"I love you." The man lay on his side, looking affectionately at the woman lying on the same bed with him.
"I love you too." The woman rested her head on his wrist and responded without hesitation.
Just when the atmosphere reached its peak and the two were about to kiss passionately, the woman suddenly put her hand over her mouth and said with difficulty,
"But I'm married!"
The man did not show any strange expression when he heard it, but gently touched the woman's face. The deep affection in his eyes did not diminish at all.
"It's okay."
The woman looked into his gentle eyes and felt her heart ache. She forced her eyes away, sat up in the bed, covered her face with her hands, and said in a muffled tone,
"But I have a child."
The man also sat up with her and, without hesitation, hugged her from behind. Resting his head on her shoulder, he said in a gentle voice,
"It's okay, I don't mind."
The woman's attitude changed when she heard this. She broke free from his arms and looked at him in disbelief.
"Then why do you love me so much?"
"Because... because..." The man stared at the woman's face, hesitant, until he saw tears welling in her eyes before he made up his mind.
"Because I'm married too!"
Before the woman could recover from her surprise, he hesitated to meet her gaze again, turning his head away and muttering,
"And I have a child too."
"No! I don't believe it! You're lying, aren't you? Didn't you say you've only loved me since we were little?" The woman frantically grasped the man's collar, demanding an answer.
Seeing the man finally close his eyes and nod in response, the woman let go of his collar in frustration. Just as she was about to burst into tears, she heard a knock on the door.
The man and woman both looked toward the door in fear.
But before either could respond, the door opened from the outside, as if the knock had merely been a polite gesture.
"That's enough, you two. Didn't we say we were going out for dinner tonight? For the wish that your son would come in first place in the singing competition tomorrow."
Tsuna opened the master bedroom door and walked in speechlessly, staring at his dramatic mother. He felt that his father had probably been coerced.
"Yeah, yeah, stop playing around, Auntie." Just then, Shouko entered the room, adorably shielding her eyes with her hands, afraid of seeing anything inappropriate for children.
Shizuka waved them off helplessly.
"Got it. Wait in the living room while we change."
It felt a bit of a shame, as the scene had just reached its climax.
As for the awkward social embarrassment of being seen by her son and daughter-in-law, she had no thoughts at all.
"Okay," Tsuna nodded in response, then led Shouko, who was still shielding her eyes, out of the room and closed the door behind her.
"Sister, come on! Smile!" As they reached the entrance to the living room, they heard Yuzuru's voice, accompanied by a camera click.
Ignoring Nishimiya's snapping, they went straight to the coffee table and sat down.
"No, Tsuna-kun is too ugly. He ruins the whole picture," Yuzuru grumbled, glancing at the shot she had just taken.
But before Tsuna could refute, Shouko couldn't help herself. She handed the half-peeled orange in her hand to someone, stood up from the tatami, and walked to Yuzuru's side.
Pulling her soft cheek, she scolded,
"Yuzuru, be polite. You can't say that to Tsuna!"
"Shouko, shouldn't you praise me for being handsome?" Tsuna didn't take what Yuzuru said seriously. After all, it was just a little girl talking nonsense.
And he was very self-aware of his appearance. It could only be said that the genes of the Miyamura family were really strong. His mother was probably also a face-control type—otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen for his nerdy father back then.
"No."
Shouko let go of Yuzuru's cheek and, without a second thought, rejected Tsuna's shameless request. She even walked up to him and snatched the orange he had peeled.
"Then—" Tsuna was about to say something when a voice behind him interrupted:
"Let's go now. Yaeko is still working overtime. Has Shouko asked Grandma if she wants to come?" Shizuka stood at the entrance of the living room and called out to the three people inside, asking doubtfully.
Shouko slowly shook her head, and Shizuka didn't know what to say.
"Let's go. I've already made a reservation at that place, and it's almost time." At this time, Daisuke had also changed his clothes and walked up to Shizuka to urge her.
There was nothing more to say, and the group walked to the entrance to change into their shoes.
In the car, Yuzuru asked Daisuke,
"Why doesn't Uncle Miyamura have to work overtime?"
Daisuke chuckled softly,
"You'll understand when you grow up."
"Oh."
Q
Yuzuru, having received no answer, decided she'd ask her mother tonight.
---
"Tsuna, I'm getting a little nervous about singing in front of so many people tomorrow. What should I do?" In Tsuna's room, Shouko was helping him with his homework when she suddenly thought of tomorrow.
Tsuna, still wearing his anti-myopia glasses, glanced at her and said,
"It's okay. Just think of everyone in the audience as potatoes."
He then returned to the Japanese high school workbook he'd bought at the bookstore.
"Potatoes..."
Shouko began to imagine herself standing on the stage, looking down at a pile of potatoes with eyes and mouths, dressed in all sorts of clothes.
Some of the potatoes were even shouting excitedly offstage. Suddenly, she shuddered.
Quickly gathering her wandering thoughts, she wanted to pat someone's arm. But when she turned to look at his profile—glasses on—she found herself mesmerized again.
Those glasses were bought for him by Aunt Miyamura two weeks ago, supposedly to prevent nearsightedness from reading. She didn't know if it was a scam.
Tsuna believed it, so it must be true. After all, he was so smart...
And he looked completely different with them on. But one thing remained constant: he looked great no matter how you looked at him.
The thing was, he'd only ever worn them for her. Even Aunt Miyamura had only seen him wear them once, when they were bought. That didn't count! Hehe...
"Who knows how many girls Tsuna will charm when he grows up?"
As her mind wandered, she suddenly recalled her mother's jokes and the rather narcissistic person.
He was practically always by her side, and he only initiated conversations with her and Miu—just three people he was familiar with. So why would any other girl like him?
Even Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green, whom I met in sixth grade, have hinted to me that they like Tsuna.
--