Chapter 190: Daily Life
Yu was amused by her words. "So you're saying this is my fault?"
"Of course it's your fault." Sasuko leaned even closer, perfectly justified. "I've been this forward, and you're still always like this..."
Her voice gradually lowered, carrying a trace of grievance. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm not attractive enough... or if you don't actually like me that much..."
Feeling the unease in the person within his arms, Yu gently stroked her hair soothingly.
"Never, Sasuko."
"Before, I... always felt I hadn't figured out the best way to treat you."
Sasuko looked up, breathing slightly quickened. "And now? Have you figured it out?"
"Mm."
He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Sasuko closed her eyes, feeling his warm touch, her small hands unconsciously clutching his clothes tightly.
When Yu withdrew slightly, her lashes trembled, cheeks flushed.
"Yu..." She called softly, eyes rippling with moisture.
Yu gazed at her with a low laugh. "Is that answer clear enough?"
Sasuko nodded with a red face. Those usually calm black eyes now gazed deeply at her, clearly reflecting her slightly dazed expression.
She gathered her courage and tilted her face up, returning a light kiss on his lips.
"Mm, clear enough." She said quietly, face like peach blossoms.
...
The setting sun's afterglow painted the courtyard a warm orange. Sasuko held a broom carefully sweeping, a sweet smile perpetually playing at the corners of her mouth.
She would pause occasionally, fingertips lightly brushing across her lips before continuing to clean with a flushed face.
That once cool and distant temperament had long since dissipated in recent days. Right now she was just like any ordinary girl immersed in love, even her sweeping movements noticeably more cheerful.
"Why so diligent today?" Mikoto's gentle voice came from the veranda.
Sasuko startled, quickly gripping the broom tighter. "Mom, I just... just wanted to clean up a bit..."
Mikoto observed her daughter's flushed cheeks and bright eyes, pressing her lips in a knowing smile.
Just then sounds came from the entrance, Fugaku's resonant voice ringing out. "Yu's back? Perfect timing—come play a few rounds with me!"
Fugaku had already eagerly set up the shogi board under the eaves, looking at Yu like he'd discovered a rare opponent.
Mikoto shook her head helplessly, but turning her head she saw Sasuko secretly gazing at Yu's profile in a daze, that gaze soft enough to melt fresh snow.
"Seems like something good happened today." Mikoto teased lightly.
How could Sasuko miss the implication in her mother's words? She hastily lowered her head, hand unable to resist touching her cheek.
Is it that obvious?
Mikoto watched her daughter's shy, timid appearance, gentle laughter rising in her eyes, though she sighed inwardly.
Her little daughter had truly grown up.
Unable to bear her mother's gaze, Sasuko flushed and leaned the broom against the wall corner, muttering quietly: "Mom, don't talk nonsense..."
Mikoto laughed while rolling up her sleeves toward the kitchen. "Alright, alright, I won't say more. Sasuko, come help me out? I bought quite a lot of groceries today."
"Don't want to—I just finished cleaning the house, I'm exhausted..." Sasuko complained verbally, but her feet honestly shuffled toward the kitchen following her mother.
In the living room, Fugaku frowned at the shogi board.
He'd just placed a black piece when Yu's white piece neatly blocked his path.
"Tch, this move of yours..." Fugaku stroked his chin. "Completely different style from last time."
Yu lifted his teacup for a sip. "Trying a different approach occasionally."
"Is that so." Fugaku suddenly lowered his voice, glancing toward the kitchen. "That girl's especially happy today. Did you do something?"
Yu's fingers holding the piece paused slightly, lowering his gaze. "Mm... nothing much."
Fugaku stared at the board for a long while before finally returning the piece in his hand to the piece bowl.
He raised his eyes, gaze serious as he looked at the youth sitting across from him.
"Yu."
"Some things perhaps shouldn't come from me... but that girl's feelings, you understand better than anyone."
"She's liked you since childhood, always following behind you."
From the kitchen came the mother and daughter's faint conversation mixed with the crisp sounds of chopping.
Fugaku glanced in that direction before turning back, tone solemn.
"You've always handled things properly—I've never doubted that."
"But as a father, I still want to say this myself."
"I hope you won't make her sad."
He finished speaking and lifted his teacup for a drink.
The situation on the board remained locked, but neither man's attention was on victory or defeat anymore.
Yu returned his piece to the bowl, looking at Fugaku, speaking seriously word by word: "I understand. I'll handle everything properly. I won't make her sad."
Seeing Yu's commitment, Fugaku also withdrew that serious expression.
"Good then."
He reached out to pick up another black piece, gaze falling back to the board, tone becoming more easygoing:
"Your move—I just thought of how to break that earlier play."
Crisp sounds of placing pieces resumed on the board.
As twilight deepened, Mikoto brought the last bowl of miso soup to the table. Under warm yellow lamplight, the four gathered around the dining table, rising steam blurring the night scene beyond the window.
"I specially braised pork today," Mikoto smiled while placing a piece of marbled pork belly in Yu's bowl. "Sasuko said you seem to have lost some weight recently."
Sasuko's hand serving rice paused slightly, ears flushing. "Mom!"
Amusement rose in Yu's eyes as he calmly accepted it. "Thank you."
As always, Mikoto's prepared dinners were exceptionally abundant. The braised pork was stewed to crystalline translucence, the aroma of grilled fish mingling with miso soup's steam permeating the table.
Fugaku hadn't touched alcohol much during meals before, but after retirement he'd developed the habit of light drinking.
He sipped sake contentedly, occasionally pulling Yu to share a cup—after all, with Shisui managing the Uchiha clan so well now, this former clan head could enjoy his leisure.
Mikoto maintained her habit of serving food to the children, constantly adding dishes to Sasuko and Yu's bowls.
Yu always obliged, quietly finishing whatever was served.
Sasuko had a smaller appetite. Seeing dishes piled into a small mountain in her bowl, she'd quietly transfer some she couldn't finish to Yu's bowl.
Yu watched all this with a gentle expression, feeling as though his body wasn't quite so cold, so painful anymore.