Chapter 150: Madame Miyako's Request (Long Chapter)
Akishin had already stepped out of the room, leaving Shizuka behind. She remained sprawled across the bed, her face a deep shade of crimson as she struggled to regain her composure. If one looked closely enough, they could almost see a faint trail of steam rising from the top of her head.
He—he—he... he actually kissed me!!!
Her long, slender white fingers brushed against her forehead. The ghost of that softness still lingered there, making her skin prickle. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, she abruptly yanked the duvet over her head, burying herself deep within the blankets.
Her gaze was hazy and unfocused, as if an entire galaxy were spinning behind her eyes.
"Uuuuhh~~~"
She really couldn't take this anymore. Shizuka, you can't let your mind wander like this. It was just an accident... but he still kissed me!
Shizuka slowly pulled the blanket up until she was completely cocooned, leaving only a few stray strands of her long black hair peeking out. The person who had been lying beside her was gone, but his warmth still radiated from the sheets.
"Ugh~, I'm never drinking that much again. How did we even end up sleeping together? He... he... ah!! Seriously, I have to stop thinking about it..."
Downstairs, Akishin was busy preparing breakfast. He kept casting nervous glances toward the stairs, a flicker of anxiety gnawing at him. He couldn't help but wonder—was Shizuka angry? Was she offended?
He had seen her from such a close distance earlier. He had been trying to explain the situation, but looking at that breathtaking face of hers, he had moved subconsciously... and kissed her.
It was truly an accident. (Serious face.)
Afterward, he had fled the room in a dazed hurry, his mind seared with the image of Shizuka's face turning so red it looked like it might actually start dripping blood.
Don't think about it. Stay calm. Just cook. I'll check the situation later. If things really take a turn for the worse...
Then I'll just have to confess my feelings a few days early!
Though, he couldn't help but feel that would lack a bit of the impact he was aiming for.
His knife slipped, nearly nicking his finger. Akishin quickly shook his head, focusing on his breathing technique to steady his nerves, and returned his full attention to the breakfast.
Half an hour later, fueled by a level of focus ten times more intense than usual, breakfast was served. Wisps of white steam rose gracefully above the table in the activity room. The spread was fresh and elegant, with a steamer basket of Xiaolongbao placed right in the center.
He climbed the stairs slowly and stood before Shizuka's door. Taking a deep breath, Akishin knocked and called out in his usual tone, "Shizuka-chan, it's time to eat."
A man has to face his actions head-on! He was twenty-four, turning twenty-five soon. He couldn't afford to be this much of a coward anymore.
"Okay! Chishima-kun, why don't you come in first? I actually need your help with something."
Shizuka's voice drifted from inside, sounding surprisingly cheerful.
"..."
She wasn't angry? In fact, she sounded even happier than usual. After a moment of hesitation, Akishin pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside—only to freeze in his tracks.
Morning sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a soft glow. Shizuka was sitting at her vanity, dressed in a pure white chiffon dress. The hem was adorned with sheer lace, and the cinched waist perfectly accentuated the graceful curves of her body. The collar sat slightly low, revealing the elegant line of her collarbone. On her feet were a pair of fluffy white bunny slippers—the small, cute ones they had bought when they first met.
It was an allure wrapped in purity, the kind of sight that made one yearn for her while simultaneously wanting to protect her innocence.
Shizuka truly suited dresses. Or rather, she could pull off any style—black, red, mature, pure, enchanting—it all depended on how she put it together. Usually, she wore that white lab coat specifically to tone down her natural charm.
But in front of Akishin, there was no need for that. She still preferred wearing off-white.
To her, white represented freshness, stainless snow, and simplicity. It gave an impression of purity that was both relaxed and pleasant.
She had bought this particular outfit the last time she went out with her mother. Akishin had been there too, acting as a judge of sorts—though his "judgment" mostly consisted of endless compliments.
At the moment, Shizuka was using a cotton towel to pat dry her hip-length black hair, which was still damp from the wash.
She turned toward Akishin and held out a hair dryer. "Chishima-kun, help me dry my hair."
"Ah! With pleasure."
Snapping out of his daze, Akishin took the dryer. He tested the temperature first, then began expertly gathering sections of her hair in his hand to dry them.
"Shizuka-chan, did you take a shower?"
"Yes! I figured I'd wash my hair while I was at it." She certainly wasn't going to tell him that she'd been so embarrassed hiding under the covers that she'd broken into a sweat, forcing her to bathe first thing in the morning.
Shizuka leaned back in her chair, watching Akishin through the mirror as he meticulously tended to her hair. Her large eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she smiled—a far cry from the usual, brisk Hiratsuka-sensei.
"Shizuka-chan, about what happened earlier..."
"Since it was a misunderstanding, let's just let it go. Besides, it's not like we actually did anything. I won't take it to heart, so you shouldn't feel guilty either. We're both adults, after all..."
Cutting him off, Shizuka's face flared up again. She fought hard to keep her mind from wandering back to that kiss. Internally, she felt a mix of bashfulness and sweetness, silently counting down the days until Akishin planned to confess. Just a few more days...
If her hair wasn't being dried right now, she probably would have dove back onto the bed to roll around with her pillow.
Hmph! I'm just giving him more time to prepare.
"...Alright then!"
Akishin felt a sense of relief, though a tiny bit of lingering disappointment tugged at his heart. It felt strange, but seeing the shy look on Shizuka's face in the mirror, a smile tugged at his lips.
Shizuka caught his gaze and gave him a playful, affectionate look through the glass.
On the desk beside the vanity sat more than a dozen thick volumes—books like "Good to Great" and "Winning." Most were related to finance and management, each peppered with bookmarks.
Next to them sat a high-end laptop, several pens, and a diary that was already mostly filled.
This had become Shizuka's routine lately; games and manga were merely the side dishes now. Shizuka had mentioned that Hiratsuka Yuren was planning to have her intern at the company so she could eventually inherit the Hiratsuka Group.
While the order wasn't strictly forced, Shizuka couldn't really refuse. She carried the Hiratsuka name, after all.
Hearing that, Akishin realized that in the future, he truly might be able to live off his partner's support—and a very high-level kind of support at that.
After finishing breakfast, Akishin and Shizuka sat in the activity room, leisurely sipping tea. Since it was Sunday, Chishimaya was closed. Kondo and the others didn't have to come in, and Hachiman could spend the whole day relaxing and playing games at home.
Watching Shizuka, Akishin set down his teacup and offered a smile. "Shizuka-chan, how about we go out today?"
"Where to?"
Shizuka held her cup, glancing at him. The remnants of her earlier feelings hadn't quite faded, making her a bit hesitant to look him directly in the eye.
Akishin pulled out his phone and laid it on the table, showing her several photos. "Let's visit the aquarium. They're holding an event today, and I heard they have penguins."
The screen showed promotional images of the aquarium. The first photo was a group shot of dozens of marine animals—sharks, sea turtles, whale sharks—all set against a backdrop of clear, deep-blue ocean water. Akishin had thought of this yesterday; a little trip or a date during the holiday to clear their heads.
Shizuka took the phone and scrolled through the images before nodding. "That sounds good."
She wanted to go out for a walk anyway. At the very least, she didn't want Chishima-kun to view her as a total shut-in—though she suspected he wouldn't mind even if she were.
Initially, she had just imagined wandering through a mall, hitting the famous streets, and grabbing some snacks. But since Chishima-kun had put thought into this, the aquarium it was.
Come to think of it, had she ever even been to an aquarium?
Might as well go see it. These photos look great~
"Then let's get ready." Akishin stood up to go change.
Just then, the doorbell rang from outside.
Trading a glance with Shizuka, Akishin went to open the shop door, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Standing there was Madame Miyako, dressed in a pale yellow maple-leaf patterned kimono. Her posture was elegant—the very image of a true Yamato Nadeshiko.
Beside her, Mitsuryou Hotaru raised a small hand in greeting. "Uncle Chishima, good morning."
The little girl had her lips puckered today; she didn't look very happy.
"Hotaru, good morning."
After returning the greeting with a smile, Akishin turned to Madame Miyako. "Madame Miyako, is something the matter?"
Even though they were neighbors, aside from exchanging gifts during festivals, Madame Miyako had never taken the initiative to seek him out. There had to be a reason.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Madame Miyako's face. "Chishima-sensei, I wanted to ask if you and Hiratsuka-sensei could look after Hotaru for three days? Would that be alright?"
"Are you going somewhere?"
Akishin looked at Hotaru with surprise. The girl lowered her head, clutching her mother's hand, looking quite sad. Her father had passed away from an illness several years ago, and since then, Madame Miyako had run her clothing shop alone.
Hotaru had previously stayed with her grandparents in the countryside, but now that she was starting kindergarten, her mother had brought her here.
For a single mother and her daughter, a long-distance business trip posed a real problem regarding where the child would stay.
"Yes." Madame Miyako nodded. "I have to go on a business trip to Hokkaido for three days, and I'd like to ask for your help in watching Hotaru during that time."
Her clothing shop didn't just sell regular clothes; her primary income came from Gofuku and Kimono. Specifically, high-end, hand-made kimonos that could cost millions of yen. The peak season for these was undoubtedly around New Year's and the Obon Festival.
With Obon approaching, she needed to stock up on new inventory and, more importantly, collect high-grade fabrics she had ordered long ago. The high-end kimonos sold in her shop were actually made by Madame Miyako herself; in certain high-society circles, she was a very well-known master of the craft.
When she was alone, she didn't have to worry, but now that her daughter was with her, she had to think of what was best for her.
The problem was where to put her...
She had many acquaintances in Chiba, but very few she could truly trust. They were more like customers than friends. She had no reliable relatives nearby either. Leaving her daughter at someone else's house for three days was a big deal. She had discussed this with her daughter just half an hour ago.
Her daughter had asked, "Mama, where are you going to leave me?"
She hadn't been able to answer, going through names in her head one by one. To her surprise, Hotaru had blurted out, "Mama hasn't thought of it yet, right? Then leave Hotaru at Uncle Chishima's place! Uncle Chishima is very nice to me..."
That was it!
There was Chishima-sensei, and Hiratsuka-sensei lived there too. Both were teachers, and both were incredibly kind people.
Since it was summer break, they didn't have to work. When the shop opened in the evening, Hotaru could play on her own, and the people on Konishi Street all knew her anyway.
Having made her decision quickly, Madame Miyako brought Hotaru to see Akishin.
"Madame Miyako, good morning." Shizuka walked out from the back.
Madame Miyako gave a polite bow. "Hiratsuka-sensei, good morning."
The news that a beautiful woman was living at Chishima-sensei's house had long since spread through Konishi Street, and the first person Shizuka had visited after moving in was Madame Miyako.
The two had chatted many times and had become quite good friends.
Shizuka crouched down to Hotaru's level and asked softly, "Does Hotaru want to stay at Auntie's place?" She had overheard the request from inside, which was why she had come out.
Though she had never been a mother, as a life counselor, she had guided many students. Shizuka understood Madame Miyako's anxiety perfectly.
"I do."
Hotaru nodded obediently, but she still gripped her mother's hand tightly, her expression shy. Being so young, she was still scared to be away from her mother.
Once Shizuka appeared, Akishin noticed Madame Miyako's expression soften, perhaps more than she realized.
After considering for a second without asking for further details, Akishin agreed. "Madame Miyako, please leave Hotaru with us for these three days. We will take good care of her." It was just one child, and a very well-behaved one at that. It wasn't a problem.
"Then I apologize for the trouble, Chishima-sensei." Madame Miyako pulled five Fukuzawa Yukichi bills—10,000 yen each—from her small bag and handed them to Akishin. "Please, Chishima-sensei, accept this."
"You're being too polite. We're just having her stay over for a few days..." Akishin waved his hands in refusal.
Madame Miyako shook her head slightly. "That is exactly why you must accept it. This is for Hotaru's food and lodging. I cannot let you watch her for nothing."
"...Alright, I'll accept it."
Seeing her persistence, Akishin took the fifty thousand yen. If he didn't take the money, she likely wouldn't be able to rest easy.
Sure enough, a faint smile appeared on Madame Miyako's face. she bowed to Akishin, then crouched down to speak to her daughter. "Hotaru, you'll be staying at Chishima-sensei's house for the next few days. Don't cause trouble for him or Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Yes, Hotaru knows."
After affectionately stroking her daughter's head, Madame Miyako handed Hotaru over to Shizuka. With one last bow to them both, she headed back to her shop.
Ten minutes later, she emerged in casual clothes, pulling a suitcase behind her, to say a final goodbye.
Akishin mentioned they were taking Hotaru to the aquarium, and Madame Miyako didn't mind. However, her gaze toward Akishin and Shizuka seemed a bit apologetic—she likely felt she had crashed their date.
But he and Shizuka weren't exactly wide-eyed teenagers. Visiting the aquarium was truly about relaxing, and their relationship wasn't so fragile that it would be ruined by Hotaru's presence. In fact, having Hotaru along would probably make it even more fun.
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud. What if she misunderstood?
"Mama, come back soon! Be careful on your trip, don't let bad people trick you, and eat a lot so you don't get hungry..."
Hotaru was echoing the advice her grandparents had given her when she left the village, waving her little hand non-stop as she saw her mother off.
Madame Miyako nearly turned back to scoop her daughter up in a hug, but she managed to get into the taxi before the tears could fall.
As the taxi disappeared from sight, Hotaru finally lost her strength and turned to bury her face against Shizuka's leg, crying quietly.
Shizuka knelt down to comfort her. "Don't cry. Your mama will only be gone for a few days, and she'll be back to pick you up before you know it. How about you sleep with Auntie tonight? Oh, and Auntie and Uncle Chishima are going to the sea aquarium! You're coming too! I'll tell you a secret: they have big sharks there, and dolphins too. Oh, and penguins! Look at this picture, see how cute they are? You can even take a photo with them later..."
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