My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 200

Illustrations of the six sentences I couldn't say back then in Volume 6

Volume 7: I wish this moment could linger, and the person I love is at home.

Taiwanese version from Angel Anime Forum

Light Bookshelf × Angel Anime Entry Team

Image source: Hai

Input: kid

Mizuto Irito: The World After His Mind Was Made

A long time ago, when I first got a girlfriend in junior high school, everything in the world seemed to sparkle in my eyes—at the time, I even shamelessly expressed this familiar feeling.

Now I have a deeper understanding of life, and the world no longer seems so dazzling. The feeling of not being able to get out of bed in the morning, the messy room—everything is just as dull and monotonous as usual. If I had to point out one difference, it would be—

“—Ah.”

In the morning, I went out of my room and saw Yui, who was wearing pajamas, also coming out of her room.

His long, black hair had probably just been let down, with a few strands sticking up. Whether it was because he had just woken up or hadn't put his contact lenses in yet, his eyes looked a little fiercer than usual.

As soon as Jie saw me, she quickly covered her mouth with her hand and said:

"Ugh, you're already up?"

"...I do wake up early sometimes."

"Seriously! I've been so lax!"

The woman covered her face with her hands and rubbed her face with a motion like a small animal washing its face.

This wasn't the first time I'd seen her face after waking up. But I was, after all, an outsider, and as a woman, she didn't seem happy to have her relaxed expression seen.

Indeed, if it were me in junior high school, I might have reacted in some way.

For example, I might feel uneasy because of her unguarded appearance, or be disillusioned by her relaxed, bare face—but that's because at the time I only knew Yui as a girl; I only knew Yui as a girlfriend.

I am different now.

"Don't worry about it."

Now I know you as family; I know you as a living, breathing human being.

If we're talking about shattered illusions, they were shattered 80,000 years ago. But in the end, I still ended up like this, so I'm helpless.

"You should relax at home. Someone as concerned about saving face as you would exhaust yourself if you couldn't even relax at home."

The girl peeked at my expression through her fingers.

"...Are you saying all this out of concern for me?"

"You could say that."

"Thank you... thank you for your kindness. But..."

Jie Nu immediately turned her back to me and opened the door to her room.

"I have self-respect too!"

Snap!

After saying that, the girl who had just gotten up disappeared inside the room.

……Um.

I think I still can't recapture the feelings I had in junior high school.

Irito Yume ◆ Even the smallest things matter

I was caught looking at my unkempt face by the water bucket early in the morning. I checked myself in the mirror again and again before finally leaving the room again.

Thankfully, there were no saliva stains or anything, otherwise I would have had to commit suicide. It's unbearable; I deeply feel that living in the same house as someone I like is incredibly inconvenient! It makes me completely exposed.

However, the only saving grace is that the guy was my ex-boyfriend—he'd seen the way I didn't want him to see me countless times already, and it was just a couple of sleepy faces, so there was no need to be embarrassed now. That being said, I can't really explain it; it's just that this and that are two different things…

Wow, today was supposed to be a big day, but now the outlook looks bleak.

"Good morning, Yui. The bread is ready!"

"Hmm—"

I went down to the living room and ate the bread my mother had baked for me. Opposite me at the dining table was an empty plate covered in breadcrumbs. That was Shuidou's seat, but he wasn't there—he'd probably gone to his room to change after breakfast.

"I'm stuffed!"

After finishing my bread and tea, I went from the living room to the bathroom to brush my teeth and check my appearance again.

As a result, I saw there...

"ah."

Brush brush.

Mizuto, dressed in a uniform, is brushing his teeth in front of a mirror.

When Mizuto saw me come in, he quietly moved aside slightly, as if giving me space.

Waiting to come back later felt like I was avoiding him, and besides, the bathroom wasn't so cramped that I had to queue... So, I stood next to the sink and picked up my toothbrush.

brush brush brush...

A man and a woman were reflected in the mirror, silently brushing their teeth.

(Illustration 005)

Of course, this isn't the first time this has happened. Although it isn't... I suddenly have a feeling that this situation is quite unbelievable.

The most incredible thing is that I've gotten used to this situation. If it were me in junior high school, or when I first moved into this house, standing shoulder to shoulder with him in complete silence, I would have felt incredibly awkward.

But at this moment, I feel that this is natural, reasonable, and even gives me a sense of security... Only half a year has passed, and I can't help but admire the human body's ability to adapt.

Shuidou picked up the mouthwash cup, filled it with water, and rinsed his mouth with a "splish splash".

Then I saw him trying to wipe his mouth with his uniform sleeve, so I stopped him while biting my toothbrush and making a "Ugh!" sound.

"Um!"

I shoved the towel over, and the sink made an "oh..." sound that was hard to tell if it was a sigh or a thank you. I used it to wipe my mouth.

Then I rinsed my mouth and took the towel from Shuidou. While I was still wiping my mouth, Shuidou had already walked towards the bathroom door. I really envied how easily he took care of his appearance. After wiping my mouth, I still needed to apply lip balm.

When I took out the lip balm I had brought from my pocket, I noticed that the water fountain reflected on the edge of the mirror had turned around.

"……What's up?"

I turned to ask, and Shui Dou stared at me and said:

"Is today the first day?"

"what?"

"Student council...you better do your best!"

—A few days ago, our school held an election for student council president.

There is only one candidate.

Therefore, a vote of confidence was used in the election. The senior student received 98% of the votes of confidence and was elected as the new student council president of our school.

The new president's name is Akane Suzuri.

On her recommendation, I—Yurito Yume—was also named one of the newest members of the student council's executive committee.

Starting today, the student council will officially begin its activities.

I think I mentioned it to him briefly... I didn't expect him to remember.

"...Thank you. I'll do my best."

Shuidou nodded and left the washroom.

After that, I looked in the mirror again and applied lip balm to my lips.

"Um."

I feel like I applied it very well this time.

Irito Yume ◆ Eternal Third Place

With a mix of unease and anticipation rising and falling in my heart, I looked up at the doorplate.

Student Union Room.

This is the office of the student council, which oversees student affairs at our private Lolo High School. Only a select few are allowed to enter—perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration.

But instead of going straight home after school, I found myself standing at the door of a classroom I'd never been to before. This simple fact filled me with an indescribable excitement.

"……good."

I made up my mind and raised my hand to knock—but then I stopped, remembering something. I remembered Vice President Hong—correction, the president seemed to have said that only visitors needed to knock. Student council members weren't visitors, so they didn't need to knock—

I lowered my raised hand, placed my fingers on the doorknob, and pulled it aside in one swift motion.

"Report!"

I thought to myself that everything is difficult at the beginning, so I unusually spoke loudly and walked into the room.

It was just an ordinary classroom.

Near the entrance there is a sofa set that looks like it's for entertaining guests, and further inside there is a long table and whiteboard that might be used for meetings.

The cabinet against the wall was crammed with countless files, as well as plush toys and board game boxes that appeared to be personal items.

I didn't see anyone at the sofa group near the door or at the conference table behind it.

Has no one else arrived yet?

As I thought this to myself, I took a step into the room—

Suddenly.

A petite figure walked into the edge of my field of vision.

“Wow!”

"........."

Seeing me lean back in fright, the girl stared at me with a wary, cat-like gaze.

The newcomer was a petite girl.

She's about the same height as Xiaoyue.

Her hair was cut so short it looked like she was in a sports club. Although her features were youthful, they were still pretty and cute. It was just a pity that the slight furrows between her brows created an impression of being unapproachable.

I think... she must be in first grade. She's so small, and her tie is red.

No, but only one part—or rather, one area—makes it hard to believe she's in first grade.

Wow...it's huge.

Her breasts...are huge. Maybe about the same size as Dongtou's or Yuanxiang's...? No, maybe it's just because she's short that they look so big. Anyway, this girl, despite being about the same height as Xiaoyue, has a figure so impressive it might drive Xiaoyue crazy.

It seems this girl was looking at the cabinet next to the door. That's why I didn't see her at first.

Are they from the student council...? Probably, since they're in the student council room. If they're a first-year student, then they're a newbie like me...

This unexpected encounter completely freaked out the greeting I had carefully prepared in my mind. Seeing me frozen in place, the petite, busty girl scrutinized me with a judgmental gaze and said:

"...You're Irito Yui, right?"

She asked me in a slightly hostile tone.

Huh? What's wrong? This is our first meeting, isn't it? Did I offend her so quickly?

"Uh...yes, that's me."

"My surname is Asukahain."

She suddenly moved closer to me, looking up and staring at my face.

"Aki... Asuhain... classmate?"

"Yes, Asuhain. It's written as 'The hospital where tomorrow's leaves will fall,' Asuhain."