"Yes... right! I remember now, Hikari-kun, is your homeroom teacher Tsukishima Kyoko? It seems like she's in the class right next to mine, next to next to next to!", Azuma Kyoko suddenly remembered something, her eyes lighting up as she spoke.
"Right, Kyoko, your homeroom teacher is called Sunohara Ikumi, correct?", Hikari also had a vague impression.
"Yes yes yes! Originally it was Kano Makoto who was the homeroom teacher, but recently it changed to Sunohara Ikumi," Azuma Kyoko nodded repeatedly.
"So that's how it is..."
After discovering that Hikari was a fellow student at the same school, Azuma Kyoko became even more enthusiastic, constantly chatting with Hikari about various things at High.
Listening to Hikari and Azuma Kyoko's conversation, Azuma Hisato silently picked at her food, not speaking up.
It wasn't that she didn't want to talk, but for someone who had graduated many years ago, the topics between these two high school students, Hikari and Azuma Kyoko, were simply too hard for her to insert herself into.
So Azuma Hisato could only listen quietly while silently eating.
For some reason, seeing the young man and woman before her enthusiastically interacting, Azuma Hisato felt a sourness in her heart.
Especially seeing her cousin Azuma Kyoko's beaming expression, the sourness in her mouth grew even stronger.
If only she were also a high school girl, able to chat with Hikari about so many youthful topics...
This thought suddenly arose in Azuma Hisato's heart, one that even she herself found quite ridiculous.
What was this?
Feeling old? Actually jealous of her own cousin?
Or was it because she'd been too tired from work lately, and things with her fiance Azuma Norihiko had gotten rather strained, so she was starved for affection?
Or was it simply that she wanted to chat more with the handsome and reliable Hikari?
Azuma Hisato's emotions were complicated, her muddled head thinking all sorts of chaotic things.
Just then, a heavenly voice suddenly interrupted her restless thoughts.
"Auntie Hisato, do you have a secret for making miso soup? It tastes so fragrant."
Azuma Hisato instinctively turned her head and saw Hikari smiling as he asked her.
She hurriedly answered, "Hikari-kun likes it? That's wonderful! Actually there's no real secret! I just soak more kelp, and then add more of that..."
Azuma Hisato smiled as she answered Hikari's questions.
Then Hikari pointed out that several dishes tasted great and wanted to ask her for advice, and Azuma Hisato answered each one.
Until she suddenly noticed that her cousin Azuma Kyoko beside her was eating with her head down, and hadn't spoken to Hikari for quite a while.
Only then did she suddenly realize that Hikari just now didn't seem to simply want to praise her cooking or learn from her.
Instead, he had noticed she was awkwardly unable to join the conversation, and silently chatted with her to help ease her embarrassment.
Hikari-kun really was... so gentle...
Azuma Hisato's eyes suddenly stung, and she hurriedly lowered her head pretending to pick at her rice.
Seeing this, Hikari turned his head and continued chatting with Azuma Kyoko.
With Hikari balancing the attention, both sisters Azuma Hisato and Azuma Kyoko ate happily.
The dinner was thus satisfactorily concluded.
After eating and drinking their fill, and conserving their energy, Hikari was also preparing to return home.
To perform the succubus summoning ritual alone.
———
Night seeped through the window lattice of the Asou Apartments, and the dining room of Azuma Hisato's home still retained the lingering warmth of dinner.
Because she felt she'd hit it off so well with Hikari, Azuma Kyoko even took the initiative to add Hikari's Line after the meal.
Seeing this, Azuma Hisato also pulled Hikari aside, calling him to come to the corridor, and quietly chatted with him about some matters regarding the recent collection of evidence against Kamezo Gozou.
To this, Hikari naturally expressed encouragement.
Saying he would definitely help her bring down Kamezo Gozou and save their family from their suffering.
"Hikari-kun... I really am so grateful to you!"
Before she finished speaking, Azuma Hisato suddenly threw herself into his arms, her pair of jade arms tightly wrapping around his waist.
Feeling the soft and plump sensation clearly transmitted through the thin fabric, carrying the faint fragrance of residual body wash, Hikari couldn't help but feel somewhat awkward.
After all, Azuma Hisato was already practically a soon-to-be married woman, and moreover she was Natsuha's aunt.
Such intimate contact at this moment always felt strange.
But the way she was burying herself in his chest at this moment seemed like pure gratitude with her guard down, instinctively seeking something to lean on after shedding a whole day's exhaustion, without the slightest deliberate ambiguity, so he couldn't say much either.
It was just that this voluptuous beauty, ripe as a honey peach, held him exceptionally tightly, not only not letting go for a long time, but occasionally slightly lifting her eyes, her moist gaze carrying a hint of expectation, as if waiting for his response.
Hikari hesitated for a few seconds, then finally raised his hand and gently patted her jade back, his movements extremely light.
"It's alright, Auntie Hisato."
Hikari felt that ever since he helped Azuma Hisato expose Kamezo Gozou's scheme last time, this beautiful married woman's gaze toward him had gained a few more degrees of dependence.
Sure enough, hearing his response, Azuma Hisato's tense body gradually relaxed, her hands holding his waist and back slowly sliding down, reluctantly withdrawing from his embrace, her cheeks still carrying a faint blush.
"Hikari-kun can choose not to remember this kindness, but Auntie will never forget it."
"No matter what, Auntie will find a way to repay you!", After saying this seriously, Azuma Hisato turned to head back inside.
Not knowing how Azuma Hisato intended to repay him, Hikari smiled politely and first said goodbye to return to his own room.
And Azuma Hisato, after watching Hikari close his door, then turned around, preparing to go back and clear the dishes.
But just as she stepped into the entryway, she saw Azuma Kyoko's figure.
"Hisato-nee, I think I heard you talking in the living room just now, what were you and Hikari-kun chatting about?", Azuma Kyoko asked curiously.
Remembering that her tight embrace of Hikari might have been witnessed by her cousin, Azuma Hisato's cheeks immediately flushed hot, her fingertips clenching the hem of her dress, her tone somewhat guilty, "N-nothing! Just teaching him some little cooking tips, that's all!"
"Oh... I see," Azuma Kyoko didn't seem to suspect anything, after all, from the perspective of age and seniority, Azuma Hisato counted as an elder to both of them.
"Hisato-nee, I feel like Hikari-kun really is a good person, chatting with him is so fun, and he seems very reliable too, having a neighbor like this feels great," After Azuma Hisato finished washing dishes and came to the living room, Azuma Kyoko couldn't help but praise Hikari again.
Hearing this, Azuma Hisato smiled and nodded, but a trace of complex emotion flashed through her eyes, "Yes, Hikari-kun really is an excellent boy. What, Kyoko-chan, are you moved? Want to try confessing to him?"
When asking this question, Azuma Hisato teased verbally, but her heart inexplicably tightened, her gaze fixed dead on Azuma Kyoko's face, unwilling to miss any trace of expression.