I could have endured the darkness.
If I had never seen the light.
It was early evening, just as the moon was rising, and Hoshino Jun was behind Takayanagi Yuki.
Hearing Hoshino Jun's invitation, and then seeing her own son waiting to be fed, Takayanagi Yuki felt so exhausted, more tired than she was at work.
Jo,
If you were even half as good as Jun, that would be great.
"Jo-kun is also home, didn't you cook and wait for Yuki-Auntie?"
"Well, never mind."
"How about we just go to my place to eat something?"
His gaze swept over.
Hoshino Jun's eyes landed on Takayanagi Jo, who was scratching his head and trying to explain. His smile was gentle, and his tone was sincere.
It wasn't just a polite gesture, but a genuine invitation for the mother and son to have dinner together.
"I won't be eating at your place; my mom will cook at our house." Takayanagi Jo still remembered Hoshino Jun grabbing his neck and controlling him with one hand that morning.
The anger in his chest hadn't subsided, so it was naturally impossible for him to accept Hoshino Jun's invitation.
Even if it was just a polite gesture between two neighboring families, Takayanagi Jo couldn't be bothered to show it.
But then, suddenly, his mother, Takayanagi Yuki, took a step back.
"Jo, you can just cook yourself some instant noodles. Mom is very tired today and doesn't really feel like cooking."
Takayanagi Jo's mouth suddenly dropped open, his face full of bewilderment.
He called out "Mom" again, but Takayanagi Yuki didn't wait for his call and had already left the house.
All that remained at the doorway was Hoshino Jun's mocking smile.
Hoshino Jun had been paying attention to Takayanagi Yuki's movements. He was wondering how to approach Takayanagi Yuki to settle the score, but he couldn't come up with any ideas.
Who knew.
Heh.
Hoshino Jun couldn't think of a way, but Takayanagi Jo actively helped him out.
Mom gets off work and comes home at seven, but you, Takayanagi Jo, a lazy student who gets home at five, actually wait for her to cook for you.
Isn't that just crazy?
As long as Hoshino Jun acted as someone else's child and made comparisons, if Takayanagi Yuki's mood could be good, that would be truly unbelievable.
"Jo-kun, even if you only want to be Yamada's dog, you shouldn't forget your mother; she's the one who loves you the most."
The expression on Takayanagi Jo's face stiffened, and his mouth twitched.
"Hoshino Jun, you little schemer, shut up!"
Upon hearing this, Hoshino Jun sighed faintly.
It's hard to be a good person.
Good words can't persuade a doomed ghost. If Takayanagi Jo doesn't want to treat Takayanagi Yuki well, then let the kind Hoshino Jun help him.
"Jo-kun, if you don't start treating Yuki-Auntie better, then I'll have to take good care of Yuki-Auntie."
Hoshino Jun didn't care if Takayanagi Jo listened or not, he gave one last piece of advice, closed the door to 403, and left.
"Bang!"
Takayanagi Jo angrily slammed the wall: "Damn it!!!"
Because the two families had been neighbors for many years, Takayanagi Jo never suspected that anything might happen between Hoshino Jun and his mother.
Takayanagi Jo simply thought that Hoshino Jun was just mocking him.
'That damn Hoshino Jun, he's too arrogant.'
'You just wait, I'll see if you're still smiling when you go on a date with a woman tomorrow.'
'Tomorrow, Kaoru will definitely not forgive you.'
Takayanagi Jo was already fantasizing about Yamada Kaoru seeing Hoshino Jun with another woman tomorrow and completely giving up on Hoshino Jun.
At that time, Yamada Kaoru would start noticing other men.
The first person she'd think of would definitely be himself, who had followed her without complaint or regret.
Fantasy time.
Takayanagi Jo's mouth uncontrollably curved into a smile; he wanted to forever be immersed in this beautiful dream.
Unfortunately, the feeling of hunger forcibly interrupted his fantasy.
"Is Mom very tired today?"
"It's the same job, but I've never heard her say she was tired before."
"Never mind, I won't talk about it anymore, I'll cook instant noodles!"
The sky above, tinged with a grayish-blue light, reflected sadly on the earth. Takayanagi Yuki didn't know how she turned around and left, then came to 404.
But she suddenly envied Asu Mei, envied Asu Mei for having a warm home.
If she could, Takayanagi Yuki wanted to switch places with Asu Mei.
It's just that...
If it were herself and Jun living together, it would definitely be very dangerous, right?
After all, Jun's ulterior motives towards her were already out in the open.
Just downstairs, Takayanagi Yuki was guessing that Hoshino Jun might not have been waiting for Asu Mei at all, but rather to intercept her.
A mischievous child, small in stature but with an old soul.
"Yuki-Auntie, eat."
At this moment, Hoshino Jun's voice pulled Takayanagi Yuki's fantasy back to reality. Her eyelids fluttered, and a steaming bowl of rice had already appeared before her.
And a large hand was slowly reaching towards her chest.
"Jun."
Takayanagi Yuki exclaimed, and before she could finish her sentence, she saw Hoshino Jun's hand merely brush her shoulder.
"Strange, there's a mosquito." Hoshino Jun calmly withdrew his hand, then called out towards the bedroom: "Auntie, come out and eat quickly."
"You two eat first, I'm changing!"
A rustling echo came from the bedroom, and Takayanagi Yuki's pretty face flushed with embarrassment.
Why was he shouting for no reason?
Mei is here, how could Jun lay a hand on you? You're so silly, Takayanagi Yuki.
The mosquito was also to blame; how did it fly onto her shoulder without a sound?
Although she hadn't heard the sound of the so-called mosquito, Takayanagi Yuki still assigned half the blame to the non-existent Mr. Mosquito.
"Yuki-Auntie, you just called me."
Hoshino Jun leaned down and saw the pair of large fruits resting on the dining table, and he really wanted to swallow a mouthful of saliva.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
No.
Takayanagi Yuki didn't know how to answer Hoshino Jun. She felt a bit confused, and awkwardly asked: "I wanted to ask if you've eaten?"
???
"."
???
The two looked at each other, both bewildered.
What kind of question was that?
It made it sound like Takayanagi Yuki was inviting Hoshino Jun to eat.
After realizing, Takayanagi Yuki's cheeks began to flush, and her shy eyelids drooped slightly.
"Yuki-Auntie, you're so cute." Hoshino Jun smiled and whispered a compliment.
"Mmm~" Takayanagi Yuki's face grew even redder, her alluring eyes, like silken threads, blinked slightly as she shyly said: "That's not true, I'm over thirty, how can I be described as cute?"
Hoshino Jun was standing, and Takayanagi Yuki was sitting.
From Hoshino Jun's perspective, Takayanagi Yuki at this moment was looking up at him with a red face and eager eyes, and her plump, beautiful legs, clad in black high heels under the table, were also restlessly rubbing together.
She looked like a mature woman, intoxicated and hazy-eyed, desiring a passionate love affair.
Soul-stirring.
Too alluring.
"But cute is cute."
Hoshino Jun replied with a grin, then turned around and, as if casually, said:
"If such a cute Yuki-Auntie could pretend to be my girlfriend tomorrow and help me alleviate the awkward situation of being alone, that would be great."
"Then my friends would definitely be envious of me, and I wouldn't be mocked as a single dog who can't find a girlfriend."
After he finished speaking, Hoshino Jun's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Oh right, how could I forget? Tomorrow is Saturday, isn't that exactly when Yuki-Auntie has her day off?"