My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 181

The six sentences I couldn't say back then in Volume Six: "Hello?"

There's a kind of emptiness called summer vacation.

I stood alone at the deserted shrine, gazing up at the fireworks being set off in the countryside.

The world is functioning normally.

It doesn't matter whether I'm gone or you're gone.

It's as if—this whole year has been for nothing.

I looked at the smartphone in my hand.

The radio waves from a mobile phone can easily connect you and me.

Just like last year, it should be very simple to do.

However, I couldn't do it.

It's as if you've gone far away, to a place where radio waves can't reach.

—I hope all of this is just a lie.

Let this past year make the time between you and me seem like a lie.

I never wanted to know that everything would end one day.

◆ Irito Yume ◆

The content of each class's booth has been finalized, and the cultural festival has entered the formal preparation period.

While my classmates were busy decorating the Taisho Romantic Cafe or practicing making dishes, Mizuto and I were busy running around the executive committee.

Besides acting as a bridge between each class and the organizing committee, the executive committee members were also responsible for preparing invitations and promotional posters, as well as contacting nearby residents in advance. In short, their duties covered all the miscellaneous tasks related to the cultural festival. Therefore, although the project was approved through our own efforts, we didn't have many opportunities to participate in the class's preparations.

"(How are things going?)"

"Wow!"

I was working intently on my laptop when I suddenly heard a clear, melodious voice that startled me so much I almost jumped out of my chair.

Seeing me like this, the person whispering in my ear—Senior Hong Lingli, who is also the vice president and executive committee member of the student council—chuckled mischievously in a low voice.

"S-Senior...why are you suddenly like this...?"

"Excuse me. I just didn't want to disturb others while they were doing their work."

That's absolutely a lie. She's just teasing me.

Although Hong-senpai is hailed as the school's number one genius, and even third-year students have to obey her under her charismatic leadership, she is actually surprisingly approachable. Perhaps because she performs exceptionally well in presentations, I always feel... she seems to particularly enjoy talking to me. However, she is friendly to everyone, so it might just be me being overly self-conscious.

Hong, the senior student, bent down and leaned over to look at the computer screen where I was working.

"How did the test go?"

"Ah, thankfully... there haven't been any obvious programming errors so far."

I am currently conducting experiments to test the contingency prevention system that was proposed during the briefing.

We had several students with distinctive physical features disperse around the school, and then the executive committee members located them, took their photos, and immediately logged them into a database. We then used this database to predict student behavior. Although the experiment resembled a game of hide-and-seek, it was perfect for testing the database program for any problems and its actual effectiveness.

I'm not used to using computers, but because we submitted the proposal, I was chosen as the debugger for the database program. Mizuto was also sitting nearby, quietly working on the same task.

Hong Xuejie nodded while looking at the screen and said:

"Hmm, it looks pretty good. But since the system was created by Ah Zhang, I wasn't worried about it anyway."

"Ah-zhang...?"

"My accountant is someone I work with. Don't let his unassuming presence fool you; he's incredibly capable. Computers are his specialty."

I looked in the direction that Senior Sister Hong had turned her head to look, and saw a boy with slightly curly hair and wearing unfashionable glasses sitting in the corner of the long table in front of the whiteboard, silently typing on the keyboard.

Seeing him reminded me that he was Haba Takeji, the senior who worked as the accountant.

So that's why the senior calls him "Ah-Zhang". Hearing her call him that, I realized that the two of them seem to be together quite often, maybe they have a good relationship?

"I think our relationship is pretty good."

"what?"

My thoughts have been read!

Hong Xuejie chuckled softly again and said:

"Your expression is easy to understand, it's really interesting. By the way, I regret to inform you that we are not in a romantic relationship yet."

"I think it's because my senior has a very keen eye—"

Ok?

Just now... she said "I'm sorry." Then she said "not yet."

Huh? Really? Is that the feeling?

"What do you think?"

A suspicious smile appeared on Hong's face. She closed one eye and said, "Then please continue to take care of things." Then she went to find the other committee members.

No... so what's the answer? What is it anyway?!

I couldn't help but stare at my senior's slender back, which seemed inversely proportional to her presence. If that were really the case, then this couple was quite unexpected, but I also felt like she was just joking with me... I don't know!

Just as I was getting distracted by my senior, someone called out to me, "Hey."

Turning my head, I saw that Shuidou had appeared out of nowhere and was standing next to me.

"Wha...what is it?"

"Don't you think there are more typos on the second page than on the others?"

"Huh...? Hmm—now that you mention it, it does seem a bit... Could it be that the person who typed it was careless?"

"Perhaps the UI isn't easy for some people to understand. Maybe we could make it even clearer."

"Okay, I'll organize the data and submit a report."

Shuidou nodded and went back to his seat.

...Mizuto is still as capable as ever, but there's no indication that he wants to interact with the other executive committee members. He only talks to me, and if I had to say, it seems like only Akane-senpai often talks to him.

Although it's not the first time that Mizuto has been unwilling to integrate into the group... it's a rare treat that he gets the most attention during the presentation, which I find a bit of a shame.

◆ Kawamura Kogure ◆

"Come, little one, ah──♪"

"Hmm."

I popped a slice of orange into my mouth with a sweet, cloying sound and savored it.

Xiaoyue tilted her head slightly, holding the spoon, and said:

"Is it tasty?"

"Hmm...is it a little too sweet?"

"That's a matter of personal taste!"

"How else can I rate it besides my personal taste?"

I'm trying out the food that the simulated store is preparing to launch.

When it comes to Western food from the Taisho era, it seems to be all about curry, croquettes, and tonkatsu. But in the simulated store, there are restrictions on even the use of fire, let alone oil. Therefore, the menu mainly consists of fruit punch made by simply pouring canned fruit into sparkling water, and simple light meals such as sandwiches made by simply putting pre-prepared ham, lettuce, and scrambled eggs together.

Looking at the fruit punch Xiaoyue had made for me, I said:

"Is there any point in just eating this? The main purpose of going to a coffee shop is to drink black tea or coffee, right?"

"That's right, but Mugen is starting to ask for details about those kinds of drinks. I think she's planning to grind coffee beans in the home economics classroom for the rest of her life."

"Starting with beans... I guess that's typical of a tea ceremony club... But can coffee be considered tea?"

You can find people who pay attention to detail no matter where you go.

I glanced around the classroom. Since the shop's concept was Taisho Romantic, everyone felt that leaving the classroom walls exposed wasn't professional enough, and they planned to use café-style wallpaper. But even within the café-style category, there's a wide variety of options; the wood grain and brick styles are currently arguing fiercely.

Looking ahead, several students were discussing seating arrangements on the blackboard. According to Irito's research, the first café of the Taisho era seemed to be a salon where civilized people gathered. They were currently debating whether to lean towards a salon style or a more typical café approach.

It felt like playing "creator god" in the classroom, and the atmosphere was quite cheerful. But just like in a relationship, I personally prefer to observe from the sidelines rather than get involved.

While Xiaoyue was happily munching on her experimental fruit punch and legally slacking off, she suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!"

"Dongtou, classmate?"

"Um?"

Looking back, a woman suddenly appeared, showing her face at the classroom entrance.

It couldn't be anyone else but Izana from the east end. She turned her head, looking around as if searching for someone. Well, it's obvious who she's looking for.

We walked to the east end, and I said:

"Irito is gone."

"How...how did you know what I was going to do!"

"What else could Dongtou be here for?"

Dongtou tiptoed slightly and looked over Xiaoyue's head into the classroom.

"Where is Mizuto-kun...? If you don't show up soon, I'm going to be overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the cultural festival!"

"Why are you talking so confidently? You could go help the class prepare the booth."

"Yeah, you don't even have to stay in class?"

"Hmph... Do you two think the class would assign work to someone like me?"

To put it simply, she had nowhere to go in class, so she wanted to ask Irito to keep her company.

I was dumbfounded and said:

"Irito has gone to work on the executive committee. He's busier than us, so don't bother him."

"...I see...It's a pity, but I really shouldn't have troubled him..."

Dongtou looked dejected and clearly frustrated. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but it was her own fault for not making friends in class. The school festival was the best opportunity to get closer to her classmates; she shouldn't have chosen to run away.

"Oh, right, Dongtou, would you like some fruit punch? It's a prototype that the simulation store is going to sell."

"Huh, is that okay...?"

"Great! It's all this guy's fault for not giving any good advice."

"It's not hard to imagine."

Why are you only rude to me?

Just as Xiaoyue was about to invite Dongtou into the classroom, someone arrived.

"...Hmm? Isana?"

"Ah! Mizuto-kun!"

Irito Mizuto appeared from the other end of the corridor, and the person on the east end turned to him as if seeing their master's dog.

Dongtou ran towards Yilihu in two strides and said:

"Didn't you want to be an executive committee member?"

"I've finished my work for today. I was planning to check on the classrooms and then come find you."

"Oh, what a coincidence! I was just feeling restless and had nowhere to stay in the classroom!"

"Sorry, it's too late to pick you up."

You could practically see her tail wagging. She's really clingy to Irito. And ever since that classroom confession incident, she's no longer afraid of what others think.

I casually raised my hand to Irito and said:

"Hey. Where's Irito-san?"

"I don't know. I guess I still have work to do."

Hearing this lukewarm reply, I thought to myself, "Hmm?"

At this moment, Irito had already placed his hand on the shoulder of the person in the east and said: