After turning off the alarm, she lingered in bed for a short while longer, rubbing her temples, a dull ache throbbing behind her eyes from staying up far too late the previous night.
Although her reflection remained remarkably youthful and her figure hadn't lost an ounce of its stunning grace, no amount of natural beauty could alter the fact that she was no longer in her twenties.
Merely staying up late out of pure excitement had left her body feeling as exhausted as if she had pulled a grueling all-nighter.
But today was a monumental milestone for her; she couldn't afford to look drained or lethargic.
"Mmh~"
Letting out a soft, adorable hum, Yukari extended her arms above her head, stretching luxuriously across the mattress.
After rolling over one final time, she finally swung her legs out from under the covers and sat up.
Tucking her petite feet into a pair of soft slippers, she stood up, glided over to the grand window, and smoothly pulled back the heavy drapes.
Whoosh—
A brilliant, cascading wave of golden sunlight flooded the room.
Squinting slightly against the sudden glare, Yukari tilted her head, waiting a brief moment for her eyes to adjust before opening them fully.
Through the transparent glass pane and the sheer mesh screen, a sprawling view of rooftops—varied in design, color, and size, interspersed with patches of vibrant green trees—reflected beautifully within her striking, wine-red eyes.
Initially, she had planned to use a "happy coincidence" as an excuse to rent the house right next door to Fuyumi's family.
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on her side, and the neighboring property got leased out just weeks prior to her arrival.
Forced to settle for the next best option, she secured an apartment in a high-rise residential building a short distance from his home.
After meticulously scanning the available units, she deliberately chose the penthouse suite on the top floor—the one precise vantage point that granted her an unobstructed view of his roof.
As she stared longingly toward Fuyumi's home, her mind drifted into a trance for a few quiet minutes.
When she finally snapped back to reality, a soft smile played on her lips as she turned and walked toward the bathroom to prepare for the day.
Splash, splash...
Sasaki Yukari's slender, fair fingers turned on the faucet, and she cupped her hands, scooping up the clear water to wash her still delicate face.
After drying her face with a towel, Yukari straightened up, lifted her gaze, and examined herself in the mirror.
Because the hair on her forehead was wet, she had casually pushed it to both sides, revealing her smooth forehead.
This also fully exposed her cheeks.
Without the need for hairstyle decorations, her face was a perfect melon seed shape.
Slightly rounded at the top, slightly pointed at the chin, with smooth lines.
This laid the foundation for her beauty.
Yet, no matter how breathtaking or stunning someone might be, they eventually lose their youth to the passage of time. And yet, time is not always fair. Sometimes, it shows favoritism to certain people.
Just like the woman in the mirror—though she was no longer young, her skin remained fair and smooth, free of wrinkles and blemishes. From her appearance alone, she looked no different from a young woman who favored mature styling.
People are always greedy, however, especially when it comes to someone whose heart belongs to another...
Although compared to her peers, she was envied.
Only she knew the truth beneath it: the skin that had lost a little of its old spring, the color that didn't sit quite as bright as it used to.
"Sigh~"
She touched her reflection's cheek and sighed.
Then she shook her head vigorously to snap herself out of it. Not today.
Whether she and the one she loved could finally end up together depended largely on how this single day went.
First impressions after a long time apart were crucial.
What on earth was she thinking, wearing such a miserable expression?!
Even if she had started going downhill, it was only just the beginning; she was still very charming.
As long as she put a little effort into dressing up, she would definitely be able to capture his heart!
Putting aside her anxieties about her future appearance and body, the present Yukari was still quite proud of her looks.
With that settled, she went to make breakfast: a quick rolled omelet, chilled tofu, a few fish fillets and pickles.
She never skipped meals or let herself go soft around the edges; her body was a discipline she kept even when no one was watching.
After clearing away the dishes, it was time to change. She had already chosen her outfit well in advance.
Something sexy underneath, simple and understated on top.
As a teacher, while she might not understand adult men all that well, she knew a thing or two about younger guys.
Boys generally didn't know how to groom or dress themselves, and when it came to clothing, the simpler, the better.
Though she hadn't seen him in a long time and wasn't entirely familiar with his current lifestyle, a bit of observation told her he wasn't the type to chase after extravagant trends.
Even if he was strikingly handsome without even trying.
Since he wouldn't deliberately dress to impress, wearing something too flashy or ostentatious might just put pressure on him and make him feel awkward.
Better to surprise him quietly than overwhelm him; comfort was what would last, not a single dazzling first impression.
She kept her styling close to her everyday self and let the details do the work: the jewelry at her wrist and throat, the perfume just barely there.
It took quite a while.
After changing, finishing her makeup, and checking every detail, a fully prepped Yukari stood before the full-length mirror, scanning herself from head to toe.
"Good~ Let's go with this."
Swishing her full, curvaceous figure and inspecting the final look, she narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.
Everything was ready. It was time to leave.
Glancing at the watch on her wrist to ensure nothing was forgotten, she grabbed her bag, slipped into her shoes, and stepped out the door.
Their homes were close enough that the small park they'd agreed on was only a ten-minute walk.
It had been overcast and rainy yesterday, but today's weather was wonderful; sunny, with a comfortable temperature, making it ideal for a stroll.
Charmed by the pleasant weather, the perfect temperature, and the warm sunlight, she happily hummed a little tune to herself.
Caught up in her excitement, nervousness, and sheer anticipation, and looking only straight ahead, she completely failed to notice someone approaching from behind.
It wasn't until a hand reached out and tapped her shoulder that her heart leaped into her throat, and she whipped around.
"..."
There was no one there... yet someone had definitely tapped her shoulder just now...
As her eyes swept the area, a wave of long-forgotten familiarity welled up in her heart.
Throughout her life, there was only one person who would ever play such childish pranks on her.
Guessing it must be a little trick from a certain someone, her mind went blank as she hurriedly spun back around.
"Whoa~"
There he was, fingers hooked in the corners of his mouth, pulling the same ridiculous face he'd made as a boy.
He'd grown taller, sharper-featured, unmistakably a man now, and yet the resemblance to the same cute child she remembered was so exact it startled her.
This was the first time she was seeing him fully grown, standing right in front of her.
Seeing the gesture instantly brought back a flood of fond memories, and she instinctively raised a hand, wanting to touch his cheek.
But the upward tilt of her head and the rising motion of her palm abruptly snapped her back to reality.
This wasn't the past; he was no longer the little kid from over a decade ago.
She didn't even know if he... if he even remembered the promise they made back then...
Reaching out to touch him now would be far too forward.
She pulled her hand back and pressed it instead to her lips, laughing softly to cover the ache.
Meeting the person she had yearned for day and night, her eyes curved into soft crescents, and she teased him with a smile. "You really are just like when you were a kid, always pulling these little pranks."
"How many times has your teacher told you that you shouldn't go around scaring people like that~"
The latter scratched the back of his head, a little sheepish that the prank hadn't landed the way he wanted. "Well... I remembered that Yu, ah, Yukari-sensei's scared face is really cute. And it's been a while, so..."
Noticing that, after a brief hesitation, he chose to drop the formal title he used in their text messages, a bright spark lit up in her eyes. He really does still have feelings for me.
Just because of this minor change in how he addressed her, a wave of elation washed over her, making her heart race.
Unable to completely control the rise and fall of her chest, she feigned nonchalance, though her probing intent was painfully obvious as she replied. "Little... Fuyumi, why do you always remember silly things like that?
It's so embarrassing."
"And besides, you don't need to call me 'sensei' anymore. That's a title from way back when. You're all grown up now—just call me Yukari~"
Whatever she wanted to be called was fine by him.
Accommodating her request, he smoothly adopted her first name.
"Is that so? Then... Yukari?"
To be honest, she would have preferred something a bit more intimate, but it wasn't the right time yet...
Though everything was moving in a positive direction, rushing things could backfire.
Better to take it slow.
Suppressing the greedy longing in her heart, she nodded happily and agreed. "Yeah."
Even though it was still morning, being a holiday meant there were still quite a few people taking walks along the path.
Standing by the roadside chatting indefinitely wasn't ideal, so Sasaki took the initiative. "If Yukari doesn't have a specific place in mind, how about we head over to the small park and sit down for a bit? What do you think?"
Hearing his words, she nodded without caring.
For her, as long as she was with him, the destination didn't matter.
She stepped closer, letting the distance between them close on its own. "Let's talk on the way."
"Okay."
Because she walked so close, he didn't even need to lean in to catch the faint fragrance drifting from her.
It bore a slight resemblance to Kyoka's scent—the unmistakable aura of a mature woman that warmed the heart and instinctively drew people closer.
Perhaps because she spent her days around young children, however, her fragrance felt much softer than Kyoka's.
Combined with her deeply approachable, gentle smile, it made her irresistibly inviting.
Shifting his gaze to her profile, he offered a compliment that bridged polite conversation and genuine admiration. "Yukari is just as pretty as before. It feels like you haven't changed at all."
Childhood memories are always hazy, like viewing flowers through a veil of mist.
He was no exception; he knew she was gorgeous, but the exact details had faded over time.
Yet, seeing her now, her living image overlapped perfectly with the blurry shadow in his memory, making it seem as though time had left her untouched.
Saying she hadn't changed might be hyperbole, but calling her stunning was pure truth.
She looked practically identical to the photos she had sent him just days prior.
Rather than accumulating the "scars" of passing years, she seemed to have grown only more graceful and alluring through time's refinement.
And because she had no partner, no heavy marital burdens, and no exhausting domestic grind to wear her down, every movement, every expression, and every smile still retained the playful, lively spark of a young girl.
All of that, paired with her youthful outfit...
Her coffee-brown camisole was cut loose, but the white undershirt beneath clung tight, and the V-neck seemed stretched by nothing but the shape of her.
A short black skirt hid the exact line of her waist, though its fullness left little to guess.
Because the style was loose and dark, he couldn't accurately gauge the precise curve of her waist and hips, but he could tell it was magnificent—possessing a mature, rounded elegance.
Bare calves, ankle socks, low heels, every inch of visible skin impossibly fair.
Her hair fell the same way it had in the photos, one loose strand resting against her chest. She'd clearly dressed to be recognized.
To him, none of it needed announcing, she was beautiful, full stop.
Sensing his surprise and awe through his occasional sideways glances, she accepted his praise with quiet confidence.
All the anxiety she had felt regarding her appearance vanished instantly under his words.
A soft, rosy blush bloomed across her gentle, tender face as she raised a hand to cover her mouth, laughing shyly. "Fuyumi is very handsome too, though you've changed a whole lot."
She looked him over properly now, wonder creeping into her voice. "You used to be tiny. Shorter than me even when I was sitting down. And now..."
Then, tilting her head back with a light chuckle, she playfully gestured at the height difference between them and met his gaze. "Now you've grown so tall that I actually have to look up at you."
It's only natural that your face changed so much. You were so cute as a kid, and now you have grown up to be this handsome."
.
.
.
(End of the Chapter)