The weather this morning was excellent.
The sky was clear, a giant blue silk canopy covering overhead, through which fluffy white clouds floated like cotton candy.
A gentle breeze brushed against Takayanagi Yuki's cheek, making her feel comfortable and at ease.
"Time to work hard today!"
"From now on, I'll look in Mei's direction, go in for an early shift, and save more money."
Changing into her standard gray suit and putting on her cashier's badge, Takayanagi Yuki clenched her fists to cheer herself on.
"Ding-dong, ding-dong!"
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Hmm? Who would be visiting at this hour?" Takayanagi Yuki walked to the door in confusion and looked through the peephole to see that familiar handsome face.
It was Hoshino Jun.
Didn't Jun go to school with Jo?
Why had he come back and was ringing the neighbor's doorbell?
Takayanagi Yuki's ears felt a little warm. She could still vaguely recall the scorching sensation of being embraced by the young man yesterday. After falling asleep last night, she had even dreamt about it.
Jun was her son's age, it was truly too embarrassing.
"Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~"
"Aunt Yuki, are you still there?"
Hoshino Jun rang the doorbell again. This apartment building had no elevator, only a stairwell, and he hadn't left the building when he went downstairs with Takayanagi Cheng just now.
So Hoshino Jun was 100% sure that Takayanagi Yuki was still inside.
"Click!"
The sound of the lock turning echoed, and the anti-theft door pulled open inwards. The fresh scent of cherry blossoms from downstairs wafted into her nostrils.
Mrs. Takayanagi, dressed in a professional outfit, appeared. Her eyes darted away slightly, and her slender fingers tucked a strand of hair from her left temple behind her ear.
"Um, Jun, did you come back for something?"
Today, the widowed Mrs. Takayanagi looked even better than yesterday. She wore light makeup, and her delicate pink lips were painted with peach-colored lipstick.
Inside her fitted suit was a small black lining that couldn't reduce the visual enormity, and against the black, the skin from her neck to her collarbone was as fair as jade.
"I have something I'd like to discuss with Aunt Yuki. Is it convenient for me to come in and talk?"
Auntie and Takayanagi Yuki worked at the large supermarket two kilometers away. The early shift required them to arrive before 8 AM, and the late shift ended near 11 AM.
It was already 8 AM now. If Takayanagi Yuki hadn't gone to work yet, she would be on the late shift.
She still had three hours, which was plenty of time, more than enough to chat with Hoshino Jun for a while.
Given Mrs. Takayanagi's friendship with Asu Mei, Hoshino Jun bet that even if there was a little awkwardness yesterday, she wouldn't refuse his request.
"Please come in."
Takayanagi Yuki, whose overtime plans had been disrupted, pursed her red lips and moved aside to let him enter.
The Takayanagi Family's floor was a bit damp, and there were residual water stains on the dining table and coffee table. Takayanagi Yuki had only recently finished cleaning.
Doing housework first thing in the morning, she truly was a virtuous woman.
Compared to Hoshino Jun's Aunt Asu Mei, she was much more diligent at home.
"Jun, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Hoshino Jun took a seat.
Takayanagi Yuki politely brought tea from the kitchen. Her long brown hair, tied in a long braid, fell across her chest as she bent to pour tea for Hoshino Jun.
This hairstyle, it seems, is called "dangerous" in otaku circles.
"Aunt Yuki, I prefer to speak with evidence, so before we talk, please listen to this, just like yesterday."
Skillfully pulling out his phone from his bag and playing the recording, Hoshino Jun unhurriedly picked up the tea Mrs. Takayanagi had poured and took a small sip.
The taste was very astringent, with a sweet aftertaste appearing after three to five seconds.
The tea leaves from the island nation were far inferior to those from China.
The recording on the phone continued to play, Takayanagi Cheng's vicious threats against Hoshino Jun, and Hoshino Jun's gentlemanly overtures, were perfectly balanced.
Takayanagi Yuki's face grew increasingly unsightly.
"Jun. I'm sorry."
Takayanagi Yuki bit her red lip, lowered her gaze, and clenched her hands into fists on her plump, stocking-clad legs.
The charm of a mature woman reached its peak at this moment, a mix of disappointment and sadness.
She exuded an alluring aura at all times.
She hadn't expected that Takayanagi Cheng, who had just promised her and given her his word, would turn around and break that promise.
This was the child she had raised.
He was like the complete opposite of the gentle and refined Hoshino Jun.
"Jun, please give Jo another chance. I will definitely teach Jo well."
The tea was at the right temperature.
Hoshino Jun leisurely picked up his teacup and drank all the tea: "Aunt Yuki, Jo-kun might be difficult to manage."
"Ah? Jun, Jo will definitely get better. You are friends, please trust him one more time."
Listening to Hoshino Jun's words, a hint of panic appeared in Takayanagi Yuki's eyes.
Hoshino Jun already had two recordings. If he submitted them, Jo would surely be disliked by the teachers.
Takayanagi Yuki was both angry at what Takayanagi Cheng had done and worried for him.
Now, she only hoped that Hoshino Jun, for the sake of their families' relationship, would once again overlook Takayanagi Cheng's bad deeds.
Noticing Mrs. Takayanagi's panic, Hoshino Jun's eyes curved into a gentle smile, and his gaze fell upon the panel in front of her.
[Name: Takayanagi Yuki]
[Stamina: 6]
[Intelligence: 4]
[Charm: 9]
[Occupation: Supermarket Cashier]
[Affection: She currently owes you two D-rank Affection Debts. Please urge her to complete payment as soon as possible.]
[Payment Method:]
[Money: 200,000 yen (full amount)]
[Food: Two consecutive months of homemade lunchboxes]
[Affection: One warm hug (three minutes)]
Is there such a big difference between D-rank and C-rank?
I hope the collection reward isn't too different.
"Aunt Yuki, please don't get agitated. For your sake, of course, I will choose to forgive Jo-kun."
For my sake?
Yesterday's events replayed in her mind like a flashback. Takayanagi Yuki lowered her head, her legs unconsciously rubbing together.
"Thank you, Jun. When Jo comes home today, I'll definitely give him a good beating until he never dares to bother you again."
"Corporal punishment won't do, Aunt Yuki."
Hoshino Jun clicked his tongue, raised his long index finger, and wiggled it in front of Mrs. Takayanagi's eyes.
Takayanagi Yuki froze for a few seconds, still not fully recovered, when she heard Hoshino Jun say again: "Aunt Yuki, I have some guesses about Jo-kun's current situation."
"I think he's probably in that rebellious phase unique to teenagers. The more violently he's treated, the fiercer his resistance might become."
"So we need to guide him towards improvement using the correct methods."
Upon hearing this, Takayanagi Yuki's red lips parted slightly. She stared blankly at Hoshino Jun, her heart touched and filled with mixed emotions.
Jo had treated Jun so badly.
Yet Jun was still thinking of him like this.
To have such a good friend, and not cherish him, only to distance himself because of a woman who didn't like him.
Takayanagi Cheng, you truly are a colossal idiot.
"Jun, then what should we do?" Takayanagi Yuki clasped her hands together, looking at Hoshino Jun with anticipation.
Her two elbows pressed into her ample bosom, causing it to indent.
Slender branches bearing abundant fruit, delicious and cooling.
Hoshino Jun felt a bit parched looking at her. He said with a sincere expression: "Aunt Yuki, leave the matter of bringing Jo-kun back on track to me."
It was too vulgar to get something through threats, Hoshino Jun disdained doing that.
The recording was merely a tool to intervene in Takayanagi Yuki's life, not a leverage to control her.
What Hoshino Jun wanted was for Mrs. Takayanagi to genuinely and wholeheartedly become his money-making tool in the future.
Watching Takayanagi Yuki, whose face was now beaming with joy, Hoshino Jun narrowed his eyes.
He thought to himself, indeed, it's Aunt Yuki with only 4 points in intelligence.
She was a bit too easy to fool.
"Thank you, Jun." Takayanagi Yuki thanked him.
Hoshino Jun shook his head: "No need to be polite, it's what I should do."
"However, before that, I would like to ask you for some rewards, if that's alright?"