Once the food was ready, Kyouko carefully arranged the dishes on the table. The aroma of freshly cooked rice and miso filled the air.
"I hope you'll enjoy it," she said with a gentle smile as she settled into the seat across from Haruki.
"Thank you, Kyouko-san." Haruki nodded and picked up his chopsticks.
Kyouko let out a soft chuckle. "It's been a while since I've cooked this much."
Haruki tilted his head slightly. "Really?"
She nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "My husband is always busy with work... He's rarely home for dinner. So most nights, I only cook for myself." Her smile stayed gentle, but something wistful flickered in her voice.
"Oh…" Haruki murmured, unsure how to respond.
"Well… let's eat."
"Itadakimasu~"
They clapped their hands together in unison before picking up their chopsticks.
As Haruki took his first bite, a strange warmth settled in his chest. Eating with someone… it felt nice. Different from the lonely meals he'd grown used to in that cramped apartment.
"Haruki, eat more."
He blinked as Kyouko reached over with her chopsticks and placed a piece of meat in his bowl, her smile gentle.
"Ah… thank you," he said, his voice slightly stiff.
"A man like you needs to eat plenty." She chuckled softly. "Don't be shy."
Haruki gave a small nod. "Okay, Kyouko-san."
As he ate, Haruki found himself stealing glances at Kyouko.
She's… everything a man could want in a wife. Beautiful, gentle, and on top of that, her cooking was incredible. No restaurant meal could compare to this. He knew because he often bought takeout or ordered online... and he'd never eaten something this delicious.
Before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.
"It's nice… eating like this."
Kyouko blinked, momentarily surprised, before a soft smile graced her lips. "Yeah… it's been a while since I've had a meal like this too."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of chopsticks lightly clinking against bowls filling the space.
For the first time in a long time, Haruki didn't feel alone.
It was strange. He'd barely been here a day, yet somehow, sitting with Kyouko felt right. Like something he'd been missing without even knowing it.
After the meal, Haruki helped her gather the dishes and carry them to the sink.
"Ah, Haruki-kun, I can handle these. You should rest," Kyouko said with a gentle smile.
Haruki hesitated. It felt wrong to just sit back and let her do everything.
"I'd like to help, Kyouko-san."
"No, no." She waved him off, already rolling up her sleeves. "Leave it to me. I'll take care of it."
Before he could insist, she'd already stepped past him, turning on the faucet and starting to wash.
Still, Haruki lingered. Something about watching her work so effortlessly made it impossible to just walk away.
Without a word, he reached for a plate and began rinsing.
"Haruki-kun…" Kyouko sighed. "Let me do it."
"Please, at least let me help."
She turned to him with an amused look. "You need to rest, don't you?"
Haruki just smiled and continued rinsing the dishes beside her.
Kyouko shook her head, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Well, if you insist."
That smile, so warm and sincere, caught Haruki off guard.
For a moment, he just stood there, watching her. Despite only being there for a day, there was an odd sense of comfort between them, as if they'd known each other for years.
He resumed rinsing the dishes, but his gaze kept drifting back to her.
She was stunning.
His father-in-law was a lucky man. Haruki didn't know Kyouko's exact age, but since Satomi was already 26, she had to be over 40.
Yet nothing about her—not her face, her skin, her figure—revealed her age.
No wrinkles lined her eyes or forehead. Her skin looked impossibly smooth, almost porcelain. Even her hands, as she reached for another dish, showed no signs of age. They were soft and delicate, the kind of hands that belonged to someone much younger.
How was that even possible?
After finishing the dishes, Kyouko wiped her hands on a towel and turned to him with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Haruki."
"You're welcome."
"Are you sure you're not tired?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Haruki shook his head. "Ah, no… I don't feel tired at all."
Kyouko nodded. "Okay… if you say so."
After that, Haruki headed upstairs to his room.
He sat on the bed, opened his bag, and pulled out his laptop. He didn't have much work to do—his schedule was flexible, and he could work anywhere, anytime.
Yet for some reason, he found himself heading back downstairs.
Not because of work.
Because he didn't want to miss the chance to see Kyouko.
Haruki settled into the living room, his fingers moving swiftly over the keyboard. The glow of his laptop screen illuminated the dim room as he worked on a new project his boss had assigned.
The deadline was still far off, but he had a habit of finishing tasks ahead of schedule, faster than anyone else in the company.
The house was quiet, except for the occasional hum of the air conditioning and the faint clicking of his keyboard.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Kyouko slipped into her bathroom with a towel draped over her arm. Warm water cascaded down her skin as she stood under the shower, steam filling the space around her. She moved with practiced ease, washing away the day's fatigue.
After finishing, she worked through her skincare routine—moisturizing her face, smoothing lotion over her arms and legs, taking extra care with her long, silky hair. The scent of her shampoo hung in the air, a soft, feminine fragrance that was both refreshing and calming.
When she finally stepped out wrapped in a fresh towel, she felt rejuvenated. A small sigh escaped her lips as she stretched her arms, then headed toward her wardrobe to pick out something comfortable for the night.
After changing, Kyouko casually walked downstairs in her usual sleepwear—a silky pajama set that clung softly to her curves. She never put much thought into what she wore at home, especially since her husband was rarely around. It was just comfortable, nothing more.
When she reached the living room, she found Haruki still sitting there, laptop open, the screen casting a faint glow across his face.
"Haruki?"
He glanced up from his work, slightly startled. "Hmm? Yes, Kyouko-san?"
She smiled gently. "Want something to drink?"
"Ah… umm…" He hesitated, his eyes flickering toward her before quickly dropping back to his laptop.
"Coffee?" she offered, her voice light and warm.
Haruki nodded. "Yeah… that sounds good."
"Alright, I'll make us some."
She turned toward the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly against the floor. Haruki exhaled, shifting in his seat. He hadn't meant to stare, but there was something about the way her silk pajama top draped over her, the subtle way the fabric moved with her body…
He shook his head, trying to refocus on his work. But with Kyouko in the kitchen, he found it even harder to concentrate.
Kyouko hummed softly, a gentle tune filling the quiet space as she prepared their coffee. She moved with ease, completely unselfconscious. This was her home, after all.
She had no idea the effect her appearance was having on someone else in the house.
Once the coffee was ready, she carried both cups to the living room and set them on the coffee table. As she bent forward, her pajama top loosened slightly, the fabric shifting just enough to reveal the deep curve of her cleavage.
Haruki's eyes were drawn to it instantly.
He didn't mean to stare...really, he didn't. But how could he not? It was right there, soft and full, framed perfectly by the silky fabric. Then it hit him.
She wasn't wearing a bra.
His throat went dry.
His fingers hovered above his keyboard, forgotten. The warmth from the laptop suddenly felt insignificant compared to the heat rising through his body.
So plump... so full...
The realization hit him harder than he expected. This was his mother-in-law. But in that moment, the title didn't carry the weight it should have. Right now, she was just an incredibly beautiful woman standing in front of him, completely unaware of the effect she was having.
( End of Chapter )