My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 194

"...Speaking of clothes."

Shui Dou tugged at the collar of his uniform and looked down at the yellow class uniform he was wearing underneath.

Where should I return this class uniform?

"...You can take it home yourself."

As a memory... in general.

"Oh... I see."

Only now have I belatedly come to understand.

There are two kinds of people in this world.

One type of person will cherish the cultural festival as a precious memory, while the other type will see it as a troublesome event and just want to finish it as soon as possible.

He and I are from different races.

"……sorry."

I think I heard that sound.

I must have misheard.

Later, we walked together in silence, in a serious and businesslike manner.

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

At your last cultural festival in junior high, I saw you laughing with your friends.

I chose to escape to the top floor. The noise faded away, and as I looked down at the lively celebration, the turmoil in my heart finally subsided.

That'll be fine.

This is fine for me.

This will do.

Everything so far has been a mistake. The domestic duck and the cygnet can only play together because they are young. That's all.

Oh, of course, the swan is me. But you'd probably say it's you.

So that's fine.

Tell me, how can we be together if we can't share the same beauty?

...I'm sorry, Ayai. I'm so sorry.

I could only apologize silently in my heart.

I know perfectly well that what I should have said to you was something completely different.

From a year ago until now, I have been trying to define myself.

I knew there was a rift between us, so why did we wait until graduation to finally break up?

Why do those words and actions that I used to like suddenly become something I hate?

In my heart, there must have long been both affection and dislike. It's a fact that I liked you, and it's also a fact that I started to dislike you. Although they contradict each other, both are true.

This is causing me great distress, pain, and sadness.

The inner conflict stemming from the contradictions has been tormenting my mind...

That's why I felt so relieved when I finally broke up with him.

Since we're no longer lovers...

That means I really do dislike her.

When the contradictions disappear, the internal conflicts also disappear.

Therefore, when we become step-siblings, it is at least easier than before we broke up.

Being family and disliking each other are not contradictory.

"I chose to break up because I started to hate the other person." Becoming family means no one will question my decision.

...Logically speaking, that should be the case.

But that summer, everything went completely wrong.

Your face, illuminated by fireworks, distorted my definition.

Please tell me it's all fake. Tell me it's all just a dream.

Otherwise, why did we break up?

What are all those torments, pains, and sorrows anyway?

I think I broke up with you because I started to hate you.

Why is your face so deeply imprinted in my eyes?

◆ Kawamura Kogure ◆

"This concludes this year's Luolou High School Cultural Festival. Thank you all for attending."

Listening to the school's announcements, I sighed deeply.

The ingredients were all gone, the tea leaves were all gone, the coffee beans were all gone, and time was running out. The bustling cultural festival finally came to an end.

It's practically the same as working a regular job. But at least there's no nagging manager or senior colleague around, so it's actually quite enjoyable to work here.

"Thanks for your hard work."

As I sat there, lost in thought in a seat where there were no other customers, a cool jar was pressed against my cheek.

Turning around, I saw Xiaoyue in her class uniform standing before me.

The short woman sat down opposite me and opened her canned drink. It was orange juice. She gave me coffee.

"...I've been serving coffee made from freshly ground coffee beans all day, but I can only drink canned coffee myself."

"I mean you should be starting to want a drink."

Thanks.

Although I was a little annoyed, I have to admit she really understands me. I pulled the tab on the can of coffee.

As I savored the rather unrefined bitterness and sourness, I immersed myself in the surrounding noise. Sakasui, who often hung out with Akatsuki and Irito, appeared carrying a large bag of convenience store drinks and snacks, distributing them to the class. This canned coffee was probably part of those supplies too.

"So, how was the cultural festival? Was it fun?"

Amidst the excited chatter of her classmates, Xiaoyue's voice reached her ears.

The voice of my childhood sweetheart, which I've heard since I was little, always sounds unusually loud, no matter the environment.

"It's so much fun. The escape game for second graders is a masterpiece."

"Oh, you went to play that? I went with Maki too—but we only played for half the time before it was time to leave."

"Ha! Not only are you short, but your head is tiny too. We still managed to pass the test."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Are you implying that I'm a beauty? What can I do? You have five people on your side, but I only have two."

"...Huh? Did I tell you there were five of us shopping?"

"ah."

Xiaoyue awkwardly looked away. They must have brushed past each other somewhere.

"Speaking of browsing the stalls, I wonder how those two from the Irito family are doing. The preparations for the simulation store have kept me too busy to offer any advice."

"You don't need to give them advice, they're having a good date... it's just that Dongtou's classmate is with them too."

"Huh? What's that girl doing? How can that be called a date?!"

"There's no way around it. That overprotective Irito-san would never let Higashi-san be alone."

"That's right..."

"Anyway, the executive committee seems to have time to be alone with the two of them during their inspections, so it shouldn't matter, right?"

It's driving me crazy! But perhaps this feeling of things taking so long to come is part of the fun of love.

"...Alright, there's still the after-night festival anyway. I bet that guy in the east will go home early."

"Yes—besides, the executive committee should have almost finished their work..."

...The after-night festival.

Should I participate?

"—Eh."

As if I could actually see the thought that flashed through my mind, Xiaoyue said.

"After the festival...did you have any plans with anyone?"

"...No, why?"

"Didn't you call yourself a heartthrob? Nobody asks you out? ...Like Nishimura or someone else."

"Are you trying to start a fight with me? If someone asked me out like that, half-confessing their feelings, I'd be lying in the infirmary right now, unable to move."

"Then...you can come with me."

Xiaoyue—Xiaoxiao, she…

It was said that the setting sun shone through the window into the room from behind.

Eyes, shrouded in a thin shadow in the backlight, peered intently at my face.

I felt a tingling sensation on the skin of my arm.

This is almost a confession—

"Won't you be afraid of throwing up all over the floor now?"

"……what?"

"I mean, out of consideration for our childhood friendship, I'll help you fend off girls. Well, after all, I'm the one who caused this problem with you, so I'll take responsibility... huh?"

Seeing that I wasn't quite there yet, Xiaoyue tilted her head slightly and then gave me a wicked smirk.

"You don't think I'm going to confess my feelings to you, do you?"

"...That would be best."

"His excessive self-awareness is outrageous and disgusting."

"I told you it wasn't true!"

"Hmph hmph hmph." Xiaoyue laughed triumphantly.

...Who's got an excessive sense of self-awareness? Damn it!

◆ Irito Yume ◆

"This concludes this year's Luolou High School Cultural Festival. Thank you all for attending."

The broadcast echoed in the twilight sky as crowds of visitors flowed out of the main entrance.

I checked my phone and saw a notification. My cousin Yuanxiang sent me a LINE message saying, "We're going back! We're so happy today!"

Let all of this pass by lightly, and preparations for the after-night festival proceed in full swing.

Staff removed some stalls to clear space on the playground and pushed up large pieces of timber.

Although Mizuto was by no means a central figure, he was involved... However, only I knew that his smile was not genuine.

Perhaps I'm being too arrogant.

During my summer vacation in the countryside, I thought I had come to understand him better... so I arrogantly assumed that I could help him.

But they didn't realize that he wasn't seeking help at all.

They didn't realize my thoughts...it was just wishful thinking.

I just feel good when I see the people I like, my family, and my boyfriend being appreciated by others... I'm just using him to satisfy my ridiculously boring need for self-esteem.

Even now, he is with me, fulfilling my needs.

He gave me face and avoided damaging interpersonal relationships when doing his work as an executive committee member. He suppressed his own feelings for my sake.

Now I understand.