My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 115

But posting it in the class chat group is a bit...it would be troublesome if it caused strange rumors. If I'm going to upload it, I'll have to post it somewhere less likely to leak...

After some consideration, I decided to post the photos in the group chat with Xiaoyue and Dongtou.

It showed as read in less than a minute.

After waiting for a while, I received a reply:

Huh, the swimming pool? Going with everyone? Does that mean I'm being ostracized...?

But before I could worry for long, Xiaoyue sent me some photos too.

It was Xiaoyue, wearing a yellow swimsuit.

The top has ruffles, making it a very cute swimsuit... but those ruffles are probably just for accentuating the bust...

She held an ice cream in her left hand and made a V-sign with her right, looking like she was thoroughly enjoying the summer.

Could it be that they left me alone to go out and have fun because they didn't want me to get hit on? -- Just as I was feeling a little frustrated, I suddenly realized something.

The camera was positioned quite high.

Given Xiaoyue's height, it's not surprising that the shot was taken from above. But even so, isn't she a bit too tall? The photographer and Xiaoyue seem to be about 30 centimeters apart in height.

Even more compelling evidence is that a dark figure landed on the edge of the pool in the background of the photo.

I know this hairstyle with the ends deliberately curled up.

This is—the real kind of photo.

I immediately captured the screen image, and then...

It's too late to realize this now.

If that's not the case, then how is it?

Going to the swimming pool with a guy, what else could it be but a date?

"...What are you laughing at? That's disgusting."

"Hehehe. Take a look at this."

I wanted to share our mutual friend's progress, so I leaned my shoulder against the sink and showed him my phone screen. It displayed a photo of Xiaoyue that I had taken.

Water Fighter seemed to immediately see the secret hidden in the photo.

"……oh."

"What, is that all the reaction you've got?"

"What business is it of my money what kind of relationship they have?"

"Show a little more concern, we're all friends."

"That's him talking."

Ah...without realizing it, I've been able to talk to him normally. But surprisingly, I don't have many opportunities to call him by his name...

At that moment, I forgot something very important.

There was another member in the chat group where Xiaoyue and I uploaded photos.

With a start, a notification appeared at the top of the screen.

Almost instinctively, with my shoulder resting on the sink, I clicked the notification.

The LINE screen appears.

The picture appeared.

It was Dongtou, a student wearing a school swimsuit.

"........."

"........."

Both I and Shuidou, who was watching the same scene, stopped moving in silence.

Now, please recall something.

The high school we attended didn't even have a swimming pool, let alone swimming lessons.

In other words, there will never be school swimsuits.

So the outfit that Dongtou is wearing in the photo is naturally the one he wore in junior high.

It was completely pressed against my body.

It's no surprise that Dongtou, who's already well-developed, found her old school swimsuits very tight. The fabric sank into her buttocks, looking quite revealing, while her ample breasts seemed about to spill out. Not only that, whether from shyness or the tight swimsuit, Dongtou's face flushed, her eyes slightly brimming with tears, and she desperately stretched out her arms for a selfie—

(Illustration 008)

Hmm... these images definitely look like they're for that purpose.

Izanami: I wanted to put my phone on the bookshelf to take a picture, but I couldn't get the angle right, so I had to hold it with my hand. How come you guys are all such good photographers?

Sorry, Dongtou... we actually asked a boy to take the picture...

Seeing that Mizuto looked away from her phone, let out a long sigh with her hand on her forehead, I timidly asked:

"...Should I tell her?"

"...Of course."

After I made up my mind, I sent a message.

Izanami has retracted her message.

It's as if you can see Dongtou screaming in his room.

I'm so sorry.

The meat, placed on the wire mesh, sizzled enticingly.

The same sounds created a symphony from all directions, and the riverbank was instantly filled with enticing aromas.

"Take whichever piece is ready to eat!"

Grandma Natsume kept placing the meat skewers on the wire mesh. I heard she was almost seventy years old, but she seemed more energetic than me.

I originally thought it would be a small barbecue party, but I didn't expect that the uncles from the Zhong family would bring a total of six sets of barbecue equipment.

Where did it come from...? Could it have been stored in a warehouse or something?

"Aunt Natsume has a friend who runs a campground, and I heard they offer discounts on rentals."

My cousin Yuanxiang told me this while she was eating meat.

"No wonder he was a local celebrity in the past—I really hope I can marry a rich husband someday—"

"Yuanxiang~ Mikado will cry if you say things like that!"

"Just kidding, just kidding! Hehehe!"

Mikado?

Just as I was tilting my head in confusion, my cousin Yuanxiang exclaimed "Ah!" and looked in a certain direction.

"Takema~ Look at you, eating all that stuff~"

"Huh?"

It turned out that Takema was eating meat heartily next to his cousin Yuanxiang, with sauce all over his mouth.

"It's so dirty, really... uh—tissues, tissues..."

"Oh, I brought a handkerchief."

I took a handkerchief from the pocket of my jellyfish suit, knelt down in front of Takema, and wiped his mouth. Takema's eyes widened, and he obediently let me wipe it.

Mm, good boy, good boy.

If it were a water bucket, they would probably push the handkerchief back to me and just wipe myself with my arm.

"Okay, it's clean now."

"...Ugh... Ah..."

Takema seemed to be muttering something, while Cousin Madoka grinned with a strange smile.

"Takema~ Why didn't you thank Yui-nee-san~?"

"Ah!...Thank you...Sister..."

"Yes, you're welcome."

"Ugh...!"

I answered with a smile, but Zhuzhen blushed and hid behind her cousin Yuanxiang.

...I still feel like he's avoiding me?

But I have a cute little brother who looks nothing like Mizuto, and I'm so happy...

"Hehehe, Yui, you're really a jinx~"

"Pinched?"

I don't think I did anything to deserve being pinched.

"Oh, poor bamboo. Well, this is an experience too."

Cousin Yuanxiang muttered something to herself, seemingly out of nowhere, and then looked in different directions.

"Yui, why don't you go keep Mizuto company?"

Cousin Yuanxiang's gaze was fixed on Shuidou, who was sitting motionless on the lounge mat.

"Why so suddenly... Why do I have to go with him?"

"I used to be the one pestering him, but he always politely refused me."

I really admire her for being able to laugh about being rejected...

Mizuto kept his eyes fixed on his book, showing no intention of participating in the barbecue. The relatives from the Tanari family also made no attempt to force Mizuto to join.

That has become his fixed location.

Everyone knows that's his personality.

"Hmm—there's really no way around it."

Cousin Yuanxiang suddenly walked towards the barbecue grill and put some meat and vegetables into a paper plate.

So she's not only a heavy drinker, but also has a huge appetite. And her figure is so slim… Could it be that she's the type everyone's been talking about, the one where "all the nutrition goes to her breasts"?

Just as I was thinking this, my cousin Yuanxiang handed me a plate piled high with meat and vegetables. "Here, take this."

"Huh?...Uh, I already have one..."