Alex was visiting Mrs. Haruhi's house next door for the first time.
The room was dim, likely because Mrs. Haruhi had drawn all the window curtains. It was also very quiet—so quiet that Alex could hear every tiny sound inside, even standing in the foyer.
The atmosphere was strangely eerie, almost desolate.
The young man followed the distraught wife. The moment he stepped through the door, he sensed something was wrong. He quickly surveyed the dim surroundings and raised an eyebrow. "Is it just you here? Mrs. Haruhi, is your husband not home?"
Asking such a question upon visiting a married woman's home felt a bit improper, as if initiating an affair... Although it sounded terrible, Alex did feel a sense of illicit rendezvous.
"Yes," hearing the young man's direct question behind her, Mrs. Haruhi placed a pair of slippers in front of him. Whether it was the young wife's low sense of caution, or her distraction over her husband's issues, when she bent over to put down the slippers...
Alex clearly saw the round, milky-white skin exposed at her neckline, her voluptuous, full breasts, and the deep cleavage...
Well, Mrs. Haruhi, I saw everything.
"Kinin... he's busy with work..."
Alex's eyes twitched. He subtly scanned the view a few more times before speaking with feigned calmness. "Is that so? He sounds like a very responsible and good husband—"
As he finished the sentence, he clearly noticed the beautiful wife's expression waver, instantly confirming his suspicion. Following her into the cold living room, he continued, "If that were truly the case, Mrs. Haruhi, your complexion wouldn't be so poor."
"I..."
The beautiful wife hesitated, unsure how to explain. She picked up a kettle by the table, brewed a cup of black tea, and gently placed it in front of the young man. "Kinin hasn't come home for the past few days... He wasn't like this before, but perhaps it's because of the mortgage. I heard there were some issues at his company too."
It was apparent that the wife was intentionally trying to defend her husband, which Alex found amusing. He could tell the beautiful wife was speaking insincerely, and he sensed the small cracks in their marriage.
However, he didn't pursue that matter.
"Of course, I believe Mr. Kinin is a good, family-oriented husband. But isn't it inappropriate for you to invite me over while he's not home?"
With only a lonely man and woman in the house, if they were to do something...
The mature wife's face flushed. "Alex, what are you saying? I only—"
Remembering the terrifying man, her face instantly went from red to pale. "Alex, actually, I..."
She wanted to bring up Gozo Kuraso, especially since Alex had seen the disgusting man before. The next second, the ringing of a landline phone echoed in the quiet, peaceful house.
In the silent atmosphere of the home, the sound of the desk phone was jarring, entering Mrs. Haruhi's ears with a strange sense of horror.
Clatter—
The teacup in her hand dropped onto the table, spilling tea everywhere.
The beautiful young wife's lips trembled, and her face went white. The phone had rung several times last night. She initially thought it was her husband, but realized each time it was Gozo Kuraso's voice.
She hung up the moment she heard that man's voice, but she was still terrified, unable to sleep while hiding under the covers. This was why her complexion was so poor this morning.
She even conditioned herself to tremble reflexively when the phone rang.
"Ding-a-ling—"
"Ding-a-ling—"
"Ding-a-ling—"
Under the sound of the phone, Alex and the frightened Mrs. Haruhi stared at each other until the ringing stopped. He tilted his head. "Aren't you going to answer the phone?"
"..."
"Mrs. Haruhi, you seem very scared?"
"...Yes, that Gozo Kuraso has been calling," the wife couldn't pretend anymore. She tremblingly confessed her inner anxiety, which was the reason she invited Alex over. "Alex, do you remember that man?"
"Gozo Kuraso?"
"He is my husband's company president. He visited here shortly after we moved in, and you saw him, Alex," Mrs. Haruhi's voice was small, perhaps out of embarrassment. "He..."
"Oh, that fat pig... He's harassing you?"
Mrs. Haruhi's face turned red, and she could only use the act of wiping the table to cover her panic.
It was a silent admission.
"It looks like you've been caught in a very nasty situation, Mrs. Haruhi. But why haven't you told your husband about this?"
"I actually tried to tell him before, but that man hadn't succeeded in harassing me yet... and I have no proof. Plus, he's Kinin's boss," Mrs. Haruhi shook her head. "Kinin didn't believe me."
"Ding-a-ling—"
Just as she was speaking, the phone rang again. Alex distinctly saw the woman violently flinch, confirming her conditioned reflex. Seeing the wife startled like a kitten, Alex stood up.
"How about I answer it for you?"
"Can you? Please, Alex."
Mrs. Haruhi was naturally willing. She followed Alex to the phone and watched him pick up the nightmare-like receiver. A strange sense of security suddenly washed over the young wife, making her relax.
He was just a student, yet why did he give her such a strong feeling of safety? It was as if, compared to Kinin, he was her... No, no, what am I thinking!
"Hello?" Alex answered the call.
"Mr. Kinin?"
Eh?
Hearing Alex's words after connecting the call, Mrs. Haruhi was stunned. It was Kinin? Not Gozo Kuraso? Wait, this... She was dumbfounded watching Alex talk to her husband on the phone.
She even had the fleeting illusion that she was having an affair.
"It's your husband, Mrs. Haruhi. You talk to him."
"Okay," Mrs. Haruhi took the phone, slightly embarrassed. "K... Kinin?"
The young husband on the other end didn't seem to care that his wife was alone with the neighbor's boy; they just had an ordinary conversation.
"Kinin, when are you coming back? These past two days..."
"Haruhi, I told you, a business trip suddenly came up at the company. It will be a few more days before I can get back."
"But, that Gozo Kuraso..."
"That's great, isn't it? I can rest easy knowing the company president is looking out for you."
"..."
Mrs. Haruhi's expression hadn't recovered even after the call ended. Alex looked on with a strange look in his eyes. Is Kinin Azuma really that careless?
He deserves to be the cuckold.
"Ding-dong—"
Mrs. Haruhi hadn't fully recovered when the doorbell outside startled her. It was accompanied by the voice of a certain lecherous man. "Mrs. Haruhi, I know you're home! Stop hiding from me and open the door."
"I promised Kinin I would come over and properly look after you."
"Mrs. Haruhi?"