"I didn't say it like that! I'm not teaching you to be a womanizer!" Kyouko glared at him.
"Yeah, I know. But still, that idea is dumb."
"We never know. What if one day you find a girl who's exactly your type. Beautiful, smart, kind, everything you've ever wanted, but you don't know how to talk to her? What if you freeze up like you did with those girls at the supermarket yesterday? Hmm?"
"No... I don't want to do it."
"Mou!" Kyouko puckered her lips, pouting dramatically. She lifted her injured foot slightly, wincing for effect. "Ah~ I still feel my toe hurting because of someone..."
She gave him a pointed look, her eyes wide and innocent. "It really stings, you know. And I was just trying to help my only son have a better future..."
Haruki narrowed his eyes at her, his chopsticks frozen halfway to his mouth. "Seriously, Mom? You're going to use that?"
Kyouko sighed dramatically, rubbing her toe again. "But I guess if my son doesn't want my help, I shouldn't force him. Even though I'm his mother and only want what's best for him..."
She gave him a sideways glance before pretending to be sad, dabbing at her dry eyes with the fluffy sleeve of her bunny pajamas. "My husband ignores me... and now my son also doesn't need me anymore..."
Haruki exhaled. "Mom..."
"Hmmph! Don't talk to me ever again." Kyouko turned away completely, crossing her arms over her chest in a huff. The bunny ears on her hood flopped adorably as she moved, and she sat with her back to him, her shoulders slumped in exaggerated sadness.
Kyouko peek from the corner of her eyes and notice Haruki kept eating his meal.
Nngh!! He didn't even care!
Kyouko turned with a glare. "Haruki!!"
Haruki glanced at her while munching his food. "What?"
Kyouko kept hitting Haruki's shoulder, her small fists bouncing off his muscular frame.
"At least you should listen first! Mou!!!" Kyouko kept hitting his body with her soft punches.
Haruki exhaled in defeat. "Fine... I'll listen... I'll listen."
Kyouko's eyes brightened. "Really? You'll listen?"
"Yeah, yeah... if I don't, you'll keep hitting me."
Kyouko smiled brightly. "That's my son."
Haruki exhaled. "So? How are you going to teach me?"
Kyouko smiled and put some more food on his bowl.
"I'll teach you everything you need to know about women. How to start conversations, how to give genuine compliments that don't sound creepy, how to read a girl's body language, what topics to avoid, how to make her feel comfortable and special. I'll explain what women really want in a man, what makes them feel appreciated, and how to show interest without being too aggressive."
Haruki narrowed his eyes. "You mean like you telling me what girls like, what topics I should discuss, things like that?"
She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I'll share all my knowledge as a woman, everything I know about what makes a woman feel appreciated and understood."
"Wow... if that's all you know, I can read it from a book or search it online, right?"
"But at least you'll learn something from actual knowledge from a real woman like me!" Kyouko puckered her lips while narrowing her eyes at Haruki.
"Mom..." Haruki tilted his head, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he looked at her from the side. "I'm a college student. You know learning like that is just theory, right?"
"It still counts as learning!"
"Not the same, Mom." Haruki leaned back, crossing his arm over his chest.
"There's a difference between knowing something in theory and actually experiencing it. It's like... you can read every book about swimming, but you won't know how to swim until you get in the water." He took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving her face. "You can't learn how to ride a bike by reading about it. You have to actually get on the bike and fall a few times."
"Mou! But still!" Kyouko huffed, turning toward her coffee cup and pouting, her lips forming into irresistible frown.
"That's why I said it's a dumb idea, Mom."
Haruki finished his breakfast and stood up, collecting his own dish and bringing it to the sink while Kyouko just watched him.
He won't even consider learning it from me!
Ugh! So hard-headed like his father!
Kyouko exhaled, resting her elbow on the table while her cheek rested on her palm, narrowing her eyes at him as he washed his own dish. The morning light streamed through the window, catching the graceful lines of his back muscles as he moved.
How can I teach him?
What he said is right... but at least with me he'll know more than he does now.
She watched the way his shoulders moved, the way he handled the dishes. He was already so capable in so many ways, why was this one thing so difficult?
Maybe I need to think of a different approach. Something more practical.
But how can he practice without a girl to practice with?
I can't exactly bring random girls here for him to practice on...
Kyouko's eyes drifted to the window, her mind racing with possibilities. The fluffy bunny ears on her hood flopped forward as she tilted her head in thought.
There has to be a way...
Haruki? Kyouko glanced at him while shifting her position, her chin now resting on her palm, her elbow still propped on the table.
"Any type of girl you like?"
"Huh? What now, Mom? Don't tell me you're going to set me up on a blind date now." Haruki let out a soft laugh while wiping his hands on the towel.
"Just answer the question!" Kyouko glared at him, her full lips forming a stern line.
Haruki shook his head. "Just so you know, Mom, I won't be going if you set up a random blind date."
"I won't! Even if I set you up with one, I don't think you're ready!" Kyouko huffed, her cheeks puffing out slightly. "Just tell me already!"
"Alright, alright. Sheesh, you're so forceful today." Haruki said while thinking, leaning against the counter. "Hmm... I don't know... just a regular girl, modest outfit."
Kyouko tilted her head, her long black hair cascading over her shoulder. "Anything else?"
"I don't know, Mom. Maybe someone who wears glasses?"
"Uwa... what a lame taste. Where do you think you're going to find that kind of girl? Library? Office?"
"There are some in college too, Mom! Not everyone is wearing sexy outfits." Haruki sighed and walked away.
"Where are you going?"
Haruki's eyes narrowed with a sly, teasing smile. "Toilet... wanna join?"
Kyouko took her fluffy slipper and threw it at Haruki, who evaded it with a laugh while running away.
( End Of Chapter )