Uncle Hikigaya is Forever Young [19]

Tōma Yōko—world-renowned pianist, mother of Tōma Kazusa, twice-divorced, with a private life so messy it hardly invited praise.

Back when her daughter had been young and impressionable, Yōko had eagerly played matchmaker between Kazusa and Haruki… But considering her own disastrous romantic record, her "guidance" on her daughter's first love obviously hadn't produced anything positive.

Half a year ago, moved by pity for Kazusa’s lifeless marriage, Yōko had arranged a “coincidental” reunion between her married daughter and Haruki, under the pretense of a performance in Tokyo.

And thus, two peaceful families had been destroyed overnight.

Yet Yōko felt only a vague unease about it—never fully realizing that she'd committed an irreversible mistake.

Self-reflection? Not a chance. Guilt toward her son-in-law? Even less so. She was just that kind of woman! No matter how well Hikigaya Ryōhei had treated her daughter, Yōko believed it was entirely natural and expected.

Or perhaps the concept of “family” had grown so distant after years of single life that she simply couldn’t grasp the heart of the issue.

Maybe top-tier artists, by nature, tended toward self-centeredness—their egos directly proportional to their artistic achievements.

Yōko, being a globally acclaimed pianist, had long become someone living entirely within her own world, without even realizing it herself.

Marriage, divorce, remarriage, re-divorce, boyfriends coming and going endlessly—she pursued a so-called "soulmate," but along the way had entirely forgotten what she was even seeking.

Repeating this absurd cycle, Yōko was like her daughter—never truly mature, never realizing that adult life wasn't only about poetry and distant dreams, but also responsibility and obligation.

She yearned only for the sweet passion of romance, unwilling to compromise for mundane troubles like food and money.

But one could only be called a true adult after learning the meaning of duty.

“Hikigaya-kun, I know you have your issues with me, but I’ll still keep coming to see Komachi and Hachiman. As their grandmother, I have that right.”

Downstairs at the apartment’s entrance, Tōma Yōko turned gracefully around, arms folded, confidently addressing Ryōhei.

Though certainly not young, Yōko had kept her body in nearly flawless shape—her ample chest pressed enticingly against the crisp white blouse beneath her jacket. Her waist was slim enough to wrap an arm around, her legs so long and graceful that even her formal pants couldn't hide their attractive shape. She looked every bit the seductive professional, mature and mesmerizing.

“So, you really are a grandmother…”

Ryōhei muttered under his breath, quietly enough for only himself to hear. How could this woman’s looks differ so dramatically from her age? He'd even mistaken her for "his" ex-wife. She really was some kind of monster!

“Hmm? What did you just say?” Yōko, a musician with sharp hearing, immediately caught his murmuring, though she hadn’t quite heard clearly.

“I said it’s fine. You can come see them.” Regarding the children, Ryōhei had a very relaxed attitude. He held no true hatred toward this Tōma mother-and-daughter duo, and no matter what, the children couldn’t completely cut off ties with their mother for life.

So he spoke straightforwardly.

But… it's definitely irritating seeing her in person. Every time Yōko appeared (probably because she resembled Kazusa from the photos), Ryōhei was reminded of that green hat of adultery forced upon the original “Hikigaya Ryōhei.”

It was definitely depressing.

No matter how much he washed it away, the stain remained.

Yet it had nothing to do with him.

He hadn't even touched Kazusa’s hand, yet now had to carry the shame of another man’s betrayal.

“You aren't being sarcastic, are you? Last time, you were so rude—completely disrespectful to your elders! I even tried persuading Kazusa to be more understanding toward you,” Yōko complained, lips pursed in displeasure.

Hikigaya Ryōhei felt a vein throbbing at his temple. Was this woman crazy? From her tone, anyone would think he—no, the previous “Hikigaya Ryōhei”—was the one who’d been unfaithful.

Seriously, what the hell!

“I beg you, please stop talking! Anyway, didn’t you say you wanted to take Komachi and Hachiman out somewhere? Come pick them up tomorrow morning!” Remembering Yōko’s earlier suggestion, Ryōhei quickly seized the opportunity.

Seeing her so elegantly dressed, and feeling she deserved a good lesson, he decided it would be satisfying to have those two little freeloaders bleed her wallet dry.

Though the woman was irritating, she still had some value.

“Eh? Don’t you hate me a lot?” This time, Yōko was genuinely surprised. She could tell Ryōhei’s offer wasn't sarcastic, prompting her to step closer again, carefully examining her former son-in-law’s face.

If the sensation earlier—that his personality had drastically changed—felt like an illusion, she was now almost certain something major had happened to Hikigaya Ryōhei.

He’d clearly been a petty, vulgar, boring man before.

Yet now, he seemed utterly indifferent, as if he’d transcended attachment entirely.

“Yes, I do hate you quite a lot!” Ryōhei couldn’t be bothered with politeness and answered bluntly.

“You—!” Yōko, utterly stunned by his "honesty," momentarily couldn’t even scold him back. She gasped softly, pressing a flawless, delicate hand—one that played piano for a living—against her chest, looking scandalized.

“Hey, weren’t you just bragging about taking the kids out for a week? Was that just talk? You regretting it now?”

“Absolutely not! Forget about one week—I can even take them abroad permanently! I’m just worried you’d cry and beg for them back!” Yōko fired back instantly, genuinely meaning it. She truly wanted her grandchildren to relax a little.

Even someone as insensitive as her had noticed: Komachi, who'd always been bright and lively, now wore subtle shadows of sadness due to the divorce. Kazusa had looked just like that as a child, too, heartbreaking to see.

“Fine, fine. It’s good for the kids to have fun with you, but make sure to bring them back at least a day before school starts. It's settled—pick them up tomorrow morning at eight. I'll let them know.”

With that, Ryōhei turned and walked back inside, as he still had dinner to prepare.

Left standing alone, watching Ryōhei’s carefree retreating figure, Yōko felt oddly unreal.

She couldn’t quite figure it out—could a man really change this drastically in just a few days?

Had Kazusa’s betrayal truly been such a huge shock that even his personality shifted?

After considering carefully, that was the only explanation she could come up with.

But in truth, Ryōhei simply disliked her enough that he didn't care about preserving the facade of politeness. He no longer had any desire to get along with her, so he showed his true feelings openly.

If she thought he was strange, then so be it.

On the contrary, if it were someone like Miura Kōzō—a genuinely important friend—he'd take a slower approach, carefully hiding his changes so as not to alarm him.

“But I'm really annoyed! Did that young man seriously just lecture me? He still thinks I'm some evil mother-in-law who destroyed his marriage, doesn't he?”

The stunningly beautiful woman angrily stomped her foot, pouting childishly as she turned and marched indignantly toward her white sports car parked along the road.

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T/N: u are an evil mother in law...

thats her

This is a fan translation of 比企谷大叔永远年轻 by Stargazer All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!