Second story

The second story is still about the disparities of understanding which are caused by vast age gaps and differences in life experience. Satomi, the younger of this pair, acts with the assumption that his crush on Oikawa is self-evident because he acted in a caring fashion toward his older colleague, but in fact, Oikawa is stunned and never suspected any such thing at all.

I think that what Katou Setsuko is trying to tell us is that sexual attraction and response is, sometimes, much more front-and-centre to younger people, whereas it isn't necessarily in the consciousness of older people at all, who have learned to suppress or transmute it for various reasons ... death of Oikawa's wife at childbirth, for example, and the duties and burdens of single-parenthood which were suddenly visited upon him by that misfortune. Once Satomi has declared his intentions, Oikawa needs some time to adjust and grow accustomed to the thought of taking (a) a man who is (b) so much younger than him and (c) a colleague as a lover. That's what Oikawa tells Satomi.

I don't think that Setsuko believes sexual responsiveness is always clearer in youth, but she shows how age can be a factor and cause a difference. These stories illustrate situations where age-related gaps affected both couples.

Well I was meaning like what did he know from the start? Oikawa mentions that he realized from the start and that he knew that Satomi knew his son was going to be out of the house. That's the part that confuses me and a lot of other readers as well apparently.

I think you misunderstood what Oikawa said. In fact, he said exactly the opposite: how could he know that Satomi was attracted to him when Satomi never said or did anything to make Oikawa suspect this was the case right up until the very point where Satomi made his pass. The part where you think Oikawa said he realized all along, Oikawa was actually verifying that Satomi only came home with him and made a pass at him because he knew Oikawa was going to be alone that night. Satomi's attentions to Oikawa up until that pass could be construed either as romantic attraction, or as collegial admiration. As an older man, Oikawa would probably default to the assumption that Satomi respected him and wanted his mentorship.

Ohhhh, okay. See that was the part that confused me. I was fine up until that part and at the time it felt like it had tossed me out the window along with the plot. Thank you so much for clearing this up for me. x'D I tried to originally look through the comments for an answer but I couldn't dig up anything so I just decided to make my own.

Wow... So much debate over a simple one shot.

I just wanted to take a moment to compliment your intelligent and eloquent comments, explanations and descriptions. I always enjoy reading them and have come to appreciate your descriptions more than those found in the summary. Thank you for all the time and attention you have put into them.

Thanks. Mostly I just put those together to help me remember if I read the story before.