BXBX NOVEL Chapter 70: A Peaceful Day
\'Shouldn\'t that bracelet have made her fall even more for me?
\' he thought, irritated as he opened up Asuka\'s profile on the system for the third time that morning.
He frowned as he checked the stats.
\'Her emotional bond and obsession levels are nearly as high as Chiyo\'s. So why does she rarely contact me?\'
He scratched his head, puzzled.
\'If this keeps up, I might need to use Kota as an excuse just to see her at her place.\'
He sighed and forced himself to focus back on the TV.
The plan involving Asuka was important for his revenge against Kota, but her unreachability was proving to be a roadblock.
Even Zenzai, the woman he just met once, was easier to reach. But then, he reminded himself that Asuka was a businesswoman; she was occupied with launching a new makeup line under her brand.
\'I just need to be patient,\'
he thought, exhaling.
Unbeknownst to Haruto, Chiyo had been moving around the living room, attempting to catch his attention.
Dressed in a short skirt and a fitted top, she vacuumed with deliberate motions, bending here and there, the fabric of her skirt rising just enough to reveal her panties.
Still, Haruto didn\'t seem to notice. Frustrated but undeterred, she moved on to wiping the coffee table in front of him, her movements slow and deliberate as she leaned forward, her curves accentuated.
\'Am I not interesting to him anymore?:
she wondered, a flash of panic rising in her.
She knew that young men often craved novelty, and the thought of him growing bored of her hit her harder than she expected.
But as she caught sight of his troubled expression, Chiyo reminded herself that there might be another reason for his distraction.
\'He must be thinking about money, especially since Akihito hasn\'t come home since that dinner,\'
she thought with a sigh.
Determined to get through to him, Chiyo put the cleaning supplies away and walked over, taking a seat beside him. Gently, she leaned her head on his shoulder.
The sudden touch pulled Haruto from his thoughts, and he looked down at her, slightly startled.
"What\'s this about?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Chiyo smiled softly. "It\'s rare for us to have a moment together like this," she replied.
\'Does she want to have sex…\'
he wondered, but dismissed the thought,
It was rare for him to bond emotionally with his women, to the point it was hard for him to continue conversation with Akane.
Today might be the day that he learns to continue the conversation and become less rigid when talking normally without involving sex.
"Yeah, you\'re right. It\'s… a nice change," he replied, feeling the conversation slip into an awkward silence.
Inwardly, he chastised himself.
\'Chiyo\'s been my stepmother for almost six years, and I don\'t even know her favorite things or what she enjoys.
\'
Frustration simmered as he struggled to continue.
Chiyo\'s sudden laugh broke the silence, pulling Haruto from his thoughts. He glanced at her, puzzled.
"You know, you\'re still the same as you were six years ago," she said, a soft smile on her lips.
"You don\'t talk much, but somehow, being around you always makes me feel calm."
"Is that… a bad thing?" he asked, uncertain.
"Sometimes, yes," she admitted, reaching up to gently tousle his hair.
"It\'s hard to know what you\'re feeling, what\'s bothering you… anything, really. So I had to learn to understand you by how you act."
Haruto\'s eyes widened in surprise. "Really? And how do you do that?"
Chiyo shrugged, a knowing look in her eyes. "For one, I can tell you\'re troubled right now. And I know you\'ve changed a lot recently… like you\'re being chased by something I don\'t fully understand."
"But if even Haruka doesn\'t know what\'s going on, then neither will I."
She leaned in, hugging his arm, a warmth in her touch. "But as long as you\'re safe, that\'s what matters to me."
Haruto looked down at her, a strange feeling stirring within him. Chiyo\'s love was genuine and unconditional—an unwavering presence he hadn\'t fully acknowledged.
But then a question surfaced, one he hadn\'t dared to ask before.
"Then… why did you marry my father?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Chiyo\'s eyes widened for a moment as she met his gaze. "I promised my sister I\'d take care of you both," she replied softly.
"But… why would you do that?" he pressed, frowning. "You gave up your own future to look after two kids who didn\'t even care about you."
"Who said they didn\'t care?" She smiled at him, her eyes kind. "You care about me, don\'t you?"
A pang of guilt twisted inside him. Using her to test the system felt cruel now, given how much she had sacrificed.
He\'d never truly loved her, but here she was, showing him a depth of care he hadn\'t acknowledged.
Without thinking, Haruto pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. "Thank you, Mother… for everything you\'ve done for us," he murmured, gently stroking her hair.
He couldn\'t imagine the weight she\'d carried, living with his abusive father and bearing so much for their sake.
Chiyo was motionless at first, surprised, but slowly her expression softened. Tears pricked at her eyes, spilling over as she realized, perhaps for the first time, that her efforts were recognized and appreciated.
\'I\'m sorry for loving your son, sister,\'
she thought,
\'but maybe this is my reward for enduring all of it.\'
She wept softly, the release of years of silent sacrifice finally breaking free.
They remained quiet, listening to the soft sounds of the movie on TV and Chiyo\'s quiet sobs.
Then Haruto\'s phone vibrated suddenly, breaking the spell. But instead of reaching for it, he looked at her.
"Why don\'t we go out for a fancy dinner?" he suggested with a smile. "I know a place that would be perfect for us."