Chapter 234: Staying Overnight at Yui Yuigahama's House.
....
This was... awkward.
Yuigahama's father had passed away, and Seito hadn't expected to hit such a sensitive landmine with a single question.
However, stealing a discreet glance at the lady beside him, Seito felt the "spirit of Wei Wu" (Cao Cao's legendary affinity for married women) within him surging to an all-time high.
Adding a Mrs. Yuigahama to the collection... that wouldn't be half bad either, he mused.
They fell into a heavy silence. The topic was simply too delicate, and neither of them knew how to bridge the gap. Before long, they arrived at the doorstep of the Yuigahama residence. Yui lived in an apartment complex identical to Seito's, just one building over, also on the second floor.
"Come on in." Mrs. Yuigahama opened the door and gestured for him to enter.
"Right." Seito nodded, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him.
"Mom, you're home~"
Yui Yuigahama, who had been busy with chores in the living room, looked up. Her face flushed a deep crimson the moment she saw Seito, and she immediately bowed her head, looking away. The Mrs. caught the reaction instantly.
So, Seito really is Yui's boyfriend, she thought. She turned to Seito with a warm smile. "You two chat; I'll go prep dinner. We haven't eaten yet either."
"Understood."
As Mrs. Yuigahama headed to the kitchen, Seito naturally drifted over to Yui's side.
"What are you doing here~?" Yui leaned into him, tiptoeing to whisper in his ear.
"I was out for a walk, ran into your mother, and she invited me over," Seito whispered back. He gave her a wink, then turned to head toward the kitchen. "Mrs. Yuigahama, let me help you with that."
"Oh, you don't have to; you're a guest."
"It's no trouble at all. I can cook, too. Don't be so polite."
Seito stepped into the kitchen and began helping her prep dinner. His helpfulness earned him a few extra points of approval in the mother's eyes. Watching the two of them working in tandem from the doorway, Yui's face burned. She felt a secret surge of happiness—Seito being in her home felt like a dream.
A few minutes later, the meal was ready. The three of them sat around the table, Seito sitting next to Yui, with her mother directly opposite them.
Mrs. Yuigahama scanned the handsome youth and the beautiful girl beside him. Perfect. They look just like a young married couple, she thought, feeling a thrill of delight. She glanced at Seito's silver hair and her excitement grew. She'd always had a soft spot for "white-haired" aesthetics. If they have a child, there's a good chance they'll have white hair too! Her expression toward Seito became even more enthusiastic.
"Yui, why haven't you told me you were dating? If I hadn't run into Seito-kun by chance, I would have been kept in the dark forever!" She gave Yui a mock-scolding glance.
Yui: "???"
Boy... boyfriend?! Yui froze. She glanced at her mother, then back at Seito. Despite the initial shock, a small part of her felt a flutter of happiness—though she still felt the need to clarify.
"M-Mom... Seito-kun and I... we aren't... boyfriend and girlfriend..." Yui stuttered, her voice barely a whisper.
"Oh~~ I see." Mrs. Yuigahama gave Yui a meaningful, knowing look. "I understand. I totally understand."
Yui: Your "understanding" face makes it look like you don't believe a word I'm saying!
Seito stepped in to break the tension. "Mrs. Yuigahama, try the food—see how my cooking turned out."
He pushed the plate of stir-fried meat toward her. She took a bite, savoring the flavor. "Not bad at all. This is delicious."
"I'm glad you like it." Seito smiled.
From there, Seito and Mrs. Yuigahama fell into an easy rhythm of conversation. Yui watched them, her heart racing. If her mother already approved of Seito, did that mean she really could become his girlfriend? She blushed at the thought.
Dinner ended, and Seito insisted on helping with the dishes, which only cemented the mother's growing favor. Checking the time, her eyes glinted with a mischievous, playful spark. "Seito-kun, it's getting quite late. Why don't you just stay the night?"
Yui's eyes widened, and she peeked at Seito with bated breath, her heart hanging on his answer.
"That... might be a bit much, don't you think?" Seito scratched the back of his head. They had only met today, after all—wasn't this moving a bit fast?
"It's fine. We don't have a spare room, but Yui can sleep with me, and you can take her room."
"In that case... alright."
With the mother's approval, Seito agreed. After cleaning up, the two women headed to the master bedroom, leaving Seito to head into Yui's room.
The air was filled with a faint, sweet girl-scent. Seito took in the room, stepped up to the bed, and kicked off his shoes. Shedding his extra layers, he dove under the covers. It was already past nine; sleep was calling.
Next door, the sounds from the master bedroom soon died down.
Midnight.
Click.
The door opened with a soft, crisp sound. Seito stirred in his sleep, his eyelids heavy, struggling to stay open. Suddenly, he felt something shift on the bed beside him. He opened his eyes, only to find a familiar figure sliding in.
"???"
"Yui, did you walk into the wrong room?"
Seito blinked in confusion. Why did this little Dumpling wander into my room in a daze? Hearing his voice, Yui Yuigahama's eyes snapped open in terror.
.....
Thank you for reading.