Chapter 105 Harue’s Anguish
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The first time I felt something off about Haru-kun was when I looked at his elementary school report card.
At first, I was just proud. His grades were perfect. No complaints. But as he moved up the years, they stayed exactly the same. Not a single drop, not even a fluctuation. Always flawless.
And yet… I’d never seen him study.
Even with how much I dote on him, that didn’t sit right. No kid gets those scores just by listening in class. Still—if the results were good, what parent would complain?
”Hey, isn’t Haru-kun kind of… weirdly good at massages?”
”H-huh? Well… he’s always done them since he was little.”
”I see, I see… but don’t you think he’s too good? Like… technique-level good? What do you think, Harue-san?”
”Eh?! W-Well, um… I guess… I’ve noticed it too, maybe just a bit…”
”I knew it!”
It started after he got over his chickenpox. He said he wanted to help out more, so he began massaging me and my husband—like practice. At the time, it felt harmless. We didn’t have anyone else to compare it to anyway.
But once I talked to Haa-chan’s Mama about it, something clicked. Or maybe un-clicked.
”That last massage… was kind of intense.”
”You’re still not used to it?”
”I’ve gotten used to the idea of it… but not the way it feels. It’s… different every time.”
She said it with a laugh, but there was something behind her smile. Her hand lingered on her neck like she was still remembering it.
”He had you… like that?”
”Y-yeah… I didn’t think it would work, but my back pain disappeared afterward.”
”He really is… skilled.”
I didn’t even know where he learned half the things he was doing. The placements, the pressure points, the little gestures before he starts. And it’s subtle, but sometimes, it’s like he’s not… guessing. Like he’s done it all before.
”By the way, is your husband… um… built?”
”Cough!! Pft—W-What?! Why are you suddenly asking that?!”
Tea exploded out of my mouth. My throat burned.
”I mean, Haru-kun’s physique is… I don’t know, kind of surprising for his age. Thought maybe it was genetic?”
”Ah… no, Shouma’s average. Haru-kun’s just… growing fast, I guess…”
I remembered the other day—he came to me looking confused, frustrated, complaining his body was acting strange. I didn’t really know how to help, so I just sat with him.
”Ahh! You’re blushing! Does it ever feel… weird? Like, seeing him that way?”
”N-No! I mean, Haru-kun’s still just my son!”
I said it quickly. Too quickly. Like I was stopping the words before they could shape into something else.
Haa-chan’s Mama had back issues again—something about her posture lately. Haru-kun offered to help. They went into his room.
Then I heard it.
”Um… this is… kind of… intense…”
”Y-Yeah… I think something’s… shifting…”
Shuffling. Breathing. A few noises I couldn’t place. It sounded like a gym session mixed with… something else.
”Ah… it’s… almost there…”
My chest tightened. Why was I listening this hard? I should’ve just turned up the TV. I told myself not to overthink it.
Was this… really just a massage?
I stared at the hallway, teacup frozen in my hand.
Should I go check?
No. That would make it weird. It’s already weird. Why am I acting like this?
”It’s… working… it’s working…!”
Then silence.
Even after the noises stopped, neither of them came out for a while.
I sat there alone, pretending I hadn’t heard anything.
Pretending it was just another normal afternoon.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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