After Mayuri finished complaining, most of her grievances dissipated.
Typically, at this age, teenagers are either exceptionally sensitive, dwelling on every little action and detail, or they become engrossed in their own little world, paying little attention to anything else.
Mayuri was the latter; apart from games, everything else was just a part of life's background, not something she cared much about.
When Yuko walked into the kitchen and handed her a 1,000 yen hush fee, Mayuri immediately stopped complaining. Yuko then handed her another 1,000 yen, and Mayuri smiled.
Returning to sit beside Minami Yuuki, Yuko wiped her forehead, looking as if she had gone through a lot of trouble.
"All settled," she said, forming a V with her index and middle fingers.
"That's a dirty way to solve things," Minami Yuuki remarked.
"Dirty is reality. Maturity is dirty. Dirtiness is the way of the world."
"Well, if Mayuri has no objections, then neither do I."
Mayuri was already planning what to buy with the 2,000 yen. Having reached an out-of-court settlement, she withdrew her complaint from Minami Yuuki's court.
She placed the cooked eggs and ham between slices of bread and served them to Minami Yuuki and Yuko, then took off her apron.
"I'm heading to Nao-san's place. I won't be home for lunch," she said, picking up her small handbag.
The handbag was pink, with a heart-shaped golden clasp on the flap, very fitting for a young girl. However, inside, she packed a handheld console and game discs, items unrelated to traditional girlhood.
"Stay safe," Minami Yuuki said.
"Come back a bit later," Yuko added.
"Oh, by the way," Mayuri said, returning from the doorway, "Dad, do you have time tonight? Nao-san said she could lend me the Double Star game disc. Kazumi-san and Nao-san have already played it, and I don't want to make them play it again."
"No!" Yuko clung tightly to her husband's arm.
"Yes," Minami Yuuki replied.
"Yay!" Mayuri cheered, clenching her small fists in excitement.
"Not allowed," Yuko tugged on Minami Yuuki's arm. She puffed out her cheeks and stared into her husband's eyes.
Today was a rare day off, and she had planned to have Minami Yuuki all to herself.
Now their daughter was stealing some of that time!
She had to reclaim it!
"Mom, how old are you? Stop pretending to be cute; it's shameless!" Mayuri pulled at her eyelids, making a funny face.
"I am actually cuter than you, Mayuri," Yuko said, pressing her index fingers to the corners of her mouth and pulling out a smile.
She was telling the truth. Mayuri, nearly in high school, was already 170 cm tall, looking very much like an adult, while Yuko, in her thirties, still resembled a middle schooler.
When the family went out, although people didn't mistake Mayuri for Yuko's mother, they often thought Yuko was Mayuri's younger sister.
This made Mayuri very upset. She didn't want a mother who looked like her sister.
"Immature old lady!" Mayuri snorted and dashed out the door.
Her clumsy movements caused the door to open and close noisily, the sound echoing through the quiet living room.
"No playing games with her tonight," Yuko said, shaking her husband's arm. She leaned her face close to Minami Yuuki's. Her doll-like, adorably innocent face made him a little dizzy.
Compared to her younger self, Yuko had become more straightforward and bold. She would cling to Minami Yuuki and directly state her desires.
"What should we do if we don't play games?" Minami Yuuki was reluctant to agree.
With only a day for free simulation, time should be evenly split between mother and daughter. How could he neglect his daughter just because her mother was cute?
"Me," Yuko said, moving even closer to her husband's face.
She intended to exert a sense of pressure, but all she displayed was her beauty, and all she revealed was temptation.
Minami Yuuki bit down on her cherry-colored lips.
...
The sky was filled with many thin clouds, and as the setting sun dipped behind them, its light scattered, resembling an orange egg yolk spreading in a celadon bowl.
Chitose Kazumi drove Mayuri to her doorstep, where she hastily bid her goodbye and entered the house.
Even though her dad had agreed to let her play games, she still worried her mom might intervene and spoil her plans. Opening the living room door, she finally felt at ease.
Minami Yuuki was sitting on the sofa in front of the TV, flipping through a manga magazine out of boredom.
Mayuri quickly walked over to her father and looked around. "Where's mom?" she asked.
She noticed a mysterious smile on her father's face. "Don't worry, she won't be able to bother us for a while," he replied.
At fifteen, Mayuri had gleaned some understanding of adult matters from her games, but although curious, she didn't press further.
She inserted the game disc into the console, grabbed a controller, and jumped onto the sofa, lying next to Minami Yuuki.
Resting her head on her father's shoulder, her cheek against his collarbone, she felt the firmness and warmth of his shoulder.
If her mom were here, she would be pulling her away from her dad's side. Only when her mom was absent could she enjoy her dad's embrace.
Handing the other controller to her father, she leaned over to rest her head on his lap.
"Let's start. Which character will you choose, Dad?" she asked.
"I'll be Mom," Minami Yuuki selected a female character.
"Then I'll be Dad," Mayuri chose the remaining male doll.
Her youthful energy made her restless even while gaming. She constantly changed positions—sitting and leaning on Minami Yuuki's shoulder, squatting and leaning on his shoulder, resting her head on his thigh, legs on his thigh, and eventually sprawling entirely across his body...
When she lifted her foot onto Minami Yuuki's shoulder, the man couldn't hold back and grabbed her ankle. "Watch your image, you're wearing a skirt!"
"So what? Mom isn't here, it doesn't matter. Besides, I'm wearing leggings underneath."
"It's not okay even if mom isn't here... Wait, that sounds strange. Shouldn't it be that it's okay because I'm your dad? You're turning our father-daughter bond into something like an affair behind mom's back!"
The word "affair" was too much for Mayuri; she immediately sat upright, her face turning red.
"How are Nao and Kazumi?" Minami Yuuki asked while controlling his character in the game.
"Not much has changed. They often ask about your relationship with Mom. They seem really worried about you two."
Minami Yuuki glanced at the girl and thought, "My foolish daughter, do you think they're worried about your parents' relationship? They want to be your stepmother!"
"I want to switch characters, let me play as Mom!"
Mayuri and Minami Yuuki exchanged controllers, and she became completely engrossed in the game.
Minami Yuuki had planned to play with her all night. He had spent the day with Yuko, so he wanted to dedicate the night to his daughter. However, his willful daughter ended up falling asleep on his lap in the early morning hours.
He carried Mayuri back to her room, took off her shoes and socks, tucked her in, and then returned to his own bedroom.
The noise of him getting into bed woke up Minami Yuko. Half-asleep, she reached out her arms like a doll and wrapped them around his neck, holding him close before falling back into a deep sleep.
Minami Yuuki embraced his wife's waist, and by the moonlight filtering through the half-drawn curtains, he admired her sleeping face.
The faint moon shadows outside couldn't compare to the delicate flutter of her eyelashes and the rise and fall of her chest beside him.