Kyouko kept smiling softly at the table, laughing gently as Kenji tried to high-five his son and almost lost his balance.
While everyone else was chatting, she quietly slipped her phone into her lap and opened the family group chat on LINE.
Her fingers moved quickly and subtly as she typed.
「Mother…」
「We shouldn't go outside Japan. Haruki doesn't know about our family's real background yet…」
「What if he accidentally tells Satomi… and she tells Satoshi!?」
She looked up as she pressed send.
Meanwhile, Hanako's phone buzzed quietly under the table.
She read the message and pressed her lips together thoughtfully.
She didn't reply.
But when her eyes met Kyouko's, she gave a tiny nod—showing they both understood each other.
Hanako glanced around quietly and looked toward Kenji, Hitomi, Keiko, and Kazuma.
No words were spoken, but her look said everything.
Kenji, already flushed and swaying a little, caught her gaze.
He raised his sake cup high and shouted,
