My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 135

Just then, I thought I heard the grass behind me rustle... but all I wanted to do was pull Shuidou, who looked unusually disheveled, forward.

"Ah! They're both back!"

We returned to the office where we had split up, and saw Cousin Yuanxiang waiting for us.

Behind her, you could still see Takema's figure...? For some reason, leaves were stuck to the hem of his yukata.

"Ah, that's great... I was worried about what would happen if you two got lost too."

"Huh? What do we both mean?"

"Actually, Takema got lost too—ouch!"

Takema pounded on her cousin Madoka's back, as if protesting something. It was rare to see the usually well-behaved Takema resorting to violence. Madoka, confused, asked, "What's wrong? What's wrong, Takema?"

Although my cousin Yuanxiang didn't seem to understand, she quickly glanced at me and Shuidou before whispering in my ear:

"(Could it be that it succeeded?)"

"(...I think we've at least taken the first step.)"

"(Oh! You're really good! Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions! I'll be happy to support you!)"

Just then, Takema kicked his cousin Madoka's shin.

"Ouch! What... what are you doing? What's wrong, Takema! Are you going through puberty?"

Takema glanced at me and Mizuto, then pursed her lips and lowered her head.

What's wrong with him...? Did something unpleasant happen to him?

Seeing her younger brother's attitude, Cousin Yuanxiang exclaimed, "Ah!"

"Huh...? Really? Is that what happened?"

Takema kept his head down and began to vigorously rub his eyes with the sleeve of his yukata.

"Ah, ah... how should I put this? I can only offer my condolences..."

As expected of the older sister, she seems to have figured out the reason for Takema's strange behavior.

Cousin Yuanxiang hugged her younger brother tightly, then gently patted his back like she was comforting a baby.

"It's okay, Takema. This experience will make you a better guy. You won't end up like my boyfriend, a complete loser!"

Cousin Yuanxiang patiently comforted Zhuzhen, who was quietly crying.

I secretly asked the water bucket next to me:

"(Hey, what happened? Why is Takema crying?)"

"(I don't know...?)"

It seems we are far inferior to real siblings.

However, for me now, this is actually better.

◆

The way we said goodbye was very simple.

"Goodbye! Let's play together again sometime! Come on, Takema, say goodbye too."

"........."

"How long are you going to keep throwing a tantrum? If you don't say goodbye properly now, you might be too embarrassed to contact me later!"

Before getting into the car at the entrance of the Zhong family mansion, Zhuzhen was pushed from behind by her older sister and timidly came to me.

Then he glanced up at my face, then quickly looked away, repeating this several times...

“Um, um…”

"Hmm, what is it?"

"...If...I have something to say, can I...discuss it with you...?"

I remembered telling him that we are both shy and that he could talk to me about his troubles.

Without hesitation, I smiled and said:

"Of course. Feel free to contact me anytime."

Upon hearing this, Takema blushed, perhaps due to nervousness, and said:

"Th...thank you!"

After speaking loudly, which was unusual for him, he bowed and went back to his cousin Yuanxiang's side.

"Oh—commendable courage...but it'll be painful to keep agonizing over something you're not sure about...?"

"...Waaah..."

"Oh, sorry, sorry! I forgot your wound hasn't healed yet! I won't tease you for now!"

The siblings got on the car amidst their bickering and arguing, and drove to the station...

So we went to sweep the tombs of the Zhong family's ancestors and then said goodbye to the Zhong family mansion.

"Thank you so much, Yume. Please take good care of Mizuto."

As we said goodbye, Granny Natsume said this with a smile, and I smiled back.

"He's actually surprisingly strong; he's fine without me by his side."

"Hmm? Is that so?"

"However, I will still agree to your request... because he seems to be unexpectedly afraid of being alone."

In the second half, I spoke in a low voice so that Mizuto wouldn't hear me, and Granny Natsume smiled slightly.

"Then I'm relieved."

Then I walked over to the car, where Shuidou, who was waiting for me, asked me with a surprised look:

"What are you talking about with your grandma?"

"What do you think?"

I asked, "Hmm?" as I leaned closer to look at Mizuto's face, and he leaned back and took a step back.

"You...you're acting a little strange."

"No. Is your information outdated?"

"What?"

At this moment, Uncle Fengqiu spoke up from the car:

"Time to go!"

"Coming—" I replied as I reached for the car door.

I turned my head away before opening the car door.

She turned to her ex-boyfriend, stepbrother—the person she liked.

His smile was full of mockery.

"Don't worry, we're still step-siblings, Mizuto-kun."

"...Does that even need to be said, Yui-kun?"

Those days are gone and will never return.

The happiness of that time will never return.

However, it can still be rewritten.

If you want an example—yes.

A sequel is confirmed to be filming soon.

Stay tuned for further reports.

◆ Higashito Isana ◆

When I returned to the living room, only Shuidou was left on the sofa, snoring softly.

Strange? I was puzzled.

Today I went to my friend Mizuto's house to watch the movie "Your Name" with him.

After watching it, Mizuto went straight to sleep, but if I remember correctly, he was sleeping with his head on Yui's lap...

That's strange. Where did Jie go while I was in the restroom?

Puzzled, I walked over to the sofa and looked down at my sleeping classmate, Mizuto.

This scene inevitably brings to mind Snow White.

Snow White, who had collapsed from poisoning, was resurrected by a kiss from the prince...

Hmm—that is to say—

If I kiss Mizuto right now, will he wake up immediately?

I stopped after being warned by my female classmate.

But now, my classmate Jie is gone too. There's no one to help me apply the brakes.

...That won't do, Mizuto. How can you be so unprepared?

Such carelessness... even if someone eats you up, you can't blame anyone else, can you?

Is she trying to tempt me? Because you dumped me, she's too embarrassed to speak up first, so she's using indirect methods to get me to make a move?

Ah, of course, that's just an excuse. An excuse that I couldn't control my desires...

Because, seeing him like this, who could resist?

Mizuto has two thin lips that look so soft, just like a girl's—

No matter how many times I tell myself I can't, my face still can't resist that attraction—

A thin, fine breath landed on my lips.

My heart was pounding, as if it might burst at any moment.

This might be even more nerve-wracking than confessing your feelings.

Please praise me, Mizuto.

I will refrain from sticking out my tongue; please praise me.

And please, I beg you.

Just one more second, please don't wake up yet.

—And so, I gave him my first kiss in this life…

"That would be best!"

I suddenly felt ashamed and deleted the article I typed into the tablet.

"Hoo-ha—" I gasped for breath as I looked up at the ceiling of my room.

Hmm... Writing fanfiction about real people, especially a friend's dream novel, is just too embarrassing. I was originally planning to write a steamy, stimulating, R-rated scene after this...

Because that thought of "maybe it could have succeeded" still fills me with regret, I thought of writing it into a novel. It turns out it's a forbidden move that shouldn't be touched.

That's right. Laugh at me if you want, I'm a coward.

Indeed, I went back to the living room that day when my classmate Jie was not there.

However, when I tried to lean in and kiss the sleeping Mizuto on the lips, I thought, "No, I can't do it," and I stopped myself.

But that was the first and maybe the last time I would ever kiss someone in my life!

...But doing that to a sleeping person is still wrong. Yes, it's a complete crime.

"……well……"

I really hope Mizuto can come back from the countryside soon!

I'm trembling with longing to see you... Ah, saying something like that will make my followers say I'm "revealing my age." No way! Blame it on the middle-aged men of the previous generation who use this old joke all the time online!

"...Mizuto-kun..."