My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 192

"...N-nothing..."

"Really? I'll go buy a drink, could you hold this for me?"

Mizuto handed me the plate of takoyaki and went to the nearby drink stand.

Holding the plate in both hands, I quietly felt discouraged.

...I can't...I can't become Dongtou's classmate...

"Hey, what's wrong, Ms. Jie? Hahaha."

"Dongtou...how can someone become as shameless as you?"

"Strange? Why do I seem to be facing intense criticism?"

01:18 PM ■ Anyway, it has nothing to do with me.

"Ugh, this is so boring!"

Walking down the bustling corridor, Maki spoke with a resentful tone.

"Where has our friendship gone! Irito-san was busy, so I can't blame her, but Nasuka, she's prioritizing her boyfriend, seriously—!"

"I can't help it—we've only just started dating. I can't disturb their happiest time."

"He doesn't look happy at all!"

Indeed, when Nasu Hana said she was going to find her boyfriend, she had the same expressionless face as usual.

"But it's so cute if you look expressionless on the surface but are actually excited and looking forward to it inside."

"Ugh! Don't say those sweet and sour things to me! It'll make me want a boyfriend!"

"Good boy/girl. Please calm down, I'll stay with you."

"Waaaaah, this is amazing... Even though I don't have a boyfriend, I have a girlfriend now... Let's be sweet together, Yueyue..."

"Okay, okay, it's so sweet."

I patted Maki, who was hugging me like a large dog, to comfort her. I could understand the loneliness of having a friend stolen away. But okay, Nasuka—and Yui too—aren't the type of girls who would neglect their friends after getting a boyfriend, so I can't be selfish; I have to support them.

We fooled around like this while strolling through the cultural festival. I watched Maki devour Frankfurt sausages from a street vendor and laughed in frustration before heading to the stadium where there were orchestra performances or plays.

"The senior members of the basketball club have formed a band to perform!"

"Which senior do you like?"

"No? But everyone else is screaming with excitement, it feels like you're missing out on the trend if you don't go see it."

"Ah—I get it—he must be a handsome guy who never has to worry about finding a girlfriend."

"No, senior is a senior student."

"Oh my!"

With a basketball club and a band involved, I thought it was some kind of monster combining elements of a heartthrob, but the truth is even more surprising.

The stadium was dimly lit, with only the stage shining brightly. The dimly lit space was packed with spectators.

"Ugh... I can't see..."

"Do you want me to pick you up?"

As I was trying to stand on tiptoe, Maki reached out and hugged me without asking. Ugh... being tall doesn't make you special! But thankfully, I could see the stage. I don't know which class or club was dancing.

At this time...

"……Um?"

Among the sea of ​​people, I think I spotted a familiar head.

...No, I'm not mistaken. That hairstyle with the ends of the hair styled...is Kawabata's head.

And beside him was—

"........."

Whatever, it's none of my business.

Anyway, it has nothing to do with me.

So what if that guy and Nishimura, who often hangs out with him, are just hanging out there? It's none of my business, and I don't care.

"Ah—my arms are starting to ache! I need to put them down—"

Maki put me back on the floor and leaned in to look at my face.

"What's wrong? You look so grumpy."

"...No, nothing's wrong."

"Did I play really high up with you without permission and make you angry? Then I apologize! I know Xiaoyueyue is very self-conscious about being short! But I think being petite is also cute!"

"Don't offer me unsolicited comfort! Who said I minded?!"

Indeed, I can also sense that Nishimura seems to have a bit of a crush on that guy.

Because that guy would often run to the bathroom halfway through a conversation with Nishimura... which meant he sensed her affection. And so, his allergy flared up.

Generally speaking, if just talking to someone causes you to get hives, wouldn't you find it unbearable? I would have been annoyed to death by now. So I always consider his health, but he—

As the music ended, some of the audience members dispersed and moved towards the exit. "Hey, make way, make way!" Ma Xi pulled me along, making way for the departing crowd.

The crowd flowed outwards—and among them were the heads we had just seen.

"Huh? Isn't that Kawanami and Nishimura?"

Every time Kawanami says something, Nishimura laughs so hard his shoulders shake. He's probably spouting some nonsense again, like those things he told me—

"Wow—I already felt they were close, could it be that without me realizing it—"

"........."

"...Eek!...Little Yueyue? Why do you look so fierce...?"

"……No."

"Of course there is!"

Anyway, it's none of my business. I know that guy is popular with girls... and I've known he's a fraud for 80,000 years.

So even though he says "I only observe relationships, I don't date" but then nonchalantly goes on dates at cultural festivals, I'm not surprised at all.

"There are fewer people now, Mashi. Let's push our way to the front while we can."

"W-what—...I can't scream for my senior's band in this situation...!"

I took Maki's hand, preparing to move her closer to the stage—but just a moment before…

Sounds came from outside the stadium.

"Ah, I've found you! Kawanami—!"

"Oh—you're here! Really, don't get separated—"

"What could we do? There were just too many people!"

Looking back, right outside the gymnasium entrance, there were about five classmates gathered there, including Kawanami and Nishimura.

The mixed-gender group left the stadium, joking loudly with each other.

"...Little Yueyue?"

Maki, who also witnessed that scene, leaned over to look at my face and said:

"Now you're happy, right? It wasn't a date."

"…………I don't care."

"Sigh—after all this time, I'm the only one not praising youth—"

"I told you I didn't care!"

PM02:35 ■ Past and Present

"Phew—thank goodness I escaped safely. That was so much fun!"

"Exactly. I was really shocked when I found out that all the previous answers were clues to the final puzzle."

"Well, although the form itself is very common, I still admire them for designing that kind of mechanism."

Leaving the classroom where the escape game was held, we chatted as we walked. The three of us browsed many booths, and this escape game stood out as particularly excellent. Of course, it suited our tastes, but the game itself didn't rely on the jokes typical of cultural festivals. As an entertainment piece, it was thoughtfully designed in terms of details, and it was simply fun without resorting to gimmicks.

"I'm so glad that Mizuto and Yui were there! I definitely wouldn't have dared to go in alone."

"That's right. I underestimated the school festival a bit. I really didn't expect any class to put on such exquisite content."

"Yeah! I thought it was just some boring, fun-filled event organized by the 'Sunshine Camp' to create a festive atmosphere and have some fun among classmates—!"

"Uh, isn't it a bit much to think of the cultural festival like this?"

I think it's perfectly normal.

We wandered aimlessly until we reached the courtyard. There, third-year students were performing; a girl was singing a theme song from an anime with a powerful and resonant voice. Using it as background music, Yui opened the school festival brochure.

"Where should we go next? Many classes are starting their afternoon activities."

Isana tilted her head and looked up at the sky.

"Hmm... Should I say that after finishing that last thing, I'm starting to feel a bit like I'm suffering from burnout syndrome...?"

"You're right. Should we take a short break?"

"Yeah, I really haven't rested at all... Ah, I'll go to the restroom then. Aren't you going, Dongtou?"

"I don't need to go yet—take care—"

"I'll be back soon, wait for me here."

The girl went back into the school building. After watching her leave, we leaned against the pillars in the corridor connecting the two school buildings, watching the third-year students sing passionately.

As I watched...

"Mizuto-kun, Mizuto-kun."

"Um?"

The moment I turned my head, the situation arose.

"Minor wardrobe malfunction".

Izana tugged at the collar of her shawl, instantly revealing the chest area of ​​her country girl dress to me.

"...Are you addicted to playing this?"

"Don't you think it's lewd? Showing it to only Mizuto-kun in public."

"It seems you've developed unnecessary sexual fetishes..."

I should have known better than to praise her so casually.

Rather than trying to seduce, it seems that Isana was simply enjoying the special moment, covering her mouth and chuckling softly.

"Mizuto-kun can learn from me too, and show it off to Yui-kun."

"Unfortunately, I'm a grown man and I have nothing to show her."

"No, no, no, you're wrong, Mizuto. Getting excited when you see breasts isn't limited to boys or girls."

"I wasn't excited."

"Hmph, fine, let's just say it's what you said. For the sake of our friendship."

This guy gets really annoying when he gets carried away.

"Okay, fine, I won't do that, but isn't Mizuto's offensive a bit too weak? It's a rare school festival, after all. Are you even seriously trying to win over Yui-chan?"

"I never meant it that way... It's all because the executive committee members are busier than I thought. Especially that girl, the chairman seems to admire her a lot... So, I didn't really want to bother her."

"...That doesn't seem like an excuse. But I don't think Yui-chan will find you annoying, right?"

"What the parties involved think is unimportant."

What issues should we focus on now? ...The answer shouldn't depend on personal feelings.

“Hmm…”

Isana stared intently at my face, pouting slightly in annoyance.