My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 23

I sighed again, feeling depressed, and walked out of the waiting room.

It's strange, I always feel like everyone on the street is staring at me.

◆ The Maiden ◆

...To the right. Ah! Too far to the right, a little to the left. Okay...no, um...?

I used my smartphone as a small mirror to repeatedly adjust the position of my bangs.

This is in front of the Kyoto Tower Sando. I'm standing with my back to the white tower, which looks like a candle, waiting for my stepson to arrive.

Of course, at this point, I don't want to go on any dates with that guy, but he said it was a punishment for violating the rules, which made it impossible for me to refuse. But I still feel that dating like this is also a violation of the rules.

"...No, if they're close siblings, it wouldn't be strange for them to go out together on weekends...right? It's also normal to specifically arrange to meet up somewhere outside their home...probably!"

That's right, this is part of a sibling activity, definitely not the kind of exciting or frivolous activity between men and women, and it has absolutely nothing to do with our past relationship! Yes!

As I kept checking the time and hesitated about my bangs style, I noticed many people around me looking at me with smiles.

Since I had a major makeover, I've gradually gotten used to being the center of attention. But what exactly is this smiling, detached gaze...? Even the guys who go around trying to chat up girls on the street are looking at me like they're looking at their own children.

Is something wrong with me? Is it so funny that I keep fidgeting with my bangs? Or is it my outfit? Is it wrong that I dressed up carefully for a date? Waaah... I can't stand it anymore!

"...I wonder what kind of boy will come...?"

"...Since he's that girl's boyfriend, he must be really handsome..."

I heard whispers.

A successful physical transformation has its pros and cons. Before, when we arranged to meet, it wouldn't attract anyone's attention, but now there's a strange sense of anticipation around us.

How embarrassing... The guy coming over later is someone who knows nothing about fashion and looks like a complete loser. I'm embarrassed to be so narcissistic, but to be honest, I'm totally mismatched with him in terms of appearance.

Now you'd better be prepared to be ridiculed.

Just as I made up my mind, a deep yet pleasant voice entered my ears.

"I'm a little late."

◆ Water Fighter ◆

"I'm a little late."

Just as I used those words to greet Yui, who was leaning against the wall...

She looked up and saw me...

"Huh...?"

It then made a stupid sound.

I frowned.

...I told you I don't suit dressing like this. Honestly, this guy doesn't even look good standing next to me, yet Kawanami inexplicably wants me to look cool...

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but I feel like everyone around me is starting to look at me. If you only look at her appearance, well, she's actually quite cute. But the person she's waiting for is a pretentious, old-fashioned guy trying to look cool; it must have been quite confusing for everyone.

I don't usually care about what others think, but at times like this, I can't help but feel embarrassed.

Kawabata...you better remember this.

"……Well……"

The girl blinked several times, pointing at me with her fingertips trembling slightly.

"You're Irito Mizuto... right? My stepson, right?"

"...I am Irito Mizuto, that's right. I am your stepbrother."

Isn't it obvious at a glance?

Yui's gaze swept over me from head to toe, then from toe to head, scrutinizing me several times. Finally, for some reason, Yui's shoulders began to tremble, and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"Okay────"

◆ The Maiden ◆

────So handsome～～～～～～～!

I screamed inwardly as I looked up at the boy standing in front of me again.

The outfit wasn't particularly extravagant. A clean and neat light-colored tank top, shirt, and jeans—a safe bet. It was a low-risk outfit that at least wouldn't embarrass the girls she was walking with.

But he's incredibly handsome.

His well-proportioned features, sculpted with an intellectual air, paired with a slightly confused expression, created a wonderfully subtle weakness. My maternal instincts were stirred, making me want to elicit even more of his confused expression.

But at the same time, the collarbone faintly visible between the collarbones and the wrists glimpsed from the cuffs exude a strange and sexy charm! How can you only show your masculinity in these places? That's too much!

The most chilling thing is the subtle, almost imperceptible shadow that flickers in their expression and demeanor. It makes me want to ask: "Huh? What's wrong? What happened? Do you have something to hide? Is it okay to tell me?"

So incredibly handsome! What kind of intellectual and mysterious yet warm-hearted man is this? Absolutely stunning! Has my fantasy come true? Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! The world is rapidly losing its sense of reality. Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning! Absolutely stunning!

"...Please just say what you have to say."

While looking away shyly, Mizuto touched and styled her bangs with her fingertips. This little gesture was so stylish it was almost excessive, and the surrounding noise began to be mixed with girls' screams.

The sudden appearance of someone who looks like they came straight out of a female-oriented mobile game is bound to attract attention.

This is my ex-boyfriend and stepsister.

I felt an urge to show off, but I managed to restrain myself.

...Calm down. Don't be fooled by appearances. No matter how handsome someone looks, or how long legs that aren't usually noticeable appear even longer in jeans, deep down they're still a man—yes, even if someone's appearance is perfect, it doesn't mean their personality is perfect!

"N-nothing... I don't have anything to say. It's not important, just go wherever you're going. It's all because of you that time has become a bit tight."

I crossed my arms slightly to suppress my inner turmoil and forced myself to maintain a normal demeanor.

Whew, that was close. Luckily, this guy was all looks and no substance. Whew—thank goodness. Thank goodness he wasn't the gentleman who would use a wonderfully balanced, yet gentle and forceful, strength to pull my hand—

"That's true, let's go then."

After Mizuto finished speaking, he gently took my hand with a force that was eight parts gentleness and two parts firmness.

The girls around me screamed excitedly, while I wailed and died of a heart attack.

◆ Water Fighter ◆

Always stay on the side closest to the driveway.

If she's about to bump into a pedestrian, gently pull her back.

Try to find topics to talk about while waiting at traffic lights.

If she seems interested in something, ask her.

I have put into practice every single instruction that Kawanami gave me.

I know that this is not like me. Even when we were dating, I never treated her like a princess and considered her feelings in everything I did.

The princess herself seemed to sense it, remaining silent and unhappy. And we seemed to be attracting attention; we could feel everyone watching us.

How am I supposed to pick up girls like this? I knew I shouldn't have gone to all that trouble; I should have just done it the usual way.

Whenever I feel this way, my phone in my pocket vibrates at just the right moment. It's a signal from Kawanami, meaning "no problem."

……Really?

Without making a sound, I glanced at the girl with a sour face and pursed lips out of the corner of my eye.

If I treat this woman this gently now, she'll probably just find it cheesy, right?

◆ The Maiden ◆

It feels amazing!

What's wrong with this guy today?! He's so gentlemanly! So gentle! Every little thing he does is so adorable!

No, this is bad... I pursed my lips.

If I were to giggle in public like this, I'd look like a lunatic. I have to be patient, patient, patient…

"...Wow, look, look, those two people..."

"...A super powerful pairing of a male god and a female god..."

Hearing the couple whispering like that as they passed by, I felt my lips twitch.

Having worked hard to transform myself into a classic pretty girl over the past year (so what if I'm bragging?), my relationship with Mizuto, who suddenly transformed into an intellectual and warm man, is undeniably different from the superficial couples we see everywhere. In fact, it presents an elegant and classy picture.

In this place where countless people were stirring, the two of us were standing at the very top of the crowd.

Just a year ago, we were still invisible in the light of day—we were originally just decorations in the classroom!

...It feels amazing...

I even forgot to talk to Mizuto, who was walking beside me, and was only focused on listening to the voices of the people around me. Oh dear, people are whispering about us again.

"...Oh—they have such a good relationship..."

"Hey, stop staring at her..."

It's okay! It's alright! I'll try my best to watch it! Even though our relationship isn't good!

◆ Water Fighter ◆

"...Oh—they have such a good relationship..."

"Hey, stop staring at her..."

The sound almost made me turn around to look, but I managed to restrain myself at the last moment.

I secretly turned my gaze to the back and saw a couple with a significant height difference walking behind us, mixed in with the pedestrians.

...It was Kawanami Kogure and Minami Akatsuki.

It was originally agreed that Kawanami would monitor and likely follow Minami, but somehow it turned into the two of them acting together. Although it resulted in a rather strange four-person date, it's still healthier than being double-tracked.

Walking next to the tall Kawanami, Minami looked even more petite and delicate. But her presence was anything but small. Even though she was wearing glasses without prescription lenses and a hat to cover her face, she was instantly recognizable.

She wore an oversized shirt printed with enigmatic English words as a dress, revealing her bare, slender legs without hesitation, giving an initial impression of androgynous freshness. However, on the contrary, the yin energy emanating from her body was as viscous as a swamp, feeling like water/darkness.

—Listen carefully, Irito. This is the only thing you can't slack off on.

As I observed Minami's appearance, I remembered what Kawanami had told me before we left.

—You absolutely must compliment a girl's outfit. Listen carefully, you absolutely must.

Hmm. Right, I haven't done this yet. I was too focused on my appearance and missed the chance to compliment the other person.

Now that I know the target's location, my resolve has only grown stronger. It wouldn't hurt to strike now and give Nan a taste of his own medicine.

I took a closer look at the woman walking beside me.

Compared to the androgynous style of Minami, Yui's style is the complete opposite, or perhaps it could be described as a sweet, girlish style.

A woman's blouse in a subdued spring color, paired with a light, flowing knee-length skirt. Her long, slender legs are encased in blue-tinted tights—although she has transformed into a beautiful woman, it seems she still harbors a resistance to exposing her legs.

Wearing a dark brown beret and with her long, flowing black hair, she exuded an amazing "rich heiress and arts college student" aura. It felt like she might have the surname "○○院" (a play on words, as "○○院" sounds similar to "○○院" in Chinese).

I should say... I've only just realized this...

Why does this guy look like he's dressed up for the occasion today?

Compared to me, who felt obligated to prepare for this date, she seemed to have put in far more effort to get ready. Why is that...? This girl probably doesn't even know the purpose of today's event—

No... perhaps that's precisely why?

This guy thought I was really going on a date with her. He thought it was a date that hadn't happened in months.

That's why she dressed up so meticulously—that's how it should be, logically speaking.

Jie glanced at me furtively. Her long eyelashes blinked several times.

I couldn't help but look away.

...Damn it, I can't stay calm. It's all because I'm being forced to do things I'm not used to. In other words, it's all Kawabata's fault.

—This is the only thing I can't be lazy about.

That guy's voice echoed in my mind... Ah, okay, okay, okay. I'll tell you, I'll tell you!

"……today……"

"what?"

When she asked me in surprise, I immediately wanted to back out, but I gritted my teeth and held on.