My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 157

"Hmm...? I see—"

We walked through the bustling area toward the movie theater, and Jie chatted casually with Dongtou.

I watched them from behind, and a strange feeling crept into my heart.

She actually played a trick on me for fun... I was kind enough to give her face last time, but she was still angry with me. What a double standard!

When we arrived at the cinema, we paid at the ticket machine and picked up the movie tickets that Dongtou had helped us reserve. Since they were student tickets, the price was about the same as a single volume of a book. Very reasonable.

After the payment was completed, the woman said:

"I need to use the restroom. Does anyone from the east end need it?"

"I don't need it. Take care—"

Dongtou gently waved goodbye as she left.

The theater wouldn't open for admission for a while longer. I sat down on a bench in the lobby. Besides us, there were many other people waiting to watch the movie; some were scrolling through their phones, while others were busy chatting.

"Hey."

Then, Dongtou sat down next to me.

We fell silent for a moment.

Dongtou seemed restless, swaying from side to side and glancing at the movie trailer playing repeatedly on the screen. She looked quite uneasy. But the ticket collection process went so smoothly that I didn't think she was uncomfortable watching movies.

Just as I was thinking about these things, she leaned forward slightly and looked at my face as I sat next to her.

"Um... Mizuto-kun."

"Um?"

"Are you in a bad mood today?"

"...Huh?"

The unexpected question made my tone of voice inadvertently become a bit harsh in my reply.

Dongtou's expression grew even more uneasy, and he said:

"No, it's just that your expression seemed a little stiff when we were on the bus... I hope I misunderstood!"

When I was on the bus... Oh, I see.

I tried my best not to react to the girl's antics, but it seems like I ended up giving her a sour look. So that's my fault.

"It's nothing, you misunderstood. It's just that... I rarely take the bus, so I was a little carsick."

After I tried my best to use a gentle tone and come up with a plausible reason, Dongtou still seemed a little uneasy and said:

"Oh, I see... That's good... Because I have so little experience going out with friends... I was a little worried that I might have made you feel bored."

Sometimes, Dongtou would show me this expression.

Normally, she seems to live her life as she pleases, not caring about what others think. But sometimes, she seems to wake up and start observing other people's expressions, becoming uneasy and timid... This happens about once every three days.

Actually, she's always been like this since we first met.

We met in the library. The first time we spoke... Dongtou acted as if his existence was a sin, speaking to me with a trembling, fearful expression...

Because I know she has that side to her, I must say firmly and unequivocally:

"Don't worry."

Time and time again, I patiently told her:

"No matter how confused you are, I won't get angry."

"Really? I feel like you're often angry..."

"That's not him being angry, he's scolding you."

"Ugh, ugh~"

Facing the dejected and seemingly overwhelmed Dongtou, I said:

"Don't worry, I remember our promise."

I will always be the person you know.

That was a promise I made when I rejected Dongtou's confession and we became friends again.

Dongtou kept fiddling with his bangs, and a soft, gentle smile naturally appeared on his face.

"……hey-hey."

"What are you laughing at?"

"I can support Mizuto for the rest of my life."

"Don't turn me into an idol without my permission."

◆ Irito Yume ◆

I stood at a distance, watching Shuidou and Dongtou sitting side by side on the bench.

When Mizuto spoke to Higashi-kun, his expression was extremely natural and gentle, unlike the tender care he used to show me, and completely unlike the hostile attitude he now displayed—it was an expression that Higashi-kun wouldn't show to his girlfriend or ex-girlfriend, an expression that belonged only to Higashi-kun.

To be honest, I'm a little envious.

But at the same time, I was happy for her. I wasn't forcing myself. It was a pure joy that welled up from the depths of my heart.

I think it's probably because Dongtou did something that we couldn't do.

She doesn't act impulsively or get caught up in unnecessary jealousy; she prioritizes her pure desire to be with the other person. Perhaps that's what I truly admire about her...

........................

really?

Is this feeling of relief really just that...?

The fact that Dongtou was laughing made me feel so relieved—wasn't it because I knew something?

Like the joyful smile that appears when someone compliments your outfit...

Or she might shyly say which parts of the water tank she likes...

The other side of the girls in Dongtou, who seem ordinary and unremarkable, neither eccentric nor unconventional—

—Isn't it because I know some of her traits that she would never show to Mizuto?

...I guess I'm just worrying unnecessarily.

Because Dongtou looked so happy.

So—she shouldn't be hiding anything.

There's no need to hide your true self just for the sake of water fights...

"Hey, look at them..." "Wow! It's really true...!"

Ok?

I thought I heard something, but when I turned around, all I saw was a huge crowd of people at the movie theater during the summer vacation.

◆ Irito Mizuto ◆

"Huh? You originally wanted to reserve seats for lovers?"

"I thought this would be more cost-effective, but upon closer inspection, it's actually cheaper to book two seats using the normal high school student ticket price."

"Besides, aren't the two seats on both sides? Won't you be able to see the screen clearly?"

"Perhaps they value flirting more than their movie seats?"

"So you can just watch Netflix at home?"

"I don't think you'll ever understand the romance of a movie date..."

We chatted as we walked into the dimly lit theater to find our seats.

It seems the director booked some really good seats for us. The three of us sat side by side, right near the center of the theater. Not too close, not too far, enough to get a very clear view of the big screen.

Unfortunately, I found myself caught between the two of them again.

"(Hello.)"

I called out softly to the woman sitting to my right, who was putting her belongings under the chair.

The woman raised her head and said:

"(What's up?)"

"(Don't bother me while we're watching the movie.)"

"(Hmph. Just ignore me, okay?)"

"(If you dare to stop me from watching the movie, I'll make you pay for it...)"

"(Okay, okay! I know! Why are you making such a fierce face!)"

That'll be fine.

I leaned back in my chair, relaxed, and watched the movie trailer on the big screen. I actually quite enjoy watching movie trailers. Perhaps it sparks the imagination? Anyway, there's a certain fun in guessing what happens beyond the trailer. The only downside is that I often feel satisfied after watching the trailer and end up not watching the movie itself—but speaking of which, the sound in the movie theater is really loud. It's that "thump—!" sound effect that's so characteristic of trailers.

"........."

Ok?

I felt like someone was watching me... I turned to look in the opposite direction from Jie Nu and looked at the seat on my left.

Then I noticed that Dongtou was staring at my face.

"……What's wrong?"

"No! No..."

Dongtou quickly looked away—or rather, shifted his gaze elsewhere.

What's wrong? Did I get something on my face? I seriously wondered, so I touched my cheeks and forehead, but there was nothing there.

Although I was a little bothered, before I could ask Dongtou again, the big screen started displaying the rules for watching the movie. It said that talking was prohibited during the movie, so I had to shut my mouth.

I turned off my phone and watched as the man with the camera-like face was arrested. Soon the lights gradually dimmed.

The movie begins.

The magnificent and spectacular animation unique to theatrical anime is displayed on the entire giant screen.

This is something you can't experience through novels. Okay, although occasionally some novels are unusually vivid, to the point that they can only be described as "exceptionally well-drawn," enjoying them visually still has its own unique charm.

Just as I was enjoying the movie, a hand gently covered my hand that was resting on the armrest.

"ah."

Dongtou let out a low cry and quickly withdrew his hand.

Touching the other person's hand isn't unusual—but why is this guy, who always uses my lap as a pillow without permission, so flustered over just a touch? I felt a little uneasy and stole a glance to the side.

"(Excuse me……)"

Dongtou hunched his shoulders and murmured to himself.

"(Won't.)"

I answered that while feeling puzzled, and then continued watching the movie.

The expression on Dongtou's face just now seemed like he was shy...

How is it possible?

The east end isn't Ayai.

◆ Irito Yume ◆

"That's pretty impressive."

"Exactly—especially the narrative style in the second half..."

"Is that what they call abstract techniques? It seems like I understand it, but I also don't..."

"It has the kind of impact that animation has."

We chatted about our impressions as we walked out of the theater.

The movie was quite good. Maybe because I don't watch anime often, there were some parts I didn't quite understand, but that was part of the fun. Mizuto and Higashi seemed to really enjoy that part of the movie; they've been discussing it non-stop, saying things like "That's how it is" and "That means that."