Chapter 79: Drugged!

[You stayed in your hometown longer than planned, deciding to return on the eighth day after the New Year.]

[Your father had a case to handle, and your mother and sister saw you off at the station. The snow that fell on the second day of the New Year had not yet melted completely; it had been swept into dirty piles of ice in the corners by the cleaning staff.]

[At the ticket gate, you and Ibuki Yuko waved goodbye to them and boarded the train back to Misaki.]

[Honoka told her daughter that she would return in three days. You thought returning three days early was a very prudent decision, but you didn't expect Ibuki Honoka to come back earlier than anticipated.]

[Upon arriving at the apartment, Ibuki Yuko parted ways with you and went back to her own home, where she found her mother sitting on the sofa watching TV.]

A brief memory scene appears,

Showing a conversation between the mother and daughter in the living room.

"Where did you go?"

"Ino Prefecture."

"As expected of my blood. I went home with a man, and you also went home with a man. I was wondering why you've been getting up so early recently. Who is he?"

"..."

"If you don't tell me, don't even think about seeing him again."

"... He said you would know."

"I would know? Oh, is it that boy living on the sixth floor? No wonder he was so enthusiastic when we met; I thought I might develop something with him."

"..."

"Did you do it?"

"No."

"Didn't? At your age, that's unusual. How did it go at his house? What did his parents think about their son bringing a woman home out of the blue?"

"It went well, I think."

"'I think' isn't a very reassuring phrase. Do you think he'll marry you?"

"I don't know."

[Ibuki Honoka's relationship failed again, so she returned home early. She asked her daughter about your existence, recognizing you.]

[Over the past year, even though you didn't need Honoka to get close to Yuko, you still built a relationship with her.]

[Originally, Honoka interpreted your enthusiasm as affection for her, but now she knows it was because of Yuko, which makes her jealous.]

[She inquired further about your progress with her daughter, focusing on marriage. Yuko's uncertain answer gave her a sense of satisfaction.]

[She assumed that Yuko's "I don't know" indicated her realization of a bleak future with you. Based on her understanding of men, someone like you would have several girlfriends. What she didn't understand was that Yuko said "I don't know" simply because she had never thought about it.]

[At dinner time, you were expecting Yuko, but Honoka also came along.]

It seems there's no major issue?

Minami Yuuki quickly reviewed Ibuki Honoka's reaction; she didn't panic, get angry, or show any signs of interference.

He recalled a long time ago… no, it was yesterday.

When he helped the drunken Honoka into the house, Yuko looked at him with eyes like the moon reflected in a puddle after rain, with a muddy, damp hue.

It was loathing.

The loathing was faint, but for a girl who wouldn't change her expression even in the face of death, that slight emotion was a significant display.

This indicated that Honoka was at least a significant, if not crucial, part of Yuko's life.

Although Minami Yuuki thought such an irresponsible mother wasn't worth much concern, emotions, unlike reason, contain an irrational component.

Affecting the girl as Honoka did, her lack of clear opposition to his relationship with Yuko could be considered good news. However, not opposing now doesn't mean she won't oppose it in the future.

Originally, Minami Yuuki intended to wait until Yuko graduated, then find her a job, gradually helping her distance herself from Honoka.

Now that Honoka had discovered them, he would have to face her directly.

He continued to observe the simulated interface.

[Facing Ibuki Honoka's arrival, you graciously entertained her, and the three of you had dinner together. At the dinner table, you and Honoka had a pleasant conversation.]

[Honoka didn't mention Yuko. Her silence on the matter was like a small pothole hidden on a dark road, making you worry that you might step into it someday, causing trouble.]

[Uncertain of Honoka's thoughts, you decided to wait a while longer. If she didn't bring it up, you would explain it yourself.]

[The meal lasted a long time, and after the mother and daughter left, you began to worry about tomorrow—whether Yuko would continue to come to your house, wake you up, cook for you, and reward you.]

[Your worries were unnecessary. Early the next morning, Yuko used the key you gave her to open your door and wake you up.]

[Last night, you didn't receive a reward from the girl. The suppressed desire, like a tightened vine, drove you to ask the girl for it, using the excuse of lacking Yuko's energy.]

[After a kiss, the girl helped you get dressed, and only then did you notice another figure sitting at the heated table by the bed—it was Ibuki Honoka.]

[Honoka greeted you with a smile, teasing your intimacy with Yuko. You couldn't read the woman's mind, so you responded ordinarily.]

[Together, you went to the Ibuki home for a meal. This was at Honoka's request.]

[You weren't surprised; you knew Honoka was very fond of you and liked having you around.]

[At first, during the few days you dined at the Ibuki home, you restrained yourself. After getting to know Honoka better, you gradually became more audacious, even flirting with her daughter in front of her.]

[After winter break came the third term, and after the third term was spring break.]

[Your relationship with the Ibuki mother and daughter progressed smoothly. At night, you would occasionally drink some beer with Honoka. In these conversations, you subtly hinted at Honoka to entrust her daughter to you.]

[What made you uneasy was that while Honoka didn't oppose, she also didn't readily agree. Each time, she either evaded the topic or changed the subject.]

Not readily agreeing?

Minami Yuuki paused his reading and touched his chin, feeling the fine stubble that had not yet grown into a beard brush against his fingertip.

In previous simulated lives, didn't Honoka easily promise Yuko to him?

Why hasn't she agreed after so many hints this time? He looked back at Honoka's initial reaction, feeling a chill in his heart.

Could Ibuki Honoka be—jealous of her daughter?

The simulated version of me, realize this quickly!

No more flaunting affection in front of the mother-in-law!

Through the simulation text, the real Minami Yuuki could read Honoka's inner thoughts, but the simulated Minami Yuuki did not have this ability. Honoka hid it well, and it would take some time for him to grasp her emotional core.

Could something be going wrong?

Minami Yuuki quickly glanced down, his brow twitching. Something did happen, but... it seemed not?

[You guessed that your relationship with Honoka wasn't intimate enough, so she was unwilling to give her daughter to you. During spring break, you spent more time with Honoka, but by the time you realized the wrong direction, it was too late.]

[The cherry blossoms at the subway entrance bloomed, and Honoka said she had landed an important order and received a substantial bonus, inviting you to her house to celebrate.]

[From the start, you felt something was off. Sure enough, shortly after dinner began, Yuko became unusually sleepy and went to bed, leaving only you and Honoka in the living room. The woman, who had been sitting across from you, slowly moved to your diagonal, and finally sat beside you.]