Chapter 523: The Mother-in-Law

Chapter 523: The Mother-in-Law

Hiratsuka Shizuka and Himekoji were pushing each other, trying to build courage as they inched reluctantly out of the bedroom.

Their guilty, nervous behavior made even an innocent situation seem suspicious.

Seeing this, Mama Shizuka’s heart dropped. She shed all hope and grew even more serious.

“Stop dawdling!”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it startled them enough to stop dragging their feet. They nudged each other forward and scurried over to her, stood up straight like soldiers, and lowered their heads obediently.

“Have your stories matched yet?”

Mama Shizuka sat upright on the sofa. Because he’d just rolled off her daughter’s bed, Himekoji felt guilty stealing glances at her. Every ordinary look, every casual word seemed calm and dignified. The weight of a mother’s authority pressed down like a mountain.

Himekoji was too scared to speak. He kept sneaking frantic looks at the Female Teacher, urging her to answer.

But Hiratsuka Shizuka was also afraid. Instead of solving the problem, their exchanged glances made it look like they were flirting.

Mama Shizuka couldn’t stand it. Her gaze hardened.

“Shizuka, you explain.”

“Huh? Me… me…”

Only then did Hiratsuka Shizuka realize there was no escape. She glared at Himekoji furiously, silently calling him a traitor. Just moments ago, in bed, he’d promised they’d face this together. Now, he’d left her to deal with this mess alone.

With no choice, she forced out an explanation.

“It’s a misunderstanding! Mom, all of it is a misunderstanding! Last night, you forced me to go on a blind date, so I…”

“Forced?”

“Ah! No, no! Not forced! I went on the blind date, drank a bit—got drunk—so he helped get me home.”

“And his help ended up in bed?”

“No, no, no!”

Shizuka shook her head like a rattle. Though she often acted tough around Himekoji, in front of her mom, she became meek as a kitten.

“I wasn’t even in bed at first! I slept on the sofa.”

“He made you sleep on the sofa while he took the bed?!”

Those words shattered Mama Shizuka’s stern expression instantly. Eyes wide with disbelief, she stared critically at Himekoji.

“You! Is that how you treat my daughter?!”

She didn’t say it aloud, but her daughter was still her treasure. Even though her “baby” was nearly thirty, parental worry still made her want to protect her fiercely.

“You see?!”

Shizuka immediately lost her guilt, delighted that her mother was scolding Himekoji.

“Misunderstanding! Aunt, it’s a misunderstanding!”

Himekoji was miserable. He wanted to explain, but Mama Shizuka cut him off.

“Misunderstanding? Do you know what matters most for a man? Responsibility! Own up to what you did! Don’t show me excuses! Show me your seriousness! How will you make this right?”

Mama Shizuka’s rapid-fire speech blocked any explanation Himekoji had prepared. He froze, speechless. Only the Female Teacher’s frantic tugs on his sleeve brought him back. Her urgent whisper:

“Just agree with her! Go along! Agree first!”

Finally snapping back, Himekoji took her advice. He forced a “sincere” promise.

“I-I’ll take responsibility! Definitely!”

“Much better.”

Getting the answer she wanted, Mama Shizuka relaxed slightly.

Noticing this, Shizuka carefully continued.

“Mom, he helped me home last night and tried to leave… I was drunk and… threw up… so…”

“Mhm?”

Mama Shizuka’s questioning look turned to Himekoji.

He frantically nodded. This was his only chance to clear himself!

“Yes, yes! She threw up all over me! I had to take off my clothes to wash them. That’s why I couldn’t leave right away.”

Himekoji was busy defending himself, but Shizuka heard this and flushed with anger.

“I did not throw up all over you!”

“Okay, half.”

“Not even half!”

“Right, just a little splash, then.”

“Are you insane?! Mom is right here!”

The two who were just planning to stick together suddenly found themselves squabbling.

Watching them, Mama Shizuka only became more convinced they looked like married couple. Her scrutiny of Himekoji intensified, carrying the air of a mother inspecting her future son-in-law.

Actually, Himekoji would never dare argue with his teacher. Even ignoring their roles in daily life, it was impossible to feel truly equal during an argument. As soon as she scolded him, he quickly retreated.

Mama Shizuka didn’t know this. She thought he was politely yielding to her daughter’s temper—a temper she knew only too well. Her serious expression softened a little. She nodded subtly, feeling slightly more approving.

Of course, her quick approval was mostly because Mama Shizuka mistakenly believed their relationship had already reached that level. This was more of helpless self-comfort.

What else could she do? Act like a vicious mother blocking their way?

She was the one constantly pushing her daughter into blind dates. Her daughter finally finding someone meant she was the happiest.

She just never imagined meeting her future son-in-law would involve such a wild situation. And for him to move so fast!

Only after fully venting her grumbles at Himekoji did Shizuka notice her mother. One arm crossed, the other hand supporting her chin, leaning slightly forward… her gaze traveling back and forth between her daughter and Himekoji. Shizuka shuddered with unease. Her mom’s expression couldn’t be clearer: proud contentment.

The misunderstanding had gone too far!

“Mom, it really isn’t what you think!” Shizuka protested.

“It’s alright, you don’t have to pretend with me. Since he said he’ll take responsibility, why argue? I’m not some old-fashioned prude. Your father and I lived together before marriage. By our wedding day, you were already three months old in my arms.” Mama Shizuka spoke like the voice of reason, then shifted to a gentle lecture.

“But you made mistakes too. I see now why you hated blind dates. Why didn’t you just tell me? It would’ve saved me all this worry.”

Shizuka felt hopeless. This misunderstanding was beyond fixing. She looked pitifully at Himekoji. He could only offer a forced, awkward smile under the elder’s watchful eye.

“Were you scared I’d say no?”

Mama Shizuka happily filled in reasons for her daughter’s secrecy. She chuckled.

“Why would I object? You know my greatest wish is to see you like this! As long as it’s someone you like, who am I to interfere?”

After going on for a while, she realized she didn’t even know her future son-in-law’s name. She turned to him, her expression warming considerably as she asked,

“Introduce yourself?”

“Himekoji Akito!” The Female Teacher blurted out, pointing at him.

“Oh? How old are you?”

She looked him over, struck by how young he looked.

“Seven…”

“Twenty-seven!”

Himekoji started but was drowned out by Shizuka.

“Twenty-seven? Good! Perfect! You look under twenty!”

Now entirely won over, Mama Shizuka beamed at the unlikely pair.

He looked young? Excellent! Young was good!

Though her daughter was older, she still looked youthful too.

Perfect match.

Absolutely perfect!

As for money? Status? Mama Shizuka didn’t care.

Who could be wealthier than their family?

Poor? They could afford a little hardship.

Even a jobless freeloader was fine. He’d have more energy for grandchildren! A woman’s best age for children was 23-30. Her daughter had no time to waste!

Mama Shizuka dreamed of holding her grandchild.

The urgency was real!

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