[Hirose Residence District, Afternoon]
Hirose Kaguya was utterly mortified.
After going so long without any... exercise, the intensity of what had just transpired left her thighs trembling like leaves in autumn wind. The muscles simply wouldn't obey her anymore, quivering with each tentative step she attempted.
Are young people nowadays really this... vigorous?
The thought wormed through her mind unbidden. Even her husband, back when they were newlyweds full of passion, had never been this... relentless. This thorough. Her heart still hammered against her ribs—thump-thump-thump—refusing to settle into anything resembling a normal rhythm.
Riku slowly helped her to her feet.
Kaguya draped her arm across his shoulder, her body pressed against his side for support. Her eyes kept stealing glances at him through lowered lashes, unable to help herself.
This close, she could feel the heat radiating from his body, could smell the clean masculine scent of him mixed with something darker—sweat and exertion and desire. His face was right there, all sharp jawline and handsome features.
But I'm already a mother, she reminded herself desperately. My daughter is probably around the same age as this boy.
The absurdity of the situation wrapped around her consciousness like a fever dream.
Truthfully, Hirose Kaguya had maintained her figure remarkably well. Curves in all the right places—full breasts, narrow waist, hips that flared just enough to be enticing. Her face remained beautiful, almost ageless in its delicate features. Even after childbirth, she could easily pass for a woman still in her late twenties.
Without knowing her actual age, no one would ever guess that this stunning creature was a single mother.
Riku supported her as they emerged from the narrow alley.
The instant they stepped out—
The sunlight was blinding compared to the dim shadows they'd just left.
All that passionate tumbling in the darkness suddenly felt like a hallucination, a dream that couldn't possibly have been real.
But Kaguya, remembering exactly what she had done—what she had initiated—wanted nothing more than to find a hole in the ground and disappear into it forever. Except her legs wouldn't cooperate. They continued their traitorous trembling, forcing her to lean against this young man's solid frame.
I really did that... I actually...
She could scarcely believe it herself.
An absurd thought blossomed in her mind.
Had she really been holding back for that long? Had the loneliness and deprivation finally driven her to such desperate acts?
Kaguya stole another peek at Riku.
Under the afternoon sun, his features were almost unfairly perfect—refined and handsome, nose elegantly straight, lashes long enough to make any girl envious. The light caught the angles of his face just right, casting shadows that made him look like he'd stepped straight out of a shoujo manga.
Her heart began racing again, thumping wildly like a startled deer.
Those girlish feelings she'd buried so many years ago stirred back to life.
The heart that had been crushed under life's relentless weight seemed to be slowly awakening.
But just as quickly, Kaguya forced those ridiculous notions back down.
These forbidden thoughts—I can't have them! I absolutely cannot!
Even so... even as she scolded herself... some treacherous part of her still craved it. Craved being truly satisfied. Truly filled.
The conflicting emotions churned inside her—tangled, messy, impossible.
On one side: pure biological instinct, raw and hungry.
On the other: the morality she'd clung to all these years.
Meanwhile, Riku heard the narrator's voice echoing through his consciousness once again:
「Through the photos that fell from the pervert's pocket, you noticed that Hirose-san seems to have a very beautiful daughter. This girl looks somehow familiar—you feel like you might have seen her somewhere before. But no matter. You've already captured her mother's body. With just a little more strategy, you could...」
Those scattered photographs—Riku had picked them all up.
The girl in the pictures did seem familiar somehow...
But he genuinely couldn't remember. It must have been a fleeting encounter, seen only once in passing.
"I... I still don't know your name."
Kaguya's voice came out stammering, tinged with shyness. Her gaze drifted sideways, unable to meet his eyes directly.
How am I supposed to face this young man after what I just did?
The question burned through her, leaving her flustered and pink-cheeked.
"My name is Hayanui Riku. Madam, shall I escort you home?"
Kaguya nodded shyly, her cheeks flushing deeper.
In her current state—legs unsteady, clothes slightly disheveled, that unmistakable post-coital glow on her skin—being seen by anyone would definitely invite gossip. Better to get home quickly.
---
They made their way to an apartment complex, Riku helping push her handcart alongside her.
By pure coincidence, Hirose Kaguya's apartment building stood directly across from Riku's own residence.
Separated by a single street.
By the time they reached the building's entrance, Kaguya had recovered enough strength to walk on her own. After storing the pushcart in the private garage, she found herself at a loss.
Should she invite him upstairs?
After what she'd just done to this young man...
What's the proper etiquette here? she wondered, anxiety coiling in her stomach.
Standing beside her, Riku heard the narrator speak once more:
「You notice that Hirose-san's feelings toward you are in a precarious state. Her boldness earlier—under the influence of your Shameless Thief ability—has left her completely unsettled. If you take the initiative now and suggest going upstairs to sit for a while, then...」
Hearing this, Riku decided to be bold for once.
"Auntie, may I come up for a bit?"
The sudden request threw Kaguya into complete disarray.
After a moment of visible internal struggle, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear—a nervous gesture that revealed her gorgeous face in full.
"Alright... come sit for a while. Auntie should properly thank you anyway."
She emphasized those last words with unmistakable weight.
Properly thank you.
---
Following Kaguya up to her apartment, the door swung open to release a wave of delicate fragrance—something floral and feminine, like jasmine mixed with vanilla.
The interior was decorated predominantly in pink, filled with cute touches and girlish charm.
"This is my daughter's preferred color scheme," Kaguya explained, a soft maternal note in her voice. "So I decorated everything to her taste. She attends Shibuya National First High—probably around your age, actually."
At the genkan entryway, Riku's eyes fell upon a framed photograph.
A girl in a school uniform, looking fresh and lovely with delicate features.
Recognition struck him like lightning.
The school flower of Shibuya National First!
Hirose Yoru!
He finally remembered where he'd seen her before.
After changing into guest slippers, Riku settled onto the living room sofa. The cushions were soft, slightly worn from years of use—comfortable in that lived-in way.
Behind him, Kaguya gently closed the door. And when she thought Riku wasn't paying attention, her fingers found the lock.
Click.
The soft sound of the deadbolt engaging.
Her small schemes couldn't escape the narrator's omniscient voice:
「You notice that Hirose-san has secretly locked the door behind you. Could this mean—! You decide to play innocent and tease this beautiful young widow a little.」
「You observe that Hirose-san's household seems rather financially strained. You could try offering some assistance to build goodwill, proceeding step by step...」
Riku sat on the sofa, letting his gaze wander casually around the room—taking in the modest furnishings, the careful cleanliness, the small signs of careful budgeting everywhere.
"Riku-kun, please wait just a moment. I'll go boil some water for tea."
"Sure."
He watched Kaguya's figure disappear into the kitchen—watched the sway of her hips, the way her house dress clung to her curves.
Then he slowly rose from the sofa.
「You decide to follow her into the kitchen and observe Hirose-san's domestic figure. Approach from behind, take her hands in yours, and then...」
---
Kaguya was still in the narrow kitchen, preparing to boil water. The kettle sat on the stove, not yet lit. She reached for the matches—
"Madam, is there anything I can help with?"
Riku's voice came from directly behind her.
"N-No... I'm just boiling water, that's all."
Kaguya's face flushed crimson instantly.
This is the second time in over a decade that I've lost my composure like this...
There was something about this young man. Something magnetic. Something she simply couldn't resist no matter how hard she tried.
The kitchen was cramped—barely large enough for one person, let alone two. Turning around was nearly impossible without bodies pressing together.
In such tight quarters—
Riku took a single step forward.
"Ahh—!"
Kaguya's soft cry escaped as her body was pressed against the counter. The edge of the stove dug into her lower abdomen, cold metal against warm flesh through the thin fabric of her dress.
Riku's chest pressed firmly against her back.
"Madam, my apologies..."
The words were apologetic. His actions were anything but.
His hands slid around Kaguya's waist from behind, traveling forward until his fingers interlaced with hers, pinning her hands against the counter on either side of the stove.
The heat between them was suffocating in the tiny space. Kaguya could feel every hard plane of his body against her soft curves—his chest against her shoulder blades, his hips against her rear, his breath hot on her neck.
「Shameless Thief」activated once more.
Seeing the notification, Riku leaned forward, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear.
"Madam..."
The single whispered word sent electricity racing down Kaguya's spine.
Her chest began heaving dramatically, breasts rising and falling with each ragged breath. The thin material of her dress did nothing to hide the way her nipples had stiffened into visible points.
I shouldn't... we can't... not again... not HERE...
"No... we... we can't..."
Her refusal came out breathless and utterly unconvincing.
Because even as the words left her lips, her hips had begun to move on their own—rolling backward, grinding against the hardness she could feel pressing insistently against her backside through layers of clothing.
What am I doing? Kaguya thought desperately, even as her body betrayed her completely. My daughter could come home... the kitchen... this is insane...
But she couldn't stop.
The waistband of her dress had somehow ridden up, and she could feel the heat of him even through his pants, pressing right against the thin cotton of her underwear—underwear that was already growing damp.
Her hips continued their shameless circular motion, seeking more friction, more pressure, more of him.
---