When he heard this, Hikari's expression didn't change much, but Natsuha's face instantly tensed.
However, the very next words from Shinomiya Yuko made Natsuha immediately relax.
"But… I didn't expect that the moment I saw Hikari-kun today, Auntie's stereotype would be completely shattered," Shinomiya Yuko said with a bright smile, "Whether it's in appearance or in character, Hikari-kun gives people the impression of being an excellent high school student. I heard from Natsuha that your performance in school is also very good, you're often called to the office to be praised by teachers, and you have a great relationship with them. Before, I had a bit of doubt, but now I believe it completely."
"And Hikari-kun, you speak so properly, know when to advance and retreat, overall… there are just too many good points, Auntie can't even list them all."
"Oh, right, the most important thing is that the moment I saw you, Auntie, Mama, knew right away you must be a good person!"
"Mama's very good at judging people, so I hope Hikari-kun can get along well with Natsuha in the future, okay?"
By the end, Shinomiya Yuko even suddenly reached out and grabbed Hikari's hand, then took Natsuha's hand with the other, and pressed the two together.
Hearing Yuko's words, seeing Natsuha's hand beneath his palm, and Yuko's own hand pressing over his, Hikari was a little dazed.
Because those words, which were basically pure praise, and this sudden mother-daughter sandwich moment really caught him off guard.
After a few seconds, he finally sorted out the meaning of Yuko's long speech.
In short, she originally thought Natsuha had found a not-so-great boyfriend who would distract her from her studies and lead her astray.
As a mother, her plan in coming here was to order them to break up.
But after meeting Hikari in person, her opinion instantly flipped, not only did she fully trust him, she even seemed to want their relationship to go further. She was already calling herself "Mama."
And the specific reason… seemed mainly because of his looks?
Although facts had long proven he was lethal to older ladies, could that really work on a future mother-in-law?
He was dating her daughter, after all.
Hikari turned his head, and sure enough, found Yuko smiling brightly, her eyes fixed on his face.
'Aunt Yuko, are you maybe a face-con?'
Though he complained inwardly, Hikari of course didn't say it out loud.
With a handsome, polite smile, he nodded slightly and replied at the right moment, "Thank you, Aunt Yuko, for your approval. I'll treat Natsuha well."
Even though her unexpected attitude made things almost too smooth, his prepared tactics and routines were now useless. This kind of simple, polite promise was still easy for him to say.
Hearing this promise, which actually carried no binding force, Yuko nodded in deep satisfaction.
"Hikari-kun is such a sincere person. Auntie completely believes your words," Yuko said with a squinting smile.
If it were any other time, Natsuha would surely have complained, 'Mom, you've only met him a few times, and you already know he's sincere?'
But right now she wasn't thinking that at all. She only felt happy, her lips lifting into an unstoppable grin.
While she was quietly rejoicing, Yuko suddenly tugged her over, "Natsuha, come here, let me tell you. When you're with Hikari-kun, you have to be obedient and thoughtful."
"If there are any shortcomings, tell Mama. You're not allowed to spend Hikari-kun's money, not even a little. And you're not allowed to throw childish tantrums. You must be considerate, thoughtful, respect and take care of Hikari-kun as if he were your husband, understood?"
Hearing her mother's serious words, Natsuha was a little dazed, but still instinctively nodded, "Mm, I know."
Yuko continued, "Good that you know. But don't let me find out you're treating Hikari-kun badly or bullying him. If I do, you're dead meat!"
Hearing Yuko's stern warning, both Hikari and Natsuha were stunned.
'Wait, isn't Natsuha her daughter?'
'The words of advice themselves aren't wrong.'
'But isn't the target reversed?'
'Isn't this usually what a father says to his son-in-law?'
Almost like she heard their thoughts, Yuko beamed at Hikari, "Nope, not reversed. I'm specifically warning Natsuha-chan. After all, Hikari-kun is such a good, honest boy, I'm completely at ease with him. I can't let Natsuha be thoughtless and make him dislike her."
"Mom!", Natsuha cried out in protest. She finally realized that her mother's favorability toward Hikari was sky-high, her impression of him overwhelmingly good.
Before Hikari officially came to meet Yuko, she had wished her mother would see him more favorably, the higher the better. But now that Yuko was so openly biased in his favor, it left her feeling a little annoyed.
"You see, this child just loves to get jealous. She's been like that since she was small. The moment she sees me treating someone well, she gets jealous, really," Yuko covered her mouth and laughed to Hikari.
"Hehe! Natsuha-chan really does get jealous easily," Hikari played along, chuckled, and raised his teacup for a sip.
He was just about to pour himself another cup, and politely refill Yuko's teacup as the elder, when suddenly a hand snatched the teapot first.
Yuko filled Hikari's cup to the brim, then poured herself some.
"Hikari-kun, regarding Natsuha-chan, there's still a lot I want to chat with you about. But don't worry, it's not that I don't trust you or still doubt you. I just want to share some stories from her childhood, so you two can understand each other better."
"For example, do you want to know what grade Natsuha was in the last time she wet the bed?", Yuko asked brightly.
Hikari's eyes lit up, "Oh? I really do want to know. Please, Aunt Yuko, tell me."
"Well… things like Natsuha's little secrets aren't really good to tell others, but since we're closer now, it's fine. Hikari-kun, can you call me Mom?", Yuko said with a squinty smile.
"Mom!" A voice rang out, but the one calling wasn't Hikari. It was Natsuha, flustered and desperate. She didn't want her mother revealing all her embarrassing stories.
But as a daughter, how could she stop her mother's will?
After Hikari obediently called her "Mom," Yuko happily plopped down next to him, chatting away about all of Natsuha's childhood secrets.
Watching the two sitting even closer than she and Hikari did, Natsuha's face flushed crimson, grinding her teeth in frustration. But she could do nothing, only sulk silently on the side.
They talked for over an hour. Yuko was delighted, Hikari also found it fun, while only Natsuha sat fuming red-faced.
Then Yuko glanced at the clock on the wall, patted her thighs, and stood up, "Without realizing it, we've talked for so long. It's been ages since Auntie had such an engrossing conversation with anyone. Chatting with Hikari-kun is such a joy, it makes me feel younger. I could go on for three days and three nights and still not be done."
"But it's already noon, time for lunch. I'll go cook."
Seeing her mother head to the kitchen, Natsuha's face turned dark.
Having just endured Yuko's overwhelming enthusiasm, Hikari noticed her gloomy expression and teased, "Why the long face? Staring at your mom like that, are you mad at what she said? Or are you actually jealous of her?"
Natsuha quickly shook her head, "No, no, I'm not really mad, and I wouldn't be jealous of my mom. I'm just… properly worried about her cooking."
"Oh?", Hikari raised a brow, "Aunt Yuko should be great at cooking, right?"
From his impression, Yuko looked so gentle, elegant, like the very picture of a perfect wife and mother. Surely skilled at all housework.
But Natsuha shook her head, "No, you're mistaken. Don't be fooled by her looks."
"Aunt Yuko isn't very good at cooking?", Hikari asked, thoughtful.
"Not just not good, completely hopeless!", Natsuha suddenly complained loudly.
Seeing Hikari looking at her with some doubt, Natsuha explained further.
"Although I'm satisfied with my current cup size, most of it is inherited from Mom's genes… but maybe all the additives in snacks also played a role."
Holding her heavy burdens, she said to him, "Because when I was little, Mom's cooking was so terrible I ended up eating tons of supermarket bentos and snacks…"
"I see…", Hikari nodded slightly, as if he understood.
But in his heart, he still wasn't convinced.
Maybe Natsuha's standards for her mother were just too high?
How bad could cooking really be? Even someone who had been cooking for years, how bad could it possibly get?
And from the moment he met her, Yuko gave him such a gentle, careful, housewifely impression. How could such a perfect wife-and-mother type have real problems cooking?
Just as he thought that, suddenly a loud crash came from the kitchen.
Bang!
It sounded like a bomb had gone off.
Natsuha instinctively clung to Hikari.
Reacting quickly, he grabbed her back and together they rushed toward the kitchen where the sound came from.
But before they even stepped into the smoke-filled kitchen, a curvy figure came rushing out through the haze.
Her apron still tied around her neck, her face smudged with soot, the woman was none other than Yuko, who had just volunteered to cook.
Hikari looked up and saw her in a truly sorry state.
Her once-beautiful pale face was now blackened, her signature housewife braid slightly singed at the tips, giving off the smell of something burnt.
Altogether, she looked like a survivor who had just escaped a house fire…
Natsuha didn't say anything, whether from shock or expectation, but Hikari immediately asked in concern, "Aunt Yuko, are you alright?"
Yuko wiped her sooty cheek, leaving her hands black, but still smiled and shook her head, "I'm fine, Hikari-kun, don't worry."
"It was just a small accident. After all, I just got back from traveling, haven't cooked in a while, so I'm a little out of practice. Plus, I'm not used to Natsuha's kitchen. That's why there was a little problem. After I rest a bit, I'll continue cooking for you."
Hearing her flimsy excuse, and seeing that misplaced confidence on her face, Hikari finally believed it. This seemingly perfect wife-and-mother type, Natsuha's mom, really couldn't cook.
He didn't say more, not wanting to discourage her.
Instead, he and Natsuha gently helped the blackened Yuko back to the sofa to rest.
After a sip of tea and a few minutes' break, Yuko suddenly stood up, raising a spatula covered in mysterious black substances, "I'm rested now. Hikari-kun, Natsuha-chan, get your bowls and chopsticks ready for lunch!"
Just then, a hand grabbed her arm. "Aunt Yuko, wait."
She turned to see it was Hikari holding her.
"Eh? Hikari-kun, didn't we agree you'd call me Mom?", she asked in puzzlement.
"Mrs. Shinomiya, that's still a bit early… Besides, that's not the point," Hikari said, exasperated.
"Then what is the point?"
"The point is today's lunch."
"Oh, you're just hungry and eager to eat, right? I understand. Don't worry, Hikari-kun, Mama will get lunch ready for you right away!", Yuko said with fiery determination, rolling up her sleeves, utterly oblivious.
Hikari had no choice but to explain, "No… I mean, Aunt Yuko, you've just traveled to Tokyo, you must be exhausted. Isn't it too tiring to cook yourself?"
"How about… let me make this meal instead."
His expression was so sincere, his face full of care and consideration, not even a hint of disdain for her cooking.
Moved, Yuko suddenly hugged him tightly, "So Hikari-kun was worried about me! Auntie is so touched! Natsuha has disliked my cooking ever since she was little. I can honestly say I've been criticized by her my whole life! Hikari-kun, you're the very first person who doesn't dislike my cooking, it's so moving! I knew someone would see my hidden talent!"
"…It's fine, it's fine…", Hikari didn't bother pointing out how everyone had disliked her cooking, but she still couldn't accept reality. Instead, he gently pried her sooty hands off him while quietly taking the spatula from her.
But Yuko still wouldn't let go, "Thank you, Hikari-kun, but you're technically still a guest. Natsuha and I should be the ones hosting you. And my home isn't far from Tokyo, just a quick train ride, so I'm not tired. Really, let me cook."
She reached for the spatula again.
But at Hikari's signal, Natsuha quickly grabbed her mother and held her down, "Enough, Mom, let Hikari-kun cook. Don't mess things up."
"Hikari-kun's cooking is amazing, on a completely different level from yours. Stop struggling. Honestly, you should just sign up for that show 'Hell's Kitchen'…"
"Eh… Natsuha, you're criticizing Mama's cooking again? I just learned a Chinese dish recently, called 'Nine-Turn Intestines.' I was planning to make it for you today!", Yuko said pitifully.
"Cut it out. What do you mean 'just learned'? Last time I came home, you already made it for me. And you didn't even wash the intestines properly, every bite tasted like shit! 'Nine-Turn Intestines,' my ass…", Natsuha couldn't help but complain.
"Eh… intestines for Nine-Turn Intestines are supposed to be cleaned?", Yuko blinked in confusion.
"You… you didn't wash them at all last time? I'll kill you!", Natsuha finally snapped, tackling her mother.
As Natsuha pounced, Yuko instinctively counterattacked at her daughter's "weak points."
Judging from their practiced moves, it was obvious their relationship was oddly good in its own way.
As the mother and daughter wrestled fiercely on the sofa, three or four large basketballs on the tatami bounced wildly around. Not that anyone else could see this scene.
Hikari glanced over at the commotion but quickly looked away, focusing on cooking seriously.
After their intense scuffle, the two were soon sitting arm-in-arm on the sofa again, peacefully watching TV while waiting for Hikari to finish cooking.
As they watched, Yuko kept glancing toward the kitchen, then whispered into her daughter's ear, "Hey Natsuha, how's Hikari-kun's cooking? I've never seen a boy cook before. It probably won't taste good, right? But I can't hurt his feelings. How should I compliment him without being awkward or fake?"
Seeing her mother's needless worries, Natsuha sighed, "Mom, don't worry. Hikari-kun's cooking is on a whole different dimension compared to yours. What you need to do is simply enjoy it happily and give your most genuine feelings after eating."
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