Kyouko’s voice cracked again, her body trembling harder in Hanako’s arms.
"What should I do...?"
Hanako held her tightly, rocking her just slightly, but said nothing.
Kyouko’s voice broke further.
"He’s everything to me..."
Tears streamed down her face.
"He cared for me... every day... when no one else did..."
Her fingers clutched at Hanako’s clothes, shaking.
"He even promised me..."
A sob escaped her throat.
"Promised he’d never leave me..."
Her voice was smaller now.
"Mom... how... how can I live... without him?"
Kyouko whispered, her voice so weak it barely escaped her lips.
Her face buried against Hanako’s shoulder, her fingers clinging like a child desperate not to let go.
"I didn’t want to lose him..."
"We promised each other..."
"Really... love him..."
Hanako exhaled softly.
Just... a quiet, knowing sigh.
At last, her daughter had said it.
The words she had carried alone for so long.
Hanako kept stroking her hair, gently... lovingly.
"Just hold on, dear," she murmured.
Her voice was calm. Soft. Steady.
"Just hold on... and pray he’ll wake up."
Kyouko cried again—silent sobs now.
All secrets laid bare.
Kyouko’s breathing had softened.
Now—she leaned limply against Hanako’s shoulder, her body heavy.
Emotionally... physically drained.
"Kyouko?" Hanako whispered, brushing hair from her daughter’s face.
She gently shook her.
She shook her again, just a bit firmer.
Only soft, steady breathing.
Hanako exhaled quietly.
Her son looked up immediately.
Hanako nodded toward Kyouko’s sleeping form.
"Lift your sister. We’re going to our house."
Kenji moved without hesitation.
He stepped forward, carefully scooping Kyouko into his arms—her head resting gently against his shoulder.
Hanako turned slightly.
Her son-in-law straightened.
"You already prepared our house in Tokyo, right?"
Kazuma gave a firm nod.
"Yes. I’ve already arranged everything."
Then Hanako looked toward her husband.
"Dear?" she said softly to Kitayama.
He gave a small grunt of acknowledgment.
"We’ll go back first. Let our daughter rest."
And without another word, the Takahashi family quietly turned to leave the hospital.
Carrying with them a woman who had finally let her heart break—
And now needed nothing more... than rest.
Meanwhile, at the Harusawa residence.
Where the only sounds that filled the air were flesh meeting flesh.
A steady rhythm of skin slapping against skin.
A long moment passed before Satomi exhaled and collapsed beside him.
Her body still flushed. Skin still tingling.
Beside her, Satoshi lay back casually—one arm behind his head, eyes half-lidded with satisfaction.
Satomi turned toward him.
She pressed her cheek against his chest and wrapped both arms around him, hugging him tightly, her body still warm.
Her lips brushed against his skin.
Instead, he pulled her closer.
Their lips met again—slowly. Intimately.
She nestled into him, breathing softly.
Satoshi rested with his eyes half-closed, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.
Then he glanced down at Satomi, still nestled against him.
"You’re not worried about your husband?"
Satomi gave a soft hum, brushing her fingers lazily across his chest.
"Hmm? Why should I be?"
Her voice was light. Unbothered.
"With him in the hospital, we don’t have to worry about any of this getting found out."
She lifted her head slightly, grinning.
"And besides... I’m sure Mom will look after him."
"Yeah. It’s not like she has anything to do at home, right? If I ask, I’m sure she’ll agree to take care of him for a while."
"Yeah... sounds like her."
Satomi curled in closer again.
"And we’ve already got that long-term contract with Yamashita Corporation, right? So even if Haruki’s out for a bit, it won’t affect us."
Satoshi nodded lazily.
"Exactly. We’re fine."
Satomi’s voice was sweet. Almost playful.
She nuzzled closer, her bare leg sliding over his.
Satoshi gave a low hum in response, eyes closed.
And kissed him softly on the lips.
A slow, intimate press of her mouth against his.
She smiled afterward, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Tomorrow..." she whispered, tracing his chest with her fingertip,
"I’ll ask Mom to help me look after Haruki."
Satoshi didn’t answer. He just listened.
Satomi continued, her voice light.
"We both know Haruki really respects her. He listens to her."
"Maybe she’ll stay by his side for a while."
She laid her head down again on Satoshi’s chest, completely at ease.
As if none of it was wrong.
As if love, betrayal, and blood didn’t all live in the same house.
"I heard Mister Fujiwara wants to arrange another dinner."
Satoshi let out a low breath.
"Yeah... but I don’t know if your mother wants to go anyway."
"Aw~" Satomi pouted softly, still nestled beside him.
"If she doesn’t go, we won’t get any long-term contract from Fujiwara then."
"Kinda," Satoshi replied with a faint smirk.
"But I’m sure we can arrange something, right?"
"Maybe," Satomi murmured, her lips curling into a small smile.
A short silence followed, then Satoshi glanced sideways at her.
"So if your mother asks you to take care of Haruki..."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What are you going to say?"
Satomi shrugged slightly, completely unconcerned.
"Hmm? I’ll just say I’m busy helping out with our company."
"Maybe I’ll drop by to visit for ten minutes or so—say something polite, then leave."
Her voice didn’t change.
Not a flicker of guilt.
"It’s not like Haruki’s in a normal ward right now," she added.
"He’s in the ICU. I can’t even go in or stay with him, right?"
She shifted, curling closer against Satoshi.
Satoshi stretched, letting out a quiet breath as he sank deeper into the mattress.
"Let’s sleep," he murmured.
"Tomorrow’s going to be... busy."
Beside him, Satomi smiled.
She snuggled in close, draping an arm across his chest, skin against skin.
She whispered it sweetly—soft and satisfied.
The room fell silent.
Just two people wrapped in something they should have never touched.
While down the road, in another part of the city—
The woman they betrayed was breaking in silence.
And the man they discarded still lay in the dark.