#385
Ready-made Perfect Wife
The Shinozaki Mansion, visited after a long time, was unnecessarily vast.
No matter how you look at it, the fact that a traditional mansion exists right in the middle of Tokyo is unrealistic.
Indeed, it’s like something out of a light novel world.
I followed behind Rin.
Dressed in a splendid blue kimono and hakama, with beautiful floral decorations in her ponytail, Rin hurriedly walked through the enormous mansion.
Inside the Shinozaki Mansion, it felt eerily empty, as if no one was there at all.
Even the usual kimono-clad maids and yukata-wearing servants seemed to have vanished.
“Where’s the Association President? Since I’m here, I should at least say hi.”
Ichiro’s face suddenly popped into my mind.
Of course, his plot to marry me into the family had failed.
That was because I had risen to become the world’s savior, the Messiah for all 7.7 billion humans.
Thanks to the final battle, my status in this damn light novel world had ascended to that of a living god.
It was even more intense back in Korea.
As a result, Shinozaki Ichiro had to put aside his ambitions just to avoid facing backlash for trying to monopolize the savior.
Instead, he began dreaming up some bizarre notion of bringing Rin into the Kim family as the matriarch.
“Oh, Father went out for work today. It’s a business trip… He’ll probably return late tomorrow evening.”
Rin glanced over at me while speaking.
So, he’s out today and won’t be back until late tomorrow evening.
I know I’m not one to talk, but isn’t that a bit too obvious?
After a considerable walk with Rin, we arrived at a artificially created stream, flowing gently, surrounded by bizarre rock formations and bonsai in a Japanese-style garden.
In front of the trickling stream stood a canal made by splitting a long bamboo in half.
In front of the flowing canal were chopsticks, dipping sauce, side dishes, and bowls all prepared.
Ah, no way.
“The dish prepared for today is Nagashi-somen.”
I heard Rin’s voice whisper in my ear.
Nagashi-somen.
It’s one of the dishes symbolizing summer in Japan, where cold noodles are sent down a long bamboo flume and you catch them with chopsticks to eat.
Nowadays, they even sell home party Nagashi-somen sets to make it at home, but what’s in front of me was the real deal, a canal made from actual bamboo.
Maybe because there was a large tree providing shade, it didn’t feel too hot even though it was summer.
Guided by Rin, I sat beside her on the raised platform.
“Ahem. This is a dish prepared with all our family’s effort. I hope you like it. Here’s how to eat it: when the noodles float down the canal, simply catch them and dip them in the sauce to enjoy.”
“I hope you like it. This is how you eat it. When the noodles flow down the bamboo flume, you just scoop them out and dip them in the broth.”
Listening to Rin’s kind explanation, I nodded.
“Right.”
It was food that I’ve seen at least once in Japanese manga, light novels, and anime.
I hadn’t had the chance to try it until now, and I never thought I would taste it this way.
As soon as I finished my reply, a chunk of noodles floated down the chilly running water.
So, I just scoop this up and eat it, huh?
I snatched the noodles with my chopsticks, dipped them in the broth, and slurped them into my mouth.
The noodles had been in icy water, and they were as cold as naengmyeon.
“······How is it?”
Rin asked with a slightly trembling voice from beside me.
I scooped up some noodles again with my chopsticks and replied.
“······It’s delicious.”
There was no way the noodles wouldn’t taste good, considering the entire Shinozaki family had prepared them.
Plus, I wanted to experience scooping them up like this at least once.
The beautifully arranged Japanese-style traditional garden scenery, which felt unbelievable to find in the heart of the city, was also not bad at all.
Overall, I really liked it.
“Th-That’s a relief······.”
At my words, Rin stuttered a bit, her face turning red.
With a swish.
She scooped some noodles flowing down the bamboo flume, dipped them in the broth, and held them up in front of me.
“Here, um, say ‘ah’. I’m a model wife, and I’m directly feeding you nagashi-somen······.”
Rin’s eyes trembled.
She averted her gaze while her face was completely flushed.
Model wife.
It was a phrase that had been particularly emphasized alongside Yamato Nadesico lately.
Every time Rin, who appeared like a cool beauty on the outside, did something like this, it struck me as oddly cute.
I accepted the nagashi-somen she offered.
Slurp.
Munch munch.
The combination of the cold noodles and perfectly seasoned broth was delicious.
“It’s good.”
At my words, Rin’s expression brightened.
I scooped up another noodle, dipped it in the broth, and asked, “So, what do we do after this?”
“Th-That’s······.”
Rin fidgeted with her fingers.
Her face turned even redder.
“Fireworks······.”
Fumbling around.
Rin brought out some sparklers from behind her.
Since it’s summer, does she want to do fireworks?
“Uh, did I disappoint you? I just wanted to make memories with just the two of us······.”
After a moment of silence, Rin looked at me and said.
She wiggled the sparkler in her hand.
Memories.
Now that I think about it, Rin said she hadn’t had many good memories since childhood.
If I recall, there hadn’t been many moments where it was just the two of us since that deserted island trip either.
It’s understandable that she would feel a bit disappointed.
Thinking that, I shook my head.
“No.”
I could definitely do something as simple as fireworks.
At my words, Rin’s eyes widened.
She smiled.
“That’s a relief. Deok-Sung. Let’s grab some snacks for dessert and then go do the fireworks.”
She grabbed my hand firmly.
And pulled along, we arrived at the Japanese traditional tea garden known as the Roji Garden.
The path to the tea house was decorated with stone pathways and lush greenery.
Before me unfolded the simple yet quite pleasant scenery of a traditional garden that felt like something out of a Japanese anime.
It was unfolding right before my eyes.
“Y-you can wash your hands here,” Rin said, pointing to a stone basin where water trickled down through a bamboo waterway in front of the tea room.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if washing my hands in such a place was okay, but thought, “Eh, that should be fine,” and dipped my hands into the basin.
The icy water enveloped my hands.
It was cold.
After washing my hands, I followed Rin toward the tea room.
Before us stood a traditional Japanese tiled house with a pond spread out in front.
“This is the tea room of the Shinozaki Mansion,” Rin said with a rather proud expression.
A tea room is supposed to be just a small annex for drinking tea, yet this place was so large it could eat up most of the main house.
As expected, the Shinozaki Mansion had an unreal size.
“I’ve prepared some sweets in advance, so let’s go in, Deok-Sung.”
Following Rin’s lead, I entered the tea room.
Inside the typical traditional Japanese house with tatami mats, a table of sweets was set.
I noticed a kettle with steam rising next to some wagashi.
I sat down in front of the table of sweets.
Rin was sitting next to me, kneeling decorously like a character out of an ancient historical drama, pouring me cocoa.
Cocoa, seriously?
If you’re doing traditional tea ceremony, wouldn’t it at least be matcha or, at the very least, oolong tea?
Suddenly, cocoa?
I couldn’t believe it.
“······You don’t really like tea, right? So, I prepared it special······. C-cocoa…”
Rin said, glancing over at me.
Well, it’s true I don’t really like tea, but I didn’t expect her to cater to that, especially here.
“After all, a true virtuous wife should consider her husband’s taste. Deok-Sung.”
Rin whispered in my ear, her face a little red as she kept kneeling.
I nodded and sipped the cocoa from the porcelain cup.
Slurp.
I wasn’t sure if that’s what a virtuous wife would be, but the cocoa was tasty.
“Here you go. Some sweets too······.”
Rin handed me a piece of wagashi.
As I bit into the wagashi she offered, a sweet flavor filled my mouth.
I slowly enjoyed the sweets she prepared.
You could tell she put effort into making them; they were quite delicious.
“Seeing you eat so happily makes me feel satisfied,” Rin said, smiling beside me.
Her beautiful, motherly smile left me momentarily dazed as I shook my head.
“You should eat too.”
I almost got carried away.
I picked up a piece of wagashi from the table and popped it into Rin’s mouth.
“Uh, uhh?!”
Rin looked startled at my sudden move as she chewed the wagashi in surprise.
Her face turned red.
“How’s the taste?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Y-yes, since you fed it to me······. It’s even sweeter.”
Rin mumbled in a tiny voice.
So cute.
I thought that as I devoured the remaining sweets.
Before I knew it, evening had come, and the sun was setting lazily.
I looked at Rin, who was kneeling beside me, and took her wrist.
“Alright, let’s go watch the fireworks now.”
At my words, Rin jumped in surprise.
Whatever her reaction, I took her hand and opened the sliding door to step out onto the porch.
I took her hand, slid open the door, and stepped out onto the wooden porch.
Ding ding.
The wind chime hanging from the eaves rang out with a clear sound.
Listening to the pleasant sound of the wind chime, a symbol of a Japanese summer, I watched her bring one of the sparklers she was holding to life with a lighter.
Sizzle, sizzle, crackle, crackle.
Before I knew it, dusk had fallen, and summer night was upon us.
The sparkler flared brightly in front of me.
I held up my lighter and lit Rin’s sparkler too.
Honestly, I couldn’t figure out what was so great about this fireworks display that she was so eager to do.
“…Hehe.”
Rin laughed beside me.
Swish.
Dressed in a kimono, she practically glued herself to my side, shaking her sparkler.
The bright flashes and sparks bursting from the stick illuminated the night.
“…When I was little, I wanted to have fireworks like this at home.”
Rin said in a low voice.
Her voice sank heavily in the atmosphere.
Reflecting on her childhood.
Was she talking about those days when she was tormented by the Shinozaki family’s tools?
“…It’s good that we’re doing it now.”
I thought to myself again, but it was surprising how Rin had such simple dreams, especially considering she was the daughter of a prominent family.
Maybe it was because she never received proper treatment growing up?
Thinking that way made me feel a little sorry for her.
“Yeah. I’m glad I can fulfill my dream. With you, my beloved… husband.”
Rin smiled like that.
Her blue eyes sank deeply.
This was a refreshing smile, not the typical self-doubting look she usually had.
Rin looked beautiful in that moment.
Seeing her like that made me momentarily lose my mind.
Upon catching my gaze, Rin turned red.
She looked away, saying, “…The fireworks are beautiful.”
I sighed while looking at Rin’s blushing neck.
I just couldn’t hold back.
“…You’re beautiful too, Rin.”
“…R-Really, is that so? W-Wait a minute…”
Thud.
I suddenly tackled Rin, pinning her down on the wooden porch floor.
Rin, trapped beneath me, closed her eyes, her pretty face flushed.
“I-I’m n-not ready yet…”
“You said you’re a good wife, right?”
“…Y-Yes.”
“Well, then shouldn’t you be prepared to satisfy your husband whenever and wherever he wants?”
“…That’s true.”
Upon hearing me, Rin opened and closed her eyes.
She smiled.
With a motherly smile like before, Rin pulled me into her fluffy chest wrapped in the kimono and said,
“In that case, it’s settled. If my husband wants it, I have no choice. Deok-Sung. Your desires… I’ll accept them anytime, anywhere. As a good wife, I’ll offer you the virginity I’ve been keeping just for you. Let’s… make a child together…”
The moment Rin whispered that in my ear.
I could no longer hold back and roughly tore off her kimono.
“Ah, ah?! W-Wait, Deok-Sung. Just a bit gently, s-slowly… I’m not going anywhere. Hahh, sniff. H-uh♥”
Rin’s excited moans rang in my ears.
Drrrr, clap.
Alongside that, the sounds from the shishiodoshi set up in the tea garden echoed in my ears.
