#1 Under The Blanket

"Damned woman! You've cut off our family's lineage with your infertility!"

Akiko wiped her tears, not daring to show herself. She continued hiding behind the wall as her mother-in-law passed by in the corridor. Her expression made it clear that she was furious.

Her anger had been simmering all day, from before Akiko's husband left in the morning to the afternoon. Akiko had only suggested that her husband see a doctor to check his fertility because she had done it several times and the results were normal. This suggestion was received as a disaster: her mother-in-law was enraged, and her husband refused and left her.

"Where are you? You are nothing but a barren, sickly woman!" Another shout echoed, making 

Akiko jump. She feared her mother-in-law might truly harm her. She had never been this angry before.

Akiko sneaked towards the door as quickly and silently as possible.

"You only use our family name to gain respect. But you are useless!” The shout was followed by the sound of something breaking.

Akiko, who had been hesitant, now felt more certain of the danger. She slid the door open as quietly as she could and then ran as fast as possible. She crossed the yard. Akiko was fully dressed, wearing a coat and shoes, but she only had her wallet and phone with her. She had those because she had planned to go shopping in the afternoon.

Her mother-in-law’s insults pierced her ears once more, making Akiko unable to endure them any longer. She attempted to propose a solution, recognizing that she was not infertile. The proposed solution proved to be disastrous.

"Taxi!" Akiko raised her hand, and the taxi stopped. She got in and gave the address she remembered for emergencies: her uncle's house, the only place Akiko could go. She only had one family in Japan.

***

"Please drop me off at that house." Akiko pointed to a house with a gray fence and a wooden gate adorned with antique Shinto ornaments.

"Arigatou gozaimasu." (Thank you)

Akiko got out and was greeted by the cold darkness of an autumn evening. The wind that hit her body made Akiko feel even more exhausted. The insults had left her mind exhausted, and now she was experiencing physical fatigue.

Akiko pressed the doorbell of the house where she had grown up with trembling hands.

"Yes!" A voice responded, and the gate opened.

"Akiko!" A cheerful greeting boomed from Karina, Akiko's aunt.

Karina became her aunt not only because she married Kenji—Akiko’s father’s younger brother—but also because Karina was Akiko's mother's sister. 

The age difference wasn’t much, either. Akiko's mother had married young, and there was a significant age gap between Karina and her mother. Karina was only six years older than twenty-year-old Akiko.

"Come in." With a concerned voice, Karina slid the front shoji door wider and hugged Akiko. A warm embrace was what Akiko needed. She had long confided her marital troubles to Karina, even if it was just through messages. Karina knew well how Akiko suffered.

Karina let Akiko cry in her arms for a while, letting her pour out her anguish before leading her to the living room.

"I'm glad you're here. I won't ask why or make you tell me." Karina spoke gently, stroking Akiko's shoulder. Even without asking, the reason couldn’t be far from a wicked mother-in-law.

Karina had often asked Akiko to leave, but Akiko couldn’t. She loved her husband too much. Yuto was not a cruel, heartless husband. He treated Akiko well, with kindness and care. His mother was the problem.

"I can't leave Yuto, Aunt," Akiko whispered, wiping her tears.

"He didn't defend you again today, did he? Do you still want to hold on to him?!" Karina hissed, annoyed.

Akiko flinched slightly because it was true. Akiko remembered another heartache: Yuto never defended her. Yuto typically avoided the situation when his mother started to rage and asked Akiko to give in rather than fight back.

"Enough. Just stay here for now. Your uncle hasn’t come home yet; he usually comes home late. We'll talk more later." Karina stood up, patting Akiko's shoulder before leaving the living room.

Akiko nodded and looked around, trying not to cry again. This house had been Akiko’s home for ten years. She lived here from the age of eight to the age of eighteen, until she tied the knot with Yuto. Now, even though her uncle had been married to Karina for two years, the arrangement had hardly changed.

Akiko still saw various ancient Japanese paintings, red oni masks, and katanas hanging on the walls. Her uncle had a classic taste. He was a pure Japanese man who cherished his ancestral culture.

"Here. I hope this makes you feel better." Karina returned, placing a glass of warm milk in front of her.

Akiko nodded and drank. The warm milk comforted her, and she soon felt sleepy. Akiko was surprised at how tired she was, and that a little comfort from the milk could make her drowsy.

"Are you tired? Rest inside. Come on."

Akiko didn’t quite remember how, but her eyes were almost closed as Karina led her to a room and helped her change into sleepwear. She simply followed along, allowing Karina to unfold the futon.

"Good night." Akiko heard Karina say, and after that, everything went dark. Akiko remembered nothing more.

 

***

 

Kenji almost sneezed when his nose caught an unusually sweet scent as he entered his room. It wasn’t bad; it was just strong and made his head feel light, but Kenji didn’t think much of it. He had drunk sake before—perhaps too much, though he didn't feel drunk.

Kenji took off his jacket and shirt, glancing at the lump covered by a blanket on the futon. The room was dimly lit, so it was just a dark shadow.

He didn’t want to disturb it and continued undressing, leaving only his boxers. But his head felt increasingly foggy. That sweet fragrance seemed unusual. Kenji wanted to find its source, but when he moved, he staggered slightly.

"Later." Kenji gave up and spread out another futon, lying down next to the covered body. He tried to close his eyes, but suddenly, a body moved closer.

"Move over, what’s wrong with you?!" Kenji hissed, irritated. He didn’t want Karina to get too close. There was no response, but he heard a sigh, and then a hand reached out to embrace him.

"Since when did you think you could touch me?” Kenji grew more annoyed and pushed the hand away from his waist. But the hand was persistent, pulling him closer. 

Usually, Kenji wouldn’t be affected unless he was very drunk, but the sighs and warm breath were enticing—his body also started feeling hot.

Kenji grasped the person's waist and applied pressure, causing them to lie flat. He then positioned himself on top of the warm body, which was still sighing. Kenji stroked the cheek of the woman holding him, moving his hand up her body. Kenji caressed the face beneath him.

"You're needy, aren't you? You want this?" Kenji murmured, thinking the woman was his wife, Karina.

As Kenji stroked her neck and felt her body beneath him, he took heavy breaths. But with one touch, Kenji realized the body was different. The size was different, fuller than Karina’s, and his hands couldn’t fully grasp the breasts that usually fit perfectly in his hands.

Fighting off dizziness and desire, Kenji got up and turned on the light. His dark eyes widened as he saw the body lying beneath him, her nightdress disheveled—and it wasn’t his wife.

"Akiko?" Kenji gasped in disbelief. "Why are you here?!" Kenji nearly collapsed from the shock. All this time, he had been touching Akiko.

And it got worse. Akiko began to writhe and tried to open the thin nightgown that had been enticing from the start.