They only played at being loving with Hikari for a bit, then went straight back to the Ino Shrine.
After returning to the hidden side hall where they had discussed their plan before, the two of them changed back into their original outfits.
After all, they were not really going to get married and become husband and wife. They were just acting to fool Jinno Takashi.
Hikari put his own clothes back on, toning down that not quite there maturity and returning to his original handsome young look.
Jinno Sumire also took off that formal dress she had almost never worn and never shown to outsiders, and changed back into her familiar red and white shrine maiden uniform, returning to her original noble, holy, and cold beauty shrine priestess appearance.
Now that they were back in the side hall, the two naturally separated from their fake husband and wife roles.
Jinno Sumire returned to being an elder, and Hikari, Jinno Ai's childhood friend, was more like her nephew in status.
Unlike at the Jinno residence where they had been arm in arm with their bodies almost pressed together, Jinno Sumire deliberately kept a bit more distance from Hikari.
Still, after Hikari sat down, she smiled and poured him a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Aunt Sumire," Hikari also went back to the original form of address and spoke to her politely.
"It's nothing. If anything, Aunt should be thanking you. Thank you so much for your help today, Hikari-kun," Jinno Sumire said with a smile, no longer putting on her usual cold beauty look toward Hikari who had just helped her so much.
"It's nothing. After all, it was what we agreed on," Hikari also smiled.
"Since Hikari-kun has already helped Aunt, it is time for Aunt to pay the reward. Hikari-kun, what was the reward you said you wanted before? As long as Aunt can do it, I can agree to it," Jinno Sumire said with a bright smile.
"Mm… what I want is not difficult. Aunt Sumire can definitely do it," Hikari said as he thought it over, looking at Jinno Sumire.
Perhaps because she had been in a hurry changing clothes, one of the buttons at the chest of Jinno Sumire's shrine maiden uniform was not fastened properly, revealing a very alluring patch of fair, soft skin.
She had not noticed that her clothes were not properly worn, but when she saw Hikari's bright, focused eyes, Jinno Sumire's heart suddenly jumped.
Just now, because they had to avoid showing any flaws while acting as a fake couple, Jinno Sumire and Hikari had had many close physical contacts, and she had even kissed Hikari.
Now, as someone who saw herself as an elder, Jinno Sumire naturally did not want to bring up or even think about those shameful things again.
But with her rather sensitive body, Jinno Sumire could feel that Hikari's young body was filled with a surging power, like a living volcano. Once it erupted, it would definitely burn someone until they were both in agony and bliss.
Jinno Sumire had a good idea of her own charm. During those contacts just now, even she had felt something strange, and she did not know what Hikari had thought of it all.
Now that Hikari said what he wanted was something she could definitely do, could it be that he wanted her to do something embarrassing for him?
That would not do. Even though that useless husband had long since disappeared to who knows where, she was still a married woman in name.
And she was also Ai's mother. She might become his mother in law in the future.
While Jinno Sumire's soft body trembled under her loose uniform, lost in her wild thoughts about whether she should refuse or satisfy the boy's request.
After finishing his thinking, Hikari suddenly spoke, "Aunt Sumire, I have thought of my request. I have a few relatives and friends living in Ino Village. Recently, things have happened in their homes one way or another, and they really need help."
"Please help me look after them and give them more consideration. That will be enough."
After hearing Hikari's words, Jinno Sumire let out a breath of relief, "Just these small things? Is that really all you want?"
What Hikari had just said were all things she could handle easily.
"Yes, that's all," Hikari nodded.
Getting Hikari's confirmation, Jinno Sumire finally understood that she had overthought things just now.
What Hikari wanted her to help with were all very proper matters, completely unrelated to the wild thoughts she had just had in her head.
'Sure enough, Hikari-kun is a very upright and reliable man.'
Jinno Sumire nodded in satisfaction, but in her heart there was a faint sense of disappointment that she herself did not even notice.
After settling what he wanted as his reward, Hikari chatted with Jinno Sumire a bit more, then left the Ino Shrine.
Hikari planned to tell Miyuri and Aunt Sayako the good news, because doing good deeds without leaving a name behind was like wearing brocade at night, and there were also some matters they needed to know about.
After finding out, the aunts would probably be so happy that they could not help but want to give him some kind of reward.
———
On the other side, standing at the entrance of the shrine's side hall and watching Hikari's departing back, Jinno Sumire's cold and beautiful face showed a thoughtful expression.
Logically speaking, today's plan had gone very smoothly. Hikari's act as her fake husband had completely fooled Jinno Takashi, so she should have been very satisfied.
But Jinno Sumire's heart was still unsettled, unable to relax.
That was because she knew her father Jinno Takashi was the kind of person who would not let go without seeing real results.
Even if Hikari continued acting as her husband and the two of them pretended to be deeply in love, and Jinno Takashi gradually handed family power over to her, he would never let her have full control.
Given Jinno Takashi's personality, before he saw a grandson with his own eyes, there was no way he would willingly hand over the position of Jinno family head to her.
So asking Hikari to act as her husband was only a temporary measure. If she really wanted to inherit the position, she would still have to give birth to a boy.
But Jinno Sumire no longer wanted to marry another man and have children and so on. Compared to those things, she would rather spend her time expanding the family business.
And she and Hikari were not really husband and wife, just in a fake relationship. If she wanted a child, she would have to think of another way.
She was not young anymore. If she kept dragging things out, it might come to a point where she had no choice left.
Rather than waiting until that point and going to some other stranger, she might as well do it in one step.
If she had to consider that side of things… Hikari, whether in height and looks or in brains and genes, was nearly perfect. Maybe she could ask him to lend her some seed.
"No! No!"
At that thought, Jinno Sumire's pretty face instantly turned red, and she shook her head hard.
After all, her relationship with Hikari was not that of real husband and wife.
With how much Jinno Ai liked Hikari, maybe in the future Jinno Takashi would have to call him his grandson in law. That would make her relationship with Hikari very awkward.
If she really asked Hikari to help her give Jinno Takashi a grandchild, then would that child call Hikari big brother or dad? Just thinking about it was awkward.
And how old was he, and how old was she? Going to steal her daughter's things was really not right.
Jinno Sumire shook her head again and again, her face red, throwing all those thoughts out of her mind, and returned to her cold, dignified, noble shrine maiden self as she walked back into the shrine.
———
After leaving the shrine, Hikari first went to Miyuri's house.
As soon as he walked in, he saw Miyuri wearing an apron, busy at the stove, only leaving him with a beautiful back and peach like, full and upturned hips.
"Hikari-kun, come eat lunch," Miyuri said when she turned around and saw him back.
"Okay," Hikari nodded and sat down at the dining table.
Perhaps because sudden disasters had struck her home, her fiancé had died right there, and she herself had nearly been harmed, Miyuri's mood still had not recovered.
Her beautiful, flower like face looked a bit pale, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, giving her a pitiful, fragile look.
This sickly beauty look made one's heart ache.
Noticing that Miyuri was still not in a good mood, Hikari reached out and held her soft, jade like hand.
"Aunt Miyuri, are you still not feeling too well?", Hikari asked gently.
"Mm…", Miyuri nodded lightly and leaned her soft body against Hikari's shoulder.
"Let me tell Aunt some good news. I just used Ai's connection to meet her mother. I have already arranged it with Aunt Sumire. I asked her to let you go straight to another hospital in town to work, and you can directly become the head nurse."
Hikari told Miyuri one of the rewards he had just agreed on with Jinno Sumire.
Miyuri had already taken several days off from work, since the director of her hospital, Yoshizawa Eigen, was the one involved. How could she have the heart to go to work there.
But hearing that she could change hospitals and even be promoted to head nurse, Miyuri was not very happy. She only forced a smile so as not to dampen Hikari's mood.
"Thank you, Hikari-kun. You are really too good to Aunt," Miyuri said in thanks.
"It's nothing," Hikari waved it off.
He could tell Miyuri was not very happy because of it, and he understood that her mood had not yet recovered. After lightly patting her back a few times, he did not say more.
The two of them sat in silence at the dining table and finished lunch together.
Perhaps she knew her low spirits would affect Hikari, and also to thank him for finding her a new job, after finishing the meal, Miyuri even took the initiative to pull Hikari into having another round of "dessert."
Seeing Aunt Miyuri's eager, skillful look, Hikari was moved and patted her head.
After being completely satisfied, Miyuri picked up the plates and bowls and went into the kitchen.
While Aunt Miyuri was washing the dishes, brushing her teeth, and rinsing her mouth to deal with the food remnants, Hikari rested on the sofa.
As soon as he opened his phone, he saw that Asakawa Aoi had sent him quite a few teasing, heated messages, and each message had a photo attached.
Sometimes she was wearing a lace mini skirt, sometimes pajamas, and other times all kinds of camisoles, black stockings, white stockings, and so on. In short, they were all very revealing and eye catching.
As he saved the photos, Hikari also sighed at how well developed Asakawa Aoi really was.
Thinking of the equally excellent Asakawa Suiren, Aunt Touka's genes were indeed strong.
At first he was just chatting with Asakawa Aoi to pass the time, but Hikari had to admit that she was quite impressive. Even though her practical experience was zero, her theoretical knowledge was actually quite rich, and chatting with her made him react very quickly.
Although he knew that on Asakawa Aoi's side she had probably started entertaining herself even earlier, Hikari still acknowledged her skill.
A few minutes later, Asakawa Aoi suddenly sent a string of garbled, messy characters.
Hikari knew the chat was probably over.
Hopefully her phone would not get flooded and break, he thought. Seeing that Asakawa Aoi did not send any more messages, Hikari shook his head and turned off the screen.
Just as he put the phone down, Hikari suddenly heard some rustling behind him.
When he turned around, he saw Miyuri changing clothes. She had already taken off her apron, and was now putting on her usual white nurse uniform.
Even though she and Hikari already knew each other inside and out and had gone far together, seeing him watch her change still made Miyuri a little shy, her small face slightly red.
Hikari gave the curvy, beautiful scene a light glance but did not stare. Instead, he asked, "Aunt Miyuri, are you going out?"
Already dressed in her nurse uniform and looking very pure, Miyuri nodded, "Mm. I want to go to Yoshizawa Clinic."
"Why? Does Aunt want to go back to work?", Hikari asked, puzzled.
Miyuri shook her head lightly, "How could I have the mood to go work at Yoshizawa Eigen's clinic right now. I just want to pretend to go there for work and look for clues inside his clinic."
"He clearly sent people to kill Kazuto and Akito, yet he has been able to get away with it. Now he will probably set his sights on me and Hikari-kun too. I am really worried that this bad guy will come after you, so I want to find evidence and send him straight to prison."
"Hikari-kun, could you please go with Aunt?", Miyuri asked softly.
"Okay," Even though he felt going to investigate would be futile, seeing Miyuri's pale face and gloomy look, Hikari still nodded and agreed.
With Hikari accompanying her, Miyuri went to Yoshizawa Hospital.
Since he was lying low, Yoshizawa Eigen was not at the hospital, and there were not many people there either.
The two of them searched around the clinic together but did not find any useful clues.
This made Miyuri a bit sad.
"Hikari-kun, let's rest for a bit."
Miyuri pulled Hikari into the department where she usually stayed to rest while working.
It was the hospital's break time, and there were very few people in the entire hospital. The department Miyuri often stayed in was completely empty.
After Hikari carefully checked and confirmed that there were no cameras or listening devices in the room, Miyuri brought over two cups of tea.
"Hikari-kun, thank you for going through all this with Aunt," Miyuri said gratefully as she closed the door and sat beside the hospital bed.
"It's nothing. It's just a pity we did not find any clues," Hikari took a sip of tea and said casually.
"Sigh… yeah, it is a pity we did not find anything," Miyuri said with a helpless sigh.
Her tone was full of worry and frustration, and her mood was clearly very low.
Sensing Miyuri's low spirits, Hikari immediately sat down on the bed beside her and reached out to lightly pat her back, comforting her, "It's okay, Aunt. That Yoshizawa Eigen guy will be punished sooner or later, I…"
Just as Hikari was about to continue comforting Miyuri with words, he suddenly felt her throw herself into his arms.
"Aunt Miyuri?", With two tender white hands pressed to his chest, Hikari was suddenly pushed down onto the hospital bed, looking at Miyuri now sitting on top of him.
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