Kasumi shook her head, more tears slipping down despite my constant gentle wiping. "No... I’m not a good mother. I left Yuko when she needed most. I hurt her so badly... And I’m not as great as you say. Tomiko is the one who manages everything so perfectly. She’s much stronger than ..."
Her voice broke as she cried quietly. I hugged her even more tightly, pressing her against my chest while my hand kept stroking her hair and back in slow, soothing motions.
"Shhh... That’s not true at all," I whispered lovingly, kissing the top of her head. "You were fighting to survive and protect your children in impossible circumstances. The fact that both Haruna and Yuko love you so deeply proves what an amazing mother you are."
I continued caressing her face, wiping every tear that fell, and gently rocking her in my arms. "You don’t need to compare yourself to Tomiko. You are both wonderful in your own ways. Right now, you’re the one who needs to be protected and spoiled."
Kasumi buried her face deeper into my chest, her tears soaking into my shirt as she cried. I held her securely, one arm wrapped firmly around her waist while my other hand kept gently caressing her hair, neck, and back.
"Thank you, Jack..." she whispered between soft sobs. "For not judging ... for believing in ... for feeding like a child earlier... and for holding like this. I feel so pathetic, but... I also feel so warm and safe."
I kissed her forehead again, then her damp cheeks, wiping away the last of her tears. "You’re not pathetic. You’re human. And you’re allowed to be weak sotis — especially with ."
Kasumi looked up at with glistening, vulnerable eyes, her face inches from mine inside the quiet, warm tent. My hand never stopped gently caressing her cheek and hair as I held her close.
The peaceful sound of the lake waves and distant night insects surrounded us, making this deeply intimate and healing mont even more special.
Kasumi was lying pressed against , her soft, full breasts gently pressing into my chest through the thin fabric of her kimono.
I could clearly sll her — a delicate, feminine scent of cherry blossoms and warm skin that was uniquely hers. My arm remained wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close as my fingers continued to gently caress her back and hair in slow, soothing strokes.
Kasumi stayed silent for a long mont, then asked in a low, hesitant voice:
"Jack... tell Oka-san the truth. Do you like Yuko?"
I was genuinely surprised by the sudden question. I hadn’t expected Kasumi to ask sothing so direct in this vulnerable mont.
Kasumi lifted her head slightly and stared straight into my eyes, her gaze unwavering. "Don’t lie to ."
I looked at her honestly and nodded. "Yeah... I love Yuko."
Kasumi’s eyes trembled. She continued softly, "Then... Haruna?"
"I love her too," I answered without hesitation. "I genuinely love both of them."
Kasumi stared at for a few seconds, processing my words. Tears began to well up in her eyes again.
"I know..." she whispered. "I know you’re good to Haruna... and even to Yuko. And I know my daughters best. The way Yuko looks at you... I already knew deep down."
Fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. I imdiately reached up and gently wiped them away with my thumb, still holding her close.
"Oka-san... aren’t you angry at ?" I asked softly, my hand continuing to caress her face.
Kasumi shook her head slowly. "No... I’m not angry. I know my daughters. I trust Yuko... and I trust you."
I activated Telepathy and clearly heard her inner thoughts:
[After what Yuko went through... I was so afraid she would never trust a man again. But knowing she worked as a killer under her Master Akane... she beca so strong. I should thank her, Master Akane, one day... maybe even apologize to her. When Yuko needed the most, it was Akane who was there for her... protecting her...]
Kasumi’s tears continued to fall. I wiped them away tenderly, stroking her cheek and hair with deep affection.
"Why are you crying, Oka-san? Don’t cry..." I whispered. "I promise I will take care of them. I will love them well, never hurt them, and never betray them."
Kasumi shook her head again, more tears dripping onto my chest. "No... I just thought of sothing bad..."
Her inner thoughts continued flowing into my mind:
[Does Jack know that Yuko worked as an assassin? If he knew the truth about her past... would he still look at her the sa way? I’m so afraid...]
I let out a quiet sigh, still gently caressing her back and holding her tightly against . My fingers traced slow, comforting patterns along her spine as I pulled her even closer, her soft body molding perfectly against mine.
Kasumi remained silent for a long mont, then asked in a low, hesitant voice:
"Jack... does Haruna know? About your feelings for Yuko?"
I nodded gently, my hand never stopping its tender caresses through her long, silky hair. "Yes. Actually... this whole situation was Haruna’s idea."
Kasumi’s eyes widened in genuine shock. She lifted her head from my chest, staring at with surprise. "What...? Haruna’s idea?"
"Yeah," I said softly, still stroking her back and waist. "I still rember everything so clearly. I first t Haruna through Hannah — my Aunt Julie’s daughter — when I went to Germany. Haruna was Hannah’s best friend. One day, after a trip, I offered to drop Haruna off at ho. That was the first ti I t Sister Yuko."
I pulled Kasumi even closer, hugging her tightly as I continued. "At the beginning, Haruna thought her best friend Hannah liked , so she started distancing herself from . It wasn’t until I confessed my true feelings — that I liked her, not Hannah — that we finally got together."
Kasumi listened quietly, her body still pressed warmly against mine. "And then...?"
"But you don’t know, Oka-san... Sister Yuko was really scary back then," I said with a small chuckle, gently rubbing her lower back. "The first ti we properly spoke, she threatened directly. She said if I ever hurt Haruna, she would kill without hesitation. She was so cold and intimidating."
Kasumi let out a soft, surprised chuckle. "Pffff... That sounds exactly like my Yuko. She’s always been extrely protective of her little sister."
I smiled and hugged her tighter, my fingers tracing slow circles along her spine. "Then, as I spent more ti with Haruna, I naturally started spending ti with Yuko too. Oka-san, do you still rember that video call we had? That day when Sister Yuko and I were cooking together... and she accidentally cut her finger?"
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