Several days had passed since the family’s return from Ishigaki Island.
Inside the Kitayama residence, the mood remained light.
Kitayama sat in his usual seat, the newspaper open in his hands. One leg crossed over the other, glasses perched low on his nose.
Hanako entered from the kitchen, carrying a tray with his favorite tea, still steaming slightly.
"Dear~" she said with a soft lilt in her voice.
"Hanako, give drink," Kitayama muttered, eyes still scanning the paper.
"Yes yes..." Hanako replied playfully, setting the tea down in front of him with care.
"Here’s your tea."
Kitayama gave a grunt of thanks, lifting the cup without looking up.
"Where’s Kenji?" he asked after a mont.
"He and Hitomi took Daichi and Riko to town," Hanako replied, settling herself nearby with a small sigh.
"They said they wanted to spend ti together. Family day."
Kitayama nodded once, eyes still on the news.
"Good."
There was a quiet pause.
Hanako glanced at him from the side, then smiled.
"You’ve been in a good mood since we ca back."
Kitayama folded a page and turned it.
"Hmm. That holiday was fun."
"I was surprised you were the one who suggested it," Hanako teased gently.
"I’m not that stubborn."
"You are," she said with a knowing smile.
Kitayama didn’t argue.
"Still," he added after a sip of tea, "it was good seeing everyone together."
"Kyouko too... she looked better. Healthier. More at ease."
Hanako looked at her husband.
"Because she wasn’t alone."
Kitayama said nothing.
But Hanako saw the subtle lift of his brow.
He understood exactly what she ant.
"Dear?" Hanako asked again, her voice soft, smile playing at her lips.
"What?" Kitayama glanced at her over the rim of his glasses.
"Are you sure you want them to keep their relationship like that?"
Her voice was calm, but teasing. Light on the surface—but the aning clear.
Kitayama’s eyes returned to the paper as he muttered,
"You an about Kyouko and Haruki?"
Hanako nodded, still smiling.
"Yes... about them."
"What about them?"
He turned the page, slow and deliberate.
Hanako chuckled softly, used to this old, stubborn man.
"You know... their relationship."
She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.
"You saw them on that trip. You felt it, didn’t you?"
Kitayama finally set the paper down.
He looked out the window, where the garden shimred in the mid-morning light.
"Didn’t you see how happy she is?" he said, voice low.
"That bastard Satoshi treated her like furniture. Never once saw her value. Never once gave her what she deserved."
Hanako didn’t interrupt. She knew.
"All I want," he said again, "is to see her smile. To see her stand tall again. Like she used to... before that marriage drained the life from her."
He reached for his tea.
"And now... for the first ti in years... I see that light in her again."
Hanako nodded quietly.
"Because of him?"
"I don’t care what their titles are."
"If soone treats my daughter right, they’ll always be welco in this house."
Hanako smiled, her heart full.
Hanako tilted her head slightly, watching her husband over the rim of her teacup.
"Do you think... they’ve done it?"
Her voice was mischievous—eyes sparkling with that rare cheeky glint.
She raised her hands with mock innocence—her left forming a small circle, her right index finger sliding in and out, teasingly.
Kitayama didn’t look up right away.
But the corner of his mouth twitched.
"You think a man and a woman living under the sa roof, won’t do anything?"
Hanako giggled behind her hand.
"So you do think—"
Kitayama cut her off casually, reaching for his tea.
"Our daughter is beautiful."
He sipped slowly.
"Even more beautiful than that granddaughter of mine."
Hanako blinked, a little surprised.
"You really think so?"
Kitayama nodded once, firm.
He looked out the window again, voice quieter.
"If Haruki’s the one who finally saw that... then he’s a fool if he let her go untouched."
Hanako raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Hmm... I didn’t know you could be so romantic, dear."
"I’m not," Kitayama grumbled.
"I just know value when I see it."
Hanako leaned over and gently touched his arm.
"And if the world finds out one day?" she asked softly.
Kitayama didn’t hesitate.
"So?" he said bluntly.
"It’s not like they’re blood related."
He set down his cup with a quiet clink.
"If one day they decide what they want..."
His voice lowered—not stern, not forceful. Just honest.
"...then we will support it, right?"
Hanako looked at him—this old, stubborn man who rarely said much, but whose every word today ca from a place deeper than pride.
"Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We will."
Kitayama nodded once, as if to settle the matter.
"For now," he added, "let them decide for each other."
"They’ve already suffered enough, don’t you think?"
Hanako’s gaze softened.
"Yes... they have."
"And...Dear?"
"Hmm?" Kitayama grunted, not looking up from his paper.
"You didn’t tell your real thoughts," Hanako said, her tone lilting with mischief.
"What?"
Hanako didn’t answer. She just stared at him—with that smile that had both challenged and comforted him for over forty years.
Kitayama sighed.
He lowered the paper just enough to peek at her over the edge.
"I really hope... Kyouko listens to her heart."
Hanako’s smile deepened.
"And?"
Kitayama grumbled under his breath.
"Ugh... you keep reading too well."
"Of course I do."
Her eyes softened.
"So? Dear?"
He gave a quiet snort of surrender. Then, without turning, eyes still fixed on the newspaper, he murmured—
"I really hope... Haruki could beco my son-in-law."
Hanako smiled softly.
"I really hope it too, dear."
"Mm." Kitayama grunted, as if that was all he needed to say.
But there was a hint of peace in his tone now. Sothing settled.
Hanako leaned back, thinking for a mont, then chuckled lightly.
"Rember how Keiko asked them to pose for those couple photos?"
Kitayama smirked without looking up.
"Yeah. Even Kenji and Keiko knew."
"Of course they knew," Hanako said calmly.
"After all, Junichi is our private investigator."
That na lingered a mont in the air.
Kitayama folded the paper once more and set it down.
His fingers tapped against the ceramic tea cup.
"So, dear..." Hanako continued gently, "about Satoshi and Satomi?"
A pause.
Kitayama didn’t answer right away. His gaze turned distant, calculating.
Then, firmly:
"We shouldn’t do anything yet."
"We wait."
Hanako nodded.
"Let them reveal themselves first?"
"Exactly." Kitayama’s voice was low, firm.
"The mont they make a move we can’t ignore—then we act."
Hanako exhaled slowly, the weight of quiet strategy comforting her.
"And until then?"
Kitayama looked at her. A rare softness in his old, steady eyes.
"We protect what’s ours.
Especially Kyouko."
Hanako smiled.
"Yes... always."
( End Of Chapter )
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