My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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"I don't remember ever liking my cousin Yuanxiang."

"But...but I've heard that boys often fall for older female relatives..."

"That's just a general statement."

"No...yes, I do. You listen to almost everything your cousin Yuanxiang says! Unlike me, you ignore me no matter what I ask you to do!"

"That's because my cousin Yuanxiang is very assertive, okay?"

Mizuto sighed, dumbfounded.

"Weren't you also practically forced by her to stay in this room and wait for me?"

"……ah."

Indeed.

"My cousin Yuanxiang is the only relative who is close to my age, so she used to talk to me a lot, but I didn't like her at all. Back then, I thought she was inconsiderate and clingy, which annoyed me to death."

Mizuto added, "But I'm used to it now."

"No wonder you asked me that weird question yesterday. It turns out you had a misunderstanding... You're usually pretty smart, but you always turn dumb at crucial moments."

"Ugh..."

This time, really, it's all my fault.

The sound of footsteps approached from afar. Perhaps it was Cousin Yuanxiang returning.

Shuidou stood up, bathed in moonlight, and looked down at me.

"Are you feeling better, Yume?"

When I heard him call out to me on purpose, I replied:

"Much better. Thank you for your concern, Mizuto."

It's not because our relationship improved that we started calling each other by our first names.

It's just because we share the same surname now.

That's all; the reason for the evolution of the way we address each other is utterly devoid of any charm.

"……hehe."

For some reason, I suddenly found it very funny.

Perhaps it was only at this point that I finally began to feel something.

I've grown up so much, and now a brother this big has suddenly appeared—

"...See? Didn't I tell you?"

"what?"

I looked up at the water basin that had suddenly started whispering, and saw my stepson staring at the glass sliding door where footsteps were getting closer, as if he was trying to hide something.

"—My first love was a person who always laughed… Didn’t I tell you? Idiot."

All of a sudden.

From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful that the lights in this room cannot be turned on.

(Illustration 012)

Volume 4: Before the First Kiss Declares War, the Couple Returns to the Countryside (Part 4)

Looking back, it can only be attributed to the mistakes of youth. However, between my second and third years of junior high school, I had what is commonly known as a boyfriend.

That time was truly happy.

Yes. I won't stubbornly deny it anymore.

I was truly happy during the time I spent as Mizuto Irito's girlfriend—at least until the summer before my third year of junior high school.

The happiest moment—looking back now, it must have been that day.

It's not Christmas, nor Valentine's Day. It's not any special day.

An ordinary, uneventful day.

That day, after school, we left the classroom separately as usual, but made a point of meeting up outside the school to go home together.

We had been dating for a while and gradually got used to walking hand in hand—that's when I started to realize that it was time to move on to the next stage.

When was your first kiss?

The title of the article I saw online last night keeps popping into my mind.

As I recalled those ambiguous numbers—whether it was the first date or how many months we'd been dating—I kept stealing glances at my boyfriend's face as we walked hand in hand.

Perhaps... it's about time.

Almost all the conditions mentioned in the online article have been met.

Is it... almost time to do it?

Even though I was walking the familiar route to and from school, I was incredibly nervous.

I was afraid that sweaty hands or the force of my grip would make him, who was holding my hand, realize my feelings.

At the same time... I also hope that he will notice and realize my thoughts, and then take the initiative to speak up.

However, I am very clear about this.

Even if I'm slow, I've gradually come to understand after all this time.

I learned that Mizuto Irito would never initiate a kiss.

In other words, it has to be my initiative...?

But how do we do that...?

I dawdled like this for more than ten minutes until we arrived at the place where we usually said goodbye.

Normally, I wouldn't feel lonely.

I can still make phone calls when I get home, and we can meet up tomorrow.

But on this day—

—See you tomorrow.

Iri waved gently and turned her back to me.

In that very instant—it was a completely unconscious act.

I quickly reached out and grabbed Irito's arm.

--Hmm?

Irito turned around, looking puzzled.

I... still couldn't say anything.

I stared at him.

One… … staring straight at him.

All I could do was stare into his eyes.

Discover it quickly.

Discover it quickly.

Discover it quickly.

As I prayed—I made up my mind…

He closed his eyes, shut his lips, and raised his chin.

If I'm still ignored after this, I might as well commit suicide. It's a do-or-die situation.

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst, and my body was so stiff it was practically turning into a rock.

To this day, I have never experienced a longer period of time than those few seconds.

I think closing my eyes was a huge mistake.

At least if I keep my eyes open, I can observe Irito's reaction while I wait.

But if I open my eyes now, I'll definitely mess things up.

Oh no, what do I do, what do I do! Is Irito still there? I'm still holding onto his arm, it can't be wrong, right? I won't be left behind by anyone────

Gently and softly, my lips touched something warm.

In an instant, the tension that had been gripping my entire body vanished as if it had been released.

The wildly pounding heartbeat gradually calmed, enveloping the entire body.

With a knock, his teeth hit something.

So, we naturally let our lips separate.

I then opened my eyes—and looked at my boyfriend's face, which was flushed red by the sunset.

--...no...

I felt a pleasant heat rising on my face, and without thinking, I covered my lips with my hand and said:

—I didn't expect it to be so difficult...

Then I chuckled to hide my shyness, and he gave me a faint smile.

--...We'll practice slowly from now on.

It's this moment.

This is the happiest moment of my life.

From now on, I can do this with him as many times as I want, forever.

Just thinking about it makes me feel lightheaded, and I'm even afraid that I'm getting too happy.

When I got home, I set that date as the password for my smartphone.

I feel that by doing this, I can make this incredibly happy feeling last forever.

...How could that possibly be?

Everything must come to an end.

In a sense, this was a symbolic episode.

The kind of person I am is someone who even wants to do things myself, and I still need help from others.

That's exactly why...

That's why you ended up coming to the summer festival alone—Yui Ayai.

◆ Irito Yume ◆

"Yume...is amazing!"

My cousin, Madoka, wearing a yukata, looked me over from head to toe and said with excited eyes.

"That slender figure, and that body that's practically made for wearing kimonos...! Amazing! Perfect! Yamato Nadeshiko! Hey, how about trying on a Taisho Romantic style next time? I can prepare the outfit!"

"No, no... a yukata is enough..."

I was intimidated by my cousin Yuanxiang and hesitated a bit, while glancing at myself in the dressing mirror.

My first date with Mizuto was at a summer festival, and the yukata I wore was a deep blue, a style with a calm and subdued tone.

But this time, my cousin Yuanxiang half-forced me to choose a gorgeous yukata with a white background and red floral pattern.

"It was truly like fireworks blooming on the ground! This year's fireworks festival is a complete failure! Because everyone only wanted to see Yui!"

"Uh, this is too much... You're not making fun of me, are you?"

"They were clearly telling the truth..."

My cousin, Yuanxiang, pouted. Her yukata was the opposite of mine; it was made of a blue fabric that seemed to melt into the darkness. Her explanation was, "I want to focus on working behind the scenes!"

"Alright, alright, let's go, let's go. Your cousin Mizuto is waiting for you~?"

"Why did this get into the water bucket...?"