"Shh, Shizuka-san, please lower your voice. The soundproofing here isn't very good, and Momiji is in the room next door. It wouldn't be good if she heard."
In Shizuka's room, the dim yellow light was on.
This was only after Toru strongly insisted that Shizuka reluctantly agreed to turn it on.
At this moment, Shizuka was like a young, inexperienced girl, insisting that the light had to be off.
However, after Toru's gentle persuasion, she finally agreed to his request and turned on the bedside lamp.
A Japanese-style room, a thick futon on the tatami, and a beautiful woman in a kimono, her clothes half undone.
Especially when this beautiful woman was covering her mouth with her hand, tears streaming from the corners of her eyes, not daring to make a sound.
This scene made Toru subconsciously think of certain scenes from Japanese films.
The only pity was that Shizuka's family was not by her side.
The reason she did not dare make a sound was not because of shame, but because she was too overwhelmed to hold it in.
"Hattori invited me to Osaka. It seems I should go to Osaka when I have free time."
"It's not because of any relationship with Heiji, but because Osaka has the most beautiful scenery attracting me, and that beautiful scenery is you, Shizuka-san."
"By the way, your husband is a police superintendent in Osaka. Now that the Fujiwara family and the Ooka family are united, your husband can no longer remain his own faction. Otherwise, he will become a target for both families."
"Osaka is too close to Kyoto. Although it is called the Osaka area, Kyoto is the most important core of this region. The foundations of many old families are in Kyoto."
Toru found that whenever he mentioned Shizuka's husband and son, she would become especially emotional.
That excitement was not resistance or anger, but a release from Shizuka's years of suppressed life, causing her to waver between shame and pleasure, giving her immense stimulation.
"N-no, don't mention my husband and Heiji."
Seeing Shizuka's insincere expression, Toru's smile deepened.
He said, "When winter passes and spring arrives, the cherry blossoms in Osaka will also be in full bloom."
"I haven't been to the castle keep of Osaka Castle yet. I heard the night cherry blossoms there are beautiful. Shizuka-san, would you be willing to accompany me to admire the night cherry blossoms then?"
"You... you said you wouldn't destroy my family. After this, I won't see you again."
"Are you really unwilling? I saved your son's life, Shizuka-san. Don't you think about repaying kindness at all?"
Shizuka felt as if she were in a storm, like a small boat on a vast sea that could capsize completely at any moment.
The strong wind and heavy rain lashed down, making her unable to see the direction on the sea. She could only grit her teeth and desperately endure the hurricane.
The intense impact made her consciousness gradually blur, and she also muttered, "Y-yes... when you come to Osaka, I'll take you to see the night cherry blossoms."
"The night cherry blossoms at Nagano Park are also beautiful. I can accompany you there too. C-consider it repayment for saving Heiji."
After an unknown amount of time, Shizuka lay on the tatami. She was still covering her mouth with her hand, her expression dazed. Her exhausted breathing made it difficult for her to move even a finger, and she did not want to move.
After a while, Shizuka regained her senses. She sat up halfway and urged, "Toru-kun, you should go back first. Don't let Momiji find out."
After reason returned to her mind, Shizuka became even more flustered.
Regret was not the issue. For a woman like her, who had her own opinions, once she made a decision, she would never regret it.
But as the former young lady of the Ikebami family and a married woman, she still cared about her reputation.
Even though this kind of thing was commonplace in Japan, the difference in status made Shizuka very concerned about these things.
What she feared most was being discovered by the younger generation. If that happened, she truly would not be able to face anyone.
Toru did not pressure her further. Some things needed to be done in moderation.
Furthermore, he had already gotten what he wanted. At this point, he should go along with Shizuka's wishes.
He nodded gently and said softly, "Then I'll go back first, Shizuka-san."
After speaking, Toru gently hugged Shizuka again, giving her comfort and encouragement.
If he had just left like that at this moment, it would only have made Shizuka feel disheartened and made her doubt her choice.
However, this small action by Toru immediately calmed Shizuka's nervous heart, making her, who had been feeling anxious, feel that Toru was not deceiving her, that he truly had a good impression of her, and that he cared about her.
Thinking this way, a strong surge of emotion welled up in Shizuka's heart, like the fluttering heart of a young girl.
Her heart, which had withered with age, also began to bloom in spring, like dry land welcoming rain again, life sprouting once more.
Age was not in the body, but in the state of mind.
If your mind was young, you would always be young.
Shizuka understood what Toru had said before, that she needed to communicate more deeply with young people to make herself younger.
The current Shizuka was truly young.
Toru quietly returned to the room next door.
After resting for a while, Shizuka supported her tired but satisfied body and went to the washroom to take a bath.
That night, she slept very soundly, sleeping straight until the next morning.
She felt like she had a dream last night. She could not remember what she had dreamed about, but it was definitely a beautiful dream.
Because she had not been awakened in her dream and even lingered in the feeling of deep sleep.
"Mrs. Hattori, it seems you slept very well last night."
During lunch, Momiji saw that Shizuka's eyebrows were relaxed and her face was radiant.
Especially Shizuka's makeup today, which seemed even more exquisite. She was already beautiful, but now she looked like a young woman in her late teens.
That mature aura gave Shizuka a unique beauty different from ordinary young girls.
Momiji could not help but look at her a few more times and felt envious.
"I hope I can be as beautiful as Mrs. Hattori in the future."
Momiji touched her cheek and said this enviously.
There was no flattery in her words, only the truth.
Women all cared about their appearance. If she could maintain a youthful figure and that exquisite appearance like Shizuka in her thirties, Momiji would be satisfied.
Shizuka pursed her lips and smiled. She inadvertently glanced at Toru, who was quietly eating, and said softly with a smile, "Momiji has such a good foundation. You're much more beautiful than me."
Two women who both loved karuta, came from wealthy families, and possessed remarkable beauty completely shed the barrier of seniority and chatted happily.
Both Momiji and Shizuka were in a good mood and had rested well.
But Hayasaka had dark circles under her eyes.
Last night, she could not sleep at all, so she discovered the secret between Toru and Shizuka.
What should I do?
W-will Young Master Fujiwara silence me?!
Hayasaka wanted to cry but had no tears.
She remembered the deadly weapons in Toru's car at the aquarium back then. Hayasaka believed that Toru could truly take her life.
So, she had to keep this matter to herself and absolutely could not reveal it, not even in her dreams!
One was the wife of an Osaka Prefectural Police Department superintendent, a married woman, and the other was the heir of the Fujiwara family, with a certain age difference between them.
The secrets she knew were truly life-threatening.
However, deep down, Hayasaka felt it was very exciting.
This kind of life was much more interesting and much happier than her past life in the Shinomiya family.
(To be continued.)