"Sorry for it being small and old."
"No, don't be sorry, and this place is comfortable and smells nice."
"...pervert."
"Why?!"
As Akiko saw the two, she quickly welcomed Tobe inside, then went to the kitchen as she left him with her daughter, Saki, who had just gone home after she went on a date, or simply an outing with him to the designer exhibition.
"By the way, Kakeru-kun, are you okay with curry?" Akiko asked from the kitchen.
"Yes, thank you, Akiko-san."
"Okay~!"
"..." Saki.
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?" Tobe asked with a doubt.
"...I think it will be weird of me if I don't look at you like this." Saki let out a helpless sigh and asked, "Is my mother really working at the cafe that you have made?"
"Yes."
"...did your family own a cafe?"
Saki knew that her mother got a new job, and she was happy about it, especially when her mother had no need to work from night to morning. While some people might think that it was fine to work like that, when her mother grew even older, it would be harder to maintain such a work, especially when the majority of humans weren't built to wake up at night and sleep in the morning.
Humans aren't nocturnal animals, okay?
So, when her mother could work normally, but with less burden, yet with a higher income, of course, Saki was happy, yet unexpectedly, her mother worked at the cafe that he owned!
How could she not be surprised?!
Also, why did her mother never tell her?
Yet, somehow, she understood why her mother had asked about Tobe in the past.
"..."
Somehow, a thought emerged in her head, but she quickly stopped it, thinking that... it was impossible?
Yes, her mother, Akiko, was beautiful despite her age, and Saki was fortunate enough to inherit that part of her, which made her also beautiful.
Yet, more importantly, Tobe had a girlfriend, young, beautiful, and even came from a wealthy family, so would he even give up his girlfriend for her mother?
She, herself, aside, she felt that the chance for Tobe to give up everything for her mother was small, and even if it happened...
"What's wrong? What are you thinking about?"
"...tell me more about your cafe."
How could Saki tell what she was thinking, so she quickly asked about the question that had been bothering her, wondering how Tobe made money to create a cafe.
"Well... It's like this."
In the end, while Tobe hid many parts, he decided to tell how he bought a cafe from someone. As for where he got the money, he told Saki that he got it from writing a novel.
Yes, he didn't have to tell Saki everything, especially with their current relationship, but then again, even if two people were close, it didn't mean that they should know everything about the one with whom they were close, right?
Still, Akiko, who eavesdropped on the kitchen, sighed in relief since Tobe didn't tell everything, but at the same time, she also wondered what she should do. She knew well that her daughter was in love with Tobe, and she didn't feel surprised since if someone was as excellent as him came close and be kinder to someone like Saki, who lacked a warm, and even accepted who Saki was, it would be natural for her daughter to fall in love with him.
Be kind.
While it was a cliche, wasn't it also the reason why most men fall for women?
When a slightly cute or beautiful woman is slightly kind to us, it is easy for us to fall in love, and frankly, women are the same. After all, it wasn't just a group of men who lacked care, but also many women lacked care. It was just that the women weren't vocal about this problem, as most women would simply endure rather than express their worries.
Or rather, whether it was men or women, when they were hurt by love, the pain was all the same.
Still, while many women were bad, there were also many bad men, right?
Especially those men who had easy access to many women due to their appearance and wealth, for them, having women was as easy as drinking water. As long as they showed their interest, talking for a while, it was like fishing for a fish, those women would be caught by the bait, and fall.
Akiko didn't think that Tobe was bad for her daughter, and she knew well that he would treat her daughter dearly, but could her daughter accept how he was?
After all, she knew that this man was simply something that should be unattainable, like the star in the sky. It was beautiful and shone brightly during the night, yet it was impossible to reach and could only be appreciated from a distance.
Still, if there was a chance that was by their side, and even if there was a chance to be together, Saki had to pay a certain price, and as her mother, Akiko, felt that she needed to remind her, so as the two talked, she stopped cooking and came to the living room to join.
"Saki, can you listen to Mom for a moment?"
"Hmm?"
Saki, who listened to Tobe's successful venture, looked at her mother in doubt before she widened her eyes.
"....."
Yet, Tobe also widened her eyes since, unexpectedly, Akiko kissed his lips.
The lips of a mature woman were soft, gentle, and warm. Their kiss was something that he couldn't describe, and made him seek it more until, somehow, he was awoken when Akiko pulled away.
"...."
The silence permeated, and no one was sure to talk to each other, but Akiko said, "Sorry, but I have a feeling for him too, Saki."
"...." Tobe and Saki.
Saki wasn't the only one, but Tobe was also similar.
Was a mature woman such a creature?
He was at a loss, yet he also understood that, unlike a virgin, Akiko had a married expression, but it didn't mean that she was good at love. Instead, due to her previous failure, he knew well that to do this, it must have taken a lot of courage.
As expected, he could see her body trembling, nervous, yet somehow, she still gazed toward her daughter firmly.
"I am sure that there are many women who fall for him, and he also has a lot of lovers."
"....." Tobe.
"Even if you are with him, you will be just one among many, so even if it's like that, will you say that you love him?"
Hearing those words, Saki didn't hesitate and also kissed his lips, giving her first kiss to him.
"....." Tobe.
"I do. I can't think of anyone except for him."
Saki knew Tobe well, and because of that, she also didn't dream that she could be his only one.
As long as she could be by his side, it was enough. Even if the shape was just to become one among his lovers, she was fine with it, and she had made up her mind, as in her mind, except for him, no one else mattered.
"Saki..." Akiko let out a helpless sigh, then looked at Tobe with a solemn expression. "Please take care of my daughter, okay?"
"I will."
While Tobe was at a loss, he nodded firmly. "And, I will take care of you, too, Akiko."
"...."
Akiko's heart was beating hard, and her face flushed red; somehow, she felt much younger.
Yet, she knew well that even if she thought that way, their age gap was immense, but even so, she had fallen for him.
As they had expressed their feelings, the three decided to be together.