"Shouko, it's time to get up and eat."
Akira, already dressed and done with breakfast, peeked back into the room. Shouko was still curled up under the covers. Her blanket had been tossed to the side, and her pajamas had shifted during sleep, revealing a bit more than intended.
He sighed, walked over quietly, and gently nudged her.
"Just five more minutes..." Shouko murmured sleepily, swatting his hand away. She hugged her pillow tighter, rolled over, and continued snoozing.
Akira could only pull her pajama hem down gently, tuck her in again, and step out.
Let her sleep a little longer, he thought. I'll wake her up before lunch.
In the living room, Miyamura Shizuka raised an eyebrow when Akira appeared alone.
"Still sleeping?" she asked, eyeing the hallway behind him.
"Yeah... she stayed up a little late, I think." Akira gave an awkward laugh and sat down at the table, pouring himself some tea.
"What?! You two slept together last night?!" Mito Iori shouted from the second floor, just returning from watching TV downstairs.
The shock hit him like a brick. The sting from last night's belt whipping hadn't even healed—and now this? His heart couldn't take it.
He felt darkness rising...
Mito Junko brought her palm down hard on the back of his head.
Iori returned to his seat silently, watching Action Kamen with quiet despair.
Shizuka turned back to Akira with narrowed eyes. "I knew Shouko was faking sleep last night. Your dad even had the nerve to tell me she was out cold already."
"Hey, don't blame me. That was Dad's call. Feel free to go yell at him." Akira held up his hands in mock surrender.
Shizuka wasn't so easily deflected. She gave him a light whack on the head but let the matter drop.
Meanwhile, at the lake nearby, Miyamura Daiki—Akira's father—sneezed loudly while casting his fishing line.
"You catching a cold or something?" joked Mito Take, his fishing partner.
"No, no. Just someone talking about me. Let's focus." Daiki waved it off and went back to fishing.
Back in the inn, Akira was flipping through the TV channels when something suddenly struck him.
"Hey Mom, what were you yelling about in the hallway this morning?"
Junko perked up too, now curious.
Mito Iori stayed focused on his cartoon.
Shizuka hesitated, then glanced toward the hallway. Still cautious, she tiptoed to peek into the guest room—Shouko was still sound asleep.
She returned and sat down next to Akira.
"This is about Shouko, isn't it?" Akira asked.
Shizuka nodded. "Yeah."
She leaned in and lowered her voice. "Do you remember Mr. Nishimiya?"
Akira paused, trying to recall. The name tugged at something faint.
"That man... Shouko's biological father," Shizuka clarified. "The one who ran off after divorcing Yaeko years ago."
Now he remembered. He hadn't seen the guy in years—but the surname had stuck.
Shizuka continued, "Yesterday, after work, Yaeko ran into him waiting outside her office building."
Akira's expression darkened.
"She tried to ignore him, but he kept pestering her. Eventually, she snapped and asked him what he wanted. And you know what he said?"
Akira shook his head.
"He asked to get back together. Remarry."
Akira nearly dropped his teacup. "What?! After all this time?!"
Shizuka nodded grimly. "Apparently, he found out Yaeko's doing well now—good job, stable income, Shouko speaking fluently. Suddenly, he wants back in."
Akira clenched his jaw. "What did she say?"
"She slapped him across the face. Then when he kept pushing, she tasered him."
Akira blinked. "Wait. She carries a taser?"
"Of course she does. This isn't her first encounter with shady men."
Akira stared at her. "Remind me never to make Aunt Yaeko mad."
Shizuka sighed. "After that, she called me to warn us. She's worried he might try to find Shouko next if he can't get through to her."
Akira nodded. "Makes sense. She wants to tell Shouko herself later?"
"Exactly. She didn't want to ruin her mood while we're here. But I wanted to let you know in advance… in case anything happens."
Akira leaned back in his chair, mind racing. He couldn't believe the nerve of that man.
"One more thing," he said. "When we get back, I'm buying Shouko a better taser."
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