My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 119

"Huh? Is the strap coming loose?"

I turned up between Xiaoyue's legs, sat up like a sit-up, and looked over Xiaoyue's shoulders to look behind her. Neither the knot at the back of her neck nor the buttons on her bra looked wrong.

Just as I was wondering what was going on, Xiaoyue started wailing and crying in my arms.

"Ugh, ugh... What should I do? How should I reply... All I can think of is a nasty response...!"

"I don't understand very well, but just tell her what you're doing right now."

"This is it!"

"Wow!"

Xiaoyue pushed me away, quickly stood up, and said, "Wait here for me!" before disappearing without a trace.

After waiting for her for a few minutes...

Xiaoyue is back, and for some reason, she's holding an ice cream. It's probably mint chocolate flavored.

"Why did you suddenly buy ice? Are you referring to my portion?"

"Acting like you're healthily enjoying the summer... You're not included."

There's no need to make a fuss; we're just enjoying the fun of summer anyway... Well, who taught her that her very existence is unhealthy?

Xiaoyue took off the waterproof phone pouch hanging around her neck and insisted on giving it to me.

"Take a picture for me! Make it cute!"

"Well, the subject has to be cute first."

"Then I'll become cute! Right now!"

After making her declaration, Xiaoyue held the ice cream to the side of her face, made a V-sign with the other side, and smiled brightly.

...How should I put it? It's amazing how quickly she can change her mind. She's completely different from the excited, snorting person she was just moments ago.

"Isn't it cute?"

"...Ah—okay, okay. It's so cute, so cute."

"Tell the truth!"

"So cute!"

If this continues, it will turn into torture.

Although I didn't understand what was going on, I figured I should get things done quickly. I raised my phone.

I used an overhead angle to bring Xiaoyue into view and snapped a photo.

"Okay, is this alright?"

"…………You pass! Upload!"

Xiaoyue pressed the phone she had returned to her several times, then took a breath and licked her ice cream.

"Well, I've managed to maintain my image as a successful, popular high school girl again today..."

"Huh? (laughing)"

"What are you laughing at?"

She was licking her ice cream while trying to poke at my groin, but I dodged it without serious injury. Seriously, who told you to talk about "affluent high school girls"? (laughs) Real affluent high school girls are already happily dating their boyfriends these days. (laughs)

...Hmm? Boyfriend??

I suddenly felt a little bothered, recalling the photos I had just taken.

"...Hey, I was just saying, that photo has already been sent to Irito-san, right?"

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

"Is this okay?"

"What do you mean?"

"The angle of that photo clearly indicates it was taken by a man, and my shadow is also in it."

"........."

*Splat.* The mint chocolate ice cream I was eating fell to the ground.

Xiaoyue froze for a few seconds, expressionless—then started frantically tapping on her phone.

"That doesn't count! That ... -- Ahhhhh! --!"

Xiaoyue's legs suddenly gave way and she knelt on the ground. What a reckless fellow! Luckily, we were in the bustling swimming pool, otherwise we would have been arrested by the guards long ago.

"...How could you do this, Yui~..."

"What's wrong?"

"I deleted the photos, but she had already taken screenshots..."

You're ruthless, Irito-san. You actually confiscated the evidence without saying a word.

"How can you be so calm?"

"It's no big deal, it's a fact that we came to the pool together. You shouldn't lie to a friend, right?"

"...Wouldn't it be annoying if people thought you were dating me?"

"Of course I hate you, you pig-brain... But I don't hate you so much that I need to lie."

"…………Right……"

I felt strangely embarrassed. I don't know why, but I couldn't help but look away.

Although we vented a lot during the training camp, we didn't get back together. My allergy to romantic feelings hasn't healed, and if someone asks me if I like Xiaoyue, I can't answer. It's like I've lost the concept of love altogether.

Even so, we are indeed childhood sweethearts. I no longer want to deny that.

"Pfft!"

Xiaoyue was looking at her phone when she suddenly burst out laughing.

"What's wrong?"

"You're not allowed to look!"

Without thinking, I peeked out to see the screen, but Xiaoyue quickly hid her phone against her chest. Of course, that would be impolite.

"What's Dongtou doing...? Haha!"

Looks like that busty mistress is being silly and clueless again. As long as she's happy.

This guy used to be easily ostracized, and he only started making friends in junior high school. It was probably around that time that he finally learned to interact with others with an open mind. In other words, he learned to cultivate broad but shallow friendships, just superficial ones.

However, I haven't changed my tendency to become deeply attached to someone once I open my heart to them, and to become hopelessly dependent on them—and that's why I encountered such a mess...

However, it seems that she maintains a good sense of distance from Irito and that guy from the east.

Although there are still some rather dangerous behaviors in her interactions with Irito-kun, and she needs to remain vigilant, she has made a lot of progress compared to her junior high school days.

If they can continue to reform themselves and stop interfering with the relationship between the two from the Irito family, that would be even better. Those two are currently in the countryside, and Akatsuki can't interfere, but hopefully they can make some progress during this time—

"……Uh-huh……?"

After scrolling through her phone for a while, Xiaoyue frowned in surprise.

"Hey, Kawanami."

"What, Nan?"

"...Did Yui always call Irito-san by her name before?"

"Huh? Is that even a question? Since they share the same surname—"

...Wait a minute?

Yeah, she always seems to call Irito "that guy" or "bro"...

"...Hey, is that what she calls him? Calling him by his first name!"

"I'm going to meet up with Yui...!"

"Who would let you go?! You don't even know where she is!"

"I'm going!"

It seems that he is still a long way from completely turning over a new leaf.

"…………Hoo-haa ...

I lay sprawled out, feeling the sunlight drying the moisture off my body.

Xiaoyue insisted I race her in swimming, claiming it was to relieve stress. I've only been here a short while and she's already exhausted me. Swimming like a race swimmer in a regular pool—is she rushing to be reborn?

As for Xiaoyue, her skin was radiant and she adjusted the position of her fingers inside her swimsuit's buttocks, looking incredibly energetic. She's truly a stamina monster.

"Phew—I'm so thirsty—I'll go buy some drinks!"

"Please buy it for me while you're at it..."

"Huh? You want me to go alone? Have you forgotten your mission here?"

"You just want to use me as a punching bag for fun, don't you...?"

"Block, strike up a conversation!"

"Oh...that's certainly something to worry about..."

"Hmm? Why did your attitude suddenly become so nice?"

"Just thinking about this beautiful swimming pool soon being stained red with the blood of men chasing after women..."

"Worry about me!"

Xiaoyue lightly kicked my side and asked, "What do you want to drink?" So I replied, "Cola." "Okay." After Xiaoyue finished speaking, she went to find a store or a vending machine.

That's enough. I propped myself up.

Surely there isn't some pedophile actually hitting on a woman who looks like a middle school student. Even if there were, that guy would have ways to avoid it, or just kick the person away. I'd be worried if it were Irito or Higashi. Especially Higashi… with that physique, he'd definitely attract a lot of attention at the swimming pool…

As I watched the couples frolicking in the pool while trying to regain my strength...

"Hey, are you alone?"

I heard someone say that.

Ah—it's starting, it's starting. Yeah, of course there's some girl-chasing at the swimming pool in the summer—that's what I was thinking, but this sounds like a girl's voice?

I turned my head in confusion and saw two older women in sexy swimsuits standing together.

He bent down and leaned closer to look at my face as I sat on the ground.

……oh oh?

"You didn't go with your friends? That's strange."

"It's just the two of us, and we're feeling a little lonely~"

As if deliberately showing off to me, four perfectly round and full fruits hung before my eyes. One had black hair and fair skin, the other had brown hair and was slightly tanned. Both had healthy and toned figures, their hourglass figures concealed by extremely revealing swimsuits, something a woman might not possess.

This...this couldn't be...

I gasped, and to avoid any possibility of misunderstanding, I asked the two older sisters:

"Are...are you talking to me...?"

"Yes, yes, I was talking to you."

"To put it bluntly, it's about picking up men, right? Haha!"

Picking up men! So this actually exists...?

Even I had never encountered such a situation before. Just as I was wondering how to react, the two older sisters sat down on either side of me, cutting off my escape route.

"Hey, look closely, you're quite fit!"

"He's the fit and muscular type. Does he exercise?"

The two older women emitted a pleasant fragrance from both sides, and eventually even began to gently touch my shoulders or arms.

"No...no...I've just been working out..."

"Oh! It's the result of hard work."