My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 176

"........."

My cousin once said that she was prone to falling for useless men... but putting that aside, she seems to be quite good at ordering people around.

...or perhaps...

The image of my cousin Yuanxiang wearing only underwear that I saw while changing clothes flashed through my mind.

Could it be that she deliberately prevented her boyfriend from drinking so that he would take care of her?

I inadvertently imagined my cousin Yuanxiang, wearing expensive burgundy lingerie, lounging languidly on the bed, and quickly told myself to stop thinking about it. Even though we're not related by blood, imagining that kind of scene with a relative was still too awkward!

The two of us high school students walked across the pedestrian crossing toward the station.

The sense of distance remained the same; even taking half a step closer didn't change much. Conversations were also rare.

Today, like the past six months, will probably come to an end in this way.

But...but.

I do not want to maintain the status quo.

Xiaoyue supports my idea. But today's water bucket... feels a little different from usual.

Therefore—therefore.

Do not worry about it.

It will definitely not go wrong.

"...I'm asking you."

Today, someone gave me a push from behind, and the words just naturally came out of their mouth:

"I... oh, no, I meant the outfit I wore today!... Do you think it's cute?"

I have a chance. It's that photo of the two of us that my cousin Yuanxiang took for me. The gaze captured in that photo has already told me Mizuto's true feelings.

So... even if Mizuto says something that annoys me right now, I will—

"...It's very ordinary."

See it.

This guy will never honestly tell you what he's really thinking—

"Just plain cute."

--Huh?

"what?"

"……ah."

Shuidou quickly covered his mouth.

"Wait, wait a minute. Hold on. I... I misspoke..."

"...Did you say something wrong? Then what were you supposed to say?"

"I...I...want to say—...Oh, damn it! My brain's shut down!...I shouldn't have forced me to do things I'm not used to..."

While grumbling, Shuidou hurried forward as if fleeing.

I quickened my pace to catch up with his back, and couldn't help but smile.

So happy.

So happy.

So happy.

What makes me happiest is being praised by you; it allows me to honestly feel happy.

—I'm telling you.

—I like you, do you know that?

—I want you to know that I like you.

It wasn't expressed in words, but rather hidden in my gaze, sent towards his retreating figure that never looked back.

Although it cannot be conveyed to him yet.

But one day, I swear...

◆ Irito Mizuto ◆

—Listen carefully, Irito. No need for anything major. Just be a little different in your words and actions than usual, and that will be enough.

After returning from university, I remembered what Kawanami had told me.

I need to ascertain Yui's thoughts. Therefore, I must express my feelings to Yui.

Both Kawanami and Isana emphasized to me that today's outing was a godsend.

Just a little bit, just a little bit. Just be a tiny bit gentler than usual! Be a tiny bit more masculine than usual! Actually, just this small gesture is enough to get the other person's attention.

—I understand! Especially since Mizuto's reactions are usually too cold; as long as he softens his attitude even slightly, it makes a big difference!

—Seriously, handsome guys always have an advantage!

Yes, it was all at the behest of those two. I didn't show any interest in Yui willingly.

I could never like that guy again.

...Who knows?

-- It's not that hard, is it? It's not like I'm asking you to go on and on praising how cute she is.

"...I went too far..."

A misstep becomes an eternal hate.

I actually did something they hadn't instructed me to do.

Yes—that was a mistake.

Because it's pointless to talk about these things now.

◆ Irito Yume ◆

"So cute!"

The next day, I showed the girls in my class the photos of the Taisho Romantic outfits that I had taken as examples, and they immediately screamed with excitement.

Xiaoyue, in particular, overreacted.

"So cute! So cute, so cute, so cute, so cute, so cute...!"

"Little Yueyue is broken!"

"Nanmei, go back to your cage."

Xiaoyue was hissing and breathing heavily through her nose, held tightly by Mashi and Nasuka. I had a strong feeling that my chastity might be in danger, and I couldn't help but take a step back.

"Wow, so good! Woohoo! So good!" "I want to wear it too! ...But it probably won't look as good on Irito-san..." "You hit a nerve!"

I think it's because the costumes are well made, but being praised so highly by everyone makes me a little embarrassed.

...But the best is yet to come.

Another photo... of another person, which I haven't shown to everyone yet.

"Seriously, are there any guys in our class who would be a good match for this?" "He'd probably be scholarly, right? He seems really smart." "That's hard to find. He needs to be intellectual, cool, and have slender features—"

The girls chattered amongst themselves, but their gazes gradually converged in one direction.

In the direction where the gaze is focused...

A slender boy, whose grades were among the best in his grade, was reading a book with an indifferent expression.

While I couldn't stop the corners of my mouth from turning up, I confidently pulled out another photo—a scholarly picture of Shuidou—to show everyone.

"Whoaaaaaahh ...

Everyone was thrown back by the force of the blast.

I felt a mysterious sense of superiority.

Mizuto sat in his seat with a gloomy expression.

That's settled.

I took out the materials I was going to submit to the organizing committee and filled in "Taisho Romantic Cafe" in the booth description section.

The six sentences I couldn't say back then in Volume 6: "Perhaps."

Actually, I understand.

Ayai meant no harm. It was just that I got jealous for no reason and acted impulsively.

But—I just can't stand it.

The thought that you might be looking at me that way makes me feel like I can't tolerate it no matter what.

—Hey, Irito-san.

There's a girl in my class who loves reading. I told her about Irito, and then she—

Please spare me.

Weren't you still angry last time? Just because I chatted with other girls for a couple of minutes out of obligation.

Why would someone who's angry about something like that talk to me like this?

So you're pitying me? You only need to make friends yourself before you start pitying me?

Do you also think I'm pathetic?

Please stop talking.

—I'm not interested in your friends.

I know. I know.

I know I need to be careful about my tone when I speak.

Even if I feel betrayed; even if I can ignore everyone else, I just don't want you to treat me that way; even if that's what I think in my heart...

At least Ayai is thinking of me in her own way.

She must have thought that if the relationship soured because we were friends, then adding me to her circle of friends might improve things.

I know. I know.

I understand perfectly.

I know I should swallow my anger and make up some excuse to get by.

The choice of words and phrases should be carefully considered.

Actually, I understand all of this rationally.

◆ Irito Mizuto ◆

When I first entered the meeting room, I saw that the cultural festival executive committee members selected by each class were already seated in rows according to their grade level.

Everyone was laughing and talking loudly, and you could see groups of people who seemed to know each other, regardless of class or grade. The atmosphere was no different from that of a classroom during recess.

Jie and I slipped into the meeting room amidst the relaxed atmosphere, checked the seating order on the whiteboard, and sat down in the seats for Class 7, Grade 1.

"(...I didn't expect the atmosphere to be so relaxed.)"

"(Hey, the committee sounds nice, but they're probably just a bunch of people who lost a game of rock-paper-scissors.)"

"(You don't need to put it like that.)"

No one would volunteer to serve on the executive committee, so low morale is understandable. Plus, the teacher doesn't seem to be there yet. It's likely that the committee meeting will continue in this dragging atmosphere once it starts—

But her appearance immediately dispelled that thought of mine.

The door opened.

Then, a petite young woman entered first and stepped into the conference room.

In that instant, the second and third-year students fell completely silent, and the circle of first-year students also quieted down.

The atmosphere in the meeting room immediately became tense. Then, a male student and a teacher stepped into the classroom. Including the girl who had entered first, the three of them sat down at the long table in front of the whiteboard.