing the small talk.
With a smile in her long, charming eyes, she glanced at the young couple nestled together. Dressed in a short-sleeved casual outfit, her exposed white arm appeared like a delicate crescent moon, while her right hand gently supported her flawless face.
The gentle crease between her brows, combined with her smiling, teasing eyes, exuded an alluring charm that tugged at the heartstrings.
With a soft laugh, Tsubaki playfully winked at Sasaki. "I'll go serve the food. You two wash up and come join us."
Understanding that staying would only heighten their awkwardness, Tsubaki swayed her hips as she walked toward the back residence.
While hugging Sakura, Sasaki noticed that when Miyajima Tsubaki turned around, there was a faint blush on her pretty face.
Her slender waist and round figure swayed gracefully with every step.
Although it was just a simple turn and walk that didn't need such length description, this beautiful milf inadvertently exuded an indescribable charm that made him feel as if half of his soul had been hooked.
Feeling his heart skip a beat, Sasaki took a deep breath and with some difficulty, directly shifted his gaze from the beautiful milf to the flowers and plants in the courtyard.
Indeed, the charm of a mature woman far surpassed that of younger girls.
Suppressing any inappropriate thoughts, the boy felt Sakura wiggle slightly in his arms, softly urging him:
"Hurry, get out now."
Even after embarrassing herself in front of her mother, Sakura didn't resist or struggle, continuing to speak softly despite her shyness.
Through their interactions—holding hands, kissing, and more—Sasaki had begun to understand her nature.
Due to her upbringing, she was deeply passionate about kendo and took it very seriously.
Her traditional education made her completely devoted to someone she recognized, more so than even the gentle Otome.
Without teasing her any further, Sasaki fastened the belt of her hakama again, and after she changed into casual clothes, he followed her to the dining area.
Although they hadn't entered yet, the aroma wafting from the room was enough to make their mouths water.
"Aunt Tsubaki's cooking smells amazing~"
Used to praising Otome's cooking, Sasaki instinctively voiced his thoughts after taking a deep breath.
"I'm glad you like it."
Having always looked up to her mother, Sakura felt a sense of pride when her cooking was praised.
"Mm~ I love Sakura's cooking too. Next time, cook for me as well."
"Sure." Although her culinary skills weren't as refined as her mother's, Sakura was confident enough in her cooking to agree readily.
.
.
.
Opening the door, they were greeted by a table laden with an array of delicious-looking dishes: okonomiyaki, grilled rice balls, eel rice, creamy stew, hamburger steak... the entire table was filled with an enticing spread.
At the head of the table sat the patriarch of the Miyajima family, Miyajima Kiichiro.
To his right was the stern-faced Miyajima Sousuke, whose expression was tinged with a hint of displeasure.
Miyajima Tsubaki sat beside him, arranging the utensils.
Upon seeing the two at the door, she smiled and waved:
"Come in and eat."
"Alright!" Sasaki nodded, taking a seat across from Miyajima Sousuke.
Aunt Tsubaki's cooking was indeed exceptional, and with a bit of flattery in mind, Sasaki couldn't help but praise her as he bit into a teriyaki rice ball:
"I've made rice balls myself, but they don't compare to yours, Aunt Tsubaki-san. These are truly delicious."
"I'm glad you like them. So, Fuyumi, you can cook?"
After a morning of hard work, having her cooking praised made Tsubaki very happy.
Sasaki's charming looks and sweet words only made her more favorable towards him.
If there was any downside, it was the matter of her daughter's status.
She already felt guilty about arranging Sakura's engagement to Sasaki without any romantic foundation.
After her father's deliberate matchmaking in the morning, knowing her daughter would be a secondary wife only deepened her guilt.
However, seeing that they got along well provided some comfort.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Tsubaki's buried worries remained hidden.
Miyajima Sakura listened as Sasaki continued:
"When my parents were alive, they often traveled for work, so I sometimes had to cook for myself."
This was true.
Before his parents passed away, Sasaki's relationship with Otome had not yet been established.
So despite their close childhood friendship, she couldn't bring herself to visit his house daily to cook for him until his parents were gone, and he started neglecting his meals.
Before that, Sasaki mostly cooked for himself, so his culinary skills were decent.
"In that case, feel free to come here more often when you have time. This is your home now too. If you want to eat Sakura's cooking, just let her know in advance..."
Miyajima Kiichiro, who usually said little during meals, spoke in a slightly complex tone after hearing Sasaki's words.
Placing his hand on Sakura's thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze, the latter nodded to his words:
"Alright."
This place was indeed his home now.