Chapter 524: We’ll Talk About That Later!
Chapter 524: We’ll Talk About That Later!
“You cleaned up everything yesterday after my Shizuka threw up? Her clothes, the floor… all of that?”
Mama Shizuka was surprised by the unexpected tidiness of her daughter’s room. Her gaze toward Himekoji softened considerably.
To be honest, being stared at like that made Himekoji feel a bit awkward. He gave an awkward chuckle and nodded.
Then—
“Good!”
Mama Shizuka’s sudden praise made him jump.
Before he could recover, more questions bombarded him:
“Besides cleaning, how are you with other chores? Are you hardworking and helpful around the house? Good at fixing drains? Can you manage window washing, grocery shopping, having babies, changing diapers? All good? Oh! What about cooking? And cooking? Also—do you drink? Smoke?”
Wait! Wait! One question at a time!
The questions were too many, too detailed, too complicated, too random!
And what’s with “having babies” thrown in there?! That’s really impossible!
Himekoji just felt his mind getting fuzzy. He was completely bewildered and deeply uncomfortable. Desperate for an escape, he shot a pleading look toward the Female Teacher.
Not only did she ignore his plea, she secretly pleaded back. Behind her mom’s back, she put her hands together and sent him an urgent, pleading stare—Please help me out!
Seeing his Sensei reduced to that, Himekoji couldn’t harden his heart, so he hardened his courage instead. He smiled politely and answered each question fully and in turn.
Mama Shizuka kept nodding throughout, incredibly satisfied!
Her daughter was perfect in every way, except housework. Finding such a housework-whiz son-in-law? Perfect!
Right age, good looks, and most importantly—no smoking, no drinking! Healthy for babies!
Oh, speaking of drinking…
Mama Shizuka suddenly thought of something.
“Shizuka… after you got so drunk last night… you two… um… that happened?”
Alcohol could affect sperm and egg quality! She only thought about the boy earlier, forgetting her own daughter. What if she got pregnant last night…
“Mom, n-n-no! I told you, it’s all a misunderstanding!”
Hiratsuka Shizuka was both exasperated and wanted to laugh. She’d lost count how many times she’d explained.
Like all the previous times, Mama Shizuka still looked at her with deep disbelief.
“Mom! I was so drunk last night, I didn’t have the energy for anything else! I passed out as soon as I got home, I swear!”
Himekoji quickly nodded beside her earnestly.
He could swear too! They were innocent! Could they finally drop this now?
But Mama Shizuka had no intention of reopening the case. Getting the answer eased her mind, so she continued her interrogation.
“Okay, we’ll leave that for later. Akito, right? Tell me about your family situation. Who’s in your immediate family?”
“I have a high-school sister. And our parents… well… passed away when she and I were very young…”
So much time had passed that talking about this wasn’t extremely painful anymore, but a trace of sadness and gloom inevitably shadowed his expression.
Strangely enough, someone was far sadder than him—Mama Shizuka.
As he finished speaking, Mama Shizuka suddenly sprang up from the couch and threw her arms around him emotionally.
“From now on, I’ll be your mother!”
“……”
This emotional outburst was completely unexpected. Himekoji froze, utterly lost for words.
With a cold, quiet home for years, only his Imouto by his side during holidays—and often not even her—he seldom knew family warmth. A deep longing he probably held suddenly flared, leaving him unable to push her away.
While Himekoji was stunned, Hiratsuka Shizuka was flat-out embarrassed.
He didn’t understand her mom’s outburst, but Hiratsuka Shizuka knew exactly why.
It was too overdramatic!
Maybe thirty percent genuine affection, but seventy percent trying to win him over and celebrating an unexpected advantage for her daughter…
No parents? That meant no problematic in-laws! Her daughter wouldn’t have mother-in-law issues!?
That was Mama Shizuka’s real thought—beyond the fondness and sympathy.
She’d worried endlessly her daughter wouldn’t get along with her in-laws. Problem solved!
“Good! Good! Excellent!”
Mama Shizuka pat Himekoji’s back, praising repeatedly.
Hiratsuka stamped her foot in embarrassment, urgently reminding her—
“Mom!”
What kind of thing was that to say?!
“Ah! I mean… good, good boy! We’re your family now!”
Mama Shizuka realized her slip-up and quickly corrected.
Himekoji didn’t catch the implication, shyly thanking her:
“Thank you, Aunt.”
“Call me Mom!”
“Huh? Ah…”
“See? Too formal!”
Himekoji awkwardly glanced at Hiratsuka. She glared, signaling him to just play along for now. He blushed and obediently complied:
“…Mom.”
“Yes! Yes! Oh, wonderful!”
Watching her mother beam with joy, Hiratsuka felt mortified. Was she really this hard to marry off? Did her mom have to snatch the first guy she saw? Had she no dignity?!
Trying to figure out how to get this unreasonable mom out, she stepped forward and subtly pulled Himekoji out of her embrace. Hugging? Hugging till the end of time? She hadn’t hugged him that long!
“Mom! Ahem! Right… why did you come over today? Why not say anything first?”
“Not tell you? Who says I didn’t? How many calls did I make to your phone last night? You answered any?”
“Huh?”
Hiratsuka instinctively checked her phone. Predictably—over a dozen missed calls. Flushing sheepishly, she hunched her shoulders and mumbled:
“I was drunk… totally pardonable.”
Mama Shizuka ignored her, holding Himekoji’s hand and happily patting it. Her sternness vanished once she claimed this son-in-law. Her smile widened like a true mother:
“Oh, this boy’s such a handsome one! Must be popular with the girls, hm?”
Overwhelmed by her warmth, Himekoji felt nervous. Unused to elder affection, he just smiled stiffly until his face ached:
“N-not really…”
“Good! Loyal! Mom knew she judged right!”
Seizing every chance to compliment him made Himekoji incredibly guilty. He laughed nervously—”Heh heh heh”—nearly laughing into tears.
He thought to himself—
“Boy, she really got the wrong guy! I’m no candidate for a son-in-law, and faithful? Not even close—I’ve got lots of romantic debts to repay. If that old lady heard about my messy history, she wouldn’t be this friendly. She’d tell her daughter to steer clear and guard against me like some wolf…”
Hearing her mom praising like this made Hiratsuka Shizuka feel the corner of her mouth twitch. Unable to hold back, she said,
“Mom, um… it’s getting late, and I still have stuff at school. You see…”
“What stuff?”
Mama Shizuka asked casually, then waved it off before the Female Teacher could answer.
“Whatever it is can wait for later! You need to remember—right now, having a baby is your top priority!”
Wow, “later” sure came fast…
“Mom! What are you talking about!”
A student’s right here! Think about appearances!
“Don’t pretend you’re clueless! Just think about your age! You know your Third Aunt’s family? Stuck with a daughter-in-law too old to have kids—now the whole house is gloomy! That sweet young couple? Now all they do is fight over it! Take a good look at yourself—you’re barely younger than her!”
Bringing this up made Mama Shizuka’s face twist with frustration.
“How could you let yourself stay single all these years? Day and night, I’ve hoped you’d find someone—and finally, here’s one! And what do you do? Already you’ve fallen behind at the start line, yet you won’t even try? Won’t rush to catch up? Listen, girl, time’s almost out at your age—your Third Aunt’s family is proof! If you end up like that, I won’t have you as a daughter!”
By the end, Mama Shizuka wore a deadly serious look—this was no joke.
Hiratsuka Shizuka didn’t dare joke anymore either, but resentment still lingered. She softly protested,
“Mom… it’s not that serious… Lots of women have babies late these days… Besides, this can’t be rushed. Seriously, pushing won’t help.”
“Not urgent? Not urgent?! How is nagging useless?! I’m telling you straight—your dad and I have talked it over! Starting today, this is our family’s top priority! Officially scheduled!”
“You—you talked with Dad already?!”
Shocked by her mom’s iron resolve, Hiratsuka Shizuka gaped in disbelief.
“Just now! On the phone!”
“Huh? But… but you hadn’t even tested him yet?”
She pointed at Himekoji beside them, just as stunned.
Was this some kind of joke?!
Seriously, Mom? A minute ago, you looked like a terrifying judge, ready to grill him!
The setup screamed: “One wrong answer, and he’s done!”
But what actually happened?
You’d already secretly passed him full marks before he took the test? Then breathlessly reported straight to the other judge?!
While Hiratsuka Shizuka was spiraling inside, Mama Shizuka just gave her daughter a calming pat on the shoulder, acting like she had everything under control.
“Jingjing, Mom believes in your judgment.”
So all she could do was force her own look of calm control, wearing a smile that felt frozen on her face.
Bitterly, quietly screaming inside—
Mom, this time you really put your trust in the wrong guy…
First, Himekoji was her student.
Second, the age gap between them was too big to cross.
Lastly—and most importantly—
Himekoji damn well already had a girlfriend!
Jeez, Mom!
…
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