“Sigh… so it was just me scaring myself. How could something like that be possible? Even if… even if it were true, there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed at all.”
Aina Saiten let out a shaky breath, her tense shoulders instantly sagging as if all her strength had been drained away.
She slumped softly onto the plush Living Room Sofa behind her.
“But… who exactly is it? And why would someone make a video like that?”
Aina furrowed her brows, racking her memory.
She was certain she had never seen that Yellow-haired Woman from the video before, and she couldn’t think of anyone who had not only been inside their Home but had even entered the most Private Bedroom Space shared by her and Akane, reproducing such vivid and precise details.
As she continued to spiral into wild speculation, the phone in her hand suddenly vibrated with a “buzz,” the screen lighting up.
It was a Voice Message from Kaoru Hoshitani:
“Aina, you’re home now, right? Have you eaten the food on the table?”
Kaoru’s distinctive, clear, and flowing voice came through the receiver, laced with the usual warmth and concern.
Hearing that familiar voice and imagining him probably hiding backstage at the Izakaya, secretly sending her a message, a sweet wave stirred in Aina’s heart, and the tension around her lips softened slightly.
She pressed the voice button and tried to keep her tone steady and normal:
“I’m eating now. How about you, Akane? When do you finish Work? I’ll come pick you up then.”
As Aina sent her reply, she got up and returned to the Dining Table.
After her little fuss, the dishes that still held some warmth earlier had now completely cooled, the oil on the surface slightly solidified.
She picked up the cold bowls and carried them to The Kitchen, placing them into the Microwave one by one before pressing the reheat button.
The quiet “whirring” sound echoed through the silent kitchen.
“Ding—”
Another Voice Message arrived.
Aina quickly grabbed her phone and tapped to listen.
“The Izakaya only closes at eleven p.m., you have Work tomorrow, right? Just get some rest early, no need to come pick me up.”
Kaoru’s voice came through again, but the background was noisy, faintly filled with the clinking of cups and indistinct chatter.
“Alright, I have to get back to Work now, can’t chat. Remember to eat well.”
The message ended, but Aina stood frozen, gripping her phone.
Amid the noisy background of the last message, besides the usual indistinct sounds, she thought she clearly heard a somewhat high-pitched female voice calling out—
“…Hoshitani!”
That voice… that voice…
Aina’s pupils suddenly constricted, and her blood seemed to freeze all at once.
For some reason, a chill ran unbidden up her spine and into the back of her head.
That female voice gave her an indescribable, eerie sense of familiarity.
[I’ve definitely heard it somewhere before!]
“Ding!”
At that moment, the Microwave emitted a crisp, pleasant chime, shattering the suffocating stillness in the kitchen.
“Ha… what am I even thinking about…”
Aina rubbed her slightly throbbing temples hard, forcing out a weary, helpless smile that appeared briefly before fading from her lips.
“First, I’ll eat. Fill my stomach, then worry about the rest. I’ll go pick Akane up at ten-thirty.”
She muttered to herself, trying to convince her mind.
As for Kaoru saying she didn’t have to pick him up, how could Aina possibly be at ease letting him walk alone late at night past eleven?
Aina took the reheated dishes out of the Microwave, sat down on the cold dining chair, and mechanically scooped rice into her mouth with chopsticks.
The dishes, which usually tasted delicious, now seemed bland and tasteless.
After the emotional turmoil of the last three or four hours, her stomach felt heavy and full, completely devoid of appetite.
After forcing down a few bites, she put her chopsticks down, leaving more than half the rice untouched.
She stood and began clearing the tableware, the crisp clinks of porcelain and the table echoing sharply in the overly quiet Home.
Usually, Kaoru would have naturally taken care of these chores.
But since he wasn’t home, Aina had no choice but to do it herself.
Though she didn’t feel she shouldn’t be doing housework, deep down she couldn’t help but think that if Akane hadn’t gone out to Work, she could be immersed in that gentle warmth right now…
Carrying those tangled thoughts, Aina trudged heavily into The Bathroom.
She needed hot water to wash away the day’s weariness and the gray shadow clinging to her spirit.
The bathroom lights cast a soft, warm yellow glow against the pale gray tiles.
After her shower, the air still held a faint mist, mixed with a subtle scent of shower gel — the familiar aroma of Cedar and Amber that Kaoru often used.
It was then that Aina noticed the huge Full-Length Mirror in the bathroom, its surface fogged over by the lingering steam, reflecting her blurred, exhausted figure.
She reached out and wiped a clear patch with her palm.
The mirror revealed a face that could hardly hide its fatigue.
Her gaze involuntarily drifted downward from her face, across her neck, to her body.
Almost simultaneously, for reasons unknown, the image of that Yellow-haired Woman from the video—the toned figure clearly accustomed to the gym—suddenly flashed in her mind.
Instinctively, she straightened her back, then slumped her shoulders slightly.
Once upon a time, just after turning eighteen, in the prime of youth, her body had been a source of pride—tight, vibrant, and certainly not inferior to that bold and powerful woman in the video.
But who could stay eighteen forever?
Now, a corporate drone, Aina wasn’t exactly out of shape, but she did have a little more softness around her waist and abdomen, and the lines on her arms were no longer as defined.
Perhaps it was partly because of the good food—meals Kaoru cooked daily that she loved.
But mostly, Aina had been neglecting exercise for quite some time, not for lack of desire, but simply no time.
Besides, if a working adult had time to hit the gym, could they really be called a corporate drone?!
So, Aina felt her physical condition was gradually deteriorating.
Even during her intimate moments with Kaoru, she sometimes found herself slightly out of breath…
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