A week had passed since Kaoru's arrival in Gosha village. Although this was supposed to be a vacation, Kaoru still took the time to manage his company's projects remotely. Every few days, he would hold video meetings to ensure everything was running smoothly. His company was thriving as expected, generating enough profit that he no longer needed to worry about finances. A significant transition in his life was also emerging—he began considering moving out of his cramped apartment into a larger penthouse. After all, it wasn't just Asuka living with him now; Shiranui had been spending more time there as well.
During the past week, many unforgettable moments occurred. One of them was when they went camping by the riverside with friends. Another was when Kaoru and Asuka spent time at the village's game center, or when Kaoru had a deep discussion with Yatsu Murasaki about memory transfer theories, a topic that led them into a serious debate. Every activity brought Kaoru closer to the people around him, creating joyful memories.
And now, the highlight of it all was the harvest festival. At the festival, Kaoru walked flanked by Asuka and Shiranui, the two women who had become important parts of his life. Meanwhile, Yukikaze, who had been teasing Tatsuro all evening, was glued to his side, adding to the lively atmosphere. On the other hand, Rinko stood awkwardly by herself among the crowd, feeling slightly left out.
The truth was, Rinko had been interested in Kaoru from the start. However, she had only recently learned that Kaoru was already involved with two women, and it had left her shocked. Nevertheless, she didn't plan on giving up so easily. In her heart, Rinko believed there was still a chance to become the third woman in Kaoru's life. But the reality was that opportunities don't always come easily. Every time she tried to get closer, Kaoru was always surrounded by Asuka and Shiranui, making it hard to find the right moment.
Despite this, the festival night remained an enjoyable experience for everyone. The glittering lanterns along the village streets, the sound of traditional music echoing in the air, and the aroma of festival food filling the atmosphere all contributed to a cheerful mood. Kaoru felt that even though his life was becoming more complex with the relationships he was juggling, he was enjoying every moment of it.
"You seem to be enjoying tonight, Kaoru," Asuka said softly, her voice full of affection.
"Of course, how could I not, with both of you by my side?" Kaoru replied with a smile, his eyes shining under the lantern lights.
On the other side, Yukikaze pouted at Tatsuro, though her gaze clearly revealed feelings she couldn't quite hide, despite her pride. Meanwhile, Rinko, though looking awkward, had made up her mind not to give up so easily. She knew she was behind tonight, but she believed there was still a path to Kaoru's heart, even if it meant competing with the other two women.
"Oh, by the way, Kaoru, the fireworks will start in about an hour. Shiranui, Rinko, and I want to check out some accessories over there," Asuka said, her voice cheerful, though there was a hint of impatience in her eyes.
Kaoru smiled softly. "Oh, really? And you're not taking Yukikaze with you?" he asked, a bit puzzled.
Asuka snorted lightly. "Ah, don't worry about her. She seems to be busy dragging Tatsuro off somewhere to be alone." She glanced sharply at the two figures walking away, sighing.
Kaoru chuckled. "Alright, I'll wander off in the other direction for a while. We'll meet back here later, right?"
"Yes, don't take too long," Asuka replied with a smile, waving before joining Shiranui and Rinko, who had already started walking ahead.
After parting ways, Kaoru decided to enjoy the festival at a leisurely pace. As he strolled through the crowd, the tempting smell of Yakisoba from a food stall caught his attention. Without much thought, he bought a serving and began enjoying his meal as he walked.
However, in the midst of that simple pleasure, his ears picked up a soft yet teasing voice coming from a small booth nearby.
"My, my..." A feminine, slightly sensual voice drifted over, piquing Kaoru's curiosity. As he searched for the source of the voice, his gaze landed on a woman with long white hair, dressed in a dark blue kimono with delicate patterns. In her hand was a long traditional smoking pipe, adding to the mysterious aura surrounding her.
The woman smiled slightly, full of seductive charm. "Young man... are you interested in knowing your fate?" she asked, her voice flowing gently, almost like a whisper that sparked curiosity.
However, what intrigued Kaoru wasn't her fortune-telling offer but the pipe she was holding. After a closer look, a memory surfaced of an old lady who ran an ice cream shop in the village a few days ago.
Without hesitation, Kaoru asked, "Aren't you the old lady who runs the Inageya ice cream shop?"
Instantly, the woman's expression froze, like shattered glass breaking in silence. The seductive smile she had worn disappeared for a moment, and she seemed to be considering whether or not to lie. But unfortunately, she clearly wasn't the type who could lie well.
"Uh... um..." she stammered, trying to stay calm but failing miserably.
Kaoru held back a laugh as the woman, who indeed seemed to be the old lady from the ice cream shop, finally gave up, her face turning a deep shade of red in embarrassment.
"Oh, you cheeky young man..." she muttered under her breath, this time with a more natural tone, dropping the mysterious persona she had tried to maintain earlier.
Kaoru just smiled, enjoying this unexpectedly funny moment. With a soft chuckle, he crouched down in front of the white-haired woman whose true identity was now revealed.
"I didn't know you could rejuvenate yourself, Baa-chan. Is this some kind of ninja technique?" Kaoru asked casually, looking directly at the woman's face, which now seemed a little irritated.
"Yeah... spot on." Inage replied lazily, this time with no trace of the seductress persona she had shown earlier. Now, she seemed more like her true self—a cranky old lady trying to appear younger.
Kaoru scratched his head, feeling a bit guilty. "Ahem, sorry if I spoiled your disguise too quickly." Though he wasn't entirely sure why, the urge to apologize just surfaced.
"Yeah, yeah, it's fine," Inage responded with an indifferent tone, as if she didn't care much.
Kaoru laughed awkwardly, trying to shift the conversation. "Anyway, Baa—" But before he could finish, a sharp glint flashed from Inage's eyes, as if an invisible sword was pointed at him. His body stiffened, and cold sweat began to form on his neck.
"U-um... what's wrong?" Kaoru stammered, sensing the sudden tension.
Inage took a deep breath, then, with a smile that was both intimidating and oddly cute, she said, "Inage Natsu. You can call me Inage, or better yet, Nee-chan, if you like." Her tone was softer now, but her gaze remained commanding.
Kaoru could only swallow nervously. "A-ah... Yes, Inage... Nee-chan," he replied, trying to avoid any further trouble. For some reason, even though Inage was no longer the mysterious old lady, she still had an undeniable aura of authority.
Inage Natsu smiled in satisfaction, grinning like a cat that had just caught its prey. "That's better."
Kaoru sighed deeply inside, realizing that dealing with this woman wasn't going to be as easy as he had imagined.