Chapter 45: Those who chase two rabbits… will only be destroyed.

Translator: Soafp

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“…Towa-kun, you saw it as well?”

Just from that question, I understood. The woman I saw walking hand in hand with a seemingly frivolous man and disappearing into the crowd during my shopping with Kansaki-san… It must be her after all. Seeing me at a loss for words, Seina-san lowered her face and told me.

“We hadn’t talked much lately, so I didn’t know. But I happened to see them embracing each other near our house. I wanted to believe it was just a misunderstanding, but if you saw it too, Towa-kun, then it seems to be the truth…”

I couldn’t find the right words to say to Seina-san, who was slumping weakly. To be honest… My feelings were quite complicated. Hatsune-san is someone I don’t want to see, that much is true, but as the mother of Shu, it’s impossible for me to completely disregard it.

“You don’t have to worry about someone like that, Towa-kun.”

Ayana said that, leaning in close to me, but I could tell that Ayana herself understood what was going on inside me. She looked at me with kind eyes, unable to dismiss me as a mere stranger.

“I didn’t know until I talked to Shu, but we’ve started talking again like usual.”

It’s the second time, but I don’t want to see Hatsune-san, but Shu is my friend. However, that doesn’t mean I arrogantly believe that my intervention will change anything. It might be harsh, but that person is now an issue within their own family.

“Well, I might try talking to Shu casually. That’s probably all I can do.”

“Yes. I’ll be by your side when that happens.”

“Thank you.”

“No, it’s only natural as your wife.”

“…………”

“C-Come on, say something!”

Well, sorry. It was just because I was surprised, or rather caught off guard. Both Seina-san and I widened our eyes in astonishment at the sudden wife remark. But soon, Ayana blushed and we both chuckled. It’s true that we haven’t completely solved the problem, but for now, let’s put that thought aside.

“For now, Seina-san, let’s leave it at that.”

“Right… No matter what I say now, it won’t reach her.”

…It seems that because they haven’t been talking much lately, there may be a gap between Hatsune-san and her. Seina-san went to the kitchen to help my mother, and I shifted my gaze to Kanzaki-san, who had been silent all this time.

“…Fumu”

While we were talking, Kanzaki-san had been quiet, peeking at her smartphone. Occasionally, she would look at the screen and move her hands, so she might be contacting someone. Kanzaki-san, noticing my gaze, blushed and said something like this.

“Towa, it won’t get you anywhere even if you’re infatuated with me?”

I wasn’t infatuated… but Ayana, quicker than me, answered Kanzaki-san’s words.

“Towa-kun infatuated? Cut it out with the jokes.”

“…I’ve been thinking lately, but Ayana-chan, I think you have the potential in that area.”

Potential in that area… Haha, as Ayana laughed, I broke out in a cold sweat, wondering… Could it be that Ayana is scarier than Kanzaki-san? No, no, I’d like to think that’s not the case.

“Ayana! Can you bring the dishes?”

“Understood. Well then, Towa-kun, please wait while sitting. Same goes for Eto-san.”

“To call it ‘same goes for’ is harsh!”

“Just be grateful that I’ll keep you company.”

“That’s harsh!”

Ayana doesn’t speak to others like this in general. She usually speaks to Kanzaki-san in a gentle tone as well, but it seems that she didn’t like the infatuation comment from earlier. Well, Kanzaki-san seems to understand that too.

“Oh, that’s right, Towa.”

“What is it?”

When I turned around in response to Kanzaki-san calling me, I envisioned a quiet flame. It’s not that it’s physically burning or that I can see the flame, but I saw it from Kanzaki-san’s aura. A quiet anger that doesn’t need to be put into words, and I clearly felt it.

What is Kanzaki-san angry about? Could it be about Ayana’s treatment earlier? While thinking that there’s no way that’s the case, I waited for Kanzaki-san’s words.

“The man who was with Hatsune Sasaki, his name is Maejima.”

“Heh… Ha?”

“Leave that to ‘us.’ Towa and Ayana-chan don’t need to worry about anything.”

“…Uhm?”

What is Kanzaki-san talking about? And Maejima… I couldn’t grasp the situation, and while patting my shoulder, Kanzaki-san smiled wryly.

“That’s good enough. Unlike last time, now that we’ve noticed it beforehand, Towa and Ayana-chan don’t need to know anything. Children shouldn’t be involved in the desires of adults. It’s not something that should happen. You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you? “

“….Yes”

“Anyway, it’s fine. Since we noticed it in advance, there’s no need for Towa and Ayana to know anything. Children shouldn’t get involved in adult desires like that.”

In the end, I didn’t understand what Kanzaki-san was thinking. With a mysterious atmosphere between Kanzaki-san and me, my mother and Seina-san tilted their heads in confusion, and Ayana gave Kanzaki-san a troubled look as if to say, “It’s you again…” It became vague like that.

Finally, the sukiyaki party started after all the preparations were done… As expected, my mother got drunk and ended up hugging Ayana instead of me. Ayana seemed like the chosen one for today.

“Ayana is really such a good girl. She’s beautiful, smart, great at housework, and on top of that, she has big br*asts and an outstanding figure. Seeing Ayana, even God would think it’s unfair.”

“Sis, are you indirectly making fun of me?”

“…………”

I sympathize with Ayana, who is caught by my mother and staring into the distance, but I guess my mother won’t let her go for a while. Although, once my mother is satisfied with Ayana, I’ll probably be the next target… Sigh, I’ll eat lots of meat and be prepared.

“Here, Towa-kun, have some meat.”

“Thank you.”

Seina-san served me the meat she had portioned out… Mmm, it’s delicious.

“And here’s tofu.”

“Thank you.”

A while ago, I said it’s fine for me to serve myself, but Seina-san made such an “end of the world” face that I decided to rely on her.

“Mom?”

“Fufu, it’s your turn to be caught. It’s my turn now.”

“…Grrr.”

While feeling Ayana’s gaze on me, I start eating the sukiyaki. And a few minutes later, the living room of the Yukishiro household turned into a hellish scene.

“Drinking alcohol is scary, Ayana.”

“Yes, it is. I don’t want to become an adult like this…”

The three adults were displaying their sloppy appearance. My mother and Kanzaki-san ended up lying down, and Seina-san was sleeping with her head on the table… The room was filled with an incredible smell of alcohol. Ayana and I exchanged glances and sighed, wondering what to do about this disastrous situation.

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At a restaurant somewhere, just before the sukiyaki party at the Yukishiro house, a man’s vulgar laughter echoed.

“Haha, what an easy woman. But she has a good body and money… No doubt she’s a fine woman.”

“As expected, Maejima-san. Does that mean it’s already…?”

“Of course. After all the bullying I put her through.”

“Hyuu~♪”

The vulgar content was fitting for the vulgar laughter. The man known as Maejima-san continued speaking to the man.

“I’ve heard that there’s a pretty mother and child in the neighborhood. What about them?”

“Naturally, I plan to target them. Both the mother and daughter have attractive bodies, and on top of that, their family is quite wealthy. If I can get my hands on them, it’ll be an easy way out.”

“If Maejima-san sets his sights on them, it’ll be over… Well, today, I’ll treat you, so go ahead.”

“Thanks a lot!”

Maejima drank his alcohol with a satisfied expression, while the man pouring his drink looked behind Maejima-san as if not to be noticed. There was a woman present, staring at her phone and contacting someone. When the woman nodded slightly, the man nodded back and spoke.

“Maejima-san, the next place we’re going is a place I often visit. The drinks there are incredible.”

“Oh, really? Then let’s go there next!!”

Maejima-san seemed truly pleased… but.

“…………”

The man smiling at Maejima-san was secretly sweating. The woman was looking at him… not with a seductive gaze, but with a gaze that seemed to command him not to do anything foolish and to follow orders.

Whether the woman knew or didn’t know about the man’s inner fear, she calmly sipped her cold tea that was placed in front of her.

“…You’re angry, my lady.”

The woman raised her face as if exhaling a sigh.

The woman with the pretty face, it really was just a few moments ago. She was the one who shook hands with Towa when Eto and Towa met in the evening.