Kyouko woke early, long before the sun fully rose. The soft, gray light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a faint glow across the room. She sat up on her futon, stretching slightly before quietly making her way out of the bedroom, leaving her husband behind in his deep, drunken sleep.

She headed to the bathroom and began her morning routine. After relieving herself, she stepped into the shower, feeling the warm water wash over her skin, soothing her as it cascaded down. This ritual of cleansing herself, both physically and mentally, was always the same. The shower was her quiet space, where she gathered her thoughts before the day began.

After washing her hair, Kyouko applied a hair mask, carefully massaging it through her strands—a habit she’d developed over the years. Her skincare routine followed, using familiar products to keep her skin smooth and youthful. She took her time, rubbing lotion over her arms and legs, her body glistening as she carefully moisturized every inch. Each step was deliberate, and as she worked, her mind wandered back to the reasons she had started this routine in the first place.

At first, she had done it all for him—her husband. She wanted to be beautiful for him, to catch his attention, to reignite the spark that had long since faded from their marriage. She had taken care of her body, made her skin soft, and kept her face youthful, all in the hope that he might notice her again, that he might see her as he once did.

But that hope had slowly faded over time. No matter how much effort she put into her appearance, her husband never seemed to notice. His eyes rarely lingered on her, and his compliments had long since dried up, replaced with indifference. It wasn’t that she wasn’t attractive—she knew she was. People often mistook her for being much younger, calling her beautiful and complimenting her "baby face." But to him, it seemed none of it mattered anymore.

She sighed as she applied the last bit of lotion to her legs, a familiar sense of disappointment settling over her like a blanket. This routine, once driven by a desire to rekindle her husband’s affection, had now become something she did solely for herself. She had stopped expecting him to care, and somewhere along the way, she had realized that her beauty was something she could appreciate for herself, even if he didn’t.

Kyouko looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, her skin glowing from the care she had taken. Her face was smooth, youthful, free of makeup yet radiant. She had learned to embrace her natural beauty, her confidence growing over time. But the sadness lingered, just beneath the surface—a reminder of the affection and attention she still longed for but no longer expected from the man sleeping in their room.

With a soft sigh, Kyouko finished her routine, tying her damp hair up into a loose bun and wrapping a towel around herself. The day ahead stretched out before her, another day in the house where her duties and responsibilities would keep her busy. But for now, as she stood there in the quiet bathroom, she allowed herself a brief moment to simply be—a woman who had learned to find solace in her own reflection, even if no one else noticed.

As Kyouko opened the bathroom door and stepped out, a light mist of warmth from her shower followed her into the hallway. There, standing just outside, was Haruki, waiting for his turn. He glanced up at her, his eyes briefly meeting hers before flickering downward, taking in the sight of her body wrapped in nothing but a towel. She greeted him with a soft smile, her usual warmth on display.

"Good morning, Haruki," she said, her voice gentle, as though the early morning quiet needed to be preserved.

Haruki nodded, his expression a little sheepish as his eyes momentarily lingered on her exposed skin. Kyouko noticed, of course. She could see the way his gaze traveled over her bare shoulders, the curve of her neck, and the towel barely covering her body. But she didn’t mind—if anything, she felt a flicker of satisfaction. It wasn’t often that someone looked at her like that anymore, and certainly not her husband. The fact that it was Haruki, her son-in-law, gave her an unexpected thrill that she hadn’t anticipated.

At least someone still found her attractive.

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Kyouko’s heart fluttered briefly, though she kept her expression composed. She knew she was beautiful—her careful skincare routine, her soft, glowing skin, and her youthful face were proof enough. But what made her smile now wasn’t just the pride in her appearance; it was the recognition, the attention, however brief, from a pair of eyes that saw her not just as a mother-in-law, but as a woman.

"Bathroom's all yours," she said with a playful lightness, stepping aside to let him pass.

Haruki muttered a thank you, quickly averting his gaze as he stepped into the bathroom, trying to maintain his composure. But the moment between them hung in the air, subtle and unspoken. Kyouko could feel it, and so could he.

As she walked back to her room, a small smile played at the corners of her lips. For the first time in a long while, she felt... seen. It wasn’t just her reflection in the mirror that mattered anymore. Someone else had noticed her too, and that feeling, as unexpected as it was, made her feel a little happier, a little less invisible.

A mischievous smile curled on her lips as she left her room, still wrapped in nothing but the towel. She decided to head toward the kitchen, her steps light with a sense of excitement that she hadn’t felt in a long time. It wasn’t that she had any real intention of seducing Haruki—no, that wasn’t it. She just wanted to feel noticed, to playfully bask in the attention of someone who still found her desirable. The way Haruki had looked at her outside the bathroom had sparked something within her, something that had been dormant for too long.

She stepped into the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly on the floor as she moved toward the counter to prepare coffee. The towel clung loosely to her body, revealing enough to feel enticing but still modest enough to pass as casual. Kyouko smiled to herself, knowing exactly what she was doing. She reached for the coffee pot, pouring water into it and beginning the routine she had done countless times. But this time, her movements were slower, more deliberate, as though she were putting on a subtle show.

As she worked, she sensed Haruki’s presence in the doorway before she even looked. Sure enough, when she turned her head slightly, she saw him standing there, watching her. His eyes were drawn to her, and the moment was charged with an unspoken tension. Kyouko pretended not to notice him, acting as if she were completely absorbed in her task. But inside, her heart raced a little faster.

She felt a strange satisfaction in knowing that he was watching, and it made her want to push the moment just a little further. Smiling to herself, Kyouko bent over, pretending to check something in one of the lower cabinets. The towel shifted, the fabric slipping slightly, revealing more of her legs and thigh as she leaned down. She knew exactly what she was doing, but it was all part of the game—innocent enough to pass as nothing, but deliberate enough to catch his eye.

Haruki’s eyes were fixed on her, his gaze lingering. He wasn’t saying anything, but the way he stood there, frozen in place, said enough. Kyouko could feel it, the way he was torn between looking away and staying glued to the sight of her. And in that moment, it wasn’t about anything more than being seen, feeling wanted, even if only for a fleeting second.

As she straightened up, Kyouko allowed herself a small smile, still pretending she hadn’t noticed him standing there. The coffee was nearly ready, the warm aroma filling the kitchen. She knew she wasn’t crossing any lines—at least not yet. But the simple fact that a young man like Haruki found her attractive made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t felt in years.

It wasn’t about seduction. She wasn’t trying to disrupt the delicate balance of their family or complicate things between them. She just wanted to be noticed, to feel like a woman again, after so many years of being unseen. Even if it was just a bit of attention from her son-in-law, it was enough to make her happy, even if she wouldn’t admit it to herself.

Kyouko, still standing by the kitchen counter, decided to take things just a little further. She reached up, pretending to adjust the towel wrapped around her hair, her arms raising high enough to reveal her smooth, hairless armpit. She had always taken great care of her skin, making sure it was soft and flawless, and now it was on full display.

She didn’t even need to look directly at Haruki to know that his eyes were glued to her. She could feel it—the weight of his gaze on her skin, his attention fully captured by the subtle yet deliberate movement. She smiled inwardly, enjoying the quiet power of the moment. This was what all those years of skincare routines and self-care had been for. Now, in this small, unexpected moment, it felt like it had paid off.

Kyouko glanced over at Haruki, catching the way his eyes lingered on her armpit, as if entranced by the smoothness of her skin. His reaction was unmistakable. She felt a small surge of triumph, a satisfaction that went deeper than mere vanity. This was validation, proof that her beauty had not gone unnoticed, even if only by someone close to her.

After a few seconds, she finally let her arm fall back down, casually adjusting the towel around her body. She didn’t say anything, simply turned her attention back to the coffee pot, as if nothing had happened. But inside, she was beaming, her heart racing with the thrill of the moment.

( End of Chapter 5 )