After school, it was time to cook with Hikari.
After running and showering, I headed over to her place.
"Souta-kun, welcome."
"Hikari-san. It's been a while."
"What are you talking about? We just met this weekend, fufu."
"It feels like a long time to me."
"I might get the wrong idea if you keep feeding me sweet words, you know."
"Just drink some coffee to wash it down if it's too sweet."
"Fufu."
Today, Hikari wore a simple t-shirt with shorts. Her legs were bare, smooth, glowing faintly under the kitchen light. It was more skin than she usually showed. Normally she dressed modestly, but this felt different. Maybe it was an accident, maybe not, but what mattered was that the distance between us was shrinking.
"By the way, you look pretty today."
"You tell me that every time you see me."
"I have an illness that makes me speak honestly around you."
"I've never heard of anything like that."
She laughed, covering her mouth with her hand. Even in something so casual, she was graceful.
We worked in the kitchen side by side, preparing food while waiting for Kotoha to return.
"Should we watch something with Kotoha after dinner?"
"Sure. Do you have something in mind?"
"Nothing in particular. I just wanted to watch something with Hikari-san."
"Is that so?"
I watched her peel apples. Her hands were long and slender, perfect in form, her nails clean and trimmed. Her left ring finger was bare.
I already knew from my previous life why. She had taken her wedding ring off after her husband passed away. His family asked her to cut all ties, and she gave it back. But in this life, I didn't know. If I asked, would she think of me more? Would she see me differently?
I wanted her to. I wanted her to notice me. To see me not just as a boy she cared for, but as a man.
Hikari's walls were thick. Every advance I made was like a drop of water against glass. Slowly, patiently, the surface would weaken. One day, it would shatter all at once. If Kotoha was soft clay, Hikari was a treasure sealed in glass. And when the barrier broke, I would seize everything.
"Hikari-san."
"What is it?"
"Maybe it's a sensitive topic, but… when did you take your wedding ring off?"
She paused, her fingers brushing her bare ring finger. A sad smile curved her lips. The expression alone twisted something inside me.
"As soon as he passed away, his family asked me to give it back."
She didn't say his name. That silence told me how much it still hurt.
"It must have been painful."
"It was painful back then."
"And now?"
"I'm happy. I have people who care about me. My parents, Kotoha… and even you, Souta-kun."
"Hikari-san. If I didn't have you in my life, I don't know where I would be. After my parents passed away…"
And in my previous life, when I was broken and alone, she had pieced me back together. Twice, she had saved me.
She set the knife down and pulled me into her arms.
Her body was warm, soft in every place it touched mine. The scent of soap and apples clung to her, sweet and familiar. Her breasts pressed against my chest, and for a moment desire stirred inside me, but it was washed away by the comfort of her embrace.
It felt like coming home. Healing, steadying. Whatever hunger I felt drowned in the peace of holding her close.
"I've seen you grow up, Souta-kun. I'll always take care of you. When I think about how your relatives left you behind, it makes me angry."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
"Hikari-san."
"What is it?"
"You know I love you, right?"
"I love you as well."
"Can we stay like this for a little longer?"
"Sure."
Love takes many shapes. Right now it was gentle, maternal, protective. But beneath that softness, I felt the cracks forming in her walls. Sooner or later, that love would bend into something more.
I love you.
It was something I had wanted to say for a long time. I would say it again and again until she grew used to it, until it became natural. And little by little, the meaning would shift. What was once a motherly kind of love would turn into something romantic.
Until we become lovers, until she realizes.
We stayed that way for a long time. I breathed her fragrance, sweet and calming. The softness of her body molded perfectly against mine, her warmth sinking deep, stilling my restless heart.
I was reminded of my previous life. Coming home after long days, weary and broken, only to be pulled into this same embrace. It had been my refuge then, the one place I felt whole.
In Hikari's arms, my soul was at ease. The world grew quiet, and only her warmth remained. I had missed this feeling more than words could say.
Later, the three of us sat around the dinner table. Steam rose from the dishes, filling the room with a warm, homely smell. Hikari had prepared most of the food while I handled the smaller things. Across from me, Kotoha puffed her cheeks as she tapped her chopsticks against her bowl.
"…Mom."
"What is it, Kotoha?"
"You went out with Souta-kun the other day, didn't you?"
Hikari's chopsticks paused, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"Oh my, are you keeping track of his schedule now?"
"Answer me."
"Yes, we went out. Just a little outing."
"It wasn't just an outing. You went on a date, didn't you?"
Hikari chuckled softly, resting her chin on her hand.
"My, my. Are you jealous of your own mother?"
"I'm not jealous!"
"Really? You're pouting like a jealous girlfriend."
"M-Mom!"
Kotoha's face turned bright red, her ponytails bouncing as she shook her head.
Hikari's smile only widened, her eyes shining with amusement.
"Don't worry. I won't steal Souta-kun away from you. You can have him all to yourself."
"M-Mou, that's not what I meant!"
Kotoha shot me a flustered glance, trying to cover her face with one hand.
I tried my best to hold back my laughter. They were both too cute together.
No need to fight ladies, I'll be receiving a double boobjob eventually.