Miyajima Tsubaki called Hayato out today with a purpose—to find out if the boy who went on a date with her daughter Sakura a few weeks ago was from her brother Miyajima Zongzuo's side.
And Hayato, Miyajima Tsubaki knew that he was a member of the Kendo Club at Baiqiu High School. As a classmate from the same school, Sakura's affairs at school should not be hidden from him. Therefore, Miyajima Tsubaki called him out, intending to inquire about her daughter's secrets.
Yes, the original plan was supposed to be like ↑ this, for which Miyajima Tsubaki also made a series of plans, even dividing them into several major points "1234" and several minor points "abcd."
But afterwards... that is, thinking back now, it seems that from the moment she met Hayato, none of her plans had unfolded smoothly.
"What's wrong?" Hayato asked in a low voice when he saw Miyajima Tsubaki's strange expression.
"Nothing..." Miyajima Tsubaki almost gritted her teeth.
What was even more hateful was that the failure of the "plan" later was not due to the intervention of someone or Hayato.
But because she was having too much fun, she forgot that there was such a thing... Damn it, was it because she hadn't been out for a long time and relaxed too much when she finally had the opportunity?
Miyajima Tsubaki conducted a self-examination.
But time could not be turned back.
Miyajima Tsubaki had already looked at the time on her phone, and it was already evening. At this point, she had to go home and prepare dinner, as she had done for the past ten years.
If she didn't do this, both her father Miyajima Kiichiro and her daughter would become suspicious.
"Then let's go," Hayato said. "To the subway station?"
"… … Yeah."
Hayato nodded.
This time, he didn't plan to return to Shikenjaya, but instead wanted to go to Nanao Akane near Asakusa Temple, so he had to change routes.
Seeing that Hayato still had some time to accompany her, Miyajima Tsubaki pursed her pink lips and frowned, starting to think about how to use this last bit of time to achieve her goal. However, Miyajima Tsubaki had never been a person who was good at quick thinking, and besides, she was more suitable for long-term planning.
A quick way to succeed in a short time... it was really too difficult for her.
Miyajima Tsubaki held back for a long time, her cheeks even becoming a little red, and she couldn't help but hum "Mmm..." without coming up with a solution. Seeing that the subway entrance was near, the two were about to part ways.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Hayato asked.
He could see the abnormality of this Sawamura Miss.
"… … No." Miyajima Tsubaki puffed up her cheeks, and then replied. Her eyes rolled, and she suddenly thought that the young man in front of her had helped her twice and had shown considerable ability. Although she couldn't bear to let him directly participate in the little mess within her family, perhaps she could indirectly inquire about his opinion.
Miyajima Tsubaki pondered for a moment and finally decided to speak:
"Um, I have a question I want to ask you."
"Yeah, Li Gang," Hayato said.
"It's like this." Miyajima Tsubaki cleared her throat: "I have a friend's child..."
"… …"
Hayato was silenced by the first sentence.
Should he ask, "You still have friends who have already had children?" or complain, "Is the friend you're talking about actually yourself?"...?
Miyajima Tsubaki seemed to feel that something was wrong, and she immediately changed her words:
"Actually, it's my mother's friend... My mother told me about this, and I accidentally said my mother's original words."
Seeing Hayato's distrustful eyes, Miyajima Tsubaki quickly emphasized again: "This is not important, the key is what happens afterwards."
"Speak."
"Her daughter is a good child, excellent in character and learning. Not only are her grades often ranked first in the grade, but she also participates well in clubs, and she is very good-looking and popular at school, and is also respected," Miyajima Tsubaki said slowly.
Bad. Hayato thought to himself, how did your mother get to know my mom... Oh, I don't have a mom, so it's okay.
"She didn't have any male friends before, but recently she suddenly started dating..." Miyajima Tsubaki said again.
Hayato was even more shocked.
It sounds like she's talking about him, but he really doesn't have a mother, what's going on?
Another me in this world?
"But my mother's friend always feels that the boy is not very reliable, but she doesn't know how to find out. She originally wanted to ask the child's classmates, but it seems that because the child is too popular, the classmates will help hide it from my mother's friend..." Miyajima Tsubaki continued.
Hayato couldn't tell if it was his imagination, but he always felt like he was being stared at with a rather resentful gaze.
But now the difference was clear.
Akane didn't seem like an "unreliable" person at all… although her grades were truly terrible. That's why Hayato wanted to teach her some new knowledge this time.
"Do you have any way to help your mother's friend?" Miyajima Tsubaki asked, then added, "It's okay if you can't, after all, this is something even adults are troubled by—"
Miyajima Tsubaki's way of asking was like a help-seeking question, similar to "Can you write a letter to your friend Li Hua?" But Hayato quickly gave a perfect answer.
"Find a reason to invite the child's partner to your home for dinner," Hayato said. "As the saying goes, seeing is believing. Once they meet, your friend's mother will have a more concrete feeling, and at least be able to make an initial judgment about what kind of person her child's partner is."
Miyajima Tsubaki tilted her head and thought about it, finding it somewhat reasonable.
"But what would be a suitable reason?" Miyajima Tsubaki asked.
"It doesn't need to be suitable; in fact, the more unsuitable, the better," Hayato answered methodically. "Make it sound like, 'I'm intentionally making things difficult for you' to the other party... This kind of issue, because from the 'inviting them home' step, it's already a test. If the other person's family doesn't dare to come just because of a small difficulty, then it shows that their partner's capacity is only so much, and they are not someone to entrust their life to—that, if I may ask, how old is your mother's friend's child?"
This strategy was mainly aimed at couples who were dating for marriage after graduation. However, listening to Sawamura's tone, it seemed like she was still studying... It could barely be used in university, though.
Miyajima Tsubaki's eyes lit up, seemingly grasping the subtlety of this strategy even more.
Age wasn't the key.
Miyajima Tsubaki thought that this strategy would only yield two results.
1. The boy from Sakura's side will come → Tsubaki can then test his character.
2. The boy from Sakura's side doesn't come → Tsubaki can then persuade Sakura to break off ties with that boy.
It could be said that no matter the result, it was acceptable.
Miyajima Tsubaki felt a sense of sudden enlightenment, like the clouds parting to reveal the sun.
She couldn't believe she hadn't thought of such a simple little plan, and she couldn't help but look at Hayato with admiration. After all, young people's minds were more flexible.
She looked at Hayato...
Looked at Hayato...
At Hayato...
Then the whooshing sound of the subway doors closing echoed in her ears.
Miyajima Tsubaki continued to look at Hayato.
The subway ride home wasn't too crowded, and Miyajima Tsubaki was lucky enough to find a seat.
And Hayato was still sitting beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
Miyajima Tsubaki was still looking at Hayato.
The two were silent.
Miyajima Tsubaki looked at Hayato for a while, finally unable to resist, and spoke with some embarrassment:
"...You won't deliberately see me home..."
Oh no. Miyajima Tsubaki thought, is this young man such a gentleman?
He even made a point of seeing her home… No, this isn't just being a gentleman, it's the level of "having a good impression," isn't it? He couldn't have fallen for her in her JK state, could he!? She didn't expect herself to still be quite charming at her age… Bah, liking everything will only harm yourself, young man.
Miyajima Tsubaki became a little scared, fearing that she would ruin this good young man's future.
...But for some reason, besides fear, there was also a sticky sweetness at the very bottom of her heart.
"I get off at Asakusa Temple," Hayato said.
Miyajima Tsubaki: … …
"It's just on the way," Hayato added.
Miyajima Tsubaki: … …
"Don't overthink it," Hayato also said.
Miyajima Tsubaki: … …
She turned her face away.
"You…" Hayato continued.
Miyajima Tsubaki: Shut up.
Then she was interrupted.
—You disgraceful thing!! What on earth are you thinking?! Miyajima Tsubaki cursed herself inwardly, was she having such a shameful delusion because she was having too much fun?! Tsubaki! You're twenty years older than this young man!! Besides!!
Tsubaki suddenly blinked, besides… perhaps there wouldn't be another chance to meet.
She sought Hayato only for Sakura, and Hayato had already provided the perfect solution this time; she just needed to copy the answer.
Moreover, the person Hayato knew was "Sawamura Airiri," who actually didn't exist in this world at all. The more Miyajima Tsubaki appeared before him, the greater the chance of exposure. The best outcome was for the two of them never to meet again.
It felt, a little sad…
Hahaha, did you think I would think that way? Then you're completely wrong! Miyajima Tsubaki showed a very relieved smile. She was an aunt-level figure who had given birth to a daughter, and whose daughter was even in high school. How could she feel sad about not seeing a high school student again?
She had only met that high school student twice.
Absolutely not!
"Thump,"
Suddenly, Miyajima Tsubaki's shoulder sank, as if something had gently landed on it.
A scent of shampoo wafted into Miyajima Tsubaki's nose.
Miyajima Tsubaki's body stiffened, then she glanced sideways.
It was Hayato's head; his eyes were tightly closed, as if he were napping.
His hand, hanging down, still held his phone, its screen still lit, displaying dense numbers and letters. If Miyajima Tsubaki hadn't misread it, it should have been a math problem.
...It must be said, math problems are indeed a hypnotic tool. Miyajima Tsubaki felt a little sleepy just looking at them.
Then, the phone screen automatically dimmed.
Immediately after.
"Thump, thump, thump,"
It wasn't the young man's head playfully tapping Miyajima Tsubaki's shoulder repeatedly.
It was Tsubaki's heart beating rhythmically and peacefully.
It felt, a little sad.
Miyajima Tsubaki thought to herself.
Then she glanced at the sleeping young man again, a gentle smile curving her lips.
But this is how it should be.
It's better for you, and for me.
Miyajima Tsubaki whispered, as if in a dream, "After we get off this subway, we won't know each other anymore."
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