As Kyouko walked ahead, Haruki's eyes—almost instinctively—drifted lower.
The gentle sway of her hips, the way her fitted skirt hugged her curves... Damn.
His fingers curled slightly at his sides.
It wasn't exaggerated. It wasn't intentional.
But that made it worse.
His throat felt dry as he quickly looked away, forcing himself to focus on something—anything—other than how effortlessly his mother-in-law moved in front of him.
Kyouko had stopped at the base of the stairs, glancing back at him with a small, curious tilt of her head.
"A-Ah, yeah?" he stammered, quickly stepping forward.
She smiled gently. "The room is just upstairs. Come on."
Haruki exhaled slowly, willing his thoughts back into place.
Kyouko stepped aside, gesturing toward the room.
"This is Satomi's old room. You can use it now."
Haruki stepped inside, glancing around. The room was neat and simple, definitely better than their old apartment. His gaze landed on a door to the side.
"Wow... this room even has its own bathroom."
Kyouko nodded with a small smile. "Yes. Satomi used to love having her own space."
She paused for a moment before asking, "By the way, when is the moving company coming?"
Haruki set his bag down by the bed and shook his head. "Ah... I don't think there's much to bring from our old place."
He patted his bag lightly. "My laptop and everything I need for work is in here."
"Oh... I see." Kyouko's voice was soft, almost thoughtful.
Haruki turned to her, offering a polite nod. "Thank you, Kyouko-san."
She smiled warmly. "You're welcome. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask, okay?"
With that, she turned toward the stairs, her movements fluid and effortless.
Haruki's eyes, as if moving on their own, trailed after her.
Her long hair swayed gently with each step.
His gaze drifted lower.
Curves. Perfect curves.
His fingers twitched at his sides.
And then—she was gone, disappearing down the staircase.
Haruki let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
He needed to get a hold of himself.
Haruki set his bags down, stretching his shoulders before scanning the room. His eyes landed on a desk by the window—perfect for work.
He placed his laptop carefully, arranging his work files neatly beside it. Everything in its place. Just how he liked it.
Next, he moved to his suitcase, unzipping it and pulling out his clothes. When he opened the closet, his brows lifted slightly.
"Wow... they already prepared Satomi's clothes here."
Dresses, blouses, and neatly folded sweaters filled the space.
"I guess these are her old clothes..."
Now it made sense why Satomi told him to only bring his personal belongings. She probably planned for the moving company to handle the rest.
He let out a small sigh before closing the closet and moving to the bed. A few quick adjustments to the sheets—done.
Finally, he checked out the bathroom.
The moment he stepped inside, his jaw nearly dropped.
"Damn... this thing is bigger than our old apartment's living room."
A large bathtub, a sleek glass shower, and a modern toilet—everything looked clean and expensive, like a luxury hotel.
He whistled under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
"Living here is gonna be... different."
Haruki grabbed a fresh towel, draping it over his shoulder as he stepped into the shower. The warm water cascaded down his body, washing away the fatigue from the long day. He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his wet hair.
"Alright... fresh start."
After finishing his shower, he wrapped the towel around his waist and stepped out, heading toward the closet. The cool air from the room sent a slight chill over his damp skin.
Kyouko was making her way upstairs.
She hesitated at his door, then lightly knocked before pushing it open.
"Haruki-kun, if you're hungr—"
The words froze in her throat.
Haruki stood half-naked, his toned body still glistening with droplets of water. His broad shoulders, defined chest, and the way his wet hair clung to his forehead—
Kyouko's heart skipped a beat.
"Oh my god... he's... handsome."
A sudden warmth rushed to her cheeks. She swallowed hard, gripping the door handle to prevent further embarrassment.
"Ah... I'm sorry!" Her voice came out higher than she intended. She slowly closed the door—carefully, as if pretending nothing happened.
From the other side, she cleared her throat. "A-Anyway, Haruki-kun... if you're hungry, come downstairs, okay?"
She didn't wait for a response.
She hurriedly made her way down before she could think about what she had just seen.
Haruki didn't think much about what had just happened.
For him, being seen shirtless wasn't a big deal—men didn't usually get shy about things like that. He simply grabbed a clean set of clothes from his bag and dressed without hesitation.
To avoid smelling like shampoo or sweat, he dabbed on a bit of light cologne. He wasn't trying to impress anyone—he just didn't want his mother-in-law to think he was unkempt.
Once he felt presentable, he headed downstairs, following the faint scent of something cooking.
Stepping into the kitchen, he looked around before calling out.
Kyouko, who had been focused on the stove, turned around quickly. "Ah, Haruki-kun! Take a seat—I'm almost done."
Haruki nodded and pulled out a chair. His gaze flickered toward her for a moment.
She was wearing a simple fitted sweater and casual house pants, but even in something so ordinary, she looked effortlessly elegant.
He shook off the thought and leaned back in his chair, watching her move around the kitchen.
There was something oddly peaceful about this.
Haruki leaned back in his chair, arms folded as he watched Kyouko move around the kitchen. The sound of the pan sizzling and the rhythmic tapping of the knife against the cutting board should have felt ordinary. But his eyes couldn't help but linger on her.
She stood by the counter, her back slightly arched as she reached for a bottle of soy sauce from the top shelf. The movement made her sweater tighten around her chest, highlighting the fullness of her breasts. They weren't just big—they were perfectly shaped and firm, the kind that would make any man look twice. Haruki swallowed, his throat suddenly dry.
His gaze trailed lower, following the curve of her waist down to her hips. Wide, smooth, and attractively feminine. The way they flared out from her slim waist was captivating, striking a perfect balance between softness and definition. When she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, the snug fit of her house pants made every movement irresistibly captivating.
Then there was her ass. Round, perky, and undeniably attractive. The thin fabric of her pants hugged every contour. Every time she moved—whether it was reaching for an ingredient, stirring the pan, or even the subtle sway of her hips as she stepped from one side of the kitchen to the other—Haruki felt like he was watching something forbidden. A temptation he shouldn't be thinking about.
She turned slightly, giving him a side view—her breasts pressing gently against the counter as she leaned forward to taste the soup. Her tongue peeked out, licking the spoon lightly before she nodded in satisfaction. Haruki clenched his fists. Even the smallest, most casual gestures felt dangerously alluring coming from her.
He snapped out of his daze, realizing too late that he had been staring for too long. Kyouko looked at him with a small smile, tilting her head.
"Are you okay?" she asked, completely unaware of the effect she was having on him.
Haruki cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Y-Yeah. Just... spacing out."
Kyouko chuckled softly before turning back to the stove, her hips swaying once more as she continued cooking.
Haruki exhaled slowly. This was going to be dangerous.