Chapter 193 - 192 : Way To Aira’s Home

Chapter 193: Chapter 192 : Way To Aira’s Home

The next morning came soft and golden.

The old wooden house was wrapped in a quiet, peaceful hush. Sunlight poured through the small windows of the kitchen, catching on the wooden beams overhead and turning the faint dust motes into sparkling dust. The smell of miso soup, grilled mackerel, and fresh rice filled the air, mixed with the faint, sweet scent of the pickled vegetables in the small dishes. The clock in the hallway chimed softly at seven o’clock, its deep wooden tone echoing through the empty rooms like a gentle greeting.

Haruto and Yor sat at the low wooden table, both still wearing their normal clothes— though Yor’s was slightly rumpled from the night before, the blue top slightly unbuttoned at the collar and the pleated skirt still carrying the faint scent of ink and night air. Yor’s long silver hair was tied in a loose ponytail, a few strands escaping to frame her beautiful face. Her eyes were soft and warm as she sipped her tea, glancing occasionally at Haruto with that gentle, trusting smile. Haruto’s own hair was still slightly messy, the blazer hanging over the back of his chair, his hands resting on the table as he ate quietly. Every time he looked at her, his chest felt tight with love and guilt.

Grandfather sat at the head of the table, his long white beard neatly trimmed, his traditional dark kimono freshly washed and smelling of cedar. He sipped his green tea slowly, his eyes twinkling behind half-closed lids as he watched them.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, he set his cup down and spoke.

"You are going to Aira’s home today, aren’t you? You and Yor both? Aira’s Grandfather told me that last night."

Haruto swallowed his rice, his voice steady but warm.

"Yes, Grandfather. Me and Yor are going to Aira’s home today. We will stay there. My exams are near, so Aira will help me study. Yor is coming too she will do her part-time work. We thought it would be nice to have both of them close together."

Grandfather’s eyes softened with genuine happiness. He nodded slowly, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening.

"I see. Go then. It’s been a while since me and Aira’s Grandfather don’t gossip and drink sake together. He will come to my house tonight and stay the night here. That old man and I still argue about who makes better tamagoyaki. He always says his is sweeter."

Haruto smiled, the corner of his mouth lifting.

"It’s good then. Me and Yor also thought to stay at Aira’s home. It will be fun having all of us together under one roof."

Grandfather leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking softly, and took another sip of tea. The morning light caught the silver in his hair and the faint creases on his forehead.

"Ok... then go. Take care of each other. And remember — family is important. Even if it’s not blood, it’s still family."

The three of them finished breakfast in comfortable silence. Haruto helped clear the table, the clink of dishes and the soft sound of Yor’s footsteps as she rinsed the remaining bowls creating a quiet domestic rhythm. Grandfather watched them with a proud, content smile, his tea still warm in his hands.

The morning light grew brighter, painting the kitchen walls in soft gold. Outside, the cicadas were already loud in the garden, and the distant sound of children playing in the street drifted through the open window. Haruto felt a strange mix of warmth and nervous excitement in his chest.

He looked at Yor. She caught his eye and gave him that gentle smile again, her cheeks faintly pink. Haruto smiled back, heart full.

The morning sun was already warm when Haruto stepped out of the old wooden house for the last time before the exam. He wore his normal clothes, but his heart felt strangely light. For the first time in days, he had decided — without telling anyone — that he was not going to school for the next three days. His mind was filled with the private research program, the secret deal with Hina, and the promise he had made to Yor and Aira. He had too much to study. Too much to prepare. Too many dangerous thoughts still running through his head.

Yor waited at the gate, her long hair tied in a neat ponytail, wearing her usual black sweater and pleated skirt. She looked beautiful even in the morning light, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She carried a small bag with her tab for part-time work and a few books. When she saw Haruto, she smiled that gentle, trusting smile and slipped her hand into his.

"Ready?" she asked softly.

Haruto nodded, squeezing her fingers.

"Let’s go."

The road to Aira’s house was the usual quiet side street — narrow asphalt lined with ancient oak trees on both sides, their leaves rustling in the warm breeze. The morning sun was already climbing high, painting everything in bright, golden light. Cicadas sang loudly in the grass. The air smelled of fresh-cut grass and distant rain. Haruto and Yor walked side by side, their steps in perfect rhythm, her shoulder brushing his every few seconds. The private research program felt like a distant dream compared to the warmth of her hand in his.

They had almost reached the corner when Haruto noticed a small, old store tucked between two trees. The building was weathered wooden, the sign faded but still readable — "Koji’s Corner Shop". The glass door was slightly crooked, and a small bell jingled when he pushed it open. Inside smelled of instant coffee, fresh bread, and the faint, sweet scent of candy. The owner was an old man named Koji, who smiled at them with wrinkled eyes and a toothless grin.

Haruto and Yor stepped inside together.

Yor stood close to Haruto’s side, her body brushing his arm as she looked around with quiet curiosity. Her cheeks were already faintly pink from the morning heat. Haruto went straight to the counter.

"I need... two packs of condoms," he said quietly to Koji. "And one bottle of lube."

Koji raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment, simply took a box from the shelf and handed it over. Yor’s face turned bright red the moment she heard the words. She quickly looked away, staring at the rack of magazines instead, her fingers twisting the strap of her small bag. Haruto noticed the blush and felt his own cheeks warm. He paid quickly with crumpled bills, then turned to the ice cream freezer.

"Two strawberry ice creams," he told Koji.

Yor smiled shyly and nodded.

They stepped back out into the sunlight. The store bell jingled softly behind them. The heat of the morning sun was already climbing higher, turning the air shimmering above the asphalt. Sweat began to form on Haruto’s forehead and along his neck. Yor’s ponytail was slightly damp at the roots, and a thin line of sweat trickled slowly down the smooth curve of her neck, disappearing into the collar of her clothes.

Haruto and Yor walked side by side again, the two ice cream cones melting quickly in their hands. The pink strawberry ice cream dripped in long, glossy trails down their fingers and onto the road. Yor licked her lips carefully, trying not to let any melt onto her skirt. Haruto stole glances at her — at the way her heavy breasts moved softly with every step, at the faint sheen of sweat on her skin, at the delicate line of her neck still glistening.

He wanted to lean in and lick that salty sweat.

He wanted to taste her.

But they were on a public road. In broad daylight. With the sun beating down and other people possibly watching from windows or cars. So Haruto simply smiled at her, took a long lick of his own ice cream, and kept walking.

The cicadas sang louder.

The road stretched ahead, golden and endless.

Yor accepted who Haruto truly was after spending enough time understanding his nature, his feelings, and the way he viewed relationships. She knew that Haruto could love more than one person, and instead of judging him for it, she chose to understand him.

She was even ready to see him having sex with another girl in front of her. Rather than feeling threatened by it, Yor accepted that this was part of the relationship they had chosen. She was also comfortable with being intimate with Haruto in front of another girl, because both of them considered themselves Haruto’s soulmates. Their relationship was built around trust, honesty, and mutual acceptance rather than jealousy.

They were ready to accept Haruto by understanding each other as well. They knew that their feelings for him did not have to become a competition. Having sex was also, in their eyes, a natural way to express love, intimacy, and emotional closeness.

For Yor, however, the moment carried an even deeper meaning. She was excited because, for the first time, she was going to lose her virginity with Haruto. Even though another girl would be present, she wasn’t afraid or ashamed. She trusted Haruto completely and had faith in the feelings they shared.

What mattered most to Yor was that Haruto accepted her for who she was, and she was willing to accept him for who he was. She believed that love was not always about possessing someone—it could also be about understanding them, trusting them, and choosing to remain together despite their differences.

For the first time, Yor felt that she was stepping into a relationship where she could be completely honest about her feelings. She was nervous, excited, and happy, but above all, she trusted Haruto.