My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 106

It's just an analogy, but they give me the feeling that even if Mizuto calmly slipped his hand into Higashi's chest, she would only say, "What's wrong? It tickles—" and that would be it. It wouldn't be surprising if they had a conversation like, "It's about time we considered getting married," or "Let's get married then—". Even using the word "distance" feels meaningless.

Why does Dongtou's classmate seem to be living with me more strongly than I am, even though we actually live together? Why!

I don't understand what that means. What I understand the least is that their relationship actually got better after they rejected the confession. At the time, Xiaoyue and I were worried that confessing would prevent them from remaining friends, but looking back now, it was just plain stupid.

It was impossible for Mizuto Irito and Isana Higashigoto not to be friends.

...The more I think about it, the more I feel that these two are simply a miracle. What are the odds that one can meet people who get along so well? Since starting high school, I should have been the one winning in terms of friendships, but seeing them like this makes me feel pathetic.

...I'm so envious.

I'm so envious...

Oh, no, I didn't mean anything by it.

I took my cup and barley tea and went back to the TV.

Just as I was watching the video, pouring barley tea, and picking it up to drink...

"I want one too."

"what?"

Shuidou's eyes never left the screen; he only spoke.

I'm thirsty.

"...Why didn't you say so earlier? If you had, I would have gotten your cup for you."

"I forgot."

Wow... I'm totally engrossed in it.

I've known this guy since junior high, so I have a general understanding of his tastes. Whether it's fine literature, light novels, mystery novels, or movies, he likes works that strongly showcase his personal style.

Indeed, he simply didn't have the habit of watching animated films before, but judging from this preference, it seems that director Makoto Shinkai suits his taste very well.

Looking down at Mizuto's thighs, I saw Higashi-to gazing up at Mizuto's face, a happy smile on her lips. It seemed her plan had succeeded.

"........."

--The seats are full.

—I'm a narrow-minded person. It seems I can only truly feel for one person at most.

Mizuto said this at the time, rejecting Higashi's confession.

Who's sitting in that seat now... I know, only I know.

But that way—

"...Here you go. Even though I've already had some."

"Yes, thank you."

Shuidou took the cup I offered him without even looking at it and gulped it down. Despite his slender build, he actually looked quite masculine when he did that.

I poured myself another cup of barley tea using the empty cup that was returned to me, and then picked it up to drink it again.

"what?"

I used iced tea to wash away the gloomy mood that filled my body.

“Uh… that…”

"Hmm?" "Huh?"

At this moment, Dongtou seemed confused and took turns looking at me and Shuidou.

What's wrong? Dongtou, do you want some tea too?

While I was still thinking that way, she delivered a powerful blow to me from a completely different angle.

"What you two just did... that was an indirect kiss..."

"...Huh?" "...Eh?"

Shuidou and I quickly exchanged a glance, then turned our gaze to the cup.

The streets are built and stabilized.

Indirect kiss?

"...Ah──..."

Mizuto let out a soft exclamation of sudden realization, then turned his eyes back to the television screen.

Seeing his indifferent reaction, Dongtou's eyes seemed to say, "Huh! That's it?"

Indirect kissing...

Yes, that's a concept.

I drank barley tea.

"Huh! Huh...? Don't you guys care...? Is this how the whole family is...? Or is this just normal for high school students...?"

It's not like we're using the same toothbrush or chopsticks, there's nothing to worry about. I lost that innocent part of myself a long time ago.

...So even in a place like this, this guy isn't considered to be on the east side of the class.

Thinking about this made me feel a little—the gloomy mood inside me eased slightly…

After the staff list was finished, Shuidou slumped back into the sofa.

As a result, Dongtou, who had been lying on Shuidou's lap for two whole hours, looked at him with a prying gaze.

"...How do you feel?"

"It's very beautiful."

"What are the best parts?"

"At first, what attracted me most was the description of the scenery, but as the techniques gradually became clearer halfway through the filming, I started to wonder about the overall structure of the script. How should I put it? Looking at the details alone, it highlights the director's personal preferences, but looking at the overall structure from above, it has the functional beauty of a Hollywood movie. The combination of the two seems to exude an indescribable charm..."

Rapid fire!

The student from the east end suddenly sat up, his eyes shining as he approached the water bucket.

"Personal fetish! I get what you mean! Don't you think the best thing is that touching breasts has become an obligation?!"

"This is just another old trope in so-called gender-swap films. In my understanding, gender-swap should be a niche genre; how can this movie act like a mainstream, mainstream production?"

"Ever since 'Your Name' was released, Makoto Shinkai's charm lies in pretending to be a national film director while simultaneously dumping his entire personal quirks on the audience. To describe it... yes, that's it. It's like showing an uncensored pornographic magazine to an innocent young girl—"

"Yellow card warning."

"Ugh! No, no, this isn't a dirty joke! Haven't you read Yu Yu Hakusho? Doesn't your dad or anyone you know have it?!"

I consider myself a total otaku when it comes to mystery novels, but these two's conversations were always mixed with all sorts of subcultural knowledge, making them completely incomprehensible.

...If I were a homebody like Dongtou, would I be able to stay good friends with him forever?

I immediately dismissed the thought that had crossed my mind. Such an assumption was meaningless, and even if I were really like that, the man's personality wouldn't change, nor would it alter the fact that I was disillusioned with him.

I don't... want to become like Dongtou.

Because if I were like her, it would be absolutely impossible for me to become friends with Xiaoyue or any other girl.

"Sigh... staring at the screen for two hours is really tiring."

"They have so little stamina."

Seeing Shuidou staring blankly at the ceiling, I said to him in a dumbfounded tone, "You could easily read for hours, but you can't do this."

"Oh! That's fine then!"

Dongtou suddenly sat up straight and lightly patted his thighs twice.

"Please, this is a return gift! This time, I'll be the pillow!"

"Hmm...then..."

"No, no, stop, stop!"

As soon as Shuidou heard this, he wanted to lie down, so I quickly grabbed his shoulders.

"This can't be...! I don't know how to say it, but it's just not good!"

"What's wrong with it...?"

"Is there anything wrong with it?"

She even asked me what was wrong with me, it's just that... if I lay on the lap of the girl from the east end, from that angle, my chest would look really impressive...

Dongtou, with a strange smile on his face, slowly approached Shuidou, whose eyes were vacant, perhaps due to fatigue.

"You can lie on this high school girl's lap~ It feels so good~ Now we're even giving away ear cleaning~ This is a special service only for this guy~"

"Don't speak so evilly! Where did you learn this—"

"...Letting the guy in the east clean my ears is a bit scary..."

"Huh?" "Hmm?"

First, I heard a dazed and confused tone, then Mizuto's body fell to the side.

It wasn't the student leaning towards the east—it was me.

On my lap, Shuidou wriggled around, looking for a place to rest his face... and then fell into a deep sleep.

"........."

"........."

My classmate Dongtou and I stared blankly at his sleeping face.

Since the start of summer vacation, this guy has been sleeping until noon, which makes him drowsy in the evening... But I really admire you, you can actually sleep so soundly on someone's lap...

"...Does this mean he doesn't want me to clean his ears, so he's turning to his female classmate instead?"

"……I guess so."

"How rude. Do I look that clumsy?"

"To be honest, yes."

"I'm devastated!"

There's nothing I can do; I simply can't imagine what Dongtou would look like knitting or anything like that.

"……but……"

Dongtou murmured, came to my knees, squatted down and peered at Shuidou's sleeping face.

"Seeing such a cute sleeping face makes me want to forgive him. Hehehe~♪"

(Illustration 006)

Dongtou smiled a relaxed, silly smile and poked Shuidou's bouncy cheek.

I thought to myself, she really likes him. Even after being dumped, even knowing she can't be his girlfriend, she still likes Mizuto terribly.

...However, just as Mizuto treats Higashi like a pet dog, Higashi treats Mizuto somewhat like a pet cat.

The usually expressionless Dongtou smiled contentedly in front of the sleeping Shuidou and said:

"Since we have this opportunity, should we really clean his ears?"

"Huh? That's not a good idea... Wouldn't it be a little scary to shove a stick up someone's ear and dig it out?"

"Ah, I understand. I'm even afraid to ask my mom to do it for me. I really want to tell her not to go searching for treasure in other people's ear canals without permission."

"Ah──..."

"Then how about saying you'll kiss him?"

"Really—huh?"

That was said so naturally that I unconsciously nodded in agreement.

What did you just say?

Dongtou stared intently at Shuidou's face as he breathed quietly.

"...Dongtou-kun? Didn't you just say you were going to kiss him?"

"I wanted to say it now so I wouldn't give myself away..."