My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 220

Izana and I looked at each other, then held our breath and turned to look behind us.

On the other side of the net, near the fire escape in the shadows of the school building, stood a strange man and woman.

The boy and girl, dressed in school sports uniforms, embraced each other—their lips touching.

"(Oh...! Ah, whoosh...!)"

Right next to me, Izana was snorting through her nose.

It seems we weren't the only ones not seriously participating in the sports festival... If we were still a couple, it would be understandable that things turned out that way.

While I was still pretending to be calm...

"Ah...! No, no, I can't...!"

"Sorry. It'll be quick..."

"First, stop as soon as someone comes near..."

The boy actually reached out and lifted up the hem of the girl's tracksuit.

When I saw a girl I didn't know suddenly reveal her bra, even I froze on the spot.

"(Huh...? No way... in a place like this? -- Hey, Mizuto-kun!)"

"(Wow!)"

Just as the boy's fingers slid under the bra, Izana suddenly pounced on me, pinning me to the surface of the bench.

Something soft and yielding pressed against my chest. I looked down and saw Isana looking up at me, and the flattened, full shape peeking out from the collar of her school uniform. And even through the fabric of her uniform, I could clearly feel a small, hard object hidden within the water-balloon-like softness—

"(No, you can't.)"

Isana said in a murmur that was almost a sigh.

"(The first nipple that Mizuto sees... must be Yui's, or mine!)"

...Who told you I haven't seen it?

I should say that, if we don't limit ourselves to "seeing," I am right now—

"(...I can only say you're really honest, you even included yourself in the calculation.)"

"(Ah...ta-da! Of course, I'll let Yui have the first time.)"

It's too late, you idiot.

Irito Yume ◆ You'll know once you draw her

Because I had to participate in the preparatory work as a member of the student council, the number of competitions I could participate in was as limited as the water fight, but it was finally my turn to take the stage.

"Alright, the long-awaited event has finally arrived! Luo Lou's signature project: the ever-changing obstacle course race!"

To be honest, I'm not good at sports, and I felt I couldn't contribute in competitions that simply compared athletic abilities, like running. So, I was assigned to this obstacle course race.

I never expected that I would have to draw the questions I had done myself.

I knew very well how difficult the questions would be if I didn't get a second chance, and I couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. I couldn't be too competitive; I had to be prepared for a second chance.

"Phew—I'm so nervous—" "What if the questions are really hard?"

Compared to other events, the athletes seemed more restless; I stood at the starting line with the other athletes.

Three tables were set up away from the playground, and on each table was a box for drawing lots to get the questions, according to the number of runners.

First, contestants must run to the table closest to the starting point and draw a question from one of the boxes. Running to other tables is only necessary when deciding to draw again. This reduces the difficulty of the questions but also takes more time.

The first question was difficult, but not to the point of being impossible to pass—please, please don't let me draw a question like "who do you think is cute or handsome!" Asuha-in clearly said that it would be too pitiful for the person who was borrowed if they were deemed unqualified by the judges, so why did I still put it in!

"On your marks—"

I stood at the starting line while praying to God.

At that moment, I completely forgot.

I've forgotten that I've prayed to God, but I've never received a good result.

"Ready—Go!"

Including myself, all the contestants ran together toward the first lottery box.

Like me, most of the participants seemed to lack confidence in their athletic abilities, so I didn't fall behind at the beginning.

But then came the problem. I was the third to run to the table, instinctively choosing an empty lottery box, and shoving my hand into the hole at the top of the box.

"Alright, we've arrived at the first lottery area! What kind of questions will we get?!"

When I rummaged through the slips of paper in the box, the two contestants who pulled out the slips first read what was written on them and both screamed in pain.

"What the heck is this?!" "Huh! Whoa... Huh! Is this for real?!"

Just as I felt that it was foreshadowing my future and began to feel afraid, a piece of paper caught my finger.

Forget it, you're the one! Please help me out...!

I steeled myself, pulled out the note, and opened it with trepidation.

"...Huh...?"

For a moment, I was greatly confused.

I was the one who decided on all the questions.

Because—I don't remember ever seeing this topic before.

Neither I nor my classmate Asuhain should have assigned this kind of topic.

—You'll find out when you draw the lottery.

"ah."

Could it be... that Chairman Hong put it in?

I can't believe I actually drew it—there were dozens of slips of paper inside, could the president possibly predict the future...?

I stared at the question set by the president and thought for a moment. Meanwhile, the other contestants continued to draw their questions one after another…

"Draw again! Draw again!" "What difficulty level is this?!"

Then, while shouting this, he ran towards the second lottery box.

No matter how I think about it, I only want one person who meets the requirements of this question.

However, that would be almost equivalent to—

However, I feel that sometimes it's necessary to clearly express feelings through words and actions so that the other person understands...

"...She's right."

Occasionally, actions should also be taken to express oneself.

Besides, if it's done this way—that guy definitely won't be able to escape.

I gripped the question paper tightly and ran in a different direction from the other contestants.

"Oh my god! Class 7, Grade 1, Irito! No redrawing! It's time for a decisive battle!"

The thrilling live broadcast felt like a push from behind, propelling me forward.

They ran towards the tennis court located next to the playground.

but.

"……strangeness?"

Kawanami told me about the corner of the tennis court.

I was there, but I didn't see Shuidou or Dongtou's classmates.

Mizuto Irito: The Responsibility to Reject Confessions

"We often encountered those kinds of people, even at comic book cafes."

Isana sat down on the worn-out bench, letting out a relaxed laugh, "Hehehe."

I plopped down next to her and said:

"Could you call that encounter at the comic book cafe...? In short, the world is going to the dogs."

"There's nothing wrong with it, is there? Anyway, the low birth rate is a serious problem."

"Abandoning civilization and returning to savagery cannot be considered a solution to the declining birth rate."

Honestly, it was practically like being an animal… Looking back on my junior high school days, there were things I should reflect on, which only intensified my disgust. We probably looked a bit like that back then…

"How should I put it... it was truly an eye-opening experience."

Isana chuckled shyly, bringing her fingertips together in front of her mouth.

"What's so eye-opening?"

"I just felt that, so that kind of thing really exists... It's not just something that exists in pornographic videos or comics... Even though I knew that was the case, I still had that feeling."

"...Ah──"

Okay, I can understand that too.

Witnessing a classmate from the same school, around the same age, actually doing *that*... would dramatically increase the sense of reality surrounding the whole thing.

It might feel more blatant than when we dressed up as adults in middle school to buy contraceptives.

"...I can...do that kind of thing too..."

Isana lowered her head and murmured something softly.

For a moment, I wanted to pretend I hadn't heard, but in the end—I carefully chose my words—I spoke anyway.

"Well... functionally speaking, of course it can."

"I feel... it's a bit... unimaginable. Would it feel more real if we were actually dating?"

I couldn't bring myself to ask her, "Why are you asking me?" The reason her "if" was based on no other possibility was because she genuinely hadn't considered any other possibilities at all.

I'm afraid it's not that I'm being narcissistic...

She has already used up the only love of her life on me.

She's not the type of person who can keep going through the hassle of dating. No, perhaps it's more accurate to say she doesn't see the need for it. I'm exactly the same as her in that respect, so I can really empathize.

As a friend, if possible, I really want to fulfill her wish.

Unfortunately, I've already used my one and only chance on someone... That's why we're friends.

"Who knows?"

That's how I answered.

"If that's really the case, I feel like you'll be pushing things too hard, but when it comes to the crucial moment, you'll be terrified."

"How rude! ...But I can't talk back."

Izana pouted her lower lip and hugged her knees on the bench, just like she usually did in the library.

Then, she buried her mouth behind her knees and murmured indistinctly:

"...I can't help it. Even if I've decided to let go... I still can't help but be interested."

This is the only matter that I cannot offer any opinion on.

Isana kept her mouth buried in her knees, glancing sideways at me as she said:

"If I said—actually, I'm still looking for opportunities, would you be angry?"

"...For example?"

"For example, when we're older, drinking together."

"It's unbelievably real, and it's disgusting."

After making a lighthearted joke, I looked away and replied:

What you're thinking is none of my business.

"……Yeah?"

"You didn't do anything wrong. So... I'm shirking your responsibility and taking it from you."

I'm not being ambiguous. I believe this is one of the responsibilities that must be borne.