Tokyo: Am I the only male tenant?

The wife interrupted her daughter's rebuttal and continued.

"Sachiko, you have been wholeheartedly trying to support the relationship between me and Sousuke-kun from the very beginning."

"This has never changed. Even when you started to act as if you were trying to compete with me for him, it was to encourage me to boldly admit this relationship, right?"

"Regardless of whether it's good or bad, you're doing this for my own good, right? But—"

My voice was shaking and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

Despite this, Tomoko Matsumoto still tried her best to squeeze out the sound.

Because even if it was only for a moment, if she stopped, she felt like she would never be able to speak again.

So she wanted to say that once she said this, she would never be able to retreat.

But she had to say it.

"Sachiko, you actually have a crush on Sousuke-kun, right?"

Just like that, the wife finally spoke out.

At that moment just now, she crossed a line from which she could never return.

It felt like the retreat route behind me was like thin ice that couldn't bear the weight and was quietly shattering and dissipating.

There was another silence as if frozen in time.

"Huh, it turns out that mom knows me best."

Matsumoto Sachiko was neither angry nor crying, she just smiled calmly.

"Mom is right. I didn't realize it at first. It was only after I came back from Okinawa that I realized I really liked Sosuke."

"But after I found out that my mother had taken the lead, I slowly came to terms with it."

"So the actions I planned for this trip were exactly as Mom said. They were just to stimulate you to go a step further. I didn't have any intention of sabotaging you."

Matsumoto Sachiko spoke naturally while stirring the floating iced coffee she brought back from outside with a straw.

"Won't Sachiko be mad at me? And won't you think it's weird that I'm dating a teenager at my age?"

Tomoko Matsumoto was a little surprised by her daughter's attitude.

She had prepared for the worst, but the terrible situation she expected did not happen.

"Mom, what you said is really outdated~"

"What era is it now? No one cares about age~"

"Besides, for a boy like Sousuke, it would be strange if I didn't fall in love with him, right?"

"Maybe when I reach my mother's age, I will also fall in love with this kind of youthful and energetic boy~"

Sachiko Matsumoto joked with her wife.

"If that's the case, mom will definitely support you."

Matsumoto Tomoko suddenly felt like she was about to burst into laughter, but she didn't actually shed tears.

"By the way, that incident in the bathhouse really went according to Sachiko's plan. You are such a scary kid."

The conversation with her daughter went much more smoothly than she had expected, which made the wife quickly relax.

"Ahahaha, mom overestimates me."

"In fact, things did not develop as I expected. I am deeply reflecting on my lack of careful planning."

"And because my mother and Sosuke always did things that were beyond my expectations, the whole process was a mess, but fortunately the result was in line with my expectations."

"Result? Do you mean I dare to admit to you my relationship with Sousuke-kun?"

"Yes, that's right, and your development has far exceeded my expectations."

"Hmm? What does this mean?"

Tomoko Matsumoto had an expression that looked as if she understood but not quite.

Obviously she didn't know that when she and Ginjo returned to the room from the corridor, her daughter was still awake.

"If you just want me to admit it myself, there should be a simpler and more direct way, right?"

"Why do you have to go out of your way to play the role of a rival and do something as roundabout as provoking me and Sousuke-kun?"

"Because it feels very interesting, especially seeing my mother being very jealous but not being able to show it, haha."

"I really lost to you, kid."

Tomoko Matsumoto covered her mouth with her hands embarrassedly and laughed softly.

"But now I can finally retire, that's great, that's great~"

Matsumoto Sachiko sipped the iced coffee in her hand, shrugged slightly, and spoke in a tone that sounded very relaxed.

In order to support them, she pretended to fight with her mother for Silver City...

But is it really just pretend?

The reason why Matsumoto Sachiko was so eager to push their relationship to such an obstinate degree... maybe it was because she wanted to make up her mind to give up Ginjo...

Well... after all, I am also a woman... it is not that easy to give up.

But at least at this moment, she didn't want to make any changes.

Just like this, I can see my mother every day, and I can also see Yincheng often. Isn’t it actually a very happy thing?

After taking a shower in the bathroom, Matsumoto Sachiko, feeling refreshed, lay on her bed and took out her cell phone.

"Ah! Hello, is this Sousuke?"

"Hmm? It's so late, what's up Sachiko?"

"It's nothing serious. I just want to report something to you."

"I've decided to stop my plan of pretending to have feelings for Sousuke to provoke my mother."

"..."

"Because things are not going as smoothly as expected, I am beginning to feel annoyed, so let's end it here."

"You really like to make your own decisions."

"Strange? You seem to be in a very low mood, I thought you would be happier..."

"Ah, you don't feel a bit sorry, do you? Even if it's just an act, you're still very happy to be liked by your current female college student?"

"I was just defeated by your willfulness."

"Ahaha! So that's how it is."

After laughing happily, Matsumoto Sachiko paused for a moment.

"Sosuke...thank you..."

she continued.

"I don't remember doing anything to deserve your thanks."

"Well, that's why I want to thank you. Thank you for not doing anything."

Sousuke did nothing about this thing he had planned, which was almost unnatural.

Although it was a bit strange for me to say this, my actions were indeed out of control this time.

I always do things that make my mother and Sosuke feel uneasy.

But Sosuke did not stop himself, nor did he try to persuade or question him.

He just watched silently as he acted according to his own willful thoughts.

"You are just watching silently because you trust me, right?"

"No, I'm just too lazy to take you seriously, so I just ignored you."

"You are not very frank."

Matsumoto Sachiko giggled.

"Anyway, that's the end of the battle plan."

She concluded again.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything weird again."

"That will put my mind at ease."

"Besides... there's probably no need for that..."

Matsumoto Sachiko added in a very low voice.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"No, nothing."

She said after taking a deep breath.

"Sousuke, it would be nice if you could stay with your mom forever."

"Ah? Yes... that's it..."

Ginjo was somewhat surprised at her words.

"If that's the case, how should I call you from now on, dad?"

"That's totally unnecessary... After all, we are just the same age..."

"Hahaha, then please work harder in the future~"

After saying this jokingly, Matsumoto Sachiko ended the call with Ginjō.

At this moment, she felt very calm, refreshed, and satisfied.

A light breeze blew in through the open window.

A warm yet inexplicably cool breeze blew across her entire body.

She couldn't help but go to the window and look up. In front of her was an endless blue summer sky.

...