As Haruki stepped out of the building, he noticed a black sedan parked at the side near the staff lot.
A man in a gray suit stepped out from the driver’s side and approached him with a polite bow.
"Mr. Nakagawa?"
Haruki turned. "Hmm? Yes?"
The man straightened.
"Mr. Yamashita asked to deliver this vehicle to you."
Haruki blinked. "Deliver...? I didn’t request any car. And I never ntioned anything to him."
The man gave a small smile, calm and professional.
"Still, he called directly this morning. Told to hand over the keys. It’s officially a company car. You’re free to use it as you like."
He held out a sleek, black key fob—polished, modern, top-class.
"...I see."
He glanced down at the key fob in his hand.
Then turned his eyes to the car—
A new-generation hybrid coupe, dark blue, tallic sheen under the late morning sun.
Sleek lines. Tinted windows.
Premium tires.
Way above standard company issue.
The delivery staff gave a final bow and turned to rejoin another man waiting in a separate vehicle.
The second car started and quietly pulled away.
Haruki stood for a mont, watching the car in front of him.
He never said anything to Mr. Yamashita about a car.
But... they did visit one of the Yamashita-owned dealerships yesterday.
Haruki let out a soft sigh.
He glanced at the car again, walked over, and opened the driver’s door.
The interior slled like fresh leather.
Haruki slid into the seat, letting the door close with a muted thump.
He rested both hands on the steering wheel—gripping it lightly.
"...Well."
"Let’s just use it."
anwhile, in Haruki’s apartnt...
Kyouko stood in the kitchen, humming softly.
The gentle aroma of simring soy broth and grilled fish filled the space.
Steam curled upward from the pan as she carefully stirred.
Her cheeks still carried a faint flush.
Last night...
She smiled to herself—small, private, radiant.
The mory was still fresh.
The way his body felt against hers...
The way her body trembled under him.
She exhaled softly—then shook her head.
She turned down the heat, gave the pan one final stir, and stepped back.
Then reached into the pocket of her apron and pulled out her phone.
Her fingers moved lightly across the screen.
LINE.
Food will be ready soon.
If you’re on the way ho, be careful.
Love you. xoxo
She stared at the ssage for a second—then smiled again.
It still felt surreal, sotis.
That she could send him ssages like this.
That she could live like this.
No more hiding.
No more guilt.
Just them.
She slipped her phone back into her apron and turned toward the counter.
Lifting plates, prepping for their lunch.
She was still smiling when the phone buzzed again in her apron pocket.
Without glancing at the screen, she lifted it and pressed it to her ear.
"Hello~" she sang lightly, expecting to hear haruki voice.
But the line was quiet for a mont.
"Hello, Kyouko."
The smile vanished from her lips.
Her fingers froze.
That voice.
Not Haruki.
"...Satoshi."
She stood still in the kitchen, her other hand gripping the edge of the counter.
On the other end, Satoshi’s voice ca casually.
"How are you doing?"
Kyouko took a breath, steadying herself.
"...Why are you calling ?"
"No reason," he said lightly. "Just... wondering how you’re holding up."
"There’s nothing to wonder," she said calmly.
"We’re already divorced."
A pause.
Only the faint sound of her simring broth in the background.
"You got what you wanted, Satoshi."
"You don’t need to call anymore."
"I just... missed you, Kyouko," Satoshi’s voice ca again.
"I made mistakes. I’m sorry."
Kyouko’s hand tightened slightly around the phone.
"There’s nothing left to say sorry for," she replied quietly.
"You seem happy now. With our daughter."
"Don’t be like that," he sighed.
"I just... missed your voice."
She let out a soft breath.
"...My voice?"
"After over twenty years of silence, now you suddenly miss my voice?"
"You ignored . You left our marriage to die slowly.
I lived in silence, Satoshi.
While you gave everything to Satomi."
"I just—"
"—And now?" she cut in gently.
"Now you want to talk like nothing happened?"
There was a pause on the other end.
"...Can we go back?" Satoshi asked.
"Try again?"
Kyouko closed her eyes for a mont.
The quiet hum of the stove, the light breeze from the open window...
And the sharp clarity in her chest.
"Sorry, Satoshi."
Her voice was calm.
Unwavering.
"I don’t think we can."
"...Why not?"
"Because i don’t have the feeling anymore."
"Please, Kyouko..."
Satoshi’s voice was low now—strained.
"I’ll stop everything with Satomi. I swear."
She didn’t reply.
"I just need you back... back in my world," he said.
"Rember how we used to be? Before Satomi was born?
We loved each other, didn’t we?"
Kyouko closed her eyes, holding the phone a little tighter.
Her voice was calm, quiet and steady.
"That was a long ti ago, Satoshi."
A pause.
Her other hand slowly turned off the stove’s burner.
"After Satomi was born... you drifted.You let go of us.
You gave everything to her—your ti, your warmth, your attention.
And I held the rest.
I was the one who carried this marriage. Alone."
She exhaled slowly.
"Twenty years, Satoshi."
"I know," he said weakly.
"Please, Kyouko..."
But she shook her head.
"I’m sorry."
Her voice didn’t shake.
"But I don’t have the feeling anymore.
I don’t love you anymore.
And..."
She hesitated only for a second.
"I’m with soone else now."
That silence on the line was different.
"You’re with soone?"
Satoshi’s voice shifted—defensive, suspicious.
"Is this man your father’s choice?"
Kyouko didn’t react.
He continued, "An arrangent? I knew it—soone older? Stable? Soone your family picked because... well—"
"If yes," Kyouko said softly, cutting him off,
"So what?"
Then she calmly ended the call.
The phone screen dimd in her hand.
Kyouko stood in the kitchen, her shoulders still, lips pressed in a thin line.
The warmth from the food on the stove had faded.
So had her smile.
She placed the phone on the counter and turned to open the window, letting in the breeze.
The soft wind stirred the curtain gently.
Kyouko inhaled slowly, eyes half-lidded, then exhaled as if releasing a weight.
She turned back to the stove and closed the lid over the simring pot.
Everything was ready.
When Haruki returned, she would reheat the food, set the table, and serve him herself.
Just like she always loved to do.
She smiled.
Go back to you?
To you, Satoshi?
Maybe...
Maybe if I wasn’t hurt.
Maybe if you hadn’t ignored for two decades.
Maybe if you ever made feel like a woman, a wife, a partner.
But now?
Now I’m happy.
Truly happy.
I was broken—
Until he ca.
That quiet, awkward, kind man.
Haruki.
Who held .
Listened to .
Saw .
Romantic.
Caring.
Protective.
And in bed...
Strong.
Endurance.
Size.
Skill.
Everything I never had before.
Everything I never thought I could feel.
Pleasure I never knew existed.
And now?
Now I’m pregnant with his child.
A life growing inside .
She reached down, resting a gentle hand over her lower stomach.
Going back to you?
Kyouko let out a soft laugh.
What a joke.
( End Of Chapter )
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