A Love I Shouldn't Feel
Chapter 156: Laughter, Love, and Tomorrow ( 156 )

Chapter 156: Laughter, Love, and Tomorrow ( 156 )

Kitayama Residence – Evening

Laughter filled the living room, and the sound of sake cups gently clinking together echoed around.

"Haruki! Drink more!" Kitayama shouted happily, raising his cup high.

"Don’t let this old man outdrink you!"

Haruki smiled, cheeks a little red from the drinks.

"Yes, sir~," he replied softly, pouring himself another cup.

Facing him, Kazuma quietly sipped his drink. He looked calm and relaxed, with his eyes half-closed as he enjoyed the warm, smooth alcohol.

Kenji, already somewhat drunk, banged his cup on the table with a wild grin.

"Yaaarr!! Drink! Drink!"

The table was already messy, with empty dishes, bowls of pickles, and skewered meat plates scattered around.

Haruki laughed, a little dazed but still in good spirits. His body felt warm, and his heart felt even warmer.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, the softer atmosphere continued.

Kyouko, Keiko, and Hitomi moved smoothly between trays of sliced meat and bowls of dipping sauce, preparing more food for everyone.

The smell of grilled beef and simmering broth filled the air.

Kyouko’s sleeves were rolled up, and her ponytail swung behind her as she quietly stirred a pot.

Near the kitchen, Hanako gently poured a fresh cup of sake for her husband, who was laughing loudly in the next room.

In one corner, Riko (13 years old) and Daichi (16 years old)—Kenji and Hitomi’s children—sat on cushions against the wall. They were busy playing a shared online game on their smartphones.

"Don’t go there, idiot! It’s a trap!"

"I know, I’m waiting for the boss to move—ugh, stop yelling!"

They weren’t paying attention to the adults at all.

Just another noisy, happy night in the Kitayama household.

"Hanako!!" Kitayama shouted happily from his seat, holding up his sake cup.

"Come sit next to me and pour my drink!! Hahaha!!"

Hanako just shook her head, smiling faintly. She was used to her husband’s antics whenever he drank sake.

Without saying a word, she walked over gracefully and knelt beside him. She easily lifted the bottle and poured him another cup.

Kitayama took it happily with a satisfied grunt.

"Now this—this is what I call a wife!" he boomed, slapping his thigh.

"Beautiful! Always respectful! Always near her husband!"

Laughter filled the room.

Across the table, Kenji grinned foolishly, his face red.

He turned toward the kitchen and called out:

"Hitomi~! I don’t want to lose to Dad, so come here and pour me a drink too—hic~!"

Hitomi sighed quietly but smiled, wiping her hands and walking over. She still had a towel draped over her shoulder.

She knelt beside Kenji, blushing a little, and poured more sake into his already half-full cup.

Meanwhile, Kazuma sat calmly in the corner, holding his cup in one hand and smiling softly. His eyes looked content and thoughtful.

Next to him, Haruki leaned back slightly, sake in hand, cheeks slightly flushed.

He looked around at the lively scene—laughter, food, loud voices, warm atmosphere—and let out a quiet breath.

He felt happy.

This kind of night made everything seem lighter.

After a few more rounds of laughter, Keiko and Kyouko came back from the kitchen, balancing trays of food and a new bottle of warm sake.

The smell of grilled meat and savory broth filled the room.

Keiko knelt beside Kazuma and gently poured him a fresh drink with a soft smile.

Across from them, Hitomi returned to Kenji’s side, quietly pouring his next round as he laughed to himself, face red and voice loud.

Hanako stayed beside Kitayama, keeping his cup full quietly, her presence steady and graceful.

Suddenly, Kitayama’s eyes shifted across the table and narrowed.

"Oi," he said, pointing with his cup.

"Haruki’s sitting all alone."

Haruki blinked while taking a sip.

Kitayama grinned.

"Well, Kyouko! Go sit next to your son-in-law!"

He laughed loudly, slapping the table.

"It’s your fault Satomi’s not here to pour for him. But even if she was, she’d just stay in her room like a ghost—what an eyesore!"

For half a second, everyone at the table was stunned into silence.

Then—

"Dear..." Hanako softly nudged him and whispered.

Kitayama blinked, confused.

"What?" he asked.

"I’m just saying what I really think," Hanako replied gently.

"It’s better than pretending to be polite and hiding how you feel."

"Yeah..." Kitayama said softly, but he didn’t say anything more.

Haruki gave a small bow, smiling.

"Ah, don’t worry about it... Mrs. Takahashi—"

"It’s Hanako, Haruki-kun," she said with a calm, elegant smile.

"You make it sound like we’re strangers when you say it like that."

"Oh—sorry, Mrs... Hanako," he said apologetically with a chuckle.

Kitayama snorted.

"Well, since Satomi’s not here..." he turned again to Kyouko.

"Kyouko!"

She sighed lightly, a little flustered but smiling.

"Yes, yes, Father... I understand."

Kyouko knelt gracefully next to Haruki, holding a warm sake bottle with elegant hands.

She poured sake into his cup slowly and smoothly, as if she’d done it a hundred times before.

Haruki slightly bowed his head and held his cup steady.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Across the table, Kitayama grinned, slammed his cup on the table, and said loudly,

"See!? It’s not that hard!"

He was satisfied and then grabbed a fresh skewer of grilled meat.

"That’s how it should be!"

Once again, everyone started laughing, chatting, and drinking. The hours flew by as the food disappeared and the sake made everyone’s faces warm.

The night air outside grew colder, but the living room stayed lively and bright.

"Oi!" Kitayama shouted, getting everyone’s attention.

"How about we all go to Ishigaki Island!?"

The room buzzed with excitement.

"Or—if not that—maybe Kyoto? Somewhere fun! Let’s take a proper family trip!"

He puffed out his chest proudly.

"I’ve got my pension now, after all!"

"I thought it would be nice for us all to go and have some fun for once!"

He turned to Haruki and pointed his finger at him.

"What do you say, Haruki!? Can you take five or six days off?"

Haruki blinked, surprised but smiling.

"I don’t mind at all, Mr. Kitayama."

He raised his cup.

"I can chip in and pay part of the trip if needed. I’ve saved up a little."

Kitayama burst out laughing.

"Oho! That’s the kind of attitude I like!"

Then, proudly—

"But this time, it’s on me!"

He gently slammed the table again.

"Or even better... how about going outside Japan!?"

The table fell silent for a moment.

Kyouko’s eyes widened slightly.

She looked toward her mother, Hanako, sitting right across from her.

Without saying a word, Kyouko gently moved her lips, her expression calm but full of quiet worry.

"Mother... is he serious?" she asked softly.

Hanako looked back at her daughter and just gave the faintest nod.

( End Of Chapter )