Chapter 491

For a moment, Haihara felt a slight pang of heartache.

Her expression even changed, revealing a look that was hard to tell whether it was one of restraint or melancholy.

However, she heard Kazama Kiriori continue speaking---

"That's why we should be lovers, so that I can become your one and only, not because of blood ties, not because of a chance encounter, but because we've decided to be together forever."

"I'm scared too, but if you grant my request, nothing can separate us."

Kazama Kiriori's expression appeared quite serious and earnest.

She seemed to have no intention of avoiding the contradiction and chose to answer it directly.

Haihara was stunned.

How could my own filial daughter know how to say such deceitful things to young girls?

Does having good grades automatically mean you're good at sweet talk?

No wonder I've always been good at actions but not words.

Upon careful reflection, it seems that every word the dutiful daughter uttered during this period was flirtatious.

Should these words be said to her, her mother?

"..."

Haihara pondered for a moment.

She felt that what the filial daughter said actually made a lot of sense.

Is there anything else I can ask?

What else can be said in defense?

For example, the various problems they face when they're together.

She clearly didn't adopt Kazama Kiriori in the first place so that she would fall in love with her and become her lover. And regardless of her initial motives, if she were to agree to that now, it could only be described as despicable...

However, just as she was about to bring up this issue with Kazama Kiriori, she thought of something and stopped herself abruptly.

For a brief moment, her gaze froze, and she fell into deep thought.

Why did she initially adopt Kazama Kiriori?

It's because she doesn't want to be all alone.

It is a longing for this child in front of you, that perhaps he will stay by your side, never leave you, never betray you, and fill the emptiness and incompleteness within you.

At that time, Haihara wasn't so much eager to redeem the child in front of her, but rather wanted to redeem herself.

It's not just so that the children in front of me won't be lonely anymore, but so that I won't be lonely either.

To say that one did not adopt the child for such a despicable reason is far too weak a claim.

From the very beginning, deep down, she harbored a thought that she herself was not entirely clear about.

"From the very beginning..."

Haihara lowered her head and said in a low voice.

"... Um?"

Kazama Kiriori felt that Haihara looked a little strange.

Then she saw the woman raise her head.

Unlike her usual cold and indifferent demeanor, the woman's gaze was clear today; despite the dim light, it seemed to reflect her own image.

The woman reached out and cupped Kazama Kiriori's face in her hands; the girl could hear her clearly utter each word—

"From the very beginning, you were my adopted little lover."

"If you put it that way, would you feel disgusted, guilty, and disappointed in me?"

The woman's cold, hoarse, and dry voice was so clear in the living room.

Kazama Kiriori froze, blinking.

Then, she opened her eyes slightly, as if she had been given a drink and was not in a state of shock.

She could smell the familiar perfume on the woman.

When she first met her, she found the perfume scent unfamiliar, but now it's a scent she likes.

For her, it was her mother's scent.

She was puzzled for a long time before she finally realized what was going on:

"... And you, towards me?"

I think I like you too, just like you like me.

This time, Haihara didn't speak lies without hesitation like a wicked adult.

In that dimly lit living room, she displayed her ugliness and depravity to the girl.

That's why she did that a couple of days ago, and she's only just realized it.

Because deep down, she also hoped things would develop that way.

In terms of their shared sense of unbearable suffering, they are probably the same.

Afterwards, Kazama Kiriori could hear her heart pounding. Even though she was aware of this, she couldn't hide the joy on her face. She couldn't help but hug the woman in front of her right then and there.

She and her mother... like each other?

Is there anything better than this?

The two of them will stay together until decades later, when they grow old and die together.

She would find a way to marry Haihara, travel everywhere together, go to all sorts of places together, do all sorts of things together, and eventually be buried together.

Just as Kazama Kiriori was so happy her mind went completely blank, Haihara, smiling, suddenly said---

"----But I can't be your lover."

"... Eh?"

Kazama Kiriori was stunned.

She blinked in confusion, like Haihara's pet Magical Puppy, as if asking herself if she had misheard.

Then, Haihara suddenly grabbed her face and pinched it so hard that her cheeks were deformed.

Her cheek was being pinched repeatedly until it quickly turned bright red. She looked innocently at Haihara, but inside she was very anxious, wanting to get the woman's answer and confirmation as soon as possible.

Haihara said quite matter-of-factly:

"I'm already planning to marry your Aunt Kougami, how could I possibly still be your lover? Are you trying to make me betray her?"

Yes.

An incredibly shocking fact.

Haihara still retains the most basic loyalty and morality in her emotions.

Even Kazama Kiriori almost overlooked this point.

"This... I..."

Kazama Kiriori blinked rapidly, her thoughts in disarray.

Indeed... she had been avoiding this question before.

After all, Aunt Kougami has always been a very important family member to her, and she can't really... uh.

What should I do?

She could accept stealing the green leaves, but what about her mother? What about Aunt Kougami?

Kazama Kiriori was speechless for a moment, trying her best to find some excuses, but no matter what she did, she couldn't cross that line.

Suddenly, she thought of something.

"... Hmm? What about the past two days?"

Kazama Kiriori blinked, suddenly feeling somewhat confused.

A couple of days ago, it seems like they... did that.

Wasn't that considered betrayal in the first place?

At that moment, Kazama Kiriori felt a cool hand pressing against her lips.

Then, Haihara raised her fist to her mouth and coughed twice in a very serious manner.

"Cough cough."

"Kiriori, you know me."

"I love you, Aunt Kougami, of course I wouldn't do anything disloyal."

"Yes, at least I'll inform her and get her permission."

Although she smokes, drinks, and wears JK uniforms, she is a good woman who is loyal to her relationships.

Kazama Kiriori looked slightly confused, but nodded with a hint of understanding.

Then, she felt the woman's two hands reach out towards her.

She heard nothing but the sound of her pajamas being unbuttoned.

Soon, she felt a cool sensation on her chest.

Before Kazama Kiriori could react, she felt herself being kissed. Although the kiss was very light, it felt different from anything she had felt before.

The girl suddenly felt a heat in her body; the woman in front of her had a sensual air about her that she had never seen before.

Then, the woman gently leaned on her shoulder, whispered in her ear, and said:

"So, I'm not going to do that."

"Let me... help you."

A woman's voice is always alluring, but in this moment it possesses a completely different destructive power.

Did I just... hear correctly?

Kazama Kiriori felt like her brain was turning into mush.

She stammered:

"Help... help me?"

The seemingly tall and reliable young woman's face was now completely flushed.

And that shameless woman, as if casually opening the refrigerator and asking Kazama Kiriori if she wanted a carton of Yogurt, said:

"Yes, um, don't you collect those kinds of books? It must be lonely reading them all by yourself, so let me help you."

Do you need Mom's help?

In the darkness, the woman revealed a cold and mocking smile.

Kazama Kiriori felt her throat was parched, her ears were bright red, and her face was burning hot. As she inhaled the fragrance of the woman's hair, she felt her rationality being completely consumed.

She simply couldn't think of a way to refuse.

So... Mom was such a terrifying woman?

She finally managed to squeeze out a brief reply:

"Want to..."

Haihara got the answer.

Afterwards, in the living room where nothing could be seen and the curtains were drawn, Haihara's hand gently stroked from Kazama Kiriori's shoulder down to her thigh.

The woman got off the sofa and, in the dim darkness, gently knelt in front of her daughter. She took Kazama Kiriori's hand in one hand and gently pulled it to the buttons on her chest.

"Shh."

She placed a finger to her lips.

The living room fell completely silent. The young girl almost held her breath, only feeling her fingers touch the cold buttons of the woman's clothes.

The woman who was her adoptive mother said---