Brief moment of peace

Although she was in a hurry to remind the people in the assembly, after seeing such a warm-hearted scene like that for the next few days, she remained there with Lila-chan, Yuhi, and Hoshiko.

Lila helped her with Hoshiko the entire time, which meant she had a lot of time to relax and spend with Yuhi. It was nice, for the first time in a long time she could relax.

One day she walked in on Lila-chan carrying Hoshiko, and Hoshiko pulling on her hair with pouty cheeks.

Lila looked over at them as though she was asking for help. But the moment Yuhi moved over to take Hoshiko, the little girl slapped his hand away.

A dark aura wrapped around Yuhi. "Did I just get rejected?"

"Hoshiko, that isn't nice. Look, go over and hug father." Lila trailed off. "Uh, why is she still holding onto me? I thought she would run to your mother even if she rejected father."

Yuhi sighed. "I think I understand what is going on here. She has been attached to Sumire this entire time because Sumire never left her side. But now that you have done the same, no your more affectionate towards her, she won't let you go."

"I don't think so, father! She would be more attached to me because she sees how you flirt and try to hog mother all the time! A child this age is sensitive to these things! You have to control yourself."

"Control? Your lecturing the wrong person. The last few days, your mother is the first one who attacks-" Sumire proceeded to hit him, but he grabbed hold of her wrist. "Come with me."

Sumire did not get a chance to say another word since Yuhi dragged her away. He did not speak until they reached the end of the long hallway.

He trapped her against the wall and cupped her cheeks. The moment he did, she felt her already red cheeks heat up.

"So you are feeling self-conscious?"

"I-I am," Sumire admitted. Now that he has seen through her, there is no use denying it.

To his surprise, Yuhi simply mumbled. "I see."

Eh? What is that all?

"I am still tired, so I am going back to sleep."

Sumire stared at him blankly. Uh, but just now, didn't it seem like he would do something? Sumire watched his retreating figure puzzled and quickly hurried after him.

..

Sumire watched as Yuhi went to bed and pulled the duvet up as they reached the room. She tilted her head. Is he truly going to go to sleep? She may have been relaxing the last few days, but Yuhi-san has been working. How often did she wake up and hear him typing away on his laptop or on a call with somebody?

Sumire quickly decided and joined him on the bed. The moment she jumped in, Yuhi grabbed hold of her hand. "You know, it's not like I am reluctant to do anything with you. It's just we have both been swamped."

Right even in the last few days, he has not touched her. She found it very unusual; why is he not doing anything? It was hard before when they traveled around with Satomi and Lila-chan's child. But even when they are alone, he does not do anything.

"Say Yuhi, perhaps-" Sumire trailed off when she saw that he had closed his eyes.

Is he truly going to sleep? How boring. She extended her hand out and caressed his cheek. This person has remained by her side for so long. Back when they started dating when they were high school students, Sumire never thought they would be together for a long time. She never imagined that they could have a future together.

'It is not like I did not trust him; the one I did not trust was myself. I did not trust myself to make him happy and to return the kindness he gave me.' Those insecurities grew as each season passed by; when she was twenty-five, she finally realized that he would not leave her.

But instead of making her feel happy, she became even more uneasy.

Sumire stared at him for a few minutes. Perhaps Yuhi-san is right, ever since high school. No even long before then, she has had this bad habit of staring at him. Why cant she stare? He is so handsome. It truly is a waste not to do anything. Sumire took out a small pocket knife and cut her hand; the moment the blood flowed, she sucked it and rolled on top of Yuhi. She brought it to his lips.

The moment she did, Yuhi opened his eyes. "What is it?"

Sumire did not reply and just brushed their foreheads together. Yuhi wrapped his around her briefly and patted her back.

"Sophia is truly frightening. Even though she is far weaker than me, that woman is frightening. She is the type of human who doesn't see the value of life and would laugh if she saw somebody dying."

'To think that such a twisted person existed.'

"Yeah."

"Previously, you mentioned that if humans truly learn the full nature of hanyous, it is impossible to live in harmony. Do you still think so?"

"That was a long time ago. I'm surprised you remember."

"I remember everything about you."

"Are you here to flirt with me?"

Her gaze softened. "Perhaps."

"About what you just said."

'This again, he changed the topic!!!'

Even though she wants to flirt and do stuff, this is so unfair!

"The only reason we experienced eighteen years of coexistence is because the humans do not know the truth. They do not know how powerful hanyous are. For them, we are still half-human, so they most likely think our life spans are the same. If they were to learn how out lifespans differ from theirs, they would start to desire it."

"If you put it that way, there will be those who strongly oppose it and use that to get rid of hanyous."

"Yeah, there will be mass social unrest."

"I see." Sumire continued to stare at him, and only half paid attention to his words. He truly is handsome; how is it possible when he is already forty years old?

Her thoughts broke off when she felt Yuhi-san's hand on her hair; he was patting it gently before he started to mess it up.

"Hey, stop it!"

Yuhi continued until she grabbed hold of his hands. "Enough."

She worked so hard to make her hair all pretty so he would compliment it, but he didn't notice.

"Alright, I understand, Yuhi-san. We worked so hard for humans and evolved humans and hanyous to coexist. I shouldn't give up over something this minor."

"Well, it's not exactly minor since the world is in this state. But I believe in you and our daughter more than anybody. If it's you two, you will be fine- more importantly, wife, what now?"