My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 193

"Mizuto, are you making trouble for yourself again?"

"Not as good as you used to be."

"If you can understand my tendency to create my own problems, it means you're even more prone to creating your own problems than I am!"

...To be honest, it's hard for me to argue back.

"Mizuto is very smart, so he probably considers a lot of things around him, but you should think about yourself first, right? Putting other things second won't hurt."

"Perhaps... I think it's probably like you said."

But... that's how people with a sense of self act.

It is the way of people who can believe in themselves.

I have no intention of obeying this feeling in my heart that is akin to homesickness.

Because—isn't that right?

This is nothing more than an irretrievable memory of failure.

"Izana, I have something to say. I hope you'll just take it as a joke."

"OK."

"If I said—I should have accepted your confession back then, what would you say…?"

"I'll get angry."

“…I think so.”

A self-deprecating smile curled my lips. "You're dreaming too much; there's no way she'd accept that."

"but……"

Isana remained focused, gazing intently into my eyes.

"If Mizuto confesses his feelings to me again, I'd be happy to say yes."

I opened my eyes wide in surprise and stared into Isana's eyes as well.

"What's the difference between these two?"

"Well... the difference is probably between the past and the present?"

"...Past, or present?"

"One is regretting the wrong choice made back then, and performing save and load actions as if everything never happened; the other is examining myself in this moment and choosing different options—maybe that's the difference. I think so."

...I see, I understand now.

This guy still speaks clearly and logically, making him easy to understand.

"I've changed a lot since I met Mizuto. And I like myself more now that I've met Mizuto. So, if you're willing to choose me now and want me to be your girlfriend or wife, I'd be happy to say yes, and I'll take you home that very day to do some lewd things."

"Isn't this an overemphasis on sexual desire?"

"This is important to me. Isn't it important to Mizuto-kun?"

No.

For me, what's important is—

-- Ah, here we go again.

I only know that I am not like that, but when I try to understand my own thoughts... I have no ideas at all.

"Hmm...Mizuto-kun, speaking of which—"

"—Excuse me for bothering you."

Just as Isana was about to ask me what was wrong, a deep voice suddenly interrupted.

Looking ahead, I saw a man in a suit jacket standing in front of me. He looked to be around forty years old... exuding the air of a successful businessman. Was he one of the students' parents?

"I'd like to ask for directions...is that convenient?"

"Oh, okay."

I had an executive committee member's armband on my upper arm. The other person must have seen that, which is why they came over to ask.

Setting aside the rapidly diminishing presence of Izana, the man, who appeared every inch the businessman, spoke:

"Excuse me, how do I get to Class 7, Grade 1?"

Our class?

While I was surprised, I also took it seriously as a committee member:

"It's on the second floor of that school building over there. It's the third classroom after you go up the stairs."

"I see. Thank you for your help."

Then, the man looked at Izana, who was huddled up next to me, and smiled.

"Your girlfriend is really charming. You should cherish her."

"Ugh!"

Perhaps startled by the sudden shift of the topic to herself, Isana let out a soft gasp and grabbed my clothes.

"I'll go take a look. Thank you so much."

The man then disappeared into the school building.

Perhaps he's the father of one of the students in the class. He has a rather cheerful and straightforward personality.

"...Hehe. Hehehe...People say I'm a charming girlfriend, Mizuto-kun!"

"Unfortunately, that's not true."

"Yeah!...No, that's the last thing you should have said, Mizuto!"

I soothed the fuming Izana like a dog.

...You should cherish her, right?

It's not as simple as it sounds.

03:45 PM ■ There are two kinds of people in this world

After resting in the restroom, I visited several stalls with Shuidou and Dongtou.

We watched a band performance at the stadium, and then went to the maid café that we had competed with during the presentation and which was meticulously decorated. Time flew by.

I realized it was already past the usual time to finish my day of classes, so I said to the water bucket:

"Shouldn't we go and prepare for the after-night festival?"

"Oh—it's already so late."

Shuidou also checked the time on his phone and said in a low voice.

The evening festival, also known as the bonfire party, is followed by a campfire celebration. The preparations for tomorrow's event are the last task for the festival's executive committee members today.

Hearing us say that, Dongtou's mood became noticeably lower.

"I see... Since we have important business to attend to, there's nothing I can do..."

"Does Dongtou have any plans for the future? Like a celebration party for the class?"

"I don't think our class would hold something like that, and even if they did, I definitely wouldn't go."

He even emphasized the word "absolutely." Was it really necessary to say it with such confidence?

"Hmm... The after-night festival is open to all, right? I'd like to see the big bonfire..."

They actually described a campfire as a large bonfire.

"Since we have this opportunity, let's watch until the end. Anyway, there's no rule that we have to dance."

"But, it doesn't seem like it will be very fun without you guys, Mizuto... I'll probably go home about 80% of the time."

"Then I'll go with you."

Upon hearing Mizuto's comment, I turned around and exclaimed, "Huh?"

Dongtou's expression immediately lit up, and he said:

"Is it really possible?"

"Once the preparations are done, there's nothing else to do."

"Then I won't go home! Contact me later!"

After Dongtou finished speaking happily, he went back to his own class.

I looked at Shuidou with a puzzled expression as he calmly watched her leave.

"How could you make that kind of promise with her...?"

"What's wrong again?"

"No, wait—didn't the executive committee have a celebratory banquet after the evening festival?"

That's right. It was decided from the very beginning that we would hold a celebration banquet during the evening festival to mark the successful conclusion of the cultural festival. The committee members who had worked together for several weeks would reward each other, making it arguably the last event for the cultural festival executive committee.

Mizuto couldn't possibly be unaware of this. I was the one who told him, and he nodded and said "I know." I even breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he'd integrated into the group to the point where he was willing to attend the celebration party. Who knew—

"After the executive committee's activities, there's a celebration banquet for the class... You're the biggest contributor this time, you can't miss it—"

"Is this part of the job?"

nothingness.

Mizuto stared at me with emotionless, empty eyes.

"Are these celebration parties you're talking about related to work?"

"Wait... no... it wasn't counted as work..."

"Whether or not to participate is a matter of personal choice."

“B-But!”

When I came to my senses, I realized that I had grabbed Mizutani's uniform.

It was as if they were trying to keep him.

It's like holding on tightly.

"Some of the senior students who took care of us will also come... It's only right to properly thank them at the end, isn't it...?"

"Let's talk about that tomorrow, when the work is finished and everyone is dismissed."

"It's so hard... so hard to even slightly integrate into the group, and now this will make everything go down the drain? Everyone will just think of you as a difficult person again? Don't you care...!"

"What problem could there be?"

Without the slightest wavering.

There was not a trace of emotion in Mizuto's eyes.

"My work as an executive committee member is coming to an end. What they think of me probably won't affect me."

"Why do you say that... It's as if you're only getting along well with everyone because you're doing the work..."

"No, that's how it is, it's normal. Even I, who have no relevant experience, know that if you don't act friendly, you won't be able to do your job properly."

What are you talking about?

Mizuto frowned in surprise, clearly revealing his thoughts.

"The clothes...please let go. Didn't you say time was almost up?"

"...Yes, I'm sorry."

I put down the clothes in the water basin.

At the same time, I felt as if his entire existence was about to leave me.

We can see each other as soon as we get home. We attend classes in the same classroom every day.

But tonight, I'll be attending the executive committee's celebration banquet, while he'll be spending it with his classmates from the east end.

That's all—it makes me feel like everything is about to end.

I feel like there's an insurmountable wall between us.