Matsumoto Tomoko snuggled deeper into my embrace with the contentment of a cat that had found the perfect sunny spot, her face radiating pure happiness as if she wanted to burrow even further into my arms.
"Alright, time for your medication," I announced gently, though I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty about disrupting our perfect moment.
Following my gentle instruction, my adorable patient reluctantly extracted herself from the warmth of our embrace, looking every bit as disappointed as a kitten being removed from its favorite napping spot.
The TV show had ended anyway, so I stood up and stretched briefly before heading to the bedroom to retrieve the prescribed medication.
I returned to the living room and carefully positioned her delicate feet on my legs, preparing to apply the anti-inflammatory spray to the affected area.
A fine mist instantly enveloped her swollen ankle, forming tiny droplets as it made contact with her skin.
"The swelling has definitely gone down significantly, Tomoko-san," I observed, studying her ankle with what I hoped looked like clinical interest.
Even in its current compromised state, her ankle maintained those graceful contours, and her fair, smooth skin appeared flawless—like polished jade without a single imperfection.
The kind of porcelain that made you want to cradle it carefully in your hands, and then...
"It really does look much better, thanks to all of Sosuke-kun's careful attention," she replied softly.
The cooling sensation from the medication spray contrasted beautifully with the warmth radiating from my palm against her skin, creating an alternating temperature experience that seemed to bring her a sense of inexplicable relief.
"Tomoko-san has such beautiful ankles," I murmured, gently lifting her small foot to get a better angle for the treatment.
The elegant line of her plump, toned thighs extended downward in perfect harmony, culminating in these enchanting, delicate feet that somehow managed to be both innocent and incredibly alluring.
"Where... where is it beautiful..." she stammered, her cheeks taking on that familiar rosy hue as a charming breath escaped from between her lips.
"And Tomoko-san looks absolutely charming in those pajamas," I added, because apparently I'd decided that now was the perfect time to shower her with compliments.
"So... Sosuke-kun..." she whispered, clearly flustered by my direct appreciation.
My simple, honest compliment had clearly caught Matsumoto Tomoko off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.
She had probably convinced herself that she was just an ordinary housewife of a certain age—someone past her prime, forgotten by the world, simply waiting for the inevitable march of time to take its toll.
She'd never dared to hope for this kind of praise, especially not from someone like me.
The nourishment she was receiving—both emotional and physical—seemed to be awakening something within her, as if she was experiencing a complete revival...
If it weren't for her injury, there would definitely be another passionate storm brewing right about now.
Suddenly, Matsumoto Tomoko felt a tingling sensation in her heart, as if something she'd been longing for was constantly threatening to overflow...
---
Monday morning,
During the two days of the weekend, I had stayed with Matsumoto Tomoko practically around the clock, rarely leaving her side for more than necessary errands.
Under my dedicated care, her condition had improved visibly and dramatically—I was confident she'd make a full recovery within just a few more days.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, Monday morning had arrived.
I prepared breakfast following our established routine, then departed from the apartment amid Matsumoto Tomoko's reassuring smile and her gentle words of "I'll be perfectly fine, don't worry about me, Sosuke-kun."
Today's weather was noticeably more comfortable than the previous few days—the oppressive heat that had dominated the weekend seemed to have dissipated along with our domestic bubble.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps between leaves, and the air carried the fresh scent of grass mixed with the subtle aroma of morning dew.
Groups of students were walking along both sides of the road, chatting and laughing with the energy of people who'd just survived another weekend. The girls had all transitioned into their summer uniforms, creating what looked like a large-scale cosplay convention.
The display of snow-white, slender thighs created a veritable sea of youth and vitality that made every passing boy stop and stare like they'd been hypnotized...
Focus on walking, Ginjo. You have a beautiful woman waiting at home—no need to get distracted by the local scenery.
"Good morning, Ginjo-san!"
Just as I was about to enter the school gates, someone called my name. I turned around to see who was seeking my attention.
Running toward me with her long silver hair flowing behind her was the unmistakable figure of my water polo club senior.
"Good morning, Shiraishi-senpai," I replied, automatically slowing my pace as she jogged over with slightly labored breathing to fall into step beside me.
"Huff... Ginjo-san, you're here unusually early today," she observed, still catching her breath from her impromptu sprint.
"It's my turn for classroom duty today," I explained simply.
"How did Sunday's practice session go, Shiraishi-senpai?" I asked, steering the conversation toward safer topics.
I had been forced to skip the water polo club's Sunday training session due to my caretaking responsibilities with Matsumoto Tomoko.
"Although everyone was a bit disappointed that Ginjo-san didn't show up, we still managed to complete all the planned training successfully," she replied with a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
As Lisa Shiraishi spoke, I couldn't help but turn my head to study her profile more carefully.
Her luminous eyes and snow-white skin complemented each other perfectly, creating a beautiful profile that was matched by a figure that bordered on criminally attractive.
"By the way, how is the landlady's foot injury?" she asked, and I realized with a start that she'd somehow found out about Tomoko-san's accident.