The bright moonlight shone down like a layer of silver water, flowing gently between the earth and sky.
A light breeze rustled through Ito Yoshito's soft hair as he walked home, enjoying the comforting sights and sounds around him. Today, his mood was exceptionally bright.
'Today was truly…'
As he reflected on the events of the day, he felt an overwhelming sense of excitement that made him want to let out a long, joyous shout into the night.
Reaching the small grassy spot he had visited the previous evening, Ito had fallen in love with this beautiful little garden since his last visit.
Sitting on the grass, the resilient blades danced gracefully in the wind, creating a symphony woven by nature under the moonlit stage.
———
In a different apartment, Kimura Yumiko lay lazily on her soft bed, enjoying a moment of fleeting satisfaction.
However, her solitary joy was short-lived.
The cold, empty room soon pulled her back to reality, leaving her with a sense of profound loneliness.
"Ah—"
Yumiko sighed as she got out of bed, heading to the bathroom to change her clothes and tidy up her slightly disheveled appearance.
Emerging from the bathroom and back into the vacant space, she let out another melancholy sigh and complained about her husband.
"Anata, when are you coming home? I'm so lonely all by myself!"
With no one to listen to her complaints, Yumiko felt the weight of her dissatisfaction grow.
She decided instead to step out onto the balcony for some fresh air.
Pulling the door open, she was greeted by the sight of the lush green grass not far below.
Whenever she felt troubled, Yumiko would always come to the balcony to find solace in nature, and tonight was no different.
"Hmm? It's that handsome boy from yesterday!"
In the soft moonlight, Yumiko's eyes were drawn to the figure sitting on the grassy patch. It was indeed the same boy she had spotted the previous night.
A smile crept onto her lips, and her earlier feelings of melancholy faded away, replaced by a flicker of excitement.
On the balcony, Yumiko watched silently as Ito Yoshito was absorbed in his own world. In her previous admiration of his physique, she had overlooked his facial features.
His sharply defined eyebrows, straight nose, and thin lips created a perfectly handsome face—exactly to Yumiko's liking.
Unconsciously, a spark of desire reignited within her, growing increasingly strong as she found herself drawn to him.
A gentle breeze reminded Yumiko of her situation.
'Ah! Yumiko, what are you doing? You're a married woman!'
Glancing at her ring finger, she noticed the silver wedding band glimmering under the moonlight and felt a pang of guilt as she thought of her husband.
Yet, she found herself unable to resist comparing her husband with the young man before her.
'That boy is so muscular…if only my husband were built like that, then… it would surely be intense…'
Ito checked his phone for the time and realized it was almost 11 PM. He stood up from the grass and patted his clothes, preparing to head home.
Just as he turned around, he spotted a beautiful figure standing on the neighboring balcony, watching him. He instinctively smiled politely and waved goodbye as he began to walk toward his small rental apartment.
"He's leaving…?"
When Yumiko saw Ito smile and wave, she quickly ran her fingers through her hair, adjusting her attire to respond, but by the time she was ready, Ito had already turned away, leaving her feeling disappointed.
"That's alright, it's late anyway. Time to sleep. Staying up late is a woman's enemy! I'll have another chance to meet him!"
Yumiko patted her cheeks to lift her spirits. After watching Ito's figure fade away, she returned to her bedroom.
Even though she had decided to sleep, Yumiko found herself sitting quietly on her plush bed, her delicate fingers idly tracing the wedding ring on her finger, lost in thought.
Moonlight poured into her room, illuminating the wedding photo on her bedside table.
In the picture, Yumiko stood in a pure white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of white roses and affectionately linking arms with her husband, Yamada Jun.
Their smiles radiated happiness, filled with the sweet scent of love.
For a long time, Yumiko gazed at the photo, before gently moving it aside.
She reached out with her right hand and removed her wedding ring, placing it atop the frame that now covered the smiling faces.
In the silence of the dimly lit room, only the lumpy blanket on the bed gave signs of movement as if something hidden beneath stirred. Upon closer inspection, one could hear faint rustling sounds.
In this quiet space, even the tiniest noises were magnified, creating an almost oppressive ambiance.
"Pfft, rustle—pfft, rustle—"
"Mmm…hmm!"
After a long while, all returned to stillness, and a sultry voice, sweet to the core, emerged from beneath the blankets.
"Good night~"
Yet this goodnight greeting wasn't clear whom it was intended for, as the imagined protagonist was no longer her husband...
———
Strolling slowly to the small grove, thick clouds began to gather overhead, obscuring the bright moon and dimming the surroundings.
"It looks like it's going to rain soon. I should hurry back," Ito thought just before two figures emerged from the grove.
"Hazuki, it's about to rain! Let's hurry back!"
"Okay, O-tousan."
The girl sweetly linked arms with the older man.
Their conversation seemed entirely innocent from outside appearances.
However, Ito looked at Takahara Hazuki's flushed cheeks and her tousled hair, along with Mr. Takahara's disheveled appearance.
'So this grove really is the rumored sanctuary…'
"Hello Mr. Ito."
"Ito-nii hello!"
The two newcomers noticed Ito nearby and greeted him with a nod.
They seemed calm and collected despite their slightly breathless appearance.
"Hello…"
Ito thought to himself admiring their calm demeanor after such vigorous activity.
As residents of the same building and his unit being right by the stairs Ito had gotten to know Takahara family over past week.
"Drip drop"
As light raindrops fell Ito decided cut their chat short and quickened his pace back home.
Beneath dim light of rental apartment stairs a beautiful figure stood waiting quietly.
Ito noticed her immediately, Takahara Kasumi recognized him gave strained smile greeted him glancing back at her husband and daughter.
"You're back…" she said soft voice
Mr. Takahara seemed oblivious to her tone as he walked past Saki nonchalantly responding:
"Yeah we're back."
"Otou-san let's go inside!"
Hazuki chimed while tugging at father's arm urging him to head upstairs she then turned to mom beckoning her to follow
Saki followed quietly saying nothing trailing behind them
Stopping in front of door Ito gazed at this skewed family dynamic his look troubled