Chapter 6: Forbidden Glance ( 6 )

Chapter 6 - Forbidden Glance ( 6 ) Once the food was ready, Kyouko carefully placed the dishes on the table. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. "I hope my cooking is to your liking," she said with a gentle smile as she took a seat across from Haruki. "Thank you, Kyouko-san." Haruki nodded, picking up his chopsticks. Kyouko let out a soft chuckle. "It's rare for me to cook this much." Haruki tilted his head slightly. "Really?" She nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "My husband is always busy with work... He rarely eats at home. So most of the time, I only cook for myself." Her smile remained gentle, but there was a hint of wistfulness 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. It was different from the lonely meals he had grown used to in that cramped apartment. "Haruki, eat more." He blinked as Kyouko reached for a piece of meat and placed it in his bowl with a gentle smile. "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." Haruki found himself stealing glances at Kyouko as he ate. 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. 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 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. After the meal, Haruki helped Kyouko gather the dishes and carry them to the sink. "Ah, Haruki-kun, I can handle the dishes. You should rest," Kyouko said with a gentle smile. Haruki hesitated. It felt wrong to just sit back and let her do everything. "Umm... I'd like to help, Kyouko-san." "No, no." She waved him off, already rolling up her sleeves. "Just leave it to me. I'll take care of it." Before he could insist, she had already stepped past him, turning on the faucet and starting to wash. Still, Haruki lingered. Something about watching her work so effortlessly made it hard 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, continuing to rinse 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, as if they had known each other for much longer. 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, her face, her skin, her figure—nothing about her revealed her age. 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." With 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—he could work anywhere, anytime. Yet, for some reason, he found himself heading back downstairs. Not because of work. But because he didn't want to miss the chance to see Kyouko. Haruki sat in 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 assigned by his boss. 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 entered 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. She moved with practiced ease, her hands gliding over her body as she washed away the day's fatigue. After finishing, she carefully followed her skincare routine—moisturizing her face, smoothing lotion over her arms and legs, and taking extra care with her long, silky hair. The scent of her shampoo lingered in the air, a soft, feminine fragrance that felt both refreshing and calming. By the time she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a fresh towel, she felt rejuvenated. She let out a small sigh, stretching her arms before heading toward her wardrobe to pick out something comfortable for the night. After changing, Kyouko casually walked downstairs, dressed 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. As she reached the living room, she noticed Haruki still sitting there, his laptop open, the screen casting a faint glow on his face. "Haruki?" He looked up from his work, slightly surprised. "Hmm? Yes, Kyouko-san?" She smiled gently. "Need a drink?" "Ah... umm..." He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering toward her before quickly returning to his laptop. "Coffee?" she offered, her voice light and warm. Haruki nodded. "Okay... 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 and 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, not thinking much about her presence—this was her home, after all. Once the coffee was ready, she carried both cups to the living room, placing them on the coffee table. As she bent forward to set them down, 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 in his body. So plump... so full... The realization struck 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, young woman standing in front of him, completely unaware of the effect she was having on him. ( End of Chapter )