My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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That makes sense. Being too resolute and decisive isn't necessarily a good thing.

"(They might be hiding well, but they still can't let her change clothes next to Ah-zhang...)"

"(Yes. We can't let Asuhain-kun focus on the archives...)"

If she were to witness the president's appearance in person, she would probably foam at the mouth and faint.

"(Okay! I'll leave it to Master with peace of mind!)"

After giving a reliable thumbs-up, Senior Sister Asahi walked briskly to the side of Asahi-no-in who was unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time.

"Wow—Lanlan, you never wear makeup, but your bra is so cute—"

"...Mom bought this for me herself. Wouldn't it be a waste not to wear it?"

"Oh, are you trying to seduce me? Sorry! I only have a normal level of interest in girls!"

"Are you even listening to me? And you're still interested after all this time!"

Very good, very good. After being teased like this by Senior Asahi, Asahi should forget about the archives and hurry up and change her clothes. Then, while Asahi takes her soiled shirt out to wash, the student council president and the others can sneak out of the archives—

click.

The door opened.

It's not the archives room, it's the door leading to the corridor.

"Hey—are you guys even doing anything—"

It's Xingbian's voice!

"Ah—"

As Asahi-no-Yuan cried out in surprise, Asahi-senpai rushed toward the entrance at an alarming speed.

Then, as if that speed was just an illusion, she said in a coquettish voice:

"Senior~! I've been waiting for you for ages♪"

"Oh? Ya Shuang, you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"Can't I just meet up with my senior if I don't have anything to do? He must be really free anyway, so let's have a school date with Aisha! A school date!"

"Huh? You don't even have to do anything..."

"Stop asking!"

*Clap*

The door is closed.

The complaints of senior student Xingbian and the scheming, coquettish voice of senior student Yashuang gradually faded into the distance.

To be able to react so quickly, no wonder he's my master... But, wouldn't it have been fine if he had just told Hoshino-senpai that Tomorrow Garden was changing clothes?

"...What a bunch of impulsive people..."

The half-naked Asuhain muttered to himself.

That's what I mean.

...By the way, the bra that supports Asuha-in's enormous breasts has delicate embroidery patterns on it, which is really cute.

Irito Mizuto ◆ Sports Festival: Randomly Participate in Red and White Ball Shooting Challenge Alliance

"Athletes' Oath! We, all athletes—"

It was mid-October, a time of pleasant weather. Under the clear, crisp autumn sky, our school's Sports Festival finally began. This was a sports festival where all students could sweat together and strengthen their bonds. It was a youthful activity that fostered a spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork.

—That's what I heard, but after attending the opening ceremony, I went straight to a corner of the tennis court next to the playground without saying a word.

"Ah, Mizuto-kun is here—"

"Hi, Irito—"

A bench was set up next to the high-spreading net, where Isana and Kawanami Kogure were lounging lazily and relaxed. As I walked towards them, I said:

"You came really fast. It took me a lot of effort to get here through the crowd."

"Pretending to go to the toilet will easily solve the problem."

"I was so inconspicuous that I handled it easily."

Isana patted the empty space between her and Kawanami repeatedly, so I sat down between them. Although it wasn't comfortable at all, it was much better than putting my bottom on the ground.

The first competition is a 100-meter race, and the runners are—

The broadcast from the school radio station drifted in from afar. The rest of the class should be bustling about among the chairs on the playground, but here, there wasn't even a hint of noise. It was as if something from another world was happening.

"Isn't this a good spot? The sports festival won't use the tennis courts, so we don't have to worry about being seen by the teachers. It's a great, secluded location."

"Only today can I praise you, you scoundrel. You provided the location for my rendezvous with Mizuto-kun; that's a great service."

"Don't give me that crap, I didn't ask you to come! I just shared it with Irito because he was too lazy to participate in the sports festival!"

"Yes, yes, yes, so arrogant."

"That's incredibly annoying!"

I listened casually to the two people bickering, who seemed to be getting to know each other better, and took out a paperback book with a black cover from my tracksuit pocket.

What kind of competition will Shui Dou participate in?

Isana moved closer to me, deliberately trying to annoy Kawanami, so that our shoulders touched. I said as I turned the page:

"Red and white ball shooting".

"That's all?"

That's all.

"I only participated in the tug-of-war—!"

"What are you so happy about, you puff pastry girl?"

Kawanami said, looking dumbfounded.

"Do you think you can pull a rope with those chubby arms that look like magic bubbles? Wait until those four fat pads merge into one and disappear before you come back to me with confidence."

"I had no choice! People like me don't have any other options!"

"Huh? Why?"

"You wouldn't understand... but Mizuto-kun definitely can, right?"

Izana grinned and pressed herself even closer to me. Her breasts, which stretched taut over her workout clothes, were almost touching my elbows, so I had to move aside slightly.

"(Mizuto-kun probably knows, right? Only Mizuto-kun knows where on my body is more fleshy than my arms, right?)"

"Hey, I heard what you said! You idiot, stop pretending to be a grown-up and trying to seduce Irito!"

I'm so glad you're here, Kawabata, it saves me the energy to complain.

However, in reality, it's probably because running or jumping makes the chest hurt from all the movement that people are reluctant to participate in other activities—which is a big problem for girls.

"I forgot what activity the delinquent is going to participate in. As long as I'm with you, Mizuto, you can go without worry."

"It's decided, I'm going to slack off today. Just so I can keep an eye on you...!"

"Forget it, Nan will catch you eventually anyway. You'll drag her and me down with you."

"Exactly. No matter how much of a rascal you are, slacking off is still wrong."

"That's none of your business!"

It seems this year's sports festival can end peacefully. If only those two on either side of me could behave themselves a little better.

Irito Yume ◆ Deeper Understanding

"Yo ho~ Yume, is now a good time?"

The morning's competition was progressing smoothly. As I was busy in and out of the organizing unit's tent, Xiaoyue came over.

Xiaoyue is a close friend of mine, so she served as the liaison between the support group and the student council.

"Oh, yes, that's convenient. What's up?"

"Here's the thing, some girls forgot to bring their stand-up collar school uniforms—is there anywhere I can get spares?"

"Ah—don't worry, don't worry, we've considered that possibility, so we prepared a few extra. Let me think, we should put them in the cardboard box in the changing room."

"Thanks!"

Now that we've finished discussing the important matters, let me ask you something casually.

How is the class doing?

"Hmm—? It's just average. Those who can enjoy it have fun, and those who can't don't. That's how the sports festival is."

"That's true..."

If I hadn't joined the student council, I probably would have been on the side where I wouldn't have been able to participate.

"So, the water bucket is one too?"

"He's disappeared somewhere. He and Kawanami are nowhere to be found! I thought he went to see Dongtou-kun—but when I went there, she was gone too! I think those three are probably hiding somewhere slacking off."

Mizuto, Kawanami, and Higashigao...? Now that she mentions it, I've been seeing the three of them together occasionally lately. Kawanami and Higashigao, their relationship used to be so terrible, it's really hard to believe.

"Hmm──..."

I thought for a moment and said:

"Well, it shouldn't make a difference, right? It's better than having nothing to do and being bored."

People who aren't interested shouldn't be forced into the group. They have their own way of spending time. We're not so great as to unilaterally condemn their methods.

"Hmm—" Xiaoyue tilted her head with a complicated expression and said:

"Since the student council members have said so, let's just ignore them—"

"Don't deliberately make fun of me!"

"Aha! If they don't participate in the competition, come and tell me! I'll find them right away!"

Xiaoyue might actually find it right away if she takes the plunge. And she clearly already finished an activity, yet she doesn't seem tired at all. During the obstacle course just now, she was practically like Minamoto no Yoshitsune…

"Irito-san! Come here for a second—ah."

Asahi-no-Yuan came running over, but stopped immediately when she saw Akatsuki's face.

As for Xiaoyue, she didn't even glance at Mingri Yeyuan's face, her eyes fixed on the girl's ample chest in her sportswear, and said:

"...What? Wearing a sports bra today?"

"How...how did you figure that out?!"

"No, of course you should wear a sports bra to the sports festival..."

As I said this to Asahiya-san, who blushed and stepped back, I lightly tapped Akatsuki-san with my hand.

Mizuto Irito ◆ A female friend who is constantly growing

"Okay, I'll go take a look—"

When it was my turn to play, Kawanami lazily ran away, leaving Izana and me in a corner of the tennis court.

I continued reading, while Isana was playing some game on her phone, occasionally speaking as if suddenly remembering something.

"Mizuto-kun, Mizuto-kun."

"what?"

"Sometimes in recent games, in order to pass censorship, they make the girls wear more clothes."

"yes."

"Sometimes they make girls wear stockings at times like this. What are your thoughts on that?"

"...No, what kind of comment do you want me to give?"

"No, don't you think that's actually more erotic?"

Should I agree? Let me make it clear from the outset, I don't agree with your view.

"Huh! So you think being naked is more erotic?! You're actually secretly excited every time you see me take off my socks?!"

"Don't complicate things... I know a guy who loves wearing stockings or pantyhose. So what I mean is, I can't say it looks sexy, no matter how much I complain."