Chapter 232: Sunrise in Okinawa ( 232 )

Words : 1143 Updated : Oct 5th, 2025

Chapter 232: Sunrise in Okinawa ( 232 ) Meanwhile, in Okinawa. Inside the Takahashi house. The morning was quiet, sunlight filtering through the shoji paper, casting soft patterns on the tatami floor. Kitayama sat cross-legged, sipping his tea, a newspaper spread open in front of him. "Hanako." "Yes, dear. Your tea~" She entered from the kitchen, gracefully placing a fresh cup beside him. "Hmm." He took a sip without looking up. "Dear?" "Huh?" Hanako sat nearby, folding a towel in her lap. "Did you see how happy Kyouko’s face was when Haruki-kun woke up?" "Mm." Kitayama grunted softly, eyes still on the paper. Hanako smiled. "And now Kyouko’s already divorced..." Kitayama turned the page calmly. "Yeah... She should’ve done that a long time ago." He paused. "And yet she chose to stay with that bastard Satoshi all those years..." Hanako’s voice lowered, her smile gentle but knowing. "Yes." They both knew the kind of man Satoshi was. They both knew the kind of silence Kyouko had lived in. Hanako let out a soft chuckle as she folded another towel neatly on her lap. "...And we all knew all along. About Kyouko and Haruki’s relationship~" "Mm." Kitayama didn’t look up. "Our daughter couldn’t even hide it." "She might’ve hidden it from others. But not us." Kitayama flipped to the next page of the newspaper slowly. "When Satomi asked Kyouko to look after Haruki in Okinawa..." He took a sip of tea. "We didn’t say anything." "Mm." Hanako nodded. "Because we already knew." "Those two," Hanako said, almost fondly, "really don’t have any brains, right dear~?" "Yeah." Kitayama set the paper down beside him. He looked straight ahead, voice flat but firm. "They didn’t even notice they used Kyouko—thinking they were keeping Haruki under control." He glanced at Hanako. "But what they actually did..." "...Was open a door they couldn’t ever close again." Hanako smiled. "They thought Kyouko was just a loyal, quiet wife. Someone old. Someone harmless." She paused, eyes softening with quiet pride. "But Satomi forgot something important." Kitayama nodded. "...That our Kyouko’s still more beautiful than any girl in that house." "Mm." Hanako sipped her tea. "Someone who could easily open someone’s eyes and heart~" "And now~" Hanako smiled slyly, setting down her teacup with a soft clink. Kitayama sighed. "...What?" His eyes didn’t leave the paper, but Hanako caught the subtle shift in his expression. "Didn’t you hear me?" she teased. "Are you not happy, dear?" "Yeah, yeah..." he muttered, brushing at the corner of the page. But his tone had softened. Hanako leaned closer, eyes twinkling with amusement. "We’re going to get a grandchild, you know~" Kitayama gave another small grunt. "...From Haruki and Kyouko." Hanako let out a soft laugh. "Mm~ What a lovely, scandalous family we are." Kitayama just sipped his tea again. "And now..." Hanako lifted her cup again, eyes still warm but glinting with knowing. "We just wait for those two to say the truth in front of us~" "Mm." Kitayama nodded once, quiet as always. There was no rush. No need to press. It would come. Hanako tilted her head slightly. "Do you think Haruki will come to meet us?" Kitayama didn’t hesitate. "I’m sure he will." "After all... knowing Kyouko—there were always men after her." Hanako chuckled softly. "Yes... she never noticed." "But others did." She sipped her tea, voice low but firm. "Good thing we sent our man to keep an eye on her." Kitayama grunted. "Mm." Hanako set the cup down gently. "Our man managed to stop their kidnapping attempt." Kitayama didn’t respond immediately. He just looked ahead, fingers brushing his knee. "They thought we wouldn’t protect her." A pause. "They forgot who she really is." Hanako leaned back slightly, her tone playful. "What do you think they’ve been doing right now, dear~?" Kitayama had just taken a sip of his tea. He choked. He coughed hard, nearly spilling it. Hanako smiled innocently, tilting her head. "Oh my, are you alright?" Kitayama cleared his throat, still coughing. "Don’t ask questions like that." Hanako chuckled softly, eyes full of mischief. "My~ But knowing Kyouko..." She picked up her teacup again, gaze drifting out the window with a quiet, knowing smile. "...She must be enjoying herself." Just then, footsteps came lightly down the stairs. Kenji entered the living room, still stretching his arms with a small yawn. "Morning, Father. Mother." Hanako smiled warmly. Kitayama, without lowering his newspaper, muttered flatly, "Morning? It’s already afternoon." Kenji let out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Eheh... fair enough." He sat down near the edge of the tatami, glancing between the two. "So... what were you both talking about?" Hanako gave her usual gentle smile. "Oh... nothing important. Just about your sister." "Kyouko-neesan?" "Yes~" Kenji raised a brow, then grinned slyly. "Oh... this mean Haruki’s soon going to be my brother-in-law?" Hanako let out a soft laugh. "My, you’re quick." Kitayama set his teacup down with a quiet clink, but didn’t comment. Kenji smirked. "Well, Haruki’s a good man. Calm, polite... and he knows how to hold his drink." Then he leaned back with a playful gleam in his eyes. "But Haruki-kun’s younger than Kyouko. I wonder what her old friends will say when they find out?" He grinned wider. "I mean, she’s what—forty-four? He’s, what, twenty-six?" Hanako waved a hand with a smile. "Mmm... age means nothing when the heart is right." Kitayama gave a grunt. "She looks younger than half the women in their twenties anyway." Kenji nodded. "Yeah... that’s true." Hanako chuckled softly. "Well, your future brother-in-law certainly thinks so." Kenji let out a small laugh. "Heh... I can’t wait for Haruki-kun to visit again." Kitayama nodded once. "Yeah... when he does, we’re going to have another all-night drink." "Yeah!" Kenji grinned. "Let’s call Kazuma and Keiko too—like last time. That night was fun." Kitayama took another sip of tea, then looked toward his son. "...By the way, Kenji." "Yes, Father?" "You already checked our ’farm’?" Kenji straightened up slightly. "Yes. Already done. I also stopped by the main branch yesterday, remember? I just got back last night." "Good." Kitayama’s voice lowered slightly, more serious now. "Kazuma’s been helping us manage everything from the shadows back when Satoshi was still with Kyouko. So that man wouldn’t suspect anything." Kenji nodded. "Yeah... If Satoshi knew Kyouko’s true identity—that she’s part of the Takahashi group—he would’ve treated her differently." "Exactly," Kitayama said. "And Kyouko didn’t want that. She wanted to live quietly. We respected that." Kenji exhaled. "Now that they’re divorced... it’s a good thing. She doesn’t have to hide anymore." "Mm." Kitayama folded his newspaper neatly, setting it aside. "From now on, Kenji... I want you to work directly with Kazuma. Manage the group affairs together. Make sure things stay balanced. Quiet." Kenji nodded, his expression finally serious. "Yes, Father." ( End Of Chapter )

Chapter 232: Sunrise in Okinawa ( 232 )

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