Eriri had truly grown up.
This was a thought that frequently surfaced in Sayuri's mind over the past few days.
And it wasn't without reason—rather, it was a conclusion drawn from her own observations.
For instance, Eriri had recently started to show more concern for both her and her husband.
Not that Eriri had ever been an unfilial child, but in the past, her concern had been far less apparent, and certainly not as frequent as it was now.
Just a few days ago, when her husband came home late at night reeking of alcohol from a social gathering, Eriri openly expressed her displeasure.
As their daughter, she admonished him to drink less in the future, reminding him that excessive drinking was bad for his health.
Such a thing would have been unimaginable in the past. While Eriri might have worried in her heart, her personality back then would never have allowed her to say it outright.
Another example—when Sayuri had once injured her hand and found it inconvenient to cook, Eriri had taken the initiative to prepare dinner.
And the result was quite impressive.
This was particularly surprising because, in the past, her precious daughter had rarely stepped into the kitchen.
On the rare occasions she did, it was usually just to heat up pre-prepared meals in the microwave or to make herself instant noodles.
When Sayuri later asked her about it, Eriri casually explained that she had recently taken a liking to the home economics class at school.
But Sayuri felt that things weren't so simple—there had to be another reason behind it.
Besides that, Eriri had started waking up early on her own, dressing up neatly, and sitting at the breakfast table without needing to be called.
At night, she went to bed on time without any reminders. Even her studies had improved significantly, so much so that she was no longer a cause for concern.
There were many other changes like these.
Ultimately, Sayuri knew her daughter well. It would be absurd to say she hadn't noticed these transformations.
She simply hadn't brought them up because she didn't feel the need to.
At first, she had simply assumed that Eriri had matured.
But with the arrival of Chisato, Sayuri's thoughts gradually began to change. Doubts arose in her mind, and the details she had once overlooked started resurfacing.
After all, they say girls dress up for those they like.
When a girl suddenly starts improving herself in every aspect, how could Sayuri—someone who had experienced it all before—not suspect something?
Before Chisato came into the picture, Eriri had repeatedly emphasized that he was just a friend and asked her not to ask unnecessary questions that might make things awkward.
But Sayuri had her own observations.
Seeing the way the two interacted, recalling the reaction she had witnessed from her daughter that morning a few months ago, and remembering the recording that Utaha had once played for her—
It was unmistakably Eriri's voice—
"Swimsuits, sailor uniforms, bunny girl outfits, office attire… If I had to make up my mind, it would be embarrassing, but I wouldn't be completely against trying them…"
All of this combined led Sayuri to a rather obvious conclusion.
Her daughter must have known this boy named Chisato for quite some time already.
Not only that, but their relationship had likely progressed far beyond what she had initially assumed.
"Mom… Mom… Mom!"
"Huh? Ah…?"
Standing at the kitchen sink, Sayuri snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of Eriri's increasingly insistent calls.
"Mom, if you're really tired, just leave the dishes to me and go rest."
Sayuri gently shook her head.
She didn't want to keep overthinking this on her own anymore. She abandoned the roundabout approach she had initially planned.
After all, they were mother and daughter—so close to each other. There was no need to beat around the bush.
The next moment, Sayuri set down the plate in her hand, her expression turning serious.
"Eriri, don't you have something you need to confess to me?"
Eriri hesitated at her mother's sudden solemnity, but she forced herself to remain calm.
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
"Of course, I'm talking about your friend Chisato. No, perhaps 'boyfriend' would be a more appropriate term."
"M-Mom! What are you saying?!"
Eriri's face turned red with embarrassment.
She had no idea how her mother had figured out the truth so suddenly, but in order to avoid making things more complicated, she still tried to play dumb.
Unfortunately for her, Sayuri was not fooled by her reaction.
"Eriri, you've changed a lot recently—mostly in positive ways. That makes me happy, and I won't object to it. In fact, I support you.
But there's something that bothers me. You've stopped confiding in me, stopped being affectionate like before.
To be honest, suddenly feeling distant from you is a little lonely… but that's not the real issue.
What disappoints me the most is that you've learned to lie."
Sayuri looked straight at her daughter, unwavering as she spoke.
Eriri wanted to defend herself. But when she met her mother's dejected gaze, the words she had prepared got stuck in her throat.
Having lived two lifetimes in her dreams, Eriri had matured considerably.
She could tell that her mother was testing her. Though she didn't know exactly where she had slipped up, she was confident that she could still talk her way out of this.
However, sometimes emotions take precedence over logic.
Seeing her mother look at her with such disappointment—Eriri, who at her core was still a good girl, couldn't help but waver.
Sayuri's approach, using emotions and familial bonds, was incredibly effective.
And now, Eriri's hesitation would only expose her even further.
A mother was still a mother. No amount of experience or intellect could erase the natural authority a parent had over their child.
Seeing Eriri's silence, Sayuri knew her suspicions were most likely correct.
"Eriri, listen carefully to what I'm about to say. If anything I say is wrong, just deny it outright."
Eriri nodded slightly.
Since there was no turning back, and her relationship with Chisato could no longer be hidden, she had to consider her next move.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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