Page 309
Page 309
"It's nothing, I just feel a bit of back pain, like after finishing my shift at the construction site, I went to deliver milk and then worked the early shift at the convenience store. I'm a bit tired."
I feel completely drained.
Xiangzi found it slightly strange, since she shouldn't have done any heavy labor in the past few days and had no memory of it at all.
Wakaba Mutsu just looked at the girl and blinked.
***
When Hanami arrived at her old apartment, even though she hadn't been gone for long, she already felt a sense of nostalgia.
He gently opened the door with his key, but as soon as he stepped inside, he smelled a familiar scent, and then…
A warm, voluptuous young girl's body was tightly embracing him.
"Welcome back, Yu-kun."
Banami looked at the girl in front of him with some surprise. She was familiar with her... Suze's mother.
He originally thought that he would be met with Su Shi's mother's blame and anger because he had broken his promise to her.
He once said that home is where his mother, Momo, is, but he couldn't live up to that. Instead, he moved into the Toyokawa family home.
Even so, Su Shi still showed him the same smile.
"What's wrong? It's been so long, don't you recognize me?" Su Shi said in a gentle voice.
"I just... thought you wouldn't pay attention to me anymore." Banami said, as if she were a child who had done something wrong.
Su Shi remained somewhat silent, after all, she hadn't paid any attention to Banami when she was at the school gate yesterday.
"You must have had a tough time during this period, fighting against the entire Toyokawa family and protecting Saki, not just Saki, but also Yutenji Wakana and Misumi Hatsune. At the party that day, Misumi was recognized, which should also be thanks to you."
Banai was slightly taken aback, not expecting Su Shi to say this to him.
Then, the girl hugged the boy from behind and said, "You... seem to have grown taller again. This suit, was it custom-made for you by the Toyokawa family? It suits you very well. During this time, Yu, you have worked very, very hard. You have done everything you could, giving it your all."
I... should feel even more sorry for you, how could I scold you for not doing enough?
My son, Xijun, is already very capable.
For some reason, Banami felt that the girl today had an extra touch of allure that belonged to a mature woman.
But it struck the boy's heart hard.
Chapter Twelve: The Incompetent Wife
The head coach once said that Lala is the woman who could become my mother.
Freud once said that everyone has a mother complex.
Actually, rather than being attached to her mother, Banami prefers to describe it as a feeling called acceptance.
Society places very high demands on men, especially when it comes to expressing weakness.
It's almost forbidden, yet only in a mother's arms can a man rightfully express his weariness, fear, and helplessness...
This is a space where I can allow myself to be less strong and where I can feel safe.
For Hanami, Nagasaki Motoyo, and... this apartment, represent such a place.
Therefore, when he saw that Suze did not scold him, but gently said, "My Yu-kun, you are already very capable," Banami knew that he had fallen for her.
Misaki Miku wouldn't say such things to herself because she needs to rely on herself. Even Xiao Xiang wouldn't say such things to her. She would hold her hand and walk with her. However, she doesn't belong to that kind of tolerant role. Banami also rarely expresses her cowardice in front of her.
But... but things are different in the world. Their feelings and trust were built up during their time living together, in those little moments of daily life.
Whether Banami felt pressured during this time was perhaps not even clear to him; he simply carried it all on his own in a habit.
Even until yesterday, seeing that Su Shi was ignoring him, he was still trying to find a solution.
Until... at this moment... his nose felt a little sore.
"Thank you, Suze's mother," Banami said sincerely.
The girl's heart trembled slightly. She knew that her attitude just now was correct. She didn't need another Xiangzi (tsundere), but a place that could accept her.
She couldn't help but smile, and took his hand as they walked into the small room. Sure enough, a hot breakfast had already been prepared inside.
The girl said softly, "I don't know if you've eaten at Toyokawa's house before, but I still prepared your favorite pickled cucumbers."
"I haven't eaten yet. I was so anxious after seeing your text message, Su Shi. I was afraid you would ignore me like yesterday, so I didn't feel like eating breakfast. I'm starving now." Banai knew she was lying, but she didn't hesitate at all.
"It was just yesterday, why did you have to do that kind of broadcast? Humph, anyone who didn't know better would think you were deliberately showing off your love in front of me." Su Shi's tone was slightly complaining, but she still affectionately held Banami's hand.
Banami said somewhat awkwardly, "Oh dear, you have to believe that the possibility of me doing something stupid is definitely greater than the possibility of me doing something bad."
Su Shi nodded slightly, as if it were a matter of course: "That's true."
Then, as if serving her husband who had finally returned home... or rather, as if serving a child, the young woman said, "Alright, since you haven't eaten yet, hurry up and eat something. You still have to go to work at TGW Group later, right?"
Su Shi sat beside him, eagerly adding chopsticks to Banami's bowl.
What the boy saw was just a simple meal of grilled fish, pork stew, and a small portion of pickled cucumbers, but the familiar taste made him very hungry.
He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the soft, sticky white rice, and was immediately moved.
This is no exaggeration. It's like the feeling of finally returning home after working away from home for a year and eating the first meal cooked by your mother.
That's... the taste of home.
Perhaps the chef at the Toyokawa family cooks better food, but the taste of mom's cooking can never be replicated.
"It tastes so good, Su Shi! You have no idea, when Xiao Xiang and I were traveling, things were so unpredictable, and I was always thinking about the refreshing dishes you made."
Even though she had already eaten, Banami still finished a bowl of rice in just a few bites, and then seemed to want more.
Su Shi naturally served him another bowl of rice, and the boy continued to eat it voraciously.
The girl beside him watched with a slightly satisfied smile.
It's as if the two of them used to live here.
"Then, Yu-kun, tell me about what happened after you and Saki left Tokyo, okay?" Su-se's tone became somewhat complicated at this moment.
Banai paused slightly, her fingers slowing down.
It looks the same as before, but ultimately, things are different.
Their identities are no longer the same.
Banami took a deep breath and smiled: "Hmm, where should I begin? Oh... let's start with her wanting to entrust her musical dreams to me."
***
Just as Banami was catching up with Suze, at the apartment door, Toyokawa Shoko, who had followed Banami there, craned her neck, trying to peek inside through the edge of the window.
"Damn it, I never expected that it would be Su Shi who arranged to meet with Banami, and in this place no less."
Yesterday after school, Su Shi said she didn't know Xi, so why did she ask him out today? Oh dear, I'm so anxious!
"They...wouldn't be doing anything bad in there, would they?"
Xiangzi looked restless, his heart filled with worry and anxiety. He was worried that Su Shi would make things difficult for Banaijian, but he was also worried that Su Shi would not make things difficult for Banaijian. In short, he was in a great hurry, ...
However, when Little Cucumber looked at the apartment, she suddenly remembered that Su Shi had cooked for her in this very place before.
Xiao Mu still vividly remembers the taste of that meal.
Is Su Shi cooking for him now?
"There's a key under the flowerpot," Xiao Mu suddenly said to Xiangzi.
Xiangzi was slightly taken aback and looked at Xiao Mu with some surprise, only then remembering that Xiao Mu and Su Shi had a good relationship.
She lifted the flowerpot placed by the door and, sure enough, found a black key underneath.
With this key, we can break in and see what those two are doing inside.
If something strange happens, Xiangzi will breathe on it.
But... but if the two of them didn't do anything, then what if I just barged in...?
Then... Su Shi, who was already angry, probably won't forgive herself anymore.
Even Banami probably wouldn't give him a friendly look.
Waaah... It's so hard to choose.
"SAKI?" Mutsu tilted her head as if slightly puzzled.
After much hesitation, Xiangzi put the key back at the door and said, "Never mind... I think the two of them are just catching up."
When Xiangzi said this, his face was already burning hot. He didn't even dare to look at Xiaomu's expression. He just took her hand and walked to a corner to hide.
"SAKI?" Xiao Mu still didn't understand.
"Although...although the two of them are definitely catching up, it wouldn't be good if they lost track of time and were late. If they haven't come out for too long, I'll have to remind them, hmm!"
Xiangzi earnestly convinced himself.
Ke Xiaomu tilted her head slightly. If it was a reminder, why was she hiding in the corner?
Just a little while later, Little Cucumber seemed to have something to say to her childhood friend: "SAKI..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiangzi shouted, "They're coming out!"
Then, Xiangzi saw Su Shi, who had brought Banami out, personally straightening his tie.
Xiangzi opened his mouth, and his tonsils emitted a silent gasp of terror.
No, no, no, no like that!
In the end, however, she didn't even have the courage to go up and find out what had happened.
An incompetent wife.JPG
Chapter Thirteen: I Will Become Superman
As Nagasaki Motoyo listened to the stories of Banami and Shoko, a maternal smile remained on her face.
Until the very end, when Banami took over as head of the Toyokawa family in order to protect Shoko's musical dreams and to help Hatsune regain her will to live, Suze couldn't help but gently stroke the boy's head.
"As expected, my Xi is very capable, and still so kind..."
The girl showered Banami with compliments as if they were free.
The boy blushed slightly, thinking, "When did I become so good?"
However, enjoying the other person's words and caresses, Banami still felt waves of comfort. Indeed, only here...
But what Su Shi said next made Banami pause in surprise.
"Seeing that you're doing well now, Xi, I feel... relieved. Hey, Xi, the lease for this apartment is about to expire, and I've decided not to renew it."
Even so, the girl's tone remained warm and gentle.
Banami's head was buzzing as she looked at the daffodils on the table, the TV the two of them had brought back from the secondhand market, and the oven they had saved up for a long time to buy.
This is the place where the two of them felt content, even when they were at their most financially strapped.
It is... the real home.
Originally, Banami wanted to buy this place outright, but... once she understood the meaning behind Suze's words, there was no point in buying it.
After all, as Banami said, home is where the real world is.
"You... don't want me anymore?" Banami's voice trembled slightly.
Hearing the boy's brief words, Su Shi's heart was almost broken, but she still gently shook her head and said, "Don't think too much, Xi. It's just... now that you are the head of the Fengchuan family, you can no longer live here, right?"
The final question silenced Banami. From any perspective, the head of the Toyokawa family could not be associated with cheap apartments.
"Besides, it's just that we're not renewing the lease here. We'll still be friends... If you want to eat my cooking, I'll cook for you," Su Shi explained softly.
After a moment of silence, Banami said, "But that's limited to the scope of 'friends,' right?"
Because the boy ran away from home, the girls compromised, and even if one of them dated Hanami, the others could still be friends with Hanami.
Now, it seems that Su Shi is keeping her promise and "reverting" their relationship to that of friends.
This is the reason why Su Shi called the boy out alone today; roughly speaking, it should be considered a farewell dinner.
For the last time, she looked at the boy with an attitude that was both that of a mother and a lover.
Then she would do what Anon-chan did and revert their relationship to just being "friends".
Looking at the girl's peaceful expression, Banami felt as if a piece of his heart had been ripped out. He didn't know how much struggle it took for Suze to make such a decision.
svetikya