Uncle Hikigaya is Forever Young [76]

Click.

The Miura family’s front door swung open, and Editor Machida followed Mrs. Miura inside as if she owned the place.

She and Mrs. Miura were best friends; casual drop-ins like this were routine.

The sudden noise startled Miura Yumiko, the blonde beauty sprawled on the sofa watching TV.

Realizing it was her mother, Yumiko bolted upright, quickly fixing her meticulously curled hair. She flipped the channel to an educational program.

If Mom caught her lying around watching TV—especially a Korean drama—she’d never hear the end of it.

“Yo! Yumiko-chan, here I am again to nag you today!”

Miss Machida, having kicked off her shoes, greeted the girl with her usual bright energy.

“Huh? Why’s it you? I mean—why’s it Machida-obasan?”

Yumiko had long since gotten used to Machida Sonoko, chatting with her casually and without concern for age or rank. But under her mother’s sharp gaze, she quickly corrected herself.

“Don’t call me obasan! That makes me sound ancient—call me Onee-chan!”

Definitely not acting her age. Maybe spending time with pretty young girls like Yumiko had convinced her she was still one herself.

“Heh! Yumiko, stop fooling around. Go pour some tea and wash two apples while you’re at it. Sonoko, I’m exhausted thanks to you!”

Miura Yumiko took the chance to escape to the kitchen.

Still, she couldn’t help but glance back at the frequent visitor who always came bearing gifts. Her emerald eyes glinted with curiosity—and calculation.

She knew her mom had gone out tonight for hotpot with her dad’s old friend, Hikigaya Ryōhei-sensei.

And they hadn’t brought her along.

So annoying!

Then why had Mom come home with Machida-obasan instead?

Yumiko wasn’t exactly a top student—her IQ and EQ weren’t anything special—but when it came to gossip, her brain worked at lightning speed.

Hotpot. Three adults.

Her mother—fine.
Hikigaya-sensei, divorced = single.
Machida-obasan, aging single woman = single.

So, single + single = ?

Matchmaking!?

Meanwhile, Mrs. Miura—who looked about seventy percent like her daughter—gently pushed Miss Machida down onto the sofa beside her.

Fusako had always been frail, and she was especially tired today. Still, chatting with friends seemed to lift the gloom that had lingered in her heart.

Miss Editor glanced at the TV and blinked. The screen displayed a serious educational program: Prenatal Care for Expectant Mothers.

“Eh? Yumiko-chan actually watches this kind of… advanced program? Isn’t that weird? And isn’t it a little early for her?”

Miss Machida pressed a hand to her chest, a faint blush coloring her pale cheeks as she pointed at the screen.

Following her gaze, Mrs. Miura frowned, momentarily confused.

But she still took the chance to tease Machida Sonoko.

“Oh, you have some nerve lecturing my Yumiko! I’d rather she not end up unmarried at thirty-two! Don’t you dare be a bad influence. It’s perfectly normal for girls her age to be interested in things like this.”

Just like that, Mrs. Miura slipped back into her usual mom mode. Barely two minutes after Ryōhei had left, she started her next round of nagging.

“Hey, give me your phone! I’ll put Ryōhei’s number in for you. You can invite him out next week.”

Before Machida could protest, Mrs. Miura snatched her phone and entered the number herself.

“Honestly, what were you talking about all night? Clearly interested, and you still didn’t get his number?”

She’s thirty-two and doesn’t know how to date? Unbelievable.

From the kitchen doorway, Yumiko overheard her mother’s words. She shook her head like a miniature adult and gave Machida-obasan a pitying look, her bright eyes full of disdain.

Hmph! I have someone like Hayato-kun as a backup boyfriend. No way I’ll end up like her.

“I helped you send him a text just now! Aren’t you grateful?”

Mrs. Miura smiled mischievously.

“Huh? Ah—!”

Machida Sonoko hurried to snatch back her phone.

“It’s fine, just a simple message saying thanks and showing you care.”

“Phew…”

Editor Machida sighed in relief. Watching her flustered expression, Yumiko silently sneered.

Didn’t even bother with perfume. No wonder she’s still single.

“Then… next time, what should I talk about?”

Miss Editor tried to flip her hair to cover her embarrassment—then remembered her hair barely brushed her ears.

“Let me think. Romantic talk would feel too forced. Life topics are too abstract. Dreams sound fake… Oh! Maybe talk about kids. If you seem fond of children, Ryōhei-san might warm up to you faster.”

Mrs. Miura was dead serious about strategizing for Machida.

“Wait, hold up! That sounds weird… Actually, something’s been bothering me—what you said earlier, and just now… Wait, does he already have kids?”

In Machida’s mind, all the scattered clues suddenly linked together. She turned stiffly toward Mrs. Miura.

That left Mrs. Miura gaping, clearly thrown off.

“Huh? Didn’t Machida-obasan tell you?”

...

“Oh! That policeman must be Inspector Megure Jūzō, right? That blank, round face—you can’t mistake it.”

Unlike Machida Sonoko, Hikigaya Ryōhei wasn’t tossing and turning or obsessing over tonight’s “matchmaking.” He didn’t even see it that way.

After returning home and chatting briefly with his kids, he went to his small room and flipped through the photos left behind by the original “Hikigaya Ryōhei.”

He didn’t even know that police inspector’s name!

They hadn’t spoken since the man got busy with the investigation, but it seemed worth finding out. They might cross paths again someday.

Judging by his tone, the inspector wasn’t quite as close to him as Miura Kōzō was, but still familiar.

It didn’t take long for Ryōhei to spot him in a group photo—round face, distinctive hat, completely unmistakable.

The photo included enough information for him to deduce exactly when and where they’d met.

Tucked beside it was another document: the “Military Service Certificate” of the original Hikigaya Ryōhei.

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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!