Kyouko woke early, long before the sun rose. The soft gray light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. She sat up on her futon, stretched slightly, and quietly left the bedroom, leaving her husband in his deep, drunken sleep.
She headed to the bathroom to start her morning routine. After using the toilet, she stepped into the shower, feeling the warm water wash over her skin, soothing her as it cascaded down. This ritual of cleansing herself, both physically and mentally, was always the same. The shower was her quiet space, where she gathered her thoughts before the day began.
After washing her hair, Kyouko applied a hair mask, massaging it through her strands—a habit she had developed over the years. Her skincare routine followed, using familiar products to keep her skin smooth and youthful. She took her time, rubbing lotion over her arms and legs, her body glistening as she carefully moisturized every inch. Each step was deliberate, and as she worked, her mind wandered back to why she had started this routine in the first place.
At first, she had done it all for her husband. She wanted to be beautiful for him, to catch his attention, to reignite the spark that had faded from their marriage. She took care of her body, made her skin soft, and kept her face youthful, hoping he might notice her again.
But that hope had slowly faded. No matter how much effort she put into her appearance, her husband never seemed to notice. His eyes rarely lingered on her, and his compliments had dried up, replaced with indifference. It wasn't that she wasn't attractive—she knew she was. People often mistook her for being much younger, calling her beautiful and complimenting her "baby face." But to him, it seemed none of it mattered anymore.
She sighed as she applied the last bit of lotion to her legs, a familiar disappointment settling over her. This routine, once driven by a desire to rekindle her husband's affection, had become something she did solely for herself. She had stopped expecting him to care and realized that her beauty was something she could appreciate for herself, even if he didn't.
Kyouko looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, her skin glowing from the care she had taken. Her face was smooth, youthful, and free of makeup yet radiant. She had learned to embrace her natural beauty, and her confidence had grown over time. But the sadness lingered beneath the surface—a reminder of the affection and attention she still longed for but no longer expected from the man sleeping in their room.
With a soft sigh, Kyouko finished her routine, tying her damp hair into a loose bun and wrapping a towel around herself. The day ahead stretched out before her, another day filled with duties and responsibilities. But for now, as she stood in the quiet bathroom, she allowed herself a moment to simply be—a woman who had learned to find solace in her own reflection, even if no one else noticed.
As Kyouko opened the bathroom door and stepped out, a light mist of warmth from her shower followed her into the hallway. There, just outside, stood Haruki, waiting for his turn. He glanced up at her, their eyes briefly meeting before flickering downward, taking in the sight of her body wrapped in a towel. She greeted him with a soft smile, her usual warmth on display.
"Good morning, Haruki," she said gently, as if the early morning quiet needed to be preserved.
Haruki nodded, his expression a little sheepish as his eyes lingered on her exposed skin. Kyouko noticed how his gaze traveled over her bare shoulders, the curve of her neck, and the towel barely covering her body. But she didn't mind—if anything, she felt a flicker of satisfaction. It wasn't often that someone looked at her like that anymore, and certainly not her husband. The fact that it was Haruki, her son-in-law, gave her an unexpected thrill that she hadn't anticipated.
At least someone still found her attractive.
Kyouko's heart fluttered briefly, though she kept her expression composed. She knew she was beautiful—her careful skincare routine, her soft, glowing skin, and her youthful face were proof enough. But what made her smile now wasn't just the pride in her appearance; it was the recognition, the attention, however brief, from a pair of eyes that saw her not just as a mother-in-law, but as a woman.
"Bathroom's all yours," Kyouko said playfully, stepping aside to let Haruki pass.
"Thank you," he muttered, quickly averting his gaze as he entered the bathroom, trying to maintain his composure. The moment between them lingered, unspoken yet palpable. Kyouko could feel it, and so could he.
As she walked back to her room, a small smile played at the corners of her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt... seen. It wasn't just her reflection that mattered anymore; someone else had noticed her too, and that unexpected feeling brightened her mood.
A mischievous smile curled on her lips as she left her room, still wrapped in a towel. She headed toward the kitchen, her steps light with a sense of excitement she hadn't felt in ages. It wasn't about seducing Haruki; she simply wanted to feel noticed, to bask in the attention of someone who still found her desirable. The way he had looked at her sparked something within her that had been dormant for too long.
In the kitchen, Kyouko's bare feet padded softly on the floor as she moved toward the counter to prepare coffee. The towel clung loosely to her body, revealing enough to feel enticing but still modest. She smiled to herself, knowing exactly what she was doing. As she poured water into the coffee pot, her movements were slower and more deliberate, as if she were putting on a subtle show.
She sensed Haruki's presence in the doorway before she even turned to look. When she did, she found him standing there, watching her. His eyes were drawn to her, and the moment was charged with unspoken tension. Kyouko pretended not to notice him, acting absorbed in her task, but her heart raced a little faster.
Feeling a strange satisfaction in knowing he was watching, she decided to push the moment further. With a smile, Kyouko bent over to check something in a lower cabinet, the towel slipping slightly and revealing more of her legs and thigh. She knew exactly what she was doing—innocent enough to seem casual, yet deliberate enough to catch his eye.
Haruki's gaze was fixed on her, lingering as he stood frozen in place. Kyouko could feel his internal struggle between looking away and staying focused on her. In that moment, it was about being seen and feeling wanted, even if only for a fleeting second.
As she straightened up, Kyouko allowed herself a small smile, still acting as if she hadn't noticed him. The coffee was nearly ready, the warm aroma filling the kitchen. She knew she wasn't crossing any lines—at least not yet. Just the fact that a young man like Haruki found her attractive made her feel alive in a way she hadn't felt in years.
It wasn't about seduction. She wasn't trying to disrupt her family's balance or complicate things between them. She simply wanted to be noticed, to feel like a woman again after so many years of being unseen. Even a bit of attention from her son-in-law was enough to make her happy, even if she wouldn't admit it.
Standing by the kitchen counter, Kyouko decided to take things a little further. She reached up to adjust the towel around her hair, raising her arms high enough to reveal her smooth, hairless armpit. She had always taken great care of her skin, ensuring it was soft and flawless, and now it was on full display.
She didn't need to look directly at Haruki to know his eyes were glued to her. She could feel it—the weight of his gaze on her skin, his attention fully captured by her subtle yet deliberate movement. Inside, she smiled, enjoying the quiet power of the moment. This was what all those years of skincare routines had been for. In this small, unexpected moment, it felt like it had paid off.
Kyouko glanced at Haruki, catching his gaze lingering on her armpit, entranced by the smoothness of her skin. His reaction was unmistakable. She felt a surge of triumph, a satisfaction deeper than vanity. This was validation, proof that her beauty hadn't gone unnoticed, even if only by someone close.
After a few seconds, she let her arm fall back down, casually adjusting the towel around her body. She didn't say anything, simply turning her attention back to the coffee pot, as if nothing had happened. But inside, she was beaming, her heart racing with the thrill of the moment.
(End of Chapter 5)