My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 121

In my arms, Xiaoyue squirmed restlessly. I didn't want to look at her face. If I did, the consequences would probably be dire.

I didn't have the energy to reply, but the voices seemed to be laughing as they went into the showers.

I glanced at her for a moment... The instant my arm around her waist loosened, Xiaoyue pushed me away, moving her body away from me.

It was a perfectly normal reaction... Although it was in a moment of panic, I did accidentally hug her. It was one thing when we were dating, but now that we've broken up—and I was the one who dumped her—I shouldn't have done something like that.

In the rising steam of the shower water, Xiaoyue leaned against the door, her head slightly lowered. I was about to apologize honestly, but she spoke first:

"(I'm sorry...)"

Xiaoyue pulled her wet ponytail to her lips, hiding her expression.

"(If this continues... I won't be able to hold back...!)"

After whispering softly, she quietly opened the door and left me there.

The only sound was the shower.

...I couldn't help it.

What can't I help?

"...Ugh..."

I looked up at the ceiling, opened my mouth, and carefully rinsed it with the shower water.

Why did you steal my lines, you bastard!

◆

On the way back, the atmosphere naturally became very awkward.

"........."

"........."

We didn't sit next to each other on the bus; instead, we sat one in front of the other.

There was no dialogue between the two sides; for several tens of minutes, they simply listened to the clamor of the crowd.

I thought we would say goodbye in this awkward atmosphere... However, humans can never overcome physiological phenomena.

We transferred to the tram, and the moment Xiaoyue sat down, she started to doze off.

I just noticed her rubbing her eyes sleepily; it seems she finally couldn't hold on any longer. Well, of course she'd be tired and sleepy after swimming so fast.

I had originally planned to sit in the seat opposite her, but then I changed my mind.

I sat down next to Xiaoyue and said:

"You can lean on my shoulder."

Xiaoyue said without even looking at me:

"Um... thank you, Xiaoxiao..."

She finished speaking in a soft, gentle voice and then rested her head on my shoulder.

Soon I heard a faint snoring sound.

...Sigh. I'm really angry at myself for this inexplicable, caring nature of mine.

If I hadn't gone to the swimming pool with her, I wouldn't have had to shoulder all this tiring work. Today could have been a peaceful and relaxing day.

But, well, I guess...

Compared to that... it's definitely more fun to play with this childhood friend who needs to be taken care of today.

—Looks like I've been working on this for ages…

He probably still can't just abandon this woman.

Volume 4: Before the First Kiss - The Couple Returns to the Countryside (Part 3) - The Scars of First Love

It is said that he was just beginning to develop his talents in middle school, and by general societal standards, he was considered slow.

It could be like falling in love with a teacher in kindergarten, or having a crush on a classmate in elementary school, or—you might only realize you have a crush on a relative when you come to your senses.

It is said that most people are like this: they have never had a crush even when they are in junior high school, and those who suddenly have a happy ending after their first love belong to a very small minority.

...Okay, of course, there were also girls who didn't even know the character for "love" (恋) before they entered high school.

Those kinds of people are exceptions.

Most people become aware of their feelings about being in love before they reach puberty.

If that's the case—then Irito Mizuto might have liked someone else before he fell in love with me.

...I know I'm petty.

This is neither betrayal nor infidelity, and besides, it has absolutely nothing to do with me right now.

But—but.

I used to have beautiful dreams.

From the summer vacation of my second year of junior high school for a year and a half—or even until this moment.

I dreamed that, for both of us, that honeymoon-like period would be a first in our lives.

Even if it's a relationship that's already ended.

I still hope that the VIP seat called First Love will always belong to me.

...I have to admit, I really am disgusting.

It's troublesome, difficult, burdensome, and fragile—

—I can't believe that any man could fall in love with a woman like this.

"...Waaaaah..."

Hiding behind the flimsy paper door, I was so angry at my own cowardice that I trembled all over.

I peeked out and peered into the dark, dusty study.

Deep inside the study, my stepson and ex-boyfriend, Mizuto Irito, sat there as if buried in a pile of books.

It's very simple.

Uncle Fengqiu said he needed to ask Shuidou for help with something and asked me to come and get him, so I came.

So, all you have to do is call out to him. Just tell him, "Uncle Fengqiu is looking for you."

But I've been hiding here for several minutes—or even tens of minutes—like a small animal being chased by a predator.

Mizuto seemed engrossed in his book and was completely unaware of my arrival.

I both hoped he would notice me soon, and worried about what I would do if he did. These conflicting feelings kept swirling in my chest.

I've turned back into a social anxiety sufferer...

Until junior high school, I would hesitate for several tens of minutes before daring to strike up a conversation with someone, let alone go into the staff room. But through the most efficient training of dating, I should have overcome that.

I've accepted my innate gloomy personality, which I can't change, but I dare say my social skills have improved significantly.

But how did it come to this...?

Even though it's infuriating, I know exactly why. The only reason I can think of is what he said to me yesterday when we came back from the river.

—In my memory, she was a person who loved to laugh.

Mizuto spoke with such a nostalgic tone, but whose face was she thinking of...? It's obvious without needing to confirm.

My premonition, which I'd had since our first meeting, has indeed come true.

Shui Dou's first love was—

"—Huh? Yume, what are you doing?"

I was so startled that my shoulders jumped and I turned to look.

I saw my cousin Yuanxiang, a pretty girl wearing red-rimmed glasses and a pure white dress, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

...a white dress.

She's twenty years old and still looks good in clothes like this, amazing...

No, I need to find an excuse to explain my suspicious behavior...!

"Ah, no—I just… I was slightly distracted for a moment…"

As a result, I couldn't think of a good excuse.

It seems my social skills have finally reached their lowest point.

"What, are you alright? Be careful—many rooms in this house don't have air conditioning."

Cousin Yuanxiang exclaimed, "It's so hot!" while fanning herself around her neck with her hands.

Beads of sweat glistened on her neck, exposed by the dress, which looked rather alluring...

"Let me see... Ah, I found him."

My cousin Yuanxiang walked past me, peeked into the study, looking relaxed and at ease...

"Cousin Mizuto—Uncle's looking for you—?"

I accomplished what I hadn't been able to do for the past few tens of minutes.

"Um."

Mizuto gave a brief reply, closed his book, and looked up...

"……Um?"

I was found next to my cousin Yuanxiang.

"You're here too."

"...No, is that not okay?"

I felt so embarrassed that I couldn't help but respond very bluntly.

Perhaps it had become the norm, because Shuidou didn't seem to mind much, saying:

"Is there something you need?"

Something happened... There was something I was supposed to have.

But just now, everything is fine...

"N-nothing!"

I said that unilaterally, then ran down the hallway and left the study.

No, they escaped.

They escaped the water pit, along with their cousin Yuanxiang.

Nothing has changed.

Mizuto and I are still step-siblings, and the fact that we dated in the past remains unchanged.

But... he has a past that I don't know about.

I only realized this now.

so what?

Even if Mizuto had liked my cousin Madoka before—liked someone other than me.

That kind of thing... should have absolutely nothing to do with me now.

"ah."

"……ah……"

Through her long bangs, Zhu Zhen slightly widened her big eyes.

After fleeing the study, I wandered aimlessly around the house and saw Takema huddled in a corner of a Japanese-style room, staring at the game console in his hand.

At a table a little further away in the same room, Zhuzhen's father and other uncles were chatting happily about everyday topics.

Perhaps she felt too lonely being alone during the day, but couldn't join the conversation... so she kept her distance. Although Takema was shy, she didn't seem to enjoy solitude like Mizuto, nor was she as self-assured as Higashi.

I felt a little closer to her and peeked at Zhuzhen, who was sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest.