My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 183

...Did I somehow wander into Mizuto's field of vision?

I remained frozen in the position of reaching for my schoolbag, and nervously looked down at my chest.

As I was about to reach for my phone camera to check if the shirt was barely covering my bra... a small part of a simple pink bra was peeking out from the gap where the third button was undone...

“Ah!”

I hurriedly pulled up my shirt to cover myself.

...As a result, this action pulled the hem of her clothes up.

"Ooh!"

I pressed my thighs together tightly, guarding my precious underwear.

No, this is incredible... The defense of this gear is practically paper-thin. No one would dare wear something like this except in front of someone willing to give themselves to them!

"Have you finished yelling yet... You're the one who chose to dress like this."

"No, no... it's because today, um, the underwear isn't a very cute style..."

"I'm more troubled by your wearing cute styles."

I just want to give you a headache!

I was indeed dumped, and I support Mizuto and Yui's relationship, but this matter is another matter. The more opportunities that make Mizuto worry, the better!

After buttoning up one more button and finding a safe position, I asked Shuidou again:

"How about it?"

I gently raised my arms, which were too long, to emphasize my petite figure.

Since the length of the hem of the garment was already secured, I was able to relax the defense on my thighs a little.

Mizuto looked at me with the same eyes I'd just woken up to watch the news, and said:

"She's quite cute."

"Oh! I've been praised!"

"I didn't say it because I was afraid you'd get too cocky. Actually, I've always thought you're quite cute."

As Shuidou spoke, his eyes returned to the book.

...That's strange. How can their words and actions contradict each other?

I crawled on all fours toward my classmate Shuidou and said:

"Excuse me... when you say 'cute,' you don't mean the kind of 'cute' that's like kittens and puppies, do you?"

"So what if it is?"

"I'm not having it! That's not what I want, I want you to be more... the kind of person who has impure thoughts about me!"

Are you sure you want to do this?

Mizuto turned his head and looked back into my eyes.

They stared intently... without moving for a moment, their eyes fixed on me like they had identified a target, observing my expression closely.

"No... um, I mean... I, I'm not ready..."

Seeing that I couldn't help but look away and back away, Mizuto laughed at me like I was an idiot.

"You little coward."

Huh? ...Little coward?

"I'm even more indignant about this! Someone who rejects confessions with ridiculous reasons and always ignores girls who throw themselves at them has no right to criticize me!"

"Giving a nonsensical reason is hurtful. Although you're not wrong."

Ugh! At this rate, you'll never be able to develop a relationship with your female classmate!

◆ Irito Yume ◆

Preparations for the cultural festival are underway.

As the school anniversary approaches, the campus is becoming increasingly vibrant and extraordinary. Places that are usually used for quiet classes are gradually transforming into a glamorous, lively, and colorful scene, which seems to reflect my own mood.

Today's task for the executive committee was, in a sense, the most important task: creating the entrance archway. We pushed aside the tables in the meeting room, which we usually used as a workshop, and all the committee members pitched in to paint the large sheets of corrugated cardboard spread out on the floor.

Sitting on the floor to work, my lower back quickly started to ache. Just as I finished a task, I stretched and decided to go to the restroom to take a break.

After saying goodbye to the girl from another class whom I had chatted with briefly through my work as an executive committee member, I left the meeting room.

The school was so lively it didn't seem like school was over. Some signs for the day's classes leaned against the walls in the corridors, and the sounds of many voices from the classrooms echoed together. For some reason, one class had turned into a karaoke session. Everyone was so caught up in the atmosphere that they started acting silly…

As I peered out the window at some people practicing dance in the atrium, I walked into the nearby women's restroom. Unexpectedly…

"Hi."

"Ah... you've worked hard, senior."

I unexpectedly ran into senior student Hong Lingli near the sink.

A makeup bag sat on the counter, and a hair straightener cord was plugged into the socket. Perhaps she was there to touch up her makeup.

I always thought that Senior Sister Hong had a kind of extraordinary and refined temperament, but it turns out that she is just like an ordinary girl sometimes... I was surprised by this predictable thing, and went into the toilet to use the restroom.

Then I went back to the sink and saw my senior still standing there. But I didn't think her makeup took that long... I was a little puzzled as I washed my hands at the sink next to her. I glanced in the mirror again and noticed that my hair, which I had tied up to keep it in the way, seemed a little loose, so I decided to take off the hair tie and re-tie it.

"Should we use it?"

Suddenly, the senior student next to me handed me a comb.

I was a little startled, but I quickly regained my composure and said:

"Thank you, senior."

I took the comb.

Then, as I started combing my hair, my senior slowly spoke:

"You seem to be adapting quite well to the committee."

"Ah, it's alright... I'm a bit shy, so thank you all for being so friendly and talking to me."

"That's good... I hope the other person can integrate better into the group too."

"The other person..."

Who is she referring to?

"...Senior, do you mean the water bucket?"

"Yes, yes, yes. Is it your... uh—brother?"

"It's my younger brother."

Although I'm not as resistant as before, I still don't want to be that man's sister... Don't even think about making me call him "brother" again...! I can't! My heart will break!

"Actually, I often try to talk to your younger brother, hoping to strengthen our friendship. Unfortunately, there are many difficulties."

"Huh? Excuse me, what do you mean by enhancing friendship...?"

Seeing that I had stopped combing my hair, Senior Sister Hong couldn't help but chuckle and said:

"Of course, he should be the next student council president. A student as outstanding as him is a rare find."

"Oh...I see."

Oh my god, that scared me to death... This person is really something, every time he speaks there's a hidden meaning!

"I always felt that he liked to build high walls around his relationships, or rather, he wasn't interested in others... Although, speaking of that feeling alone, I can relate to it..."

"what?"

"Communication with team members helps improve work efficiency. Girl, please be the bridge between them and help bring him into the group."

After she finished speaking, my senior reached out her hand to me. I had just finished combing my hair.

"Your hair is so beautiful. I'm truly envious."

The senior student took the comb from my hand, then left the women's restroom with her makeup bag.

I watched her walk away, recalling what she had just said.

He's uninterested in others—that's definitely a quality he has. But Kurenai-senpai is clearly willing to actively talk to me, a complete stranger, yet she says she empathizes with him...?

...Perhaps there's a hidden meaning in her words again. She's truly an unpredictable senior.

Pull the water bucket into the circle...

That guy would definitely find it annoying, but judging from how he hangs out with his classmate from the east end, he doesn't seem to reject all social interactions.

Besides—I still remember.

I remember him standing alone at an empty shrine far from the main hall, gazing up at the night sky.

Is it loneliness, or arrogance? This attitude, deeply imprinted in his soul, was not something Mizuto willingly sought.

In that case—if this cultural festival can help him find some relief, I don’t think it would be a bad thing.

"……good."

This must also be my duty as an older sister. She really needs my care.

"Yui--! Are you free now--?"

Just as I finished coloring the archway, a senior student came to talk to me.

It's Yasuda-senpai. She's a tall, second-year girl with a lively and cheerful personality, somewhat like Akatsuki. Senpai is meticulous and thoughtful, and often chats with me, her junior, in a friendly manner. By the way, if she talks to someone for ten minutes, she considers them a friend, and she's the type who doesn't hold back when calling friends by their first names.

"Yes, I'm free now... Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I need to put up posters on the bulletin board. Can you help me? My legs are too weak to move anymore."

"Hehe, okay—"

As I chuckled at Yasuda-senpai's deliberately aged voice, something suddenly came to mind.

Isn't this a perfect opportunity?

Turning my head, I saw that Shuitou had just finished coloring and was heading to the window to get his belongings. Whoa! The man was about to leave!

"Ah...senpai, in that case, wouldn't it be better to bring a boy along?"

"That's right, but unfortunately all the able-bodied men in the family have gone out to work—"

I quickly approached the water bucket and gently patted his shoulder.

"……what?"

He turned to look at me with a sour face. I'm not afraid of this kind of thing anymore.

"Is everything done?"

"I only go home after I've finished preparing."

"I need your help with something. Could you stay a little longer?"

Mizuto glanced at the clock, acting as if he was worried about the time, but I knew it was just for show. He had nothing to do; he just wanted to get home as soon as possible.

Seeing that I had no intention of giving up, Mizuto immediately gave up.

"...Okay. Anyway, the work I was scheduled for finished earlier than I expected."

"Thank you. Come here."

I grabbed Mizuto's upper arm and went back to Yasuda-senpai.

"I found a guy to help me. I'm just sorry, he's skinny."

"Oh! The legendary younger brother. This is the first time we've spoken, isn't it? My surname is Yasuda~ Nice to meet you!"

Yasuda-senpai smiled affectionately and extended her hand.

My heart skipped a beat. This is bad. This reclusive guy would never shake hands with an upperclassman he's just met. I have to quickly find a way to smooth things over—

"I'm Irito from Class 7, Grade 1. Nice to meet you, Yasuda-senpai."

I was secretly surprised to see the unexpected scene.

Unlike Yasuda-senpai, Mizuto didn't greet people with a smile. But at least he responded by introducing himself in a sufficiently gentle tone, and even called the other person by name and responded to their request for a handshake—he was Mizuto, after all!

Even when facing her cousin Yuanxiang, she was almost completely indifferent...