Afterwards, on the way to send Natsuha home.
Sasaki, carrying his backpack, held her hand, waiting by the roadside for the green light, "Natsuha, didn't you say you wanted to teach Takagi a lesson?"
Beside him, holding her lover's arm and enjoying the evening breeze, Natsuha responded softly:
"Yes."
"But didn't you say there was no evidence?"
"But there won't always be no evidence. Once I get the evidence, I'll send it to Tsukimi. After they break up, then we'll deal with Takagi, using both diplomacy and force."
I'll deal with Takagi, and you'll comfort Tsukimi, right?
Glancing at her lover, who was eager to pick up the pieces, the girl wanted to warn him to stop chasing after other girls.
But thinking it over, she didn't say anything.
First, logically, she wasn't the main wife, and such matters of the 'master' being promiscuous should be left to the main wife to lecture him.
What she needed to do was to unite with the others to stop him from chasing more girls.
With the names he listed earlier, including herself, there were eight of them... one each day, taking turns.
Even if he were made of iron, he would be melted down.
You want to be a flirt and enjoy your time?
We won't stop you. If you have the energy, go ahead.
Planning on how to turn Fuyumi into an obedient man, Natsuha responded casually:
"Okay."
"Then I'll leave it to you, Natsuha."
Having found someone to play the villain, Sasaki felt it was time to call Fujitsubaki.
So, after sending Natsuha home with a goodbye kiss, he walked back home at a leisurely pace.
"I'm home." Sasaki opened the door and, following the local custom, greeted the dark entrance hall with a calm voice.
Since he already knew before Otome called that Sister Yuka and the others would be staying at school tonight and Aunt Kyouka would be back around nine, he wasn't surprised to find the house empty.
So, after closing the door, he turned on the light, took off his shoes, and changed into slippers.
Unbuttoning his shirt and carrying his backpack, Sasaki walked into the living room and then tossed his backpack onto the sofa.
Taking off his black school uniform jacket to reveal the white shirt underneath, he rolled up his sleeves after unbuttoning the cuffs, tied on the light yellow apron that Otome wore every day, and headed to the kitchen.
If he were alone, he would be too lazy to cook.
After all, cutting vegetables and washing dishes were too much trouble compared to the convenience of eating a bowl of instant noodles.
But if Aunt Kyouka didn't work overtime tonight, she would be back.
No matter whether she has eaten or not, as long as you prepare it, it will increase her favorability.
These small increments of favour would accumulate over time, and one day he could erase the "Aunt" from "Aunt Kyouka."
With this thought in mind, Sasaki took out the fresh vegetables and meat he needed for tonight from the refrigerator packed with fruits and drinks and washed them in the sink.
Then he went to the first-floor bathroom to set the water temperature and amount for the bath.
After that, he tossed in some carbonated bath tablets to relieve the soreness in his waist and shoulders, covered it with the heat-retaining lid, and returned to the kitchen to start making dinner.
Sasaki had a good relationship with Kyouka's family since he was young.
He used to stay at their place during winter and summer vacations so he knew their food preferences well.
Tonight's dinner was meant to curry favour with Aunt Kyouka, so he naturally cooked what she liked to eat.
...
...
"I'm back~"
Closing the door and placing the keys on the shoe cabinet, after a long day's work, Kyouka's voice was as tired and pale as crumpled white paper.
Before she could take off her shoes and change into slippers, an unexpected response came to her ears.
"Welcome home."
Three seconds after the voice fell, a figure wearing a light yellow apron walked from the living room to the entrance hall, appearing before her.
Seeing the tall figure standing under the warm light, enveloping her, Kyouka was somewhat surprised.
She wasn't surprised that Fuyumi was home.
After all, was already past nine, so it was normal for him to be at home.
What surprised her was that he wasn't in his room.
Unlike girls who liked to watch evening dramas, most boys at this time would be in their rooms playing online games with their friends.
Fuyumi, being a normal boy, liked to play games too.
So she never expected him to respond to her.
What surprised her more was that Fuyumi was wearing an apron.
Was he cooking just now?
Kyouka knew that cooking classes were offered in junior high and high school.
But very few boys his age were interested in cooking; they were more passionate about playing games.
Rather than handling unfamiliar pots and pans, they preferred waiting for their parents to call them to eat after cooking...
Parents...
Understanding why Fuyumi knew how to cook, the surprise in Kyouka's eyes turned to warmth.
Before she could show a smile, Sasaki, who had approached her, bent down and took out her pair of slippers, placing them in front of her.
Then he stood up, naturally took the bag from her shoulder, and said with a smile:
"Welcome back, Aunt Kyoka~"
Not quite used to it, no, having never experienced such treatment from family, Kyouka looked up at Sasaki, who had a gentle smile, and responded awkwardly:
"Ah, um~"
But being the elder, she quickly regained her composure after the initial surprise.
Supporting herself against the wall, she took off her shoes, and wearing her stockings that glowed with a glossy sheen under the warm light, slipped her feet into the slippers. Kyouka asked with a gentle smile:
"Have you eaten, Fuyumi?"
"Not yet."
Responding softly, Sasaki slung her bag over his shoulder, walked behind her, placed his hands on her soft shoulders, and gently massaged them while lightly pushing her:
"Let's go have dinner, Aunt Kyouka."
"I was just waiting for you to come back~"
"Fuyumi, there's no need to wait this late..."
"I finished my part-time job, went shopping with a colleague, and when I got back it was already past eight. I just finished cooking when you came back, so there's no issue about waiting or not~"
Not wanting to discuss things that might make her overthink, Sasaki guided her to the living room and asked:
"Aunt Kyouka, would you like to eat first or take a bath? The bathwater is already prepared~"
Having never received such treatment before, Kyouka was momentarily stunned by Sasaki's words, then replied warmly:
"Fuyumi, since you've already cooked, let's eat first. I haven't tried your cooking yet."
"Alright."
"Aunt Kyouka, please wash your hands first, then we can start eating."
"Okay."
Watching her sway her slender waist as she walked to the bathroom, Sasaki placed her bag on the coffee table under the TV, took out her phone, and unlocked it using the password he glimpsed last night while giving her a massage.
He logged her music app account into the TV, found her usual playlist, and started playing it.
As Soft melodies filled the room.
Adjusting the volume to a moderate level, he walked into the kitchen to the sound of the music.
Click~
Emerging from the bathroom, Kyouka paused as she heard the familiar song filling her ears, blinking in confusion.
Does Fuyumi also like such old songs?
The song playing from the living room was an insert from a TV drama she watched when she was a girl, titled "Warm Verses."
Humming softly along with the song in her heart, Kyouka smiled as she walked gently from the hallway into the living room.
(Unable to meet, how long has it been?)
(The letters I sent were returned to the post this morning)
(Like the young leaves awakening by the window)
...