My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 164

"Huh?"

"Stop asking so many questions! I just told you to move aside!"

I moved to the side of the sofa as she instructed, and then Jie Nu plopped down heavily in the empty spot.

Then she put her hands on her knees and stared straight at me.

"Go ahead."

"...Huh?"

"Tell me everything! What happened between you and Dongtou?"

"This has nothing to do with you—"

"Okay, I knew you'd say that—! I already knew how to refute that! How could something between family and friends be none of my business!"

I fell silent.

I was actually... refuted by her.

Jie lowered her eyebrows, and like a mother comforting a crying child, said in a gentle tone:

"...What's wrong? Did someone say something to upset you?"

"No……"

"If anyone takes advantage of you and causes you trouble—Xiaoyue says she'll use every means to teach them a lesson!"

"What is she trying to do...?"

Ugh, damn it, that's enough.

We can't let some people be severely punished just because of a misunderstanding.

"...At least I wasn't hurt. I had Kawanami as my bodyguard."

"I know that. So it's Dongtou?"

"...I'm not sure either."

I pressed my fingers against my temples and frowned.

"I heard from Kawanami that Dongtou didn't encounter any bullying. He said some girls just chatted with Dongtou, and that's roughly what she said. But..."

I told Jie that Dongtou hadn't come to our usual meeting place, and I also showed her our LINE conversation. Since things had come to this, I wasn't afraid of losing face anymore.

"I think she was probably considering my feelings. But Dongtou overcame the failure of his confession, how could he only start caring about other people's opinions now—"

"—Sigh…"

A long sigh escaped from the woman's lips.

I tilted my head, puzzled.

"What are you doing?"

"...Next, I'm going to say a word that's the first time I've ever used it in my life. Although I feel it's very impolite to say such a thing, I can't find any other word to describe you."

"Huh?"

She froze.

The woman pointed directly at me—raising her chin, she spoke condescendingly:

"You—a virgin!"

I stood still.

They froze, like stones.

"You can even overcome a failed confession? How come you're only now starting to care about what others think? You really don't understand anything! That's how virgins are! They all have unrealistic fantasies about girls!"

"No... Huh? I never harbored any illusions—"

"It's obvious! You're clearly projecting your own ideals onto Dongtou! You fake intellectual must secretly call Dongtou a femme fatale, right? How awful!"

"Who called her that!"

Does this woman think that all book lovers call the women close to them "femme fatales"? What kind of prejudice is that!

"Of course I care about what other people think!"

Jie Nu no longer cared about being undignified and spoke with great enthusiasm:

"Of course I care about how others see me—especially if it's someone I like."

"........."

"You must find it really annoying, right? You can't stand the fact that the place where you and Dongtou are alone is exposed to curious eyes. Can you guarantee that you didn't show your annoyance at all? Do you know how Dongtou will feel seeing your reaction? Can you really guarantee that that introverted, timid girl who seems to have no sense of atmosphere but is sometimes very perceptive won't be scared at all?"

Dongtou... would occasionally glance at my face with an uneasy expression.

I always tell her not to worry—I will keep my promise and continue to be the person I used to be.

-- Hmm... but I don't think I'm the calm type either.

--...You don't want to come?

--Are you in a bad mood today?

Did what I said really reassure her?

In fact, what exactly made her uneasy?

Do I really understand Higashito Isana?

"She's just an ordinary girl. It's because she likes you so much, and you think Higashito Isana is an oddball who won't be influenced by others, so she had no choice but to go along with your ideas. Otherwise, it would be impossible to become friends again so easily. She must be hiding the pain of heartbreak—"

"Thank you. That's enough."

I interrupted the woman.

I have fully reflected on my own ignorance and foolishness.

However—I don't underestimate Higashito Isana, and I don't think I understand her just because of that.

Is it just to accommodate my ideas?

Can you hide the pain of heartbreak and remain friends?

really?

"I understand your point. It's really helpful... but I can't just take it all at face value."

"……Why?"

"Because you can say that I'm a difficult East End resident."

Facing the suspicious-looking girl, I told her:

"The original setting is the true justice."

"Hello?"

"...Mizuto-kun?"

"You finally answered the phone."

"Sorry. I was playing video games..."

"Four hours?"

"That's how it is."

"Yeah, it's kind of weird that I'm on the phone for four hours straight."

"...Yes, really."

"It's getting late, so maybe it's best not to chat for too long."

"It's okay."

"No, I'll just be frank today. Dongtou, have I misunderstood you?"

"……What's the meaning?"

"I originally thought you were a strong person. I thought you were the kind of person who could overcome pain immediately even if you were hurt, and that you had a strong will."

"No, there's no one weaker than me in the world."

"That's what Yui said. She said you're just an ordinary girl, and it's because I mistakenly thought you were weird that you had no choice but to go along with my idea."

"...Hmm—maybe a little. I'm not entirely sure."

"It's really strange."

"What's so strange?"

"Didn't you say that before? I remember it was... when I said that Yui's attitude was strange and I asked for your opinion."

"Ah—it was before I'd even spoken to Yui and the others, right? I remember."

"That's right. You said back then that you have a standard in your heart, and when that standard is threatened, you will go into a state of preparedness. That's why people often say you don't know what's good for you."

"...Did I say that? You remember it so clearly."

"It was only after hearing those words that I realized how strong-willed you are. I felt you had strong opinions and weren't easily swayed by others. But isn't that contradictory? How could someone like you possibly change your ways to cooperate with me?"

"I'm just saying whatever comes to mind. Maybe I'm studying light novels."

"Perhaps. But then I added, 'You don't need to worry about being sensible when you're with me. I'll take the place of being sensible.'"

『……………………』

"do you remember?"

"……Remember."

"Have you forgotten what I said? Or are you pretending not to hear it?"

"I don't know. I remember it right now, but sometimes I really do forget."

"Is it the same when you confess your feelings?"

"Huh?"

"After confessing my feelings, you tactlessly said you wanted to go home together like usual. Was it because you forgot what I said?"

『……………………』

"What exactly happened?"

"...I remember."

"........."

"If I didn't remember... I wouldn't dare say that."

"...To be honest, I had forgotten."

"That means Mizuto really is the kind of person you described. Back then, Mizuto took the initiative and acted sensibly on my behalf. You were afraid of hurting my feelings."

"yes."

"Back then, you really comforted me—and you really made me feel so pathetic."

"……What's the meaning……?"

"Heh, I'm shocked by what I just said. So that's how it is. So back then, I felt really pathetic..."

"Why? You were so admirable back then. I... I've never respected anyone as much as I did then."

"You think too highly of me. Mizuto, you're the one who deserves respect. You're so charming, strong, and carefree. I—I really want to be like you."

"........."

"I long to be able to live a strong life without friends. Because that's cool, isn't it? Like Hachiman Hikigaya, like Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, like Tatsuya Shiba. Like the strongest protagonist. If everyone could do that, wouldn't everyone want to live their life that way?"

"........."

"But I can't. I'm not capable. I'm not some weird girl, but I'm not an ordinary girl either; I'm just someone who's clueless about social situations. This trait is neither rare nor precious; it's just a lack of ability—and I don't have any hidden strengths; I'm just a loser."

"........."

"This time too, I think I'm confused again. Mizuto-kun clearly doesn't intend to keep her distance from me for now. Thinking about it, we agreed to be vague and evasive, but I explicitly told the class that we weren't dating… Seriously, I always do this. I know perfectly well what I should do in my head, but when the moment actually comes, I always make the wrong choice."

"........."