Steam swirled gently in the bathroom. Mrs. Yukinoshita lay relaxed in the tub, but her mind kept drifting to Makoto and Yukino.
As a strong-willed career woman, bathing was one of the rare times she let herself relax.
Just like now.
"With Makoto's personality, if I weren't here tonight, he might've stayed the night…"
She whispered to herself with closed eyes, a faint sense of joy rising in her heart.
Even though her rational mind told her such thoughts were inappropriate.
But here in the bathroom, alone and unobserved, no one could know what was on her mind.
She didn't bother restraining herself.
"With Makoto's help, Yukino's progress is even faster than I expected. And from what they were talking about earlier, it sounds like Yukino wants to direct a short film, just like him?"
Recalling how focused her daughter looked in the living room earlier, Mrs. Yukinoshita couldn't help but feel moved.
That boy had brought enormous changes to their household.
Thanks to his help, she had easily secured a once-hopeless business partner and had even become good friends with Eriri's mother, Sayuri.
Her network was only going to grow, and so would her wealth.
Her older daughter was already incredibly outstanding, and now her younger daughter was making remarkable progress.
The Yukinoshita family was clearly on the rise.
"That child called Sayuri 'big sis' tonight…"
Suddenly, Mrs. Yukinoshita found herself focusing on that trivial detail.
She elegantly raised her long legs into the misty light, the curves flawless and alluring.
Looking at her perfect figure, her gaze flickered. As if a thought came to her, she slowly lowered her legs back into the water.
In that instant, a strange, indescribable emotion surged through her chest.
In just two seconds, the heat and shame of that emotion flooded her body, completely overtaking her rationality.
"What's happening to me?"
She took a deep breath. Her cheeks were growing warm.
She knew perfectly well what this feeling was.
As a career woman who often traveled, she barely returned home, which is why she always packed a certain purple mood in her luggage.
After all, at her age, her needs were still very real.
But she never imagined she'd feel this way during a bath.
"Makoto and Yukino are still in the living room…"
She bit her lip, trying to suppress the sensation with sheer willpower.
But she found it impossible.
Five minutes later, the arms that had been resting on the rim of the tub were now quietly submerged.
She tilted her elegant neck back and slowly closed her eyes.
It looked like tonight's bath was going to take a little longer.
Meanwhile—
In the bedroom, Makoto suddenly let go of Yukino.
"Why… did you stop?" Yukino panted softly, her eyes glistening with emotion.
The buttons of her sleepwear had already been undone.
Earlier, after Makoto helped her plan everything out perfectly, she had become so emotionally moved she didn't even need Nino's gift to get in the mood—she had decided to give him some benefits.
Now that he stopped, she was confused.
With her beauty and his personality, how could he possibly resist?
"I just remembered something," Makoto said.
Yukino pressed her burning cheek against his, her tone barely hiding her frustration. "What?"
"Your pajama pants are really killing the mood," Makoto said like he was joking.
Yukino's arms around his neck tightened slightly as she scolded, "You're thinking about that now?"
Translation: I'm already letting you touch and kiss me—and you're talking about props?
Makoto held her slim waist and whispered, "What about thigh-high stockings?"
Yukino bit her lip, looking shy and annoyed.
He wanted her to put on stockings? Clearly, he had a thing for her legs…
Yukino hesitated for a few seconds, then stood up with a red face.
Her pajama pants had already slid down to her knees, revealing smooth, gleaming legs.
"Turn around," she said.
Though she'd been so bold moments ago, she was still shy about changing in front of him.
Makoto didn't protest.
In truth, the real reason he paused wasn't just the stockings… okay, that was part of it.
But mostly, it was because he remembered the divine power of Nino.
So in his heart, he silently apologized to Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Nino's divine power was not something mere mortals could resist.
Even with Mrs. Yukinoshita's strong self-control and composure—
Before that divine power, everything was futile.
The only thing she could do…
Was to reach out her hands.
After a while, Yukino's voice rang out in mild exasperation: "Alright."
Makoto turned around and saw that she had not only put on black thigh-high stockings, but had also changed into a different sleep dress.
I must say, this combination is far more alluring than pajamas and pants.
Before Makoto could say anything, Yukino pretended to casually tidy her hair. "Thigh-high socks don't match sleepwear."
"Your sense of aesthetics is really strict," Makoto teased.
Yukino stepped forward with her long legs and returned to stand in front of him.
The moment he wrapped his arms around her waist, she suddenly remembered—she had forgotten about her mother…
So she placed her hands against Makoto's chest, trying to suppress the heat rising inside her, and said a little nervously, "My mother might have finished her bath already."
"Impossible," Makoto said with complete certainty.
His firm tone left Yukino slightly confused. "You sound so sure?"
Makoto calmly came up with a reason. "Women always take a long time to bathe. Think about it—don't you take your time, too?"
"What you said makes sense… but the problem is, she's already been in there for a while." Yukino wasn't oblivious.
"Don't worry. The older a woman is, the more she needs to take care of herself.
Besides, I get the feeling your mom is the kind of person who really values self-care. She definitely wouldn't cut corners."
"I don't really agree with that… mm—"
Even though Yukino was still worried, Makoto's calm and confident demeanor still managed to sway her.
So she decided not to think about it anymore.
After all, this was a time loop. Even if something went wrong, that guy Makoto would definitely find a way to fix it.
Yukino thought to herself.
...
It wasn't until after 9 PM that Makoto finally came out of Yukino's room.
He was more than willing to help clean up—after all, Yukino's thigh-high socks were no longer wearable.
But Yukino was too shy. Now that she'd cooled down, of course she wasn't going to let Makoto get involved.
"Then I'll head back now."
"Mm… be careful on the way."
As Makoto passed by the bathroom, he suddenly heard a faint click.
He turned his head just in time to see the bathroom door open.
And saw Mrs. Yukinoshita leaning against the wall.
A detail: leaning on the wall.
Which meant—her legs had gone weak.
For a split second as their eyes met, the air between them seemed to freeze.
"Are you heading home?" Mrs. Yukinoshita, truly a woman seasoned by life, straightened up almost instantly and put on a calm expression.
Makoto didn't call her out. "It's getting late. I should be going."
"Then take care."
As soon as he left, Mrs. Yukinoshita immediately leaned on the wall again.
She'd stayed in the bathroom too long—and had lost control for a moment.
The pleasure was real, and so was the leg weakness.
She quickly composed herself. Once the strength in her legs returned, she headed to the living room.
But before she could even blow-dry her hair, she happened to glance into her daughter's room—and saw Yukino leaning against the wall, fixing her hair.
That pose… looked awfully familiar.
Mrs. Yukinoshita fell into deep thought.
...
During the next month of time loops, Makoto became extremely self-disciplined.
In the mornings, he trained to exhaustion—pushing himself until he had no strength left.
At noon, he intercepted Hiratsuka Shizuka to "collect his debts."
At night, he tutored Yukino and prepared buffs and [Ultra Red Bull].
A month later, just as expected, Yukino had completely evolved in her filmmaking abilities.
Makoto couldn't help but think of Ichika.
One worked in front of the camera, the other behind it—both were beautiful girls brimming with potential.
Maybe for the next short film, he could have Yukino direct Ichika.
And himself?
Of course, he'd take charge of the other Nakano sisters.
___
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