Throwing her shoulder bag onto the sofa, Kyouka sat down opposite her and said:
"Looks like you didn't go home yesterday. We agreed to take a break on the weekend and spend time with the kids."
Unlike Kyouka, who was dressed formally in a suit, Kurashiki Reika didn't like to restrict herself too much due to her physique and personality.
So, in this office where only the two of them were, the white shirt she wore underneath her suit was unbuttoned at the chest.
This wasn't exactly indecent, just two buttons undone, but with her huge melons that was only slightly smaller than Kyouka's, those two unbuttoned buttons created a dazzlingly deep cleavage.
Not paying attention to these details, Reika's legs, wrapped in smooth black silk, crossed and swung slightly.
Her white cotton slippers and the pale pink of her stockinged feet brushed against each other as she looked up and said:
"You know how my daughter is. There's no way she and I can get along. We can't even have a conversation at home."
Talking about her daughter, Kurashiki Reika's sharp and stern gaze softened slightly, but her tone was full of disdain and dissatisfaction.
Kyouka knew very well what kind of person her best friend was.
To put it nicely, she was a decisive and strong-willed woman.
To put it bluntly, she was stubborn and self-willed.
Especially when it came to her daughter, Reika's domineering and unyielding personality was at its peak.
Her daughter had a similar temperament, and with their unique verbal sparring skills, they were like firecrackers placed together; when one exploded, the other was bound to follow.
Kyouka didn't know how many times she had advised this woman about her attitude towards her daughter, but she still tirelessly suggested:
"Reika, you should try to change your tone a bit. Slow down when you speak. Reina has a lot of pressure from her studies at this age, try to understand her."
.
.
.
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Chapter 111: Skipping Class
Just as Kyouka had told her many times, Kurashiki Reika had heard it countless times but still shook her head silently.
The conflict between her and her daughter wasn't too big but not too small either.
Though both were proud and headstrong, they would argue endlessly over trivial matters.
However, neither of them was the type to hold grudges or give the silent treatment.
They would vent their anger immediately, and their conflicts were most intense during arguments.
And once they calmed down, they would return to their usual familial relationship.
Over the years, Kurashiki Reika had gotten used to it.
Putting down the white porcelain cup in her left hand, she supported her plumo chest with her arms, smiled with narrowed eyes and asked:
"Enough about me, what about you? You moved yesterday, right? How are things with that boy?"
"Fuyumi is very well-behaved and obedient..."
Recalling his actions towards her, which were unusual but not overly intimate, Kyouka felt slightly strange.
Was he being too well-behaved?
Though very familiar with her best friend, Reika couldn't guess what Kyouka was thinking.
So, hearing her sincere evaluation, her already narrowed eyes drooped slightly, seemingly lost in thought.
Well..her eye shape was somewhat similar to that of Miyajima Tsubaki.
However, due to Reika's personality and status, her upward-arched brows made what should have been charming eyes appear exceptionally sharp and stern.
When she was angry, she resembled a furious tiger.
Her habitual squinting added a touch of casual nonchalance.
Sensitive or fragile people might feel she looked down on them with this demeanor.
However, with careful observation, her beautiful face combined with her often raised brows and squinting eyes might give an impression of slight dullness, like a big cat in a zoo that hadn't fully awakened.
Yet, her posture and aura were so dominant and forceful that this occasional contrast was fatally attractive to those special people, who looked to push boundaries and seek thrills.
After pondering for less than a second, Kurashiki Reika's slender eyebrows arched slightly.
And then, with a rare smile on her face, she asked softly:
"Do you have a photo of that boy? He probably doesn't remember me now."
"When you met him, he had just learned to walk. There's no way he would remember you."
Both women were university classmates of Sasaki's mother and knew each other.
However, due to her personality, Reika's relationship with Sasaki's mother was relatively ordinary.
Nonetheless, Sasaki's mother was one of the few people she could talk to, so Kyouka wasn't surprised by her interest in seeing Sasaki's photo.
Taking out her phone from her bag, Kyouka unlocked it and opened the photo album before handing it over.
Most of the photos in the album were of Sasaki's parents when they were alive.
To be honest,
Looking at these photos Reika didn't find anything remarkable..
Although this boy was handsome but their was nothing remarkable except his looks.
However, what caught her attention more were the photos taken yesterday afternoon, displayed in the top left corner.
The person was the same, but his expressions and demeanor were worlds apart.
In the earlier photos, Sasaki looked like a plastic flower placed at home—visually pleasing from a distance but dull and lifeless up close.
This was the impression Reika had of him before.
However, the photos taken yesterday afternoon, showing Sasaki typing on a computer, were completely different.
His upright posture and the serious expression between his stern brows gave off an entirely different aura, far from his previous slothful appearance.
Reika, who valued work seriousness, appreciated this version of Sasaki.
Holding this favorable initial impression, she decided to ask further.
Resting her soft, moist elbow on her crossed, full, but not overly plump black-stockinged legs, she propped her chin on her clenched hand, flipping through Sasaki's photos with a casual posture, and asked in a conversational tone:
"How does Sasaki get along with those two at your house? I heard you say their relationship is quite good, right?"
"Yes, very good."
Thinking of their playful antics when they were kids and how they now occasionally bicker but soon laugh and talk together, Kyouka smiled softly and nodded.
At the same time, she noticed that Reika's inquiries about Sasaki today were a bit excessive.
After all, usually, her friend didn't pay much attention to such matters.
Unaware of Kyouka's suspicions, or perhaps not caring, Kurashiki Reika nodded and handed back the phone:
"If Koharu or Yuka were to like Sasaki, would you stop them?"
"Like him..."
Kyouka was slightly taken aback by her sudden question, then smiled and said:
"That would be great. As long as the children are willing, I certainly have no objections. Why would I stop them?"
Not surprised by this response, Reika nodded slightly and continued to ask:
"What if both Koharu and Yuka liked him?"
In her spare time, watching the kids laugh and play, Kyouka had thought about this.
But because of her status and position, she was not conservative and was quite open-minded about men having multiple lovers.
Thus, she had concluded that as long as the children were willing, she wouldn't object.
It was the same now.
Knowing her best friend's thoughts, Kurashiki Reika sighed lightly:
"Although I know you're like me, having seen many such situations and probably sharing a similar view, I still feel more at ease asking."
?
Without waiting for her to inquire about her meaning, Kurashiki Reika, with a prepared script, said:
"Kyouka, your shares will be divided between Koharu and Yuka in the future, right?"
"The same for me. My things will ultimately go to my daughter."
"But Koharu and Yuka don't get along well with Reina. Honestly, they might not get along in the future either. You understand what I'm worried about, right?"
This wasn't hard to understand.
Kyouka certainly understood.
Connecting it to her earlier questions about Fuyumi, she looked at the serious Reika with a complex expression:
"So, Reika, you mean..."
"Yes... I trust Koharu and Yuka, but Reina... she's too headstrong and does things based on her whims."
"Since she isn't reliable, I need to make decisions for her."
"By tying the three of them together as a family, the company won't split in the future. I can't control things far off, but at least while I'm alive, the company mustn't have issues."
Her firm words contained no hesitation and showed no concern for her daughter's feelings, perfectly fitting Kurashiki Reika's domineering personality.
Not surprised by her words, Kyouka neither agreed nor disagreed but instead asked with a bitter smile:
"And what about Reina? You haven't told her your plans, have you?"
"I haven't made it explicit, but I've hinted many times."
Nodding, the woman, still in her strong, arms-crossed posture, squinted her eyes and stated coldly and forcefully:
"I've only scolded her a few times for her reckless behavior without much interference, but this time, she must listen to me. There's no room for negotiation."
"As for Sasaki... I don't think he'll refuse, but Kyouka, I'll need you to help a bit."
Confident in her daughter's appearance and figure, but considering the importance of feelings among young people, Kurashiki Reika, out of respect for Kyouka, didn't say anything too forceful.
Nonetheless, the implicit refusal was clear, making the latter sigh.
Knowing that not giving a clear answer would make her friend persistent, possibly even confronting Fuyumi directly, Kyouka, despite her inner conflict, could only nod.
"I will."
"Thank you, Kyouka."
...
Ding ling ling~
With the ringing of the bell marking the end of the third class in the morning, the beautiful math teacher for Class 2B, picked up her lesson plan and left the classroom without hesitation.
The departure of the teacher signaled the official start of break time.
The next class was PE, so many students headed to the back of the class to retrieve their gym clothes from the lockers.
Due to the crowd and ample time, Sasaki, despite being close to his locker, didn't rush to get his gym clothes.
Chatting idly with Ayato in front of him, he scrolled through his phone out of boredom.
Ding~
[Fuyumi, the next period is PE. Do you want to skip class?]11:14 "Read"
Seeing the sudden message from "Momo," Sasaki tapped the screen to switch to the chat interface and started typing.
[Skip class? Why skip PE for no reason?]11:15 "Read"
[To do something fun~?]11:15 "Read"
Momentarily stunned by being teased by a peer for the first time, Sasaki, feeling a slight warmth in his heart, replied:
[Where are you now? I'll come find you.]11:15 "Read"
[I'm already at your classroom's back door~]11:15 "Read"
Reading this message, he didn't turn his head to look.
Instead, he smoothly exited the chat, put away his phone, and clutched his stomach, looking at the boy:
"Ayato, my stomach doesn't feel well. If the PE teacher asks, just say I went to the infirmary."
Though puzzled by Sasaki's sudden stomach ache, the boy didn't doubt his words.
Seeing him clutching his stomach, he asked with concern:
"Is it serious? Do you need me to help you to the infirmary?"
Standing up, Sasaki, slightly bent over, waved his hand:
"It's okay, I can go by myself. Just make sure to tell the teacher."
Seeing that Sasaki didn't intend for him to follow, Haruno Ayato, though puzzled, retracted his movement and nodded:
"Okay, got it."
Leaving through the back door, Sasaki hadn't even looked around when he felt a soft, indescribable sensation on his right arm, accompanied by a faint sweet fragrance.
Soft and fluffy like a freshly steamed white bun.
Bouncy like a water-filled toy.
This out-of-control sensation made him turn his head immediately, looking at the beauty, who was a head shorter than him.
Unlike other girls in the hallway wearing uniforms, Momo was in a red tracksuit with white stripes down the sides, ready for PE.
Though this plain and somewhat tacky tracksuit completely covered her shapely figure,
Sasaki knew it was just for colder weather or bad conditions.
Typically, they wore white T-shirts and knee-length dark blue shorts for ease of movement.
So, it was unusual for her to be in this outfit, given the sunny weather.
Facing Sasaki's scrutinizing gaze and his slightly furrowed brows out of curiosity...
Momo Kashiwabara, holding onto his arm, gently pulled down the zipper:
"It's not strange at all. I'm wearing the summer gym uniform underneath."
As the loose red tracksuit opened a little, the pure white short-sleeve shirt peeked through, looking as tempting as ripe peaches, making one want to take a bite.
Because Momo was leaning forward, when she pulled down the zipper, the swaying plumpness of her chest made it look like two chubby rabbits peeking out, making one want to gently pet them and rub their faces against them.
Unfortunately, they were in the corridor, so no matter how much Sasaki wanted to, he couldn't act on his desires immediately.
However, he wasn't the only one thinking such things.
Noticing his lustful gaze, Momo pulled Sasaki's arm and led him toward the staircase:
"If something spills on the gym uniform, it would be obvious and leave a smell, so I need to have a cover-up ready."
"It's okay. We'll be taking them off and putting them aside soon, so they won't get in the way."
"Got it~"
Lightly responding, Sasaki scanned their surroundings and, seeing no one paying attention, asked the hastily moving Momo:
"Did you find a good spot?"
"Yes~"
Turning her head with a big smile, the girl spoke softly:
"Even though the school doesn't forbid dating, doing those kinds of things isn't allowed. So, we need to go somewhere with few people~"
"I know such a place~"