The courtyard covered in white snow was draped in silver.
Toru and Shizuka stood in the snow. The atmosphere was quiet, and neither of them spoke.
After a while, Shizuka could not help but say, "Heiji's actions today were not mature enough. As his mother, I apologize to you, Toru-kun."
Toru smiled. "The matter is already over, and I don't mind. Shizuka-san doesn't need to be like this."
Shizuka sighed. She was only using those words to start a conversation between them.
The overly quiet atmosphere made Shizuka feel a bit flustered.
Now that the topic had a beginning, her chaotic heart finally calmed down.
"What were you thinking about just now, Shizuka-san, looking at the moon?"
"I was just thinking about the difference between the moon in Hakodate and the moon in Osaka."
Toru smiled slightly. "Although the moon is the same, the scenery we see will be different depending on the mood of the person looking at it."
He turned his head and looked at Shizuka's profile, saying softly, "Just like when Shizuka-san and I stand together to look at the moon, the moon seems especially beautiful."
Shizuka's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. Her eyelashes trembled, and she did not dare to look at Toru, but from the bottom of her heart, a girlish excitement began to rise.
She pretended to joke, "Toru-kun is very good at chatting with girls, but those words are better said to younger girls."
"I'm already old, so words like that are a bit inappropriate for me."
"What's inappropriate? I'm only praising your beauty and expressing my admiration... It's just a pity."
"A pity about what?"
Shizuka's heart raced because of Toru's words.
Her husband was a serious and meticulous person. Even during their dating period, he had never said such words to her or brought her much romance.
Shizuka was also the eldest daughter of the Ikebami family, with a family background similar to the Hattori family, a match made in heaven.
Although their marriage had feelings, it was more of a powerful alliance.
Shizuka did not dislike her husband. He had fulfilled his duties as a husband.
However, women were emotional creatures and needed more emotional value. Every woman longed for romance and a strong man.
This was why blond men could always cut in, and why those delinquents always had women around them.
Although Shizuka was a mature woman, ordinary blond men and delinquents would be useless against her, but in essence, she was still a woman, and her needs had not changed at all.
When the enhanced version of the blond, Toru, appeared, Shizuka was somewhat overwhelmed.
"It's a pity I didn't meet Shizuka-san earlier. Otherwise, I would have definitely pursued you passionately."
Toru showed a regretful expression.
As if possessed, Shizuka said, "Can't you pursue me passionately now?"
She panicked for a moment, then quickly explained, "What I said just now was just nonsense. Toru-kun should just pretend he didn't hear it."
Shizuka immediately changed the subject. "What Toru-kun did today was too dangerous. The car was so close. What if you had accidentally gotten injured?"
"But if I hadn't done that, it would have been Shizuka-san who got injured. I'm strong and healthy, so a small injury doesn't matter. But if Shizuka-san got hurt, I would feel heartbroken."
Toru suddenly became bold, and his tone began to carry a hint of flirtation within the ambiguity.
Shizuka rolled her eyes at him. "Is this how Toru-kun talks to girls?"
"I'm just saying what I truly think, expressing my true feelings. If some words are kept inside and never said, they will only lead to regret later."
Toru shook his head. "The thing I least want to see is regret, so no matter the outcome, some things have to be tried. I'm not the type of person who only thinks and doesn't act."
With these words, Toru almost openly stated what was in his heart, making Shizuka slightly embarrassed and annoyed. She felt that Toru was too bold.
But seeing Toru's sincere eyes and burning gaze, Shizuka suddenly remembered that Toru had grown up in America. Perhaps he was used to the directness of the West and lacked the subtlety of Japan.
However, sometimes, the paper between two people was just that thin, and someone had to boldly pierce it.
Subtlety was beautiful, but subtlety could also leave both sides with regret.
Shizuka's mood was very confused. She could not get past the hurdle in her heart and could only say self-deprecatingly,
"Toru-kun is so young and handsome. There are many girls who like you, such as Momiji, and that Hayasaka who came with you. She also has a good impression of you."
"Toru-kun, don't say you can't tell. You're not dense about emotions. You can definitely feel it."
"I'm just an old woman with a child and a husband. It's better for Toru-kun not to spend too much energy on me."
Mentioning her child and husband was also Shizuka's way of warning herself not to make a mistake.
"What other women think of me is not important. What is truly important is, what does Shizuka-san think of me?"
"You..."
Shizuka was left speechless by Toru's words. She did not expect him to be so blunt and directly bring the topic back.
"Shizuka-san, don't lie to yourself. Please tell me your true feelings. Can you make me happy?"
Toru said this sincerely.
Shizuka was conflicted for a moment. She hesitated for a long time, then sighed softly. "Being by Toru-kun's side makes me feel very at ease."
"With Shizuka-san saying that, I'm in a very good mood now. I'm not trying to destroy Shizuka-san's family. I'm just pursuing beauty."
"In my eyes, Shizuka-san is such a beautiful and excellent woman, worthy of me pursuing even against widespread criticism. Especially Shizuka-san's somewhat strict motherly love, I also like it very much."
Shizuka suddenly remembered that Toru seemed to have grown up without a mother.
Was he pursuing her so passionately because something had been missing in his childhood?
Thinking of this, Shizuka felt pity for him.
When a woman's motherly love overflowed, she was easily prone to making some bold decisions.
"How long has it been since Shizuka-san was last intimate?"
"Your words are getting bolder and bolder."
"Being too hesitant really isn't like a man. I'm just boldly saying what I think."
Sincerity was always the strongest move.
Shizuka was instead made dizzy by Toru's overly sincere words, and that bit of reserve also disappeared.
After all, she was not a teenage girl, but a mature woman.
Shizuka said ambiguously, "It's been a long time."
"I won't destroy Shizuka-san's family, nor will I talk about this. In Japan, this kind of thing isn't uncommon. Isn't it good for each side to get what they need?"
Do not treat women like fools.
When you have thoughts about them, women are actually well aware of it.
And a woman's subsequent behavior can actually determine whether she is also interested in you. As long as both sides truly see eye to eye, a relationship is only natural.
This is the so-called ambiguous atmosphere.
Especially for experienced women, after testing the waters, it is good to boldly express your thoughts. The more you hesitate, the more the hard-won atmosphere will be destroyed.
Without the atmosphere, reason will once again occupy the high ground in a woman's mind, and it is likely there will never be another chance.
So, when dealing with women, you need to be quick, accurate, and decisive. If you can settle it then, do not delay. The more you delay, the less likely it is to happen.
Toru was experienced and would never fail.
He secretly held Shizuka's hand, and she did not pull away.
Shizuka thought about being saved by Toru today, looked at his admiring eyes, and felt pity for his childhood, so she gritted her teeth.
"Just this once!"
(To be continued.)
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