A Love I Shouldn't Feel-Chapter 121: Silent Witness ( )

After washing his face, Kitayama returned to the kitchen, towel slung around his neck.

He grabbed a glass, filled it from the cold jug in the fridge, and took a long drink.

"Hanako?"

"Hmm?" she replied, flipping tamagoyaki slices in the pan.

"I didn’t see Kyouko. Usually she’s already awake and helping you with breakfast."

Hanako didn’t even glance back. "Ah... she’s with her son-in-law. They went jogging."

Kitayama raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? They both went out?"

"She noticed Haruki heading outside while she was finishing her stretches," Hanako explained, voice calm. "She woke up early, as always. Did her usual exercise in the backyard first... then went to jog. Said it’s safer not to run alone."

Kitayama leaned back against the counter, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Ah... that’s right. Our daughter never skipped her exercise routine, huh."

Hanako smiled gently as she plated the omelet. "Ever since high school."

"She always had discipline," he murmured proudly.

"And grace," Hanako added softly.

The two of them fell into a moment of quiet.

Kitayama took another sip of water, eyes still distant in thought.

Then he chuckled lightly.

"Heh~ if only Haruki was my son-in-law..."

Hanako turned her head, a knowing smile blooming on her lips.

She didn’t respond right away. Just looked at him, amused.

"...Dear," she said finally, her voice light.

Kitayama grinned. "What? Can’t an old man admire the boy?"

"He’s a good one," Hanako admitted softly, returning her attention to the pan. "Kind. Polite. Reliable."

"And the only one who pours sake before I even ask," Kitayama added, nodding proudly.

Hanako chuckled.

Kitayama looked up when he heard footsteps approaching the genkan.

He stepped toward the front door, towel still draped over his shoulders.

The door slid open.

Kyouko entered first, light beads of sweat on her forehead, her ponytail swaying as she bent politely.

"Morning, Father."

"Good morning," Kitayama replied, his tone neutral but warm.

Then Haruki stepped in behind her, also slightly flushed, his shirt clinging faintly to his chest from the jog. He bowed deeply.

"Good morning, sir."

Kitayama gave a small grunt of acknowledgment. "Morning. Go wash."

"I will. Thank you, sir."

Haruki slipped off his shoes and walked down the hall toward the guest room.

Kitayama remained standing for a moment, eyes following their backs.

From what he could see.

They didn’t talk much on the way in.

Just quiet.

Calm.

Composed.

Probably just jogging together, he thought.

Still, his eyes lingered briefly on his daughter.

And then...

He turned back toward the kitchen.

Kitayama stepped back into the kitchen, drying his hands on a small towel as he leaned against the counter again.

"Hanako?"

"Hmm?" she replied, still stirring the soup gently.

"...Looks like Kyouko didn’t talk much with her son-in-law, huh?" he said casually.

Hanako glanced up briefly, then returned her focus to the pot. "I don’t know. You know how Kyouko is... she’s shy."

Kitayama grunted. "But her son-in-law is living with them, right? Under the same roof."

"Hmm... that’s true."

He scratched his head, brow furrowing just slightly. "Wonder why they didn’t speak much on the way in. Thought I’d hear at least a joke or two."

Hanako’s smile was faint but wise. "Perhaps she wants to... you know. Avoid any misunderstandings."

Kitayama blinked. "Misunderstandings?"

"You know how people talk too much," she said gently, still calm. "Especially when it comes to pretty women... and handsome men."

Kitayama paused, absorbing that.

Then he gave a small nod.

"...That’s true."

"Now, dear," Hanako said sweetly as she adjusted a plate on the table, "go sit in the living room. Read the news or something."

Kitayama raised an eyebrow and stared at her.

"Hanako..."

"Hmm?" she replied, not looking up as she stirred the miso soup.

"Do you think I’m too old to read the newspaper? Besides, nowadays there’s smartphones, tablets, laptops..."

Hanako chuckled softly, then finally turned to him with a small, knowing smile.

"Yes... but you still order the newspaper. And you still sit there with your reading glasses, squinting at the tiny letters. Then call me to bring you tea~"

Kitayama gave a mock-offended grunt.

"My wife teasing me this early, huh?"

Hanako turned back to the stove, humming lightly. "Hmm~ I only tease people I love."

Kitayama folded his arms and huffed as he turned toward the living room.

Kyouko stepped into the kitchen, wiping her damp hair gently with a towel draped around her neck.

Smack!

A light slap landed on her shoulder.

"Ow... Mother..." Kyouko murmured, blinking at Hanako.

"Don’t touch the food before you dry your hair," Hanako said without turning from the stove.

"I didn’t do anything..." Kyouko replied softly, her voice half-protesting, half-smiling.

Hanako glanced back, narrowing her eyes with mock suspicion.

"Now go wake up your husband."

"Already did," Kyouko said calmly as she hung her towel by the door. "But he’s got a hangover. Said his head hurts and now he can’t even sit up."

Hanako sighed as she plated the grilled fish.

"That man... five cups and he acts like he drank the whole bottle."

Kyouko smiled quietly, then began setting the table without being asked.

"Now, where’s your daughter?" Hanako asked, slicing pickled daikon without glancing up.

Kyouko folded a napkin and placed it gently on the tray. "I don’t know. I haven’t checked on her yet."

"Go check on her," Hanako said, her voice soft but firm.

Kyouko gave a small sigh, drying her hands with the towel. "Alright, alright."

She stepped out of the kitchen and moved down the hallway toward the second guest room—where Haruki and Satomi had slept.

Just as she reached for the sliding door.

She heard it.

A voice.

Satomi’s.

Not loud, but sharp.

Agitated.

"...That’s not the point, Haruki. You should’ve asked."

Kyouko froze, her hand still on the edge of the wooden frame.

Haruki’s voice followed, quieter, trying to soothe her. "I said I’m sorry. I just... I didn’t think it would upset you like this."

"You came inside me without asking! You know I’m not on anything!"

A pause.

More quiet murmurs.

Then Satomi’s voice again—colder.

"It’s always like this. You do what you want, and I have to deal with it."

Kyouko stood still, her breath steady.

No reaction on her face.

No comment.

Just silence.

Then slowly, she stepped back, careful not to make a sound.

Inside her chest, something small and heavy pressed down.

But she said nothing.

She simply turned.

And began walking back toward the kitchen.

( End Of Chapter )