Tomoko's hands froze on the cutting board. The knife she'd been using to slice cucumbers for miso soup hovered mid-air, trembling ever so slightly.

"Sou… Sousuke-kun…" Her tone was soft, but her voice betrayed a nervous flutter. "It's morning… we… we can't…"

I leaned in closer, my chest brushing against her back, feeling the warmth radiating through her thin floral dress. Her hair, loosely tied in a messy bun, released a faint scent of shampoo — sweet and addictive.

I lowered my voice, teasing, "You always say that, Tomoko. But every time I see you like this, smiling in the sunlight, cooking in that cute apron… I just can't help myself."

Her breath caught in her throat and she said, "Y-You… can't say things like that so casually…"

"Casually?" I whispered, brushing my lips against the shell of her ear. "Who said I was joking?"

Tomoko's whole body stiffened, her knuckles gripping the kitchen counter as if she might collapse. "S-Sousuke…"

I loosened my hold just slightly, letting my fingers trail down from her waist, skimming her sides. She shivered like a startled deer.

"You know," I said in mock seriousness, "for someone who tells me to eat properly, you're being very distracting. What if I can't finish breakfast because of you?"

Tomoko turned her head slightly, just enough for me to catch the blush burning across her cheeks.

"You… You're such a bad boy… teasing an older woman like this…"

"Older woman?" I grinned. "Tomoko, do you know how many college guys would kill to have someone like you cooking for them in the morning?"

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

I reached for the cucumber slices on the counter, plucked one up, and held it to her lips.

"Say 'ah,'" I said playfully.

She blinked at me, clearly flustered and asked, "W-What are you doing…?"

"Feeding you. I can't be the only one who eats breakfast," I teased. "Or… do you want me to do it like this?"

Before she could react, I popped the cucumber into my mouth — but left half of it sticking out, leaning forward, closing the distance between us.

"Wha—!"

Her breath hitched. "S-Sousuke-kun, that's—"

I tilted my head, closing in, my lips just inches away from hers, our breaths mingling in the warm kitchen air. "What's wrong, Tomoko? It's just breakfast…"

Her eyes widened, and for a split second, I thought she might pull away.

But instead…

She leaned forward ever so slightly. Her lips brushed the cucumber, just shy of touching mine.

"...You're impossible," she whispered, her cheeks redder than the tomatoes on the counter.

I chuckled softly. "You taste better than breakfast, you know."

"S-Sousuke!" She swatted at me with the dish towel, but her flustered smile betrayed that she wasn't really angry.

The kitchen, with its simple aroma of rice and miso, suddenly felt hotter — like the air itself was thick with tension.

"Finish your meal," she murmured, turning away to hide her face. "If you make me drop this miso soup, I'll… I'll…"

"You'll what?" I smirked, stepping back just enough to let her breathe.

She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes shimmering with something between shyness and longing. "…I'll make you wait until tonight."

"Tonight, huh?", I eventually let go, grinning as I stepped back.

"Then… breakfast, Tomoko," I said lightly.

She turned away quickly, but the rosy flush on her cheeks betrayed her. "Y-Yeah. Wait just a moment. I'll bring it right out."

A few minutes later, she emerged from the kitchen with a tray, and I swear I could smell her before I even saw the food — a warm, homey scent that somehow felt like it wrapped around me.

Grilled fish, raw egg over steaming rice, miso soup, and a few slices of fresh fruit. Simple, yes, but the presentation and aroma screamed care.

We sat across from each other, the sunlight pouring over the small dining table, painting the scene with the kind of domestic warmth that made it feel like…

Like we'd been living together forever.

"Sousuke-kun," she asked suddenly, "are you working after school today?"

There was a subtle undercurrent to her tone — like she was hoping I'd say no.

"Nope," I replied with a small smile. "My part-time job is only four days a week. Today's Wednesday, so I'm free."

Her eyes brightened slightly, and then she spoke, almost hesitantly, "I-If Sousuke-kun has time this afternoon… would you like to go shopping with me?"

I stopped, chopsticks pausing midair and repeated, "Shopping?"

"I haven't been to the mall in ages," she continued, twirling a strand of her hair, "and most of my clothes are getting old. I want to buy something… new."

[System Notification!]

[Target: Matsumoto Tomoko appears to need your assistance.]

[The housewife invites you to go shopping. Mission completion reward: 5000 yen.]

"Oh—uh…" I stammered at first, caught off guard. My hesitation made her lips twitch awkwardly, as if she regretted even asking.

"A-Ah, if you're busy, never mind. I can go alone…" she murmured, trying to hide her disappointment behind a small smile.

I leaned forward, shaking my head. "You misunderstood, Tomoko! I've got nothing planned this afternoon. I'd love to go together."

Her expression softened instantly, relief flooding her face and she asked, "Really? That's… great. I'll wait for you to come back from school."

To be honest, the system reward wasn't the only reason I agreed.

A woman starts caring about how she looks when there's someone she wants to impress. And for Tomoko-san, that someone… was obviously me.

Accompanying her, helping her choose clothes that made her look even more radiant — in the end, I'd be the one enjoying the view, right?

Besides, I'd been meaning to get her a small gift. This trip to the mall was the perfect opportunity.

Breakfast filled me with energy, the warmth of her cooking sinking into me like sunlight.

By the time I picked up my schoolbag and left for class, the streets were already lively. Groups of students laughed and teased each other on the way, and cherry blossom petals scattered in the breeze like soft pink snow.

Girls stopped to snap photos, some crouching in ridiculous angles to capture the perfect shot.

Honestly… I didn't know which sight was more captivating — the fluttering petals or the glimpse of thigh under a pleated skirt.

School was its usual chaos. As soon as I entered the classroom, I was hit with another wave of gossip, no doubt leftover from yesterday's new member event with Lisa Shiraishi.

I ignored it all. Explanations only fuel rumors, and time is the best eraser.

During class, I found myself staring out the window more often than not, my thoughts drifting back to Tomoko-san's smile earlier that morning.

By lunch, a few boys invited me to eat with them. We weren't many in this class, so it was easy to get along. We joked about games, baseball, and, of course, the girls in our class.

This is what college life is supposed to be: a mix of energy, dumb conversations, and fleeting youth.

The afternoon passed in a blur. I scribbled a few notes on paper, mostly about the system rewards I'd accumulated which was already over 100,000 yen. Not bad for a college student.

But all I could think about was the shopping trip later.

As soon as classes ended, I changed out of my uniform, slipping into casual clothes… jeans and a white T-shirt.

The boy staring back at me from the mirror looked… surprisingly like a magazine model. Clean-cut, bright smile, tall and fit , even the simple outfit popped on me. So, this is what people meant that it matters who is wearing the clothes and not the other way around.

Anyway, when I came downstairs, Tomoko-san was already waiting.

And… wow.

She'd gone all out.

Delicate makeup highlighted her warm brown eyes and soft lips, making her look like a completely different woman compared to the barefaced beauty I saw every morning.

But it was the outfit that nearly killed me — a black, form-fitting dress that hugged her body like a second skin.

Her chest pushed against the fabric in a way that made me want to avert my eyes, but I couldn't. Her waist was slim enough to hold with one hand, and her curves below were… dangerously perfect.

Black heels clicked softly as she shifted, and the sight of her pale calves peeking out made my pulse spike.

She caught me staring. Her lips parted slightly, and then she bit them — not out of embarrassment, but something else. Something… playful.

"Shall we go, Sousuke-kun?" she said softly.

"Uhh… yes."

The mall was only a ten-minute walk away, but with Tomoko-san next to me, each step felt slower, heavier, like I wanted to savor every second of this walk.

"It's funny," she murmured. "This mall's been open for months, but I've never once set foot inside."

"Then let's make today special," I said, smiling.

She glanced up at me, her eyes warm and a little shy and said, "Yes."

--

If you want to read 10+ chapters, visit my ptttn.

ptttn.com/Hentai_kun