My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend. (Author: Kazuki Kyousuke)

A couple became boyfriend and girlfriend in a junior high school. They had a sweet time together, but then they misunderstood each other over a small matter, and their anger and frustration outweighed their initial attraction... Later, they broke up when they graduated.

However, the two, who are about to enter high school, Mizuto Irido and Yume Ayai, reunite in an unexpected way.

"Of course I'll be the older brother." "I'm the older sister, is that even a question?"

The child of her parents' remarried partner turned out to be their ex-boyfriend whom they had just broken up with!

The ex-lovers, mindful of their parents' feelings, agreed to abide by the "sibling rule": "Whoever mistakes the other for someone of the opposite sex loses." However—they unexpectedly bumped into each other again after showering, and were alone together on their way to and from school...

The memories of "that time," coupled with the situation of living under the same roof, made it impossible for the two of them not to pay attention to each other's every move!

Volume One: Past Relationships Remain Unresolved; Couples Refusal to Address Each Other That Way; "I Just Hate Places Like Yours."

"........."

"........."

In the entryway of my own home, a scene of staring at each other, like that of delinquent teenagers, unfolded.

The other person was a girl my age, that's all—that's what I really want to say, but in reality it was more than that, and I must say it used to be more than that.

"...Where are you going, Mizuto-kun?"

"...I was just about to ask you where you're going, my female classmate?"

The woman said this, I replied this, and then we both shut up.

This is already the third time.

In fact, I knew where this woman was going without even asking. It was the bookstore above the Karasuma Sanjo burger joint. Today was the release date for a certain book series that mainly publishes mystery novels. I was also going to buy a new book from that series, and this woman had the same goal as me.

So, if I were to step out of my house like this, I would end up going to the bookstore with this woman, walking to the same book section, and queuing one after the other at the counter.

Wouldn't that be no different from couples who like the same type of books?

Let's leave aside other matters, but neither of us wants this situation to happen.

In other words, we are currently in a stalemate. Although we must stagger our departure times, we are currently in a stage of mutual restraint over who should step out of the house first.

Sit down and talk it over? No way. I have nothing to talk to this woman about.

"—Huh? Yui and Mizuto, what are you doing there?—"

Aunt Yu-ren, dressed in a suit, came out of the living room.

My aunt Yu-ren became my mother about a week ago.

In other words, she is my father's second wife—and also the biological mother of the woman in front of me.

"Weren't you two going out?"

"We're leaving now."

While she was asking, I was planning to say goodbye and get to her first, but Aunt Ren beat me to it:

"Ah, could it be that bookstore on Karasuma-dori? I heard you like reading too, Mizuto! If that's the case, you and Yume must be going to the same place, right? After all, that girl always goes to either a bookstore or a library when she goes out."

"……Well……"

"Please, Mom..."

"Ah! You two aren't going together, are you?! I'm so happy, Mizuto! You're so friendly with Yume! I'll have to ask you to take care of her from now on. That girl is just a bit shy~"

"...I...I will..."

After hearing what she said, I could only nod.

I could feel the glare from beside me that seemed to want to kill me.

"I have to go to work now. Take care, you two! Brothers and sisters, get along well!"

After leaving those words, Aunt Ren disappeared outside the door.

She and I—my siblings and I—were left standing there, stunned.

Yes, we are brothers and sisters.

However, they were step-relatives.

They are from remarried parents, and have two children as a burden.

"...Why did you nod?"

"...What could I do? She already said that."

"Why should I have to accept your help?"

"How should I know? I don't want to take care of you either."

"I just hate your passive personality, you stinky otaku."

"I just hate your kind of willful place, you stinking fanatics."

But our parents don't know.

Only she and I know the truth about our relationship.

I, Irito Mizuto—

With her, Irito Yume—

Just two weeks ago, they were a couple.

◆

Looking back, I can only say it was a mistake I made when I was young. However, I did have what is commonly known as a girlfriend between my second and third years of junior high school.

Our first encounter was probably at the end of July, just as summer vacation was beginning, in the library in the afternoon—she was standing on a footstool, straining to reach the top shelf of the bookshelf.

By now you should understand. In short, I got her the book she wanted.

If I could turn back time, I would definitely tell myself back then—don't pay any attention to that kind of woman.

However, knowing nothing about the future at the time, I looked at the cover of the book I had helped her with and was so foolish as to say that to her:

Do you like mystery novels?

I'm widely recognized as a voracious reader. I read anything and everything, from pure literature to romance novels to light novels—so, of course, I'd already read the classic mystery novels I picked up back then.

I've only seen it; I didn't like it.

In short, it's in a book lover's nature to feel happy when someone picks up a book they've already read. It's like a cow getting excited when it sees something red—an uncontrollable instinct, which I suspect is probably a trap set by God.

A trap set by God.

In other words, it's fate.

We met by fate, and guided by destiny, we clicked. We met again and again in the deserted summer library. Then, at the end of August, as summer vacation ended, she confessed her love to me.

And that's how I met my first girlfriend.

Her name is Yui Ayai.

At that time, she was still called by this name.

Getting back to the point... needless to say, this became the prelude to the collapse.

It's safe to say that the chances of a middle school student's love confession not turning into a disastrous ending are probably less than five percent—realistically speaking, it's not a common occurrence for middle school couples to stay together for life.

However, at the time, we believed it was possible.

Partly because we were both inconspicuous types at school, Ayai and I quietly started dating. We would secretly chat about our interests in corners of the library, on weekends, or in bookstores that combined cafes.

Of course, we've also done things that boyfriends and girlfriends do.

Dating, holding hands, awkward kissing—we did these mundane, even despicable, little things that couples do in a slow, deliberate fashion.

Our first kiss happened at the intersection of our way to school, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The image of Ayai smiling with a faint blush after that kiss—more of a fleeting touch than a full lip contact—is still etched in my mind like a photograph.

All I can say about this scene is one sentence.

go to hell.

This woman, and I at the time, were both.

...In short, our relationship developed smoothly, but around the time we entered the third year of junior high school, the dividing line between us gradually began to change.

The turning point came when Ayai's shyness gradually improved.

Perhaps it's because we've spent some time together and she's improved her communication skills—she's made several friends in her new class. Considering that she couldn't even find someone to team up with in PE class in second grade, it's hard to imagine her making such remarkable progress.

She was very happy about it, and I congratulated her as well.

Yes, it was just a verbal congratulation.

So what was I really thinking? — Well, I have to confess. I congratulated her on her growth, but my ugly possessiveness was raging inside me.

I thought to myself—before, I was the only one who knew all of Ayai's adorable qualities, her smile, and her cheerful personality.

This idea ruined everything.

I couldn't help but let these feelings show in my words. Ayai was confused by me and didn't know what was wrong, so she could only try to please me. But this only annoyed me more.

Yes, I understand—while the root cause is Ayai's growth, the immediate cause is my own pointless possessiveness. She didn't do anything wrong; I was the one who was wrong first. I admit that.

but.

But let me say something.

Let me defend myself. Although I was foolish at the time, I eventually admitted my mistake and repented, so I bowed my head and apologized to her. I told her that I was jealous for this and that reason. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. I apologize, so I hope you can forgive and forget—

As a result, that woman...

Guess what she said?

—You don't like me making friends with other people, but you're close to other girls?

What?

If I answer like this, who can blame me?

According to her, I cheated on her with another girl in the library where we met—I have absolutely no idea what she's talking about. She probably misunderstood because she saw me talking to the librarian or someone, but Ayai insists that it was definitely cheating and won't listen to my explanation.

As a result, I had no choice but to apologize to her.

Why.

It was wrong of me to take my anger out on her. So I apologized and humbled myself. Whether she forgives me or not is her prerogative, and I can understand that.

But why should I let her use a baseless misunderstanding to accuse me of cheating and give me a good scolding?

Okay, okay, fine. People sometimes say things without thinking. After all, I've made the same mistake before, which is why I apologized to her. But since I apologized, shouldn't she apologize too? It's ridiculous that she keeps demanding an apology without even saying "I'm sorry" to herself. It doesn't make sense.

—We harbored this resentment in our hearts, but we pretended to make up on the surface and maintained our relationship for a few more months.

However—once the meshing gears break apart, they can never be repaired.

The qualities that used to be attractive now infuriate us. We've started exchanging sarcastic remarks, and even communicating by phone has become a form of torture, yet we don't allow each other to ignore each other's calls. This mentality has further deepened the gap between us.

The only reason our relationship lasted until graduation was because we were both spineless. It was simply because neither of us had the courage.

It's just that they're clinging to happy memories of the past.

Even so, when not a single phone call was received on Valentine's Day, I realized that the matter was already settled.

We realize that we can no longer go back to the way things were.

So I took the initiative to bring it up during graduation.

Let's break up.

--Hmm.

It was very simple. Not a single tear was shed.

She didn't even get angry; instead, she seemed to be waiting for me to say that. I guess my expression was probably similar.

They used to like each other so much...and value each other so much.