The next morning.
Kyouko prepared breakfast as usual, the kitchen filled with the warm aroma of coffee and freshly cooked rice.
Seeing Satoshi heading down in a rush, adjusting his tie.
"Morning, dear."
"Oh... morning." Satoshi said without looking at her, already heading toward the door.
Kyouko noticed Satoshi was rushing and glanced at the clock.
6:58 AM.
It's still too early. Where is he going rushing out like that?
"Dear?"
"What?" Satoshi said, already reaching for his work bag by the door.
"At least eat breakfast first." Kyouko said while bringing the coffee and breakfast to the table, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.
"I don't have time. There's a meeting with a client for a new project."
"Mou! Dear!" Kyouko stomped her foot lightly, her hands on her hips as she pouted. "You promised you were going to listen to what I want to discuss with you today. This is why I wanted to discuss it last night, but you said this morning during breakfast!"
Her cheeks puffed out in frustration, making her look more adorable than angry.
Satoshi exhaled sharply, glancing at his watch. "Fine... I'll listen, but it can't take long." Satoshi headed to the table and sat down heavily while Kyouko glared at him, filling his cup with coffee a bit more forceful.
"Alright, I'm listening. What's the thing you want to ask about?"
"This is about our son!" Kyouko glared at him while taking a seat across from him.
"Again?" Satoshi sighed, already checking his watch. "He's already a grown man, he'll figure it out."
"Dear!!" Kyouko hissed, her hands pressing flat on the table. "I'm serious! Yesterday when we went to the supermarket, a lot of girls were interested in him, but he looked so stiff and uncomfortable, like he didn't know how to talk to them properly. He just froze up and became all formal and distant."
"Do you think asking me can help him?" Satoshi took a quick sip of coffee. "Even if I talk to him, it won't change anything. He's always been like this since high school. You can't force someone to be social if that's not who they are."
"But he's twenty now! He's never had a girlfriend, never been on a date, never even talked about girls in a romantic way. What if he ends up alone?" Kyouko's voice softened with worry. "I want him to experience love, to have someone who makes him happy. You know how important that is in life."
Satoshi exhaled, his tone dismissive. "Some men are just late bloomers. He'll figure it out when he's ready."
"But what if he never gets ready? What if he needs help now?" Kyouko leaned forward, her eyes pleading. "You're his father. You understand how men think about these things. Maybe you could give him some advice, teach him how to approach girls, how to talk to them..."
Satoshi side-glared at her. "I don't have time for that. You know I've been busy with contracts, work, meeting clients. Even this weekend I have to play golf with a client so I can secure a new project."
"Always about work work work! Mou! So you don't care about our only son at all?" Kyouko's voice rose. "Hmmph! Just remember, dear, we're getting older. If he ends up alone, don't expect to get any grandchildren from him. Even if we already have one from Satomi, but Haruki is our only son. Don't you want an heir to carry on your name and business?"
Satoshi grumbled and shook his head. "How about you teach him instead? Talk to him, teach him what he needs to know."
Kyouko's eyes widened. "Me? Teaching him?"
Satoshi's tone was flat, almost bored. "You're a woman. You know what women want. So teach him what you know and stop asking me about this already."
"But dear... I'm his mother! How am I supposed to teach him about dating and romance?"
"I don't care. You're the one who's worried about him and wants to help him, so teach him how to get used to girls. Start with the basics, how to talk to them, how to compliment them, how to ask them out. You can practice with him." Satoshi stood up, grabbing his briefcase. "I'm going now. I don't want to be late."
Kyouko sat there stunned, her hands still flat on the table, processing what her husband had just suggested.
Me... teach Haruki how to interact with girls?
"Dear!" Kyouko stood and rushed toward the front door, seeing Satoshi already wearing his shoes.
"What!? Ugh! I really don't have time for this, Kyouko." Satoshi exhaled and grumbled.
"How am I going to teach him about that?" Kyouko asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.
"I don't know. Just think of something. I'm sure you can come up with that. I don't care how you do it. Now I'm busy. I'm going now." Satoshi said, heading toward his car and starting it, moving away from the house in a rush.
"Mou! Dumb husband! Always comes out early and comes home late."
Kyouko exhaled, pressing the gate button to close it and closing the front door.
She slowly walked back toward the table and sat down, taking a sip of her morning coffee. The house felt quiet and empty again.
How can I teach him?
Satoshi said it's up to me since he doesn't even care.
Kyouko rested her cheek in her palm, elbow on the table. She puckered her lips while her other hand gracefully tapped the coffee cup, lost in thought.
Maybe I should talk to Haruki. Teaching him the basics like how to talk to girls.
But how do I bring this up without embarrassing him? He's already twenty, and I'm his mother. This might feel awkward for him.
Kyouko tapped her chin while her lips puckered in concentration.
I could start with simple things. How to start conversations, how to give genuine compliments, how to ask questions that show interest, what girls like to hear.
Mm... I'll do that. Maybe I should search online how to talk about it, or look for some books about helping shy young men with social skills.
I'll start today. After all, I'm his mother. If I don't help him, who will?
( End Of Chapter )