Haruki couldn't sleep. Sayaka still wasn't home, and it was already past 10 at night. He went downstairs to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, poured himself a glass of juice, and took a drink. Afterward, he closed the fridge, deciding to wait in the living room for her return.
When he entered, he noticed Kyouko was already there, sitting quietly on the couch, scrolling through her phone. She was probably waiting for her husband to come home. She looked up and smiled as he sat down across from her.
"Waiting for Sayaka?" she asked.
"Yes," Haruki replied, glancing at his phone as he sent Sayaka a message to check when she'd be back. She didn't respond—maybe she was still driving or hadn't seen it.
Kyouko smile remained as she spoke, her voice soft. "They both often come home this late, don't they?"
"Yeah," Haruki nodded. There was an understanding between them, one that didn't need many words. Kyouko, in her casual nightwear, looked relaxed yet thoughtful, her calm presence making the quiet house feel a little less empty.
After a pause, Kyouko continued, "It's like this most nights. I've gotten used to it, but it's nice to have someone else awake sometimes."
"Really?" Haruki asked,surprised. He had always assumed that Kyouko went to bed like everyone else, yet here she was, awake and waiting for her husband every night.
Haruki couldn't quite wrap his mind around it. While he usually fell asleep before Sayaka got home and found her beside him in the next morning, Kyouko routine was different— she quietly waiting each night for someone who returned long after the house had gone still.
"How long has it been like this?" he asked, the question slipping out before he could stop himself.
Kyouko looked thoughtful for a moment, her smile softening. "Oh… almost twenty years, I guess," she replied, her tone calm, as if she were talking about something as simple as a habit.
Twenty years. Haruki found himself wondering what kind of patience it took, year after year, to sit and wait, night after night. He felt a strange, quiet admiration for her.
"You get used to it," Kyouko said, smiling as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
Haruki nodded slowly, though he wasn't sure he could do the same if he were in her position. The idea of waiting night after night, year after year, seemed unimaginable to him. He had to admit—moving in with Sayaka parents was a best choice. Living with Kyouko in particular had brought sense of warmth and stability he didn't realize he'd needed.
Maybe it was better this way, he thought. If he and Sayaka lived on their own, he might feel emptier, left to long, quiet evenings in an empty house. Here, though, he rarely felt that way. Kyouko was always around, filling the space with her calm presence, her kindness, and her gentle routines that had quietly become part of his days.
He glanced over at her, noticing the contentment in her expression as she sipped her tea.
Kyouko noticed Haruki attention absorbed by his phone, and with a quiet smile, she rose from the couch and made her way to the kitchen. She moved with practiced grace, her actions almost instinctual now. She reached for the coffee beans, grounding them with care, remembering exactly how he liked his coffee—strong, bitter, with a touch of honey.
At first, she had only paid attention to these small details to occupy herself, to break up the quiet moments of her day when she found herself alone in the house. But now, her efforts felt different. She found herself looking forward to the subtle pleasure of seeing Haruki surprised, grateful smile whenever she handed him his coffee, made perfectly to his taste. It had become more than just routine; it had become her way making the house feel warmer for him.
She poured the freshly brewed coffee into a mug, carefully stirring in honey.After finishing the coffee, Kyouko returned to the living room with a gentle smile, holding a large cup that steamed softly in the dim light.
"Here, Haruki," she said, placing it carefully on the table in front of him.
Haruki looked up from his phone, a bit surprised but clearly appreciative. "Thank you, Kyouko-san."
She waved it off with a modest shrug. "It's nothing," she replied, her tone casual but warm. She settled back down on the couch, watching as he took his first sip, noting the way his shoulders relaxed slightly. She felt a quiet satisfaction, knowing she'd gotten it just right, as always.
Kyouko sat back down, her relaxed posture causing her nightwear to slip slightly, revealing a full view of her cleavage. Haruki eyes were drawn to it. He quickly shifted his attention back to his coffee, feeling a warmth rise in his face, but his thoughts couldn't help drifting back to her.
"She's so… beautiful," he thought, a strange mix of admiration and guilt tugging at him. Kyouko, unaware of the effect she was having, continued scrolling through her phone, her expression calm and at ease.
The room settled back into a quiet silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts, though Haruki found it harder to focus on anything other than the captivating presence beside him.As he stared, a part of him felt guilty, knowing he shouldn't be looking at her that way. Yet he couldn't deny the allure Kyouko had, an appeal he never expected to find himself drawn to so deeply.
Haruki pretended to stay absorbed in his phone, but his gaze kept shifting back to her, tracing the delicate curve of her collarbone and the smoothness of her skin. She was really beautiful, with a natural allure that was hard to ignore. Her elegance and warmth set her apart, making her seem even more captivating.
He knew he shouldn't be thinking this way about his mother-in-law, yet here he was, unable to shake the growing attraction he felt in her presence.
Haruki snapped as he heard a car pull up outside. He quickly stood, setting his phone aside. Through the window, he saw Sayaka step out, looking as tired as always. Her shoulders slumped, and her expression was weary, a sight he'd grown used to over the past few months.
Haruki turned toward the door.Sayaka stepped in, looking as exhausted as usual after her shift.
"Still not sleeping?" she asked, her voice tired yet affectionate.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd wait for you," Haruki replied.
"You don't have to wait up for me, you know…" she murmured, though she gave him a small smile.
"Alright," he answered simply.
She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a weary hug. "I'm so tired…and hungry, but I don't feel like eating anything heavy," she sighed.
Kyouko, noticing her daughter's fatigue, stood to head to the kitchen, ready to prepare something light. But Sayaka gently shook her head, then turned back to Haruki with a soft, pleading look.
"I want ramen…" she said, playfully hinting that she wanted him to indulge her a little.
Haruki chuckled, giving a small nod. "Okay."
As he moved toward the kitchen to start making it, he glanced back and caught Kyouko supportive smile. She watched her daughter and Haruki, a quiet pride and warmth in her gaze, as if seeing a small moment of family harmony that meant a lot to her.
Haruki prepared two packs of ramen, carefully boiling the noodles to the perfect texture. He fried two eggs, letting the yolks stay slightly runny, just the way Sayaka liked. Adding a few meatballs and vegetable, he assembled everything in a large bowl, giving the dish a comforting and satisfying touch.
After finishing, he brought the steaming bowl to Sayaka, who was already seated at the table, waiting with a tired but appreciative smile. Haruki placed the bowl in front of her, and she eagerly picked up her chopsticks.
"Thank you, Haruki. This is exactly what I needed," she murmured, savoring the first bite.
As he sat down across from her, Haruki watched her eat, feeling a quiet sense of satisfaction in being able to take care of her, especially after such a long day. Kyouko, still nearby, observed the scene with a warm expression, enjoying the simple, comforting moment they were sharing.
( end of chapter )