My dear wife, I still love you more.

Hasegawa had no idea how Yukino Yukinoshita was feeling. He went to the kitchen, carefully prepared a pot of nutritious soup, put it in a thermos, and then set off with Yukino Yukinoshita to Yukinoshita's house.

Hasegawa had visited the Yukinoshita family once before, and this was his second time here. However, thinking about what happened when he came here last time, it was a cause and effect relationship that led him to come here a second time.

"Hasegawa, over here," Yukino Yukinoshita waved to Hasegawa.

"kindness!"

Walking in this place that was both familiar and unfamiliar, Hasegawa felt a mix of nervousness and a sense of wonder. Perhaps he would come here more often in the future, not because of Yukino Yukinoshita or Haruno Yukinoshita, but for the sake of these two children.

After all, it was his own child; how could Hasegawa possibly ignore it?

"Yukino, oh? Hasegawa, you're here too." Yukinoshita Haruno greeted Yukinoshita Yukino, and then her eyes lit up when she saw Hasegawa following behind Yukinoshita Yukino. She waved to Hasegawa.

"Well, after all, Auntie is already nearing her due date. If she didn't know, that would be fine, but now that she does, I can't just pretend nothing happened. Oh, and I also made a pot of soup for Auntie."

“Is that so? Then thank you, Hasegawa. Come on, let’s go to the room to talk. Mom will be very happy to see you, after all, she likes you quite a bit.” Yukinoshita Haruno said to Hasegawa with a smile.

Hasegawa felt a pang of guilt upon hearing Yukinoshita's words.

Entering the room, Hasegawa saw Mrs. Yukinoshita sitting half-upright on the bed. Despite her large belly and imminent delivery, Mrs. Yukinoshita looked remarkably healthy, even better than most people. Her current energy made her seem nothing like an elderly mother.

It was precisely because of Mrs. Yukinoshita's good complexion that Yukinoshita Haruno felt much less worried.

When Mrs. Yukinoshita saw Hasegawa, her eyes lit up slightly: "Hasegawa, what brings you here too?"

"Here, I made you some soup." Hasegawa held up the food container in his hand.

"Thank you. I know your cooking skills, Hasegawa, so the soup you make must be delicious and very nutritious. With Hasegawa here, I don't have to worry about not getting enough nutrition at all." Mrs. Yukinoshita said with a smile, but Hasegawa understood what she meant.

As for Yukino and Yukino, they didn't even consider any other possibilities.

“That’s right, Mom, you’re right. Hasegawa’s cooking skills are really excellent. If I hadn’t been restraining myself and hadn’t exercised more, I probably would have gained a lot of weight by now.” Yukino Yukinoshita’s tone softened at this moment.

"Really? Hehehe, that's good. To be honest, I was a little worried at first. But now, I'm not worried at all," Mrs. Yukinoshita said with a smile.

Yukino Yukinoshita felt that she didn't quite understand what her mother was saying, but she didn't think much of it.

Chapter 107 Eriri, the Silly Girl

"Mom, why did you move here?" Eriri asked, frowning as she arrived at Sayuri Sawamura's new home.

“Why can’t we move here? The rooms are big, and the beds are big enough. We can definitely fit. And it would be nice to live with Yui-chan. Most importantly, Hasegawa comes over often.” Sawamura Sayuri winked at Eriri.

"Mom, you, you—it's because that bastard Hasegawa comes here so often that you shouldn't be here!" Eriri was getting a little frantic.

"Why? Mom moved here because of Hasegawa. Eriri, do you want to move in with Mom too?" Sawamura Sayuri said to Eriri with a smile.

"No way." Eriri rejected the idea without even thinking. Well, given her proud and aloof personality, she already regretted her decision afterward.

"Really don't want to? After you come, Eriri can sleep in my room. What if Hasegawa sneaks into my room in the dark one day, and it turns out you're the one sleeping in the bed? Maybe then—" Sawamura Sayuri said this deliberately with a smile in her eyes.

Eriri, following her mother's description, even conjured up images of that time, and her heart began to flutter. However, seeing her mother's teasing, half-smiling expression, Eriri, in a moment of pride, dismissed all those thoughts: "Who would think about something like that?"

"Sigh? You really don't want to? If that's the case, then forget it. As expected, daughter, you're utterly useless. All the methods I've come up with for you have been wasted." Sayuri Sawamura shook her head, seemingly disappointed.

Eriri opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't utter a single word. A strange feeling lingered in her heart, even a sudden urge to smash her mother's belongings. Why couldn't her mother be a little more normal? Why not just be assertive and let her stay here? Why did she have to ask for her opinion? What, if I'm useless, why didn't you just arrange everything perfectly for me? Why did she have to say things like that in front of her?

Thinking about this, Eriri was extremely annoyed.

"Hmph, I don't want to live here. Hasegawa is a jerk, only you would like him." Eriri said tsundere again.

"Does Eriri not like Hasegawa anymore?"

"I don't like him at all. I didn't like him from the beginning."

"Since you don't like Hasegawa, Eriri, why did you try to stop Mom before?"

"Of course it's because you're a married woman, Mom. You're married and have a family. How can you have a relationship with another man under these circumstances, especially since Hasegawa is the same age as your daughter?" Eriri couldn't help but argue.

"So now that Mom is divorced, Eriri won't stop Mom anymore, right?"

“You, you, Hasegawa is so much younger than you. You, you will definitely age very quickly. Although you still look good now, what will you do when you get old and Hasegawa is still in his prime in a few years?” Eriri thought hard and then came up with this idea: “That’s why I want to stop you, Mom. After all, you will be very sad if Hasegawa abandons you because of this. I don’t want to see you sad then.”

"So that's what Eriri thought. I really have to thank you, Eriri. But Eriri, have you noticed that my complexion has improved a lot? All the wrinkles on my face have disappeared, and my skin is getting better and better. So aging shouldn't happen so quickly." Sawamura Sayuri smiled and touched her face, saying happily.

"Um, is this really true?" Eriri looked at her mother in surprise. She hadn't noticed before, but now, after her mother's reminder, Eriri realized that her mother's complexion seemed to have really improved, and her skin had become firmer. In fact, Eriri didn't feel that her skin had any advantage over her mother's.

"Mom, how did you do that?" Eriri asked, her eyes wide with surprise and even envy.

"How did they manage to do that? I feel like it's because of Hasegawa's OO."

"Huh?" Eriri looked completely bewildered.

"Because it's not just me, there's also Yui-chan. She looks incredibly young now, all her wrinkles have completely disappeared. We both look like that, but apart from our relationship with Hasegawa, we don't have anything in common. We even use different cosmetics. I really can't think of any other explanation besides Hasegawa." Sawamura Sayuri said with a smile. Of course, since Hasegawa hadn't told her about this, Sawamura Sayuri didn't know about Hasegawa's abilities. The reason she said this was largely because she was joking, teasing her daughter, and making fun of her.

It has to be said, though, that sometimes, casual jokes can actually be the truth. Perhaps it's because Sawamura Sayuri has a rather wild imagination, or maybe she reads too many doujinshi (fan-made comics), which leads to all sorts of random thoughts, and then, she guessed right.

Eriri was completely bewildered. She hadn't expected her mother to give her such an explanation. However, she found it strange that her mother might be right. After all, Eriri was Sawamura Sayuri's daughter, and their imaginations were sometimes inherited from each other. In addition, she was a doujinshi artist who had drawn all sorts of random and nonsensical settings, so she was actually quite receptive to her mother's rambling explanation.

However, after accepting this idea, Eriri couldn't help but feel strange. Hasegawa actually had this kind of ability? If that was the case, it seemed understandable that her mother and Mrs. Yui were clinging to Hasegawa. But, but, this was too exaggerated.

Furthermore, if Hasegawa truly possesses such abilities, then marrying him seems like an excellent choice. After all, while Eriri is still young, she knows she'll grow old and lose her beauty eventually; she's just too young to think about it now. However, if Hasegawa truly has these abilities, from a long-term perspective, marrying him, or even just living like her mother, doesn't seem entirely unacceptable. After all, no one wants to age and become ugly day by day; no one does, it's just the law of nature that cannot be changed.

Seeing Eriri's ever-changing expressions, Sawamura Sayuri couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Sawamura Sayuri thought that her daughter was sometimes really a complete idiot, believing whatever she was told. It was obviously impossible to believe such a thing. How could such a bizarre ability exist in reality? Unless they lived in a novel or anime, such an ability would never exist.

"Um, what about Hasegawa? Will he be back today?" Eriri asked, her eyes slightly evasive.

"Hasegawa, Eriri, you're going to be disappointed today. Hasegawa won't be coming back today, and he probably won't be back for the next few days either," Sawamura Sayuri said with a smile.

"Huh? Why? Hasn't he come these past few days?" Eriri couldn't help but ask. Eriri came here partly to see her mother, and partly to see Hasegawa. Well, it really was just a side trip. Now that Hasegawa isn't coming, Eriri is particularly disappointed.

"Because Mrs. Yukinoshita's baby is about to be born, Hasegawa went to visit her. Hasegawa will probably stay at the Yukinoshita family's house temporarily until the baby is born," Sawamura Sayuri said with a shrug.

"Huh? What does Mrs. Yukinoshita having a baby have to do with Hasegawa? Even if he has a decent relationship with the Yukinoshita sisters, it's still none of his business if their mother has a baby. Why is he rushing around like that? Anyone who didn't know better would think that Mrs. Yukinoshita's baby was his." Eriri pouted, quite annoyed.

"Well, well, who knows?" Sawamura Sayuri said meaningfully.

Although no one said anything, Sayuri Sawamura had a nagging feeling that perhaps the relationship between Hasegawa and Mrs. Yukinoshita wasn't so simple, especially after Mrs. Yukinoshita's recent childbirth. Hasegawa seemed quite enthusiastic about it, which is unusual for him. Furthermore, Mrs. Yukinoshita had previously invited Hasegawa to discuss something for several hours; it seemed like it wasn't just a simple conversation.

Given Hasegawa's current reaction, Sayuri Sawamura is now 90% certain. The relationship between Hasegawa and Mrs. Yukinoshita is definitely not that simple; perhaps even the child Mrs. Yukinoshita is about to have has something to do with Hasegawa.

"Huh? Mom, what do you mean? You mean, you mean—" Eriri stared wide-eyed at her mother.

“That’s right, just like you thought, Eriri. Most likely.” Sayuri Sawamura nodded.

"Hasegawa, that Hasegawa guy almost married Yukinoshita Haruno last time. Since the wedding was already canceled, why is he doing this again? Is it really possible that Hasegawa will remarry Yukinoshita Haruno? Or Yukinoshita Yukino?" Eriri's thoughts were completely different from Sawamura Sayuri's.

Sawamura Sayuri's expression froze, staring at her daughter in astonishment: "Eriri, you, you really are such a simpleton."

"Mom, why are you suddenly saying this to me? Damn it, Hasegawa! I thought he was fine after things ended with Yukinoshita Haruno. Now he's getting back together with the Yukinoshita family. Oh, and I heard the Yukinoshita family is going into publishing. Hasegawa must be getting back together with Yukinoshita Haruno because of that. That jerk!" Eriri said through gritted teeth.

"..." Sawamura Sayuri couldn't help but cover her head. She suddenly began to doubt whether Eriri was really her biological daughter. Why couldn't she see any of her own intelligence in her? Although she did have talent in drawing, she was completely unlike herself in other aspects.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Eriri suddenly saw her mother clutching her head with a headache and couldn't help but worry. After all, she knew that her mother had just decided to move out and establish a relationship with Hasegawa with Mrs. Yuihama, but now Hasegawa was going to marry the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family. Eriri felt that her mother might not be able to accept this outcome.

"No, it's nothing! Sigh!" Sayuri Sawamura shook her head, glanced at Eriri, and finally couldn't help but sigh.

"Um, Mom, something feels off about you?" Eriri was a little confused by her mother's attitude.

"Strange? Heh, it would be strange if I didn't feel strange. Eriri, I have a slight suspicion that you were switched at birth when we were in the hospital. Perhaps, you're not my daughter at all." Sayuri Sawamura placed her right hand on Eriri's shoulder.

Eriri rolled her eyes. "Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? Do you think it's possible for us to make such a mistake given our current appearances?" Eriri said irritably.

"Hmm, that makes sense. So, did you abandon the fetus and raise the placenta instead?" Sayuri Sawamura still looked like she couldn't accept the truth.

"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? Honestly, why are you bringing this up about me, and saying such hurtful things about me? What did I do wrong?" Eriri was baffled by her mother's words, and even a little annoyed. After all, her mother's words made it seem like she had a very low IQ, an extremely low IQ.

"No, it's nothing. I just suddenly realized that Eriri, you need to do your best," Sawamura Sayuri encouraged Eriri.

"Huh? Good luck? What is that?" Eriri wondered if her mother had something wrong with her brain, always saying nonsensical things that she couldn't understand at all.

"Never mind, Eriri. What do you think of my suggestion? I think this might be your only option. As your mother, I want to help you, but this is all I can do," Sawamura Sayuri suddenly changed her mind and said to Eriri.

"What kind of suggestion is this?" Eriri asked, puzzled.

"It means you move here and live in my room. Only then will you be able to be ambushed by Hasegawa at night and finally achieve your goal with Hasegawa."

"Mom! You, you, I won't do that. I don't even want that Hasegawa guy." Eriri blushed and shouted with a haughty expression.

"..." Sawamura Sayuri looked at her daughter speechlessly, and finally shook her head and sighed.

Eriri blinked, feeling that her mother was really inexplicable. She couldn't understand why her mother had that expression, as if her daughter was something terrible. This made Eriri extremely annoyed.

"Mother--"

"Okay, Eriri, stop talking. Seriously, if you keep going, I'm starting to doubt if you're really my daughter. My emotional intelligence is perfectly fine, isn't it?" Sawamura Sayuri muttered to herself.

"Hey, Mom, that's going too far! What did I do wrong? How am I lacking in emotional intelligence? You're being really mean. I'm your daughter!"

"That's why I'm suspicious, if it weren't for the fact that you look nine-tenths like me."

"..." Eriri had absolutely no idea what was going on. Why was everything fine before, and suddenly her mother's attitude towards her changed like this? Had something happened to her? But no, nothing seemed wrong with her either. What she said just now seemed perfectly normal.

Finally, Eriri rolled her eyes and attributed the whole thing to her mother having a mental breakdown.

Thinking about it, it makes sense. My own mother often has mental issues. If she didn't, why would she be like this? And when I was little, what mother would encourage her daughter to draw in books? Even Sawamura Sayuri deliberately guided her to draw in books back then. No matter how you look at it, 80% of the responsibility for how I am the way I am now can be attributed to my mother.

Ta-da!

"Please come in!"

"Eri, welcome to visit your mother. Here are some snacks I prepared. Please have a taste." Mrs. Yuihama came in carrying a tray with some snacks and a few cups of tea.

"Ah, thank you, thank you Aunt Yuihama." Eriri quickly stood up.

"Don't be so polite, Sayuri and I are best friends. Would you like to stay here tonight?" Mrs. Yuihama said with a smile, her tone quite gentle.

"Is this...is this okay?" Eriri asked, seemingly shy.

"Of course, if Eriri is willing. After all, your mother lives here too. As a daughter, isn't it normal to want to live with your mother?" Mrs. Yuihama said with a smile. But looking at Eriri, Mrs. Yuihama thought of her own daughter. Although her daughter, Yuihama Yui, was no longer interfering with her relationship with Hasegawa, it was clearly impossible for her daughter to live harmoniously with her here.

Mrs. Yuihama had a wishful thought: that her daughter would accept Hasegawa as her father.

Chapter 108 Hasegawa's Guilty Thoughts

Outside the delivery room at Yukinoshita's house, Hasegawa paced back and forth anxiously, glancing up at the delivery room every now and then.

"Hasegawa, why are you so nervous? If people didn't know better, they'd think you were the child's father." Yukinoshita Haruno was also quite nervous, but seeing Hasegawa's expression, she couldn't help but laugh.

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at Hasegawa, finding it somewhat subtle. After all, Hasegawa's reaction was no less intense than her own as her daughter. Wasn't Hasegawa being a little too nervous?

"Ahem, well, well, this is my first time experiencing something like this, so it's understandable that I'm a little nervous. And now I just happen to be caught in the middle of it." Hasegawa forced a smile, his excellent acting skills making his smile look very natural, as if he had suddenly realized that the people inside didn't really have much to do with him, and that he didn't need to be so nervous at all.

Seeing Hasegawa's expression, both Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukinoshita Yukinoshita couldn't help but laugh. Their initial worry and anxiety instantly dissipated.