Aina Saiten had no idea at this moment that the small promise she had so urgently extracted from Kaoru Hoshitani, driven by the turmoil and unease deep within her heart, would, a hundred days later, quietly tug at the threads of fate with subtle ripples.
While waiting for Kaoru Hoshitani to finish his shower, Aina picked up her phone, the cold light from the screen illuminating her slightly weary face.
Her fingers swiped across the screen until she quickly found the APP that felt like a cancerous presence lurking in the corner of her phone—a simple white alarm clock icon against a yellow background, now seeming full of irony and menace.
Without the slightest hesitation, she long-pressed the icon, watching it tremble before decisively tapping the “Delete” option that appeared, as if to purge both the unpleasant memory and the program from her world completely.
【Whether or not that Yellow-Haired Girl was behind this, I have to believe in Kaoru.】
After venting her emotions on the man’s beautiful body, Aina clearly regained her composure.
After all, if they let a dubious video of unknown origin—most likely fabricated—throw their Home into chaos and break the trust between them, perhaps that was exactly the outcome the Black Hand Behind the Scenes wanted to see.
She couldn’t lose her head.
Still, deep down, Aina sounded an alarm bell for herself, reminding herself to spend more time with Kaoru and not neglect him.
【And I can’t let Kaoru go back to working at Kawasakiya’s Izakaya either. That Yellow-Haired Girl is highly suspicious, and she doesn’t seem like a good person…】
When Kaoru Hoshitani returned, his skin still faintly pink and glowing with the sweet scent of shower gel, dressed in a thin, pale blue silk pajama set.
The delicate pajamas clung to his body, just recently bathed in warm water, making him look especially alluring.
Aina couldn’t help but reach out eagerly, pulling the soft, warm, damp body into her arms.
She felt his gentle, obedient weight in her embrace, the fresh fragrance lingering in his hair tickling her nose.
Hesitating for a moment, she chose her words carefully and voiced her thought:
“Kaoru… let’s not go back to working at Kawasakiya’s Izakaya anymore, okay?”
“Why…?”
Kaoru wriggled free from Aina’s embrace, then sat upright on the bed, looking at his girlfriend with a puzzled and confused expression.
They had already argued several times about whether he should go out to work and help with the household expenses.
In the end, it was always Aina who gave in, so hearing her change her mind now stirred a faint sense of displeasure and grievance in Kaoru’s heart.
Still, he controlled his emotions, hoping to hear a reasonable explanation that could convince him.
“Aina, did something happen? Why are you suddenly stopping me?”
Seeing her evasive expression, unable to offer a solid reason, the light in Kaoru’s eyes dimmed slightly.
The disappointment in his heart spread slowly like ink dropped into clear water.
Kaoru’s desire to work was partly about realizing his self-worth, but more importantly, it was to share some of the pressure in building their shared Home, to lighten the burden on Aina, who worked so hard.
He could roughly understand her worry—it was like protecting something fragile, fearing he might encounter danger outside.
Or, more deeply, as a woman, she might feel unable to fully shoulder the family’s responsibilities, and his working outside might wound her pride and dignity.
But Kaoru did not fully agree with this.
He believed he was already a mature adult, capable and willing to face the outside world.
Moreover, two people about to enter marriage should be partners who support each other and share hardships together, shouldn’t they?
“Aina,”
Kaoru’s voice was gentle but carried a trace of subtle disappointment and inquiry.
“You’re acting a little strange today. From when you suddenly came to the store until now… really nothing happened?”
The two were already deeply connected in body and soul; Kaoru had a certain instinct, clearly sensing that Aina was likely hiding something from him.
“N-no… nothing…”
Aina’s gaze instinctively flickered away, avoiding Kaoru’s earnest eyes.
“Really nothing?”
Kaoru repeated softly, the faint sigh in his voice pricking Aina like a tiny needle.
He didn’t press further, silently lying back down, turning his back to her, curling up in a pose tinged with distance and grievance.
Aina knew he was genuinely upset.
Panicked, she quickly pressed close from behind, wrapping her arms tightly around his slender, soft waist.
Pressing her cheek to his still-damp back, she felt his slight stiffness.
Aina leaned in close to his small, delicate ear, like one carved from white jade, gently blowing warm breath against the sensitive cartilage, speaking in a tone almost like a coquettish whisper:
“Really, nothing, Kaoru. Maybe… maybe I’ve just been too tired from Work lately and overthinking. Please don’t be mad…”
“That tickles… don’t touch me!”
Kaoru twisted his body, letting out a soft whine tinged with obvious petulance, but his tense muscles seemed to relax somewhat.
Hearing that familiar, slightly bratty sound, Aina’s racing heart finally calmed a little.
Emboldened, she slipped one mischievous hand beneath the hem of Kaoru’s silk pajamas, pressing it against the smooth, tender skin of his waist.
“Ah! Don’t mess around…”
Kaoru couldn’t help but let out a soft call, his body shivering sensitively.
Soon, the two began to playfully wrestle on the soft bed, the earlier minor unhappiness seemingly melting away in their intimate interaction.
After a while, cheeks flushed with a charming redness and breath slightly uneven, Kaoru finally gave up sulking.
He nestled his warm face into Aina’s comforting and reassuring chest, rubbing gently.
“Kaoru, I love you.”
Aina held the warm, fragrant treasure in her arms tightly, her chin softly stroking his silky hair.
Feeling the peace and happiness, she whispered with deep affection.
“Mm…”
Kaoru let out a muffled, dependent hum in her embrace, his arms wrapping around her waist.
“I love you too… mmph…”
After a long, lingering goodnight kiss filled with their mingled breath and boundless affection, the two, deeply in love, entwined like two vines clinging to each other, limbs interlocked tightly as they drifted off to sleep…