Perfect Sex Sequel - Chapter 24

That day.

I stayed in Kanae’s hospital room until the visiting hours ended at 7:30 PM.

Kanae stared at me silently, her lips curved into a smile, as if she had forgotten how to speak.

Kanae had become thin. Her face no longer had its previous glow, and the wrinkles on the back of her hands were deep. It was understandable, as the loss of weight had caused her skin to lose its elasticity. Even the fashion ring on her right hand looked like it might slip off.

What was it that drove Kanae to this point?

It was clear that something had happened to Kanae since then. The proprietress had said her “heart was broken,” but I was hesitant to ask her what that really meant.

I kissed Kanae’s hand and forehead several times, thinking it would make her happy. Kanae seemed to enjoy when I held her hand, rubbed it, or kissed the back of her hand.

I hadn’t come to dislike Kanae. On the contrary, I liked her, having embraced her numerous times. If possible, I wanted to kiss her lips and hold her in my arms.

However, Kanae may have just decided on an arranged marriage. I can’t kiss or embrace a woman who has already made that decision.

Kanae doesn’t say anything about it. She just gazes at me and listens.

The President, through Director Sawamura, approved my leave for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. He asked me to stay with Kanae until her health improved.

However, rather than me doing that, if Kanae has already chosen the man she will marry, it would be best for him to be by her side. That would be the best medicine.

If there is a man she’s decided to marry, then he will come to visit Kanae tomorrow.

“Then, Kanae, is it alright if I come tomorrow too?”

I kissed Kanae’s hand and asked her.

“Yes, Kureha-sama… I’ll be waiting… Kureha-sama…”

Kanae gazed at me and smiled. Her smile, as beautiful as ever, gave me a sense of relief.

I slowly released Kanae’s hand, kissed her forehead, which was brimming with tears, and waved my hand lightly as I left the hospital room.

　　☆…　☆…　☆…

“Ah, Kureha-san! Come, come, let’s have a drink!”

As I entered the hotel, the proprietress greeted me with a hug. When I looked at her again, she was truly youthful and beautiful. It was no wonder that President Yuuki was completely in love with her.

“I still have work left, so I can’t drink too much. But after 9, I’ll be free. Tamura-san and Miho-chan will be here, so let’s take our time drinking.”

The proprietress said with a smile.

“Thank you for everything.”

While hugging her, I kissed the proprietress’s cheek.

“Oh… I’ve been wanting to see you… With Kanae turning out like that, I didn’t know what to do either…”

The proprietress choked up, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at me.

“I’m so sorry. Seeing your face, Kureha-san, makes me feel so relieved and happy… You haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll ask the chef to prepare something for you.”

The proprietress wiped away her tears as she walked toward the kitchen.

What is going on…? What’s happening here…?

I didn’t quite understand what was happening or how things had turned out. I didn’t know the cause of Kanae’s collapse, and I hadn’t asked her about it, nor did I feel comfortable doing so.

“Kureha-san! It’s been a long time!”

While I was standing in the lobby, Takagi Miho rushed out from the office, dressed in a kimono. She was smiling brightly. I’d heard that she sometimes takes over as the young proprietress in Kanae’s absence, and it looks like marriage has made her even more beautiful.

Takagi Miho ran up to me, hugged me, and clasped my hand while skipping around.

“Ah, Kureha-san! Long time no see!”

It was Tamura-san who said that, smiling with his eyes narrowed.

And then, there was another person. A man standing next to Takagi Miho, bowing his head. This man seemed to be Takagi Miho’s husband.

“My name is Kamiyama Kouya.”

The man who introduced himself as Kamiyama Kouya extended his right hand to me. I shook his hand and said, “I am Kureha.”

“This is my husband! And now, I am also Kamiyama Miho!”

Takagi, no, Kamiyama Miho, looked at her husband with a beaming smile.

“Takagi-san, you’ve become even more beautiful. The young proprietress outfit suits you perfectly. I’m so happy to see you so happy.”

I said to Kamiyama Miho.

I ate the dinner prepared by the kitchen in the reception room.

It seemed that the proprietress had specially requested it, as the meal included fresh sashimi, including my favorites like tuna, flounder, amberjack, and spiny lobster. As expected, the food was top-notch, just as the Suzukaze Resort is renowned for. Even the rice grain and the bowl of miso soup showed meticulous care.

“Wow, this is really delicious. I’m glad I didn’t eat beforehand…”

I moved my chopsticks, impressed by the food.

The proprietress and Kamiyama (Takagi) Miho watched me eat with smiles as I enjoyed the meal. They were also drinking cold sake, the high-grade Daiginjo variety.

　 ・・・・・

“Kureha-san, I’m sure you’ve heard from President Yuuki… What do you think about Kanae?”

After finishing dinner, around 9 PM, the Proprietress and Koyama Miho (Takagi Miho), who was acting as the young proprietress, returned to the reception room after greeting and attending to the guests.

“From the president, you say? I haven’t really heard anything specific… But why is Kanae suffering from malnutrition?”

I looked back and forth between the proprietress and Koyama Miho, asking the question. Both the proprietress and Miho exchanged glances.

“Do you remember what I told you at Saori’s first memorial service…? If Kanae will be happy, I said I’d be okay with her not taking a husband, or even letting her go as a bride…”

The proprietress looked at me and said.

“Yes, I remember. You entrusted this hotel to Miho and her husband, and planned to train Hayasaka as the proprietress at the new hotel at Miura Coast…”

I remembered what the proprietress had said during Saori’s first memorial service.

“Yes… The matchmaking story I mentioned at that time was brought by President Yuuki. He said it would be the best thing for Kanae’s happiness…”

The proprietress stared at me and said that. Takagi Miho was also looking at me with a serious expression.

“… Is that so? The president…”

I let out a big sigh.

The proprietress’s story about the president bringing up Kanae’s arranged marriage left me confused. Who was this man the president had recommended as her husband? Could he be one of the men from our company?

“Kureha-san, I have one request to ask of you for my entire life…”

The proprietress stood up, sat beside me, and grasped both of my hands tightly.

“Kureha-san, please take Kanae as your wife. Make her your bride.”

The proprietress said to me with a serious expression.

“Huh?…”

I stared at the proprietress.

“The matchmaking for Kanae that President Yuuki brought up… it’s about you, Kureha-san. It’s about you!”

As she said this, the proprietress shook my hands up and down.

“………”

I was still confused, alternating my gaze between the proprietress and Kamiyama Miho.

“Proprietress…”

“Kanae… In her heart, you are the only one. Her heart is filled with thoughts of you.”

“Since the president brought up the matter with you, Kanae suddenly changed. She started to deteriorate around that time. When she wouldn’t wake up in the morning, I went to her room to fetch her, and Kanae… she had completely withered away… She was losing weight right before my eyes, and she couldn’t eat properly anymore…”

The proprietress lowered her head and tears streamed down her face.

“Kanae was pitiful… Kureha-san, you were the only thing that gave her life meaning… I knew that too, as a mother. I noticed it. But there was nothing I could do… Kanae had already resigned herself to the fact that you were out of reach. She knew you had a wife, Saori… So I told her, I will not allow you to destroy your family. That was the one thing I firmly told her.”

“Kanae must have known that too. But, Kureha-san, you never left her heart. Kanae was in love with you… That love kept her going. And, eventually, that unrequited love began to eat away at her heart.”

The proprietress said this, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her kimono.

“Kanae was wrong to fall in love with you, knowing you were already married. I understand that. But she loves you, Kureha-san. She loves you so much, her whole being is being consumed by it.”

“When President Yuuki brought up the discussion about you, Kanae cried out loud, saying, ‘I don’t belong in this person’s heart. No… there’s no place for me. I shouldn’t even be here…’ She cried, apologizing in her heart to the late Saori while admitting her love for you.”

“The timing of this talk was terrible too. It was around Saori’s first memorial anniversary… Kanae appeared before you at that time. It felt as though she had been waiting for that very moment, and it was unbearable for Kanae…”

The proprietress wiped away her tears.

“Kureha-san, hey, Kureha-san… Do you dislike Kanae? Do you hate her?”

She said this and stared into my eyes. In the depth of her gaze, I could almost hear her asking, “If you don’t like her, why did you embrace Kanae? Why did you hold a woman you didn’t love?”

I could feel the intent to blame me in her words. Even Kamiyama Miho was staring at me with a serious expression.

“I’m sorry, Kureha-san… I didn’t mean to say something like that… I, as her mother, was the one who entrusted Kanae to you… I’m sorry…”

The proprietress lowered her head to me, wiping the tears that were streaming down her face.

“Proprietress…”

I held the proprietress’s hand and gazed into her eyes. Then, I took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away her tears.

“I like Kanae. That is not a lie.”

I said.

“I too was emotionally broken. After Saori’s death, I lived alone with my daughter, Sanae, and I had no space left in my heart…”

I lowered my head.

“Indeed, until now, my wife Saori was the most important. I feel guilty, but I had forgotten about Kanae when I was with Saori or Sanae. Then, after Saori passed away… I was fully occupied with raising Sanae. There were times, like when I went on a business trip alone, when I would think about Kanae. But then, I thought Kanae may have a man she loves and might even be married. I’ve decided that I will forget about Kanae. If she finds happiness, I will applaud and celebrate it. That’s what I decided in my heart. Then, when I heard from Hayasaka that Kanae came to Saori’s altar, I thought she had come to sever ties with me… I thought that was why she came…”

“At Saori’s first memorial, I heard from proprietress about Kanae’s arranged marriage. On top of that, I was told that the reliable Hayasaka was going to work at the proprietress’s new hotel, and I became even more lonely… I ended up making Sanae feel lonely too.”

I said to the proprietress, my chest tight with emotion.

“Proprietress, please give me Kanae. Let me marry her. Please, become a part of my family, along with Sanae.”

I tightly gripped the proprietress’s hand.

“Kureha-san…”

The proprietress stared at me with eyes full of tears.

“Kureha-san… Oh, Kureha-san…”

The proprietress let go of my hand, then hugged me with both arms. I tightly embraced her in return.

Kamiyama Miho was crying, using a handkerchief to wipe away her tears.

　　☆…　☆…　☆…

The next day.

I took a taxi to the Toyohama Red Cross Hospital where Kanae was staying.

I had made up my mind to ask Kanae to marry me today.

Saori….

Saori’s face appeared in my mind.

Saori, I want to welcome Kanae into our family. I want you to accept her too.

Sanae is undoubtedly our daughter, born from the love between you and me, Saori. She is our most cherished treasure.

You must have been so heartbroken, unable to hold your own daughter in your arms again. You could never hold her and kiss her on the cheek. You could never watch Sanae grow up with your own eyes. That must have been your greatest regret.

Saori, please entrust Sanae to Kanae. Kanae will definitely love her and raise her with great care. So, please allow me to accept Kanae and have her by my side for the rest of my life.

I said this to the image of Saori that appeared in my mind.

The taxi arrived at the hospital where Kanae was hospitalized. Visiting hours started at 9.

I stepped out of the elevator on the floor where Kanae’s hospital room was.

I knocked on Kanae’s private room door and opened it to enter.

“Good morning, Kanae-san.”

I gently moved the thin curtain aside with my hand.

“Kureha-sama…”

Kanae looked at me and smiled. Compared to yesterday, her complexion seemed a bit better. Still, her face, with slightly sunken cheeks, looked sickly. However, her translucent, beautiful expression remained unchanged.

I pulled out the chair from the bed and sat down. Afterward, I took Kanae’s hand and kissed her on the forehead.

“Your complexion looks a little better. Did you eat your meal?”

I opened the lid of the main dish that hadn’t been cleared yet. There was about a third of the porridge left, but it seemed like she had eaten breakfast. She had eaten more than half of the side dishes as well.

“I’m happy… I want to see the lively Kanae as soon as possible.”

I said that and kissed Kanae’s hand. Kanae smiled happily.

“Kanae-san…”

I held Kanae’s hand and gazed into her eyes.

“Kanae, marry me. I love you. I love you from the bottom of my heart… Please become my wife. Please become the mother of my daughter, Sanae.”

I held Kanae’s hand and said.

“Kureha-sama…”

Kanae opened her eyes wide and stared at me.

“There’s no one else for me anymore. You’re the only one who can be there for Sanae and me… Please marry me.”

I looked deeply into Kanae’s eyes.

“Kureha-sama…. Kureha-sama…”

Large tears started to spill from Kanae’s eyes.

“But, Kanae, Kanae… Saori-san…”

“It’s okay. I’ve already informed Saori. I want to welcome you… I want to bring you, Kanae, into the family. I told her this… Saori will surely be happy for us. She’ll bless Kanae and me. After all, thanks to Kanae, Sanae and I can be happy. There’s no way Saori won’t be happy for us. So, please marry me, Kanae…”

I said that, then firmly grasped Kanae’s hand.

“Kureha-sama…”

Kanae looked at me, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Is that alright, Kanae?”

I asked Kanae.

“Yes… Yes…”

Kanae nodded, tears streaming down her face.

“Thank you. I love you with all my heart…”

I said that, then kissed Kanae’s trembling lips while looking into her eyes. I reached around her back from between the bed and lifted her up, kissing her again.

Kanae wrapped both hands around my neck and clung to me.

“Excuse me…”

There was a knock on the hospital room door. It was a familiar voice.

“Papa, Papa!”

As soon as the door opened, Sanae, who was supposed to be with Saori’s parents, rushed in excitedly.

“Whoa! Sanae!”

I embraced Sanae, lifting her up as she jumped into my arms.

“Papa, Papa!”

“Sanae, I’m so glad you’re here. I love you, Sanae!”

I showered Sanae, whom I had lifted, with kisses.

“Father-in-law, mother-in-law…”

I bowed my head to Saori’s parents as they entered. Both of them had beaming smiles.

“Kosuke-kun. It’s only been one day, but you look well. And, this is Tadokoro Kanae-san…”

My father-in-law looked at Kanae, who was resting in bed.

“Ah, yes… I’m Tadokoro Kanae…”

Kanae propped herself up in bed and bowed to my father-in-law and mother-in-law.

“Oh dear, there’s no need to sit up. Don’t push yourself…”

My mother-in-law rushed over and gently placed her hand on Kanae’s back.

“We didn’t first meet at Saori’s first memorial… if I’m not mistaken, it was during Saori’s wake and funeral…”

Saori’s mother gazed at Kanae while saying that.

“Yes…”

Kanae bowed her head to my mother-in-law.

“Kosuke-san, to hide such a beautiful person… that’s so unfair.”

My mother-in-law said that and glared at me, but her eyes seemed to be smiling.

“Well… not really. It’s not like I was hiding her…”

I said this to my mother-in-law while holding Sanae in my arms.

“So… have you confessed to her already?”

My mother-in-law asked me.

“Huh?…”

“It’s not ‘Huh?’ We’ve already received a formal message through the president from Kanae’s mother regarding you two…”

My mother-in-law said that and laughed.

“Kosuke, we’ve been getting detailed information about you. Of course, your parents have as well. President Yuuki has always been concerned about you and Kanae… haven’t my wife and I told you many times to remarry if you find someone nice?”

My father-in-law said that while looking at me and Kanae.

“The president was angry. He said, “Kureha is so indecisive, Kanae got exhausted and collapsed. That fool!'”

My father-in-law and mother-in-law exchanged glances and laughed.

I sat Sanae, whom I was holding, down on Kanae’s bed.

“Auntie you came to see Mama!”

Sanae smiled as she looked up at Kanae.

“Sanae-chan… Welcome…”

Kanae smiled and lifted Sanae onto her lap. Sanae had her arms wrapped around Kanae’s neck.

“Kosuke-kun, Saori is no longer with us. She’s probably in heaven, feeling sad. Will you keep making Saya feel lonely forever?”

My father-in-law said. My mother-in-law was gently stroking Sanae’s head, who was held by Kanae. Kanae, holding Sanae in her arms, had a tender expression, pressing her cheek against Sanae’s hair. Her face was filled with a loving tenderness, like the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ.

“If I were in Saori’s shoes, I’d feel the same way. It’s for Kosuke’s sake, but more than that, Saya needs a mother… right, Saya?”

My mother-in-law said this and gazed at Kanae, then stroked Sanae’s head again.

“Mama, mama!”

While saying this, Sanae hugged Kanae.

“So, what’s going on?…”

My father-in-law stared at me and Kanae, then asked.

“Huh?…”

I looked at my father-in-law.

“Again, ‘huh’? This isn’t getting us anywhere. It might be quicker to ask Kanae-san directly.”

My father-in-law sighed, stared at me, and then shifted his gaze to Kanae.

“Kanae-san, has Kosuke proposed to you?”

My father-in-law asked Kanae.

“Ah, yes…”

Kanae turned bright red.

“And what did you say, Kanae?”

My father-in-law stared at Kanae.

“Yes… I answered yes.”

Kanae answered, blushing deeply.

“But, I… to Saori-san…”

“Please stop. It’s a sad truth, but Saori is no longer with us. Saori would surely be happy that Kanae is becoming Saya’s new mother. And for both my wife and I, Kosuke is a son we’re proud of. Kanae will be our new daughter. Even after Kosuke marries Kanae, Saya, who carries Saori’s bl00d, will remain our granddaughter. Come visit us now and then and let us spoil you. I want to make delicious sushi and serve it to Kanae.”

My father-in-law narrowed his eyes and gazed at Kanae and Sanae.

“Father… uu, uuu…”

Kanae started crying while holding Sanae.

My mother-in-law gently rubbed Kanae’s back multiple times, while Sanae clung to Kanae.

“Saya will have two mamas… two grandfathers, and three grandmothers.”

My mother-in-law gently stroked Sanae’s head, her eyes narrowing with joy.

Chapter length 8562 characters.