A Love I Shouldn't Feel-Chapter 102: Under Cover of Darkness ( )

"Whoa, neesan!!" Kenji beamed, lifting his sake cup. "You still got it!"

Keiko, who had just lowered her phone after recording the performance, nodded in awe. "Wow, neesan... seriously, you sound even better than before."

Kyouko gave a modest smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Stop it, you two..."

Kitayama sat back with a proud nod, cheeks flushed with drink but eyes sharp with pride.

"See, Haruki-kun?" he grinned, gesturing toward the piano. "This is my daughter. Your mother-in-law. Don’t tell me..." he leaned in with a mischievous look, "you’re falling for her~?"

The room chuckled.

Haruki just smiled softly, keeping his expression perfectly calm. "She’s... amazing," he said simply.

Hanako reached out and gave her husband a nudge. "Dear, don’t tease the boy like that."

Kitayama just laughed heartily. "Hah! I’m just saying the truth!"

Kyouko glanced at Haruki—just for a second.

"Alright!!" Kitayama roared, raising his cup high. "Now we drink to our heart’s content!!"

"Hanako!! More drink!!"

"Yes, yes~" Hanako replied with a tired smile, already reaching for another bottle of sake.

Laughter echoed across the room as Hitomi leaned in, pouring gently into Kenji’s cup. He nodded in thanks and gave her a grin. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"Kyouko!!" Kitayama bellowed again, pointing with exaggerated authority. "Pour a drink for Haruki!!"

"Yes, Father~" Kyouko replied, her tone soft and obedient.

She moved gracefully to Haruki’s side and knelt. With her kimono flowing around her and her sleeves tucked properly, she poured with practiced elegance—every motion gentle, calm, and polished.

Haruki lifted his cup and let her pour.

"Thank you," he murmured.

Kyouko didn’t look at him.

But her voice, quiet as a breeze, replied:

"You’re welcome... Haruki-kun."

After several hours of drink, the living room had mellowed into a warm haze of laughter, half-finished cups, and quiet singing.

Kitayama, completely drunk now, was swaying as he belted out an old enka tune off-key. "Hana wa saaaaku~ yo~!!" he wailed.

"Alright, alright... that’s enough, dear." Hanako sighed with a half-smile as she gently took his arm. "Let’s get you to bed."

He mumbled something about "real men holding their liquor," but let himself be guided toward their room.

Kenji, meanwhile, had already been dragged off by Hitomi, one arm slung lazily over her shoulder.

Keiko struggled a little with Kazuma, who only smiled silently in his usual calm drunken stupor.

Hanako turned toward Kyouko, now gathering empty cups.

"Kyouko?"

"Yes, Mother?" she answered gently.

"Bring your son-in-law to the guest room. Just like yesterday."

"...Okay, Mother."

She turned to Haruki, who was blinking slowly, clearly tipsy but still composed.

"Haruki-kun," she said with a soft smile, "Let’s go."

Haruki looked at her and nodded, pushing himself to his feet a little too fast. "Mm... mkay~"

She reached out, steadying him with one hand on his arm.

"Easy," she whispered. "I got you."

Haruki sat on the floor of the guest room, swaying just slightly as he leaned back on his hands, eyes glazed with warmth and sake. His gaze never left her.

Kyouko moved quietly, unrolling the two futons and adjusting them with the practiced grace of someone raised in a traditional home. Her sleeves flowed gently with every motion, her hair slightly loose from the long evening.

Haruki’s lips curved into a soft, drunken smile.

Even now—in a plain room, she looked stunning.

Beautiful.

Hot.

That kimono clung just right.

When she was done smoothing the last corner, she turned.

Only to feel herself suddenly pushed gently onto one of the futons.

"Haruki!!" she hissed in a breathy whisper. "My parents are here!!"

But he didn’t answer.

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. His hand slid over her waist, trailing along the fabric of her kimono.

Kyouko’s eyes widened.Her lips answered his.

Softly.

Longingly.

But then, a footstep outside the room.

Her breath caught.

She pushed Haruki firmly, rolling him into the other futon, and quickly adjusted the blanket over him.

Haruki blinked, now on his back, dazed and smiling, lips still tingling.

Kyouko smoothed her hair, straightened her kimono, and quietly lay down on her own futon.

Silent.

Breathing softly.

But her heart was pounding.

Because tonight...

She almost didn’t care about the risk.

"Kyouko?"

She turned slightly at the sound of her mother’s voice just outside the sliding door. "Yes, Mother?"

"Is he already sleeping?"

Kyouko glanced toward Haruki’s futon. His eyes were closed, breathing slow—but she knew better. Still, she answered softly,

"Yes."

"Alright then. I’m going to turn off all the lights. As for the living room, we’ll tidy it up tomorrow."

"Okay... Good night, Mother."

"Good night, dear."

Kyouko listened as the footsteps faded, followed by the quiet click of the last light switch.

The house fell into stillness.

She exhaled slowly, lying on her side, facing the thin space between their futons.

Just as Kyouko began to drift into sleep, the futon rustled beside her.

A shadow leaned over.

"H-Haruki...!" she hissed under her breath, startled. "We’re at my parents’ house!!"

But Haruki didn’t answer.

Instead, he buried his face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent like it grounded him.

She shivered slightly, feeling his breath on her skin.

How...? she wondered silently. How can this young man still want me... after two rounds this morning?

"Haruki..." she whispered again, both flustered and trembling inside.

He leaned in and captured her lips, soft at first, then deeper, more consuming. She clutched the futon beneath her, kissing him back before gently pressing a hand to his chest.

"Don’t... make a sound," she whispered against his lips, barely audible. "And move... slowly... okay?"

"Mm..." Haruki’s response was a warm hum against her ear, full of promise.

Kyouko shifted, turning to lie on her side.

She adjusted the blanket carefully, just in case someone passed by the hallway.

Then she felt it.

His body behind hers.

She closed her eyes, lips parting in a silent breath, and gently reached back, guiding him in the dark.

They didn’t speak.

But their bodies spoke for them.

In silence.

In heat.

And in stolen love.

( End Of Chapter )