My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 113

The incandescent light on the ceiling—an arc lamp—brightened the study blindingly, and the sounds of adults drinking and making merry could be heard from afar.

It seems that only this study is isolated from the world.

It felt as if I was all alone, isolated from the world.

Ah──

He has always lived in this world.

"...You're still here."

Under the moonlight, a long shadow stretched from the doorway into the study.

"At least open the door a little. Even in summer, you'll catch a cold."

Shuidou looked dumbfounded and walked into the messy study with his usual steps.

He saw "The Siberian Dancer" spread out on the desk and raised an eyebrow.

"That book...you didn't actually read the whole thing, did you?"

I nodded slowly.

"……Right……"

Upon hearing this, Mizuto sighed and said nothing more.

A moment of silence drifted through the room, which was filled with the smell of old books.

I can't hear anything in my ears.

My mind is filled with images of the boy who used to be in this room, and the man standing in front of me now.

So I... decided to ask a question I'd never even thought of asking before.

"Hey... have you ever written a novel?"

"Huh?"

This seemingly nonsensical question puzzled Shui Dou, so I continued:

"I... when I was in elementary school, I wrote a mystery novel that was basically a rip-off of Agatha Christie's work. The writing was so bad it was unreadable, and the story and tricks were all copied from elsewhere—but that novel was full of things I liked. It was full of 'me'."

So, I still keep it.

I brought it with me when I moved.

That's so embarrassing for anyone to see, I don't even want to reread it myself... but I just don't want to throw it away.

"Hey, water bucket."

In an instant, his eyes widened slightly.

"I...would also like to read your novels."

Shuidou, his mouth half-open, exhaled irregularly and said:

"You just... called me by my name..."

"We're siblings, isn't that normal?"

I laughed and joked with him.

To this day, I still call him that in my heart.

They always maintained politeness when addressing each other in front of their mothers and the others.

However, I now want to call him "Water Fighter".

I want to call out to them again and again.

So that you won't disappear from my sight.

So that I don't disappear from your sight.

So that you and I, you and I—can hold each other back.

"Let me see, water bucket. I'll show you mine too."

As if trying to hide something, Mizuto looked away and said:

"...if there's a chance."

"I'll wait however long it takes."

Because we will always be brothers and sisters until we die.

Volume 4: First Kiss Before the Declaration of War - Couple Returns to the Countryside ② The End of Dusk

"water……"

I held the edge of the cushion, my voice stuck in my throat.

Irito Mizuto was standing opposite me. He was holding the other side of a relaxation mat, waiting for my instructions to set up a temporary rest area on the riverbank, which was covered with pebbles.

Water—the younger brother frowned in surprise and said:

"What's wrong?"

"No... um... Mizuta-kun, would you mind laying it here?"

"...? Hmm, sure."

We laid the relaxation mat on the ground covered with small stones, and used stones of just the right size to weigh down the four corners to prevent it from moving around.

I can't bring myself to call out...

Last night was so simple, but after a while, I couldn't call him by his name anymore!

Why? Could it be that I was just a little too excited last night? I thought that getting to know this guy's past would shorten the distance between us as family.

On another note, why don't you ever call me by my name?

Just as I was trembling with irrational anger, I heard someone talking from the other end of the gurgling water.

"Go down and take a look, Takema. The water is flowing very slowly, don't be afraid."

"Okay, sure..."

"Be careful of the stones at the bottom of the river!"

"I will..."

Cousin Yuanxiang and Zhuzhen stomped their feet in the water, making a splashing sound, to check the river's flow rate.

We arrived at the river near Zhongli's home.

The murmuring of the river, the gentle breeze, and the quiet rustling of the leaves were all soothing. Although the sun was shining brightly, it didn't feel too hot, perhaps because it was by the water. It was truly a comfortable summer retreat.

I heard that the Zhong family always has a barbecue by this river when they have family gatherings. I'm really impressed by this sunny family. But with such a great spot near their home, it's perfectly reasonable for them to want to have a barbecue.

We arrived at the riverbank to play in the water before the elders. Uncle Fengqiu even asked me to bring the water bucket, which always seemed to linger in the study, outside.

Everything was fine when I brought him out. Nothing happened on the way here either. But halfway there, I discovered something. I realized I didn't dare call him by the name I had just decided on last night.

"it is good."

Shuidou placed his personal belongings (including a towel and a first-aid kit) on the spread-out relaxation mat, then eagerly took off his sandals and sat down cross-legged beside it.

Then he took out a paperback from his belongings, placed it on his casual beach shorts, and opened it to read.

"...You're the same no matter where you go."

"It's an honor to receive your praise."

I really envy his independent personality. He doesn't understand how to consider my feelings at all.

...If I had known earlier, perhaps I should have brought books with me?

"Yume, did you apply sunscreen and insect repellent?"

Yuanxiang, the cousin who was taking care of Takema, has returned.

"Ah, I'm only applying it now."

"OK~ Your skin is so beautiful, you should apply it carefully. I'll apply it too."

Cousin Yuanxiang knelt on the relaxation mat wearing sandals and took out sunscreen from her personal belongings.

Then he sat down on the edge of the mat and zipped up his hoodie with a whoosh.

A mature black bikini appeared among them.

Plain, unadorned fabric covered her full, firm breasts. Her waist also had a taut curve, and her breasts, waist, and hips formed a perfect hourglass shape.

Cousin Yuanxiang's quiet and delicate appearance only accentuated the allure of her black bikini.

As my cousin Yuanxiang squeezed lotion onto her hands and arms, she looked up at me and chuckled.

"How about it? I'm very confident in my figure."

"Hmm...it's really beautiful."

"Oh, that's it? Whether it's a boy or a girl, most of them get more excited when they see my breasts."

"Ah...actually, I have a friend with even bigger breasts..."

"Huh! Really? So it's G or higher? Could it be H? Introduce her to me! I want to touch her!"

"No. Even if it's someone of the same sex, it constitutes sexual harassment."

"How could you do this! So stingy—!"

When I saw my cousin Yuanxiang actually pouting, I laughed. Xiaoyue too, why do all these people want to touch her ample breasts? My cousin Yuanxiang is already big enough—and she said "G or above," which means she's an F cup... No wonder she wants to wear a black bikini.

I glanced at the water basin right next to me.

Still, eyes fixed on the book—that's how it looks.

—Did you watch it? Or didn't you watch it?

Was she simply not interested in her cousin Madoka's swimsuit, or did she glance at it and quickly look away...?

I remembered my conversation with Xiaoyue on LINE last night.

An opportunity arose during the conversation, so I tried asking this question:

Do you know who Kawanami's first love was?

What kind of people are typically a guy's first love? I'm just curious about what everyone thinks, nothing more.

Xiaoyue immediately replied:

Okay, yes, yes, yes.

So, who exactly is it?

She looks like a kindergarten teacher.

By the way, who was Xiaoyue's first love?

No comment.

Oh, it's Kawanami-kun...

Xiaoyue actually thought she had kept it a secret well, but it turns out she's quite clueless—or maybe she only gets stupid when it comes to talking about Kawanami. What a strange phenomenon.

In short, it seems that everyone does indeed prefer older women.

That makes sense, though. Eight out of ten kids are around someone older than them, so statistically, it's more likely they'll like an older sister. But for Mizuto, the only girl he knows is his cousin Madoka… after all, he doesn't even have a mother…

Ugh—I feel so unhappy.

Because if he was the only one who was my first love, wouldn't it feel like I lost?

Okay, so it doesn't matter? Who cares who Shui Dou's first crush was? It has nothing to do with me!

"Here you go, Yui, sunscreen."

"Oh, thank you."

*Pfft!* My cousin Yuanxiang sprayed insect repellent on her legs while handing me sunscreen.

I took it, temporarily took off my sandals, and stepped onto the relaxation mat.