Maki: Ah Qing, come stand in front of me.

“I’m coming to your house for dinner tonight.”

“Is Auntie already cooking?”

“Of course.” Akinae Akatsuki took out her phone and showed her ex-boyfriend the message from her mother.

The Matsudaira family ran a publishing house called Akiba Publishing, and on Fridays, they finished work early. If there was nothing pressing, Akinae’s mother would come over to the Matsudaira house to prepare dinner, and both families would enjoy the meal together. However, since the two kids broke up, to avoid awkward encounters, this tradition had been on hold for nearly half a year.

But now things were better—the children had reconciled. The families’ interactions returned to normal. And to celebrate their reunion, Akinae’s mother had prepared an especially sumptuous feast.

“Can you still eat?” Matsudaira Kiyomizu asked, concern written all over his face.

“Hmph, you’re underestimating me!” Akinae Akatsuki turned to him, her tone brimming with arrogance. “I may have eaten a bit too much at Saizeriya just now, but even if I were served the same amount of food again, I could still finish it all!”

“You ate so much and drank cola too. You’ve already exceeded your calorie intake,” Matsudaira Kiyomizu said in a fatherly tone.

“I know. But the cola was cold, you see. It looked so chilled, it didn’t seem like it would add any heat—so I thought it wouldn’t matter. And bubble tea too, that’s cold as well, so how could the calories be high? It’s really deceiving!”

“…Either way, you’re going to get fat!”

“Drinks don’t count, so I didn’t eat too much! And I’m not getting fat!” Akinae’s protests turned into shrill squawks.

Forget it, he couldn’t bear to watch anymore…

Matsudaira Kiyomizu rolled his eyes at her, then stepped onto the tail end of the rainy season sunlight and pushed open the iron gate of his family’s yard.

Their house covered a considerable area; upon entering, you’d see a garden, facing a three-story Western-style villa. To the right was a row of traditional Japanese rooms: a tea room, kitchen, bath, and a storage room.

The afterglow of the sunset bathed the verdant garden in golden light. On the veranda before the tea room stood a lounge chair.

His mother, now changed into a casual form-fitting home skirt, was lying there enjoying a nap, her shapely legs wrapped in black stockings peeking from beneath the hem.

Her right leg was crossed over her left, one slipper dangling precariously from her toes. She idly played with her slipper while tapping rhythmically on the armrest with her fingertips, humming a sweet tune with her rosy lips.

“No matter how many times we meet again~”

“I still want to see you~”

“Thank you for giving me this feeling…”

After a few lines, Matsudaira Kiyomizu recognized the melody—it was “Best of my Love.”

The summer sun was sinking gently; she raised her slender, alabaster fingers, tapping out the beat in front of her, the picture of someone stealing a moment’s leisure from the bustle of life.

The delicate edges of her features shimmered with a golden hue in the sunset.

She was truly beautiful.

Matsudaira Kiyomizu stepped inside, unable to hide the amazement in his eyes.

It was still a bit warm, and a sheen of sweat glistened on her cheeks.

A few strands of damp black hair clung softly to her exquisite face, temping her innate air of nobility and adding a mellow touch of femininity. In demeanor, she was undoubtedly a woman approaching forty—steady, stern, and composed; yet her features and figure still matched those of a woman in her early thirties, her elegance and bearing at their peak.

Her face was refined and noble, with a hint of cold allure. The imperious temperament of a queen suited her sharp, almond-shaped eyes, which usually radiated an air of authority.

But whenever she was tired, a hazy charm would soften her gaze.

Just like now…

Hearing the door, Matsudaira Maki opened her eyes, yawned, and said, “Back already so soon…”

At this moment, a languid allure lingered about her, one that was utterly captivating.

Matsudaira Kiyomizu often saw this side of his mother. She was strong-willed, the type who liked to have everything in order, a perfectionist who disliked surprises and insisted on controlling every detail, both at home and at work.

It was exhausting, really. When she was too busy and didn’t get enough rest, dark circles would appear under her eyes. At those times, she’d apply her makeup more heavily, concealing her fatigue while her sleepy, almond eyes would seem even more enchanting.

“Are you very tired?” Matsudaira Kiyomizu asked as he walked over.

“No, I just didn’t take a nap, ha~” Matsudaira Maki replied, yawning again, then rubbing her slightly reddened eyes, her entire demeanor transforming into something delicate and inviting, as if she needed someone’s care.

She was a woman of infinite charm, radiant and alluring…

“Akatsuki’s here too,” Matsudaira Maki said, glancing at her son’s childhood sweetheart.

“I should have arrived earlier, but this guy stole the limelight in the kendo club and that held us up,” Akinae Akatsuki said breezily, launching straight into complaints about her ex-boyfriend to his mother. “You wouldn’t believe how much he likes to show off.”

“What did he do?” Maki’s expression showed genuine interest.

Akinae glanced at her ex, who nodded.

“I only found out today that he’s actually pretty good at fighting…” Akinae briefly recounted the events at the kendo club that afternoon.

As she described what had happened, Matsudaira Maki’s eyes sparkled with excitement. When she heard that her son had easily defeated a senior in the kendo club by a score of 3:0, she covered her mouth in astonishment, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at the boy she had carried for ten months.

Matsudaira Kiyomizu tried to keep a straight face, determined to maintain his cool image, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but lift…

Truth be told, no amount of admiration from the thirty-odd members of the kendo club could compare to the thrill of seeing that look of astonishment in his mother’s eyes.

“He had the same look back then—no expression at all. What a show-off,” Akinae said, half exasperated, half amused.

Matsudaira Maki couldn’t help but laugh, her noble face blossoming suddenly into the vivid beauty of a peony in full bloom.

Seeing her son struggle to suppress his smile, her heart brimmed with delight. Though he’d always been clean-cut, handsome, and well-behaved, she’d felt that a young man ought to have a bit more boldness, a sharper edge—otherwise, he wouldn’t be perfectly complete…

Now, at last, when faced with a challenge from the kendo club, her son had responded with strength.

Splendid!

Young people should have some fire in them! Even if it was his own mother he disagreed with, he ought to stand his ground.

Thinking these thoughts, feeling that her son had finally taken a decisive step toward manhood, Matsudaira Maki, her heart full of pride, reached out her hand. “Help your mother up.”

Matsudaira Kiyomizu bent down and offered his hand, helping her rise. Her skin was cool and silky to the touch, as tender as that of a maiden like Akinae.

“Has my mom arrived yet?” Akinae looked around.

“She’s in the kitchen,” Maki replied, reluctantly letting go of her son’s hand.

“I’ll go help out then.” Akinae waved and skipped off toward the kitchen.

“Akatsuki is such a good child…” Maki smiled and walked toward the living room, her son following close behind.

Once home, Maki had changed into a purple skirt. The legs revealed beneath the hem were clad in the very stockings he’d given her—a perfect fit for her shapely calves. It seemed they didn’t just enhance her allure—perhaps they even increased her agility.

“Kiyomizu!”

“What?”

“Come in front; don’t stare at my legs from behind,” Maki teased.

“…”

Matsudaira Kiyomizu was speechless.

“I can’t be bothered with your weirdness. I’m going to help Auntie Akinae…”

“Oh, what’s this? Angry already? Fine, come back and I’ll let you look all you want…”

Bathed in the golden light of sunset, the corridor echoed with laughter—Matsudaira Maki, having successfully teased her son, smiled like a rose blooming in the evening.