Chapter 86: Mother-Daughter Conflict.

[Normally, your wife would always unquestionably agree with your ideas, but now she shook her head without hesitation. You felt a tremor in your heart.]

[She quickly realized her slip through your expression, nervously gripping your arm and placing it on her lap, trying to divert your attention.]

[This once foolproof tactic now had no effect.]

[You pressed her, asking if she didn't like Mayuri after all. She gently nodded, looking at you cautiously.]

[You couldn't blame her; reproach only hurts, and she is the person you love most. You didn't bring it up again.]

[Yuko thought she had upset you, and for several days, she tried hard to please you. Once she confirmed you didn't blame her, she breathed a sigh of relief and dropped the pretense.]

[Except for necessary feeding and cleaning, she paid no attention to Mayuri's cries. Whenever you picked up your daughter, she would cling to your side, vying for your attention.]

[You were preparing for the civil service exam under your father's arrangement, already with little time to care for your daughter. Yuko's clinginess overwhelmed you, and you finally made a decision.]

[Your parents came over and took Mayuri away. They loved their granddaughter very much, and handing Mayuri over to them aligned with their wishes.]

A brief memory scene appears.

Under a cloudy sky, Minami Yuuki and Minami Yuko stood at the doorstep, watching their parents carry their daughter across the street to the waiting car.

With Grandma's teasing, Mayuri let out giggles. Across the road, a house had a blue flower on its windowsill. The little girl reached out her small hands, trying to touch the flowers in sight, only grasping at empty air.

Father opened the car door, and Mother placed Mayuri in the rear baby seat. Sensing something wrong, Mayuri looked around, unable to find your figures, muttering anxiously and kicking her legs in resistance.

Mother went around to the other side of the car to soothe Mayuri. As the car started moving, Mayuri's cries swiftly passed before you, disappearing into the alley under the darkened sky.

"Yuuki." Yuko took a step forward, anxiously grasping her husband's hand.

Minami Yuuki turned his head, seeing his wife's delicate face. Compared to when they first met, her expression now held many more emotions. These expressions only surfaced because of him.

Minami Yuuki touched her face, his slightly warm fingers brushing against her cool cheeks, leaning down to kiss her pale lips.

"Let's go home, stubborn Yuko-mama." Minami Yuuki held her hand.

"Yeah." His wife smiled faintly.

[Mayuri was a small detector, always reminding you of Yuko's abnormality. Now that she's left home, everything seems to have returned to normal. In every emotion, there's more or less hidden strangeness; as long as you avoid detection, you can say it doesn't exist.]

[Yuko noticed your dismay and parting from your daughter was a heavy blow. She comforted you in her own way, and at night, she called you "Dad".]

[From then on, you added another title.]

"...?"

Minami Yuuki had not yet recovered from the sadness in the memory scene when suddenly he saw this turn, emotions of sorrow and joy intertwined, unsure which way to lean.

[You and your wife studied together and both passed the exam, becoming government employees. With your father's connections, you and Yuko were placed in the same office.]

[At work, you were still a model couple.]

[As Mayuri grew up, every weekend, your mother would bring her to your home so you and Yuko could see her. In front of your mother, Yuko showed herself as a good mother.]

[When Mayuri entered kindergarten, your mother felt it was no longer appropriate for her to care for her granddaughter; Mayuri should be back with her mom and dad. This decision was not out of frustration but out of consideration for Mayuri's emotions. The little girl had asked her more than once why she couldn't stay with her mom and dad like other children.]

[Mother thought that when you and Yuko initially handed Mayuri over to her, it was due to the baby's fussiness. Now that Mayuri had started kindergarten and gained some self-care abilities, she wouldn't disturb you anymore.]

[With a tentative mindset, you decided to take Mayuri back.]

[Things didn't go smoothly. Over the years, Yuko's condition not only didn't improve but worsened. She treated her daughter like air, never initiating conversation with her. When Mayuri tried to talk to her a few times, she was met with indifference. This made Mayuri unwilling to get closer to her mother and wanting to stick by your side. But Yuko always pulled you away, interrupting her closeness with you.]

[Mayuri stayed at home and did not suffer from material shortages. On the contrary, Yuko was happy to use new toys and new clothes to stop her daughter from bothering her. There were many more valuable things in her room.]

[However, material things never provide true satisfaction. Mayuri wanted the love and care from both you and Yuko, something she could never obtain.]

[The once lively and outgoing girl gradually became quiet and withdrawn.]

[Every week when your mother came over, she noticed the changes in her granddaughter and thought that you both didn't understand how to raise a child, wanting to communicate with you.]

[You asked her to take Mayuri back.]

[Mother began to realize that something was wrong.]

[Three days later, she came with your sister. Your sister kept Yuko away and talked to you, asking for reasons.]

[You didn't tell her, just saying that you and Yuko weren't suitable for raising a child.]

[Mother angrily asked you when you would be suitable, when Mayuri was in elementary school? Junior high? You didn't answer.]

[Yuko realized that your mother already knew something. Observing your mother's attitude, she noticed that the elderly woman just sighed about it. Gradually she stopped pretending to be a good mother during weekends with Mayuri. Not only that, she began to look at you with pleading eyes, obstructing your closeness with Mayuri.]

Watching the simulated text, Minami Yuuki rubbed his forehead, feeling both amused and exasperated.

This petite senior sister was adept at seizing opportunities and pushing boundaries. First, she tried to conceal things as much as possible. When the truth came out and everyone still loved her, they were all very forgiving, so she didn't even bother with face-saving projects anymore.

If Asano Nao was an honest kitty, then Ibuki Yuko was a cunning little fox.

[You couldn't refuse your wife's pleas. Every time Mayuri came over, all she got was disappointment. You and Yuko were even less close to her than the couple next door.]

[Mother reduced the number of times she brought Mayuri over.]

[You were worried about your daughter, so you hid it from Yuko and secretly met with Mayuri. Such a meeting was bound to be hasty and short. Mayuri was looking forward to your arrival, but also complained about this insignificant care.]