My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 25

This is much better than being bombarded with sarcastic remarks. It's much better than lengthy taunts. It's so much better than those annoying and irritating arguments and bickering. I feel so much better now.

but……

What I just said made it seem like what I really wanted was those arguments and bickering...

What exactly do I want to do?

What do I want to become?

—Isn't that why I chose to break up?

◆ Water Fighter ◆

I wandered aimlessly around the aquarium like a headless fly, the frustration filling my chest making me very annoyed.

In the six months following our falling out, I grew to hate the girl named Ayai Yui more and more each day. Every move she made and every word she said made me increasingly unhappy.

This causes me more pain than anything else.

The people and things I used to love and cherish have become annoying and tiresome one by one, and this is more painful for me than anything else.

So I chose to break up.

Because as long as we don't continue being lovers, it doesn't matter if I start to hate her—because that's normal.

You shouldn't be like this...

But that's how it should be... Do you really think that kind of relationship is better?

Is a relationship where people hate, dislike, and hurt each other better?

Did I do something wrong by suggesting breaking up?

Was I overthinking things?

Without realizing it, I found myself standing frozen in the middle of the aisle, where family members and couples were constantly coming and going.

...If that's the case, why didn't you tell me?

Are you worried that not wanting to break up will cause me trouble?

"...Troublesome, isn't it...?"

By the way, similar things have happened before.

The woman got lost, and I searched for her everywhere—the same thing had happened before.

Back then, yes, we hadn't officially started dating yet.

For me, it was my first date ever.

◆ The Maiden ◆

That was perhaps the first time in my life that I mustered up the courage to do something.

When we were still just friends who talked in the school library every day, I invited him to go to the community summer festival. Looking back now, I realize that inviting a guy who hates crowds was a complete mistake. But at the time, he was considerate of others and agreed with a gentle smile.

Then when I went to the summer festival, the crowds were even bigger than I had imagined.

Sure enough, I got separated from him and got lost.

Getting lost on your first date was incredibly embarrassing. Time was slipping away, and then the clog laces broke, turning into torture devices. All three things combined created one of the most agonizing moments of the century.

I finally managed to escape the crowds and was crouching among the vendors when my classmate, Irito, called me. All I could do was sniffle and sob, constantly apologizing to him for his worry.

—I'm sorry...I'm so sorry...for causing you trouble...

"It's okay, you wait for me there," he said to me before hanging up.

...I must have made him angry.

The thought of this makes me feel like my mood is constantly plummeting.

I feel so ashamed. I'm clumsy at everything I do, I don't get the hang of it, and I can't do anything right... I was determined to do well this time, but in the end, it still turned out like this.

I've always hated myself. Things everyone else can do, I just can't do no matter what. I can't speak normally like everyone else, and I can't live normally like everyone else… My father is gone too.

At least I just hope to live a life where I don't cause trouble for anyone.

At least I just hope that the person I like won't find me troublesome.

But I got greedy and overly excited, and became carried away—and this is what happened.

The clamor of the crowd gradually faded away. My consciousness seemed to be sucked into the ground. It didn't matter. If I could simply disappear as a stain on the ground, that would suit me just fine.

It would be better for the world if people like me simply disappeared.

My heart has kept its distance from the world. To avoid further entanglement with the world, and to stop causing trouble for others, I've built a wall as thick and high as the Great Wall—

Just then, someone held a can of beverage in front of me.

--Huh?

I looked up and saw Irito looking down at me with a faint smile on her face.

He handed me the canned drink and squatted down in front of me, who was curled up in a ball.

—Let me tell you, Ayai.

He stared directly into my eyes from the same eye level.

—I was looking for you everywhere in the crowd just now, and to be honest, I'm exhausted. And then you were crying and sobbing on the phone with me, which really wore me down.

--...woo...

—But...I don't know you so little that I would be disillusioned with you like this.

I looked at the canned drink he handed me... Upon closer inspection, I realized it was the black tea I had once told him I really liked.

—Of course I know you're a clumsy and clueless guy. And today I learned you're someone who gets lost easily. I know all of this, and yet I'm still willing to stay here.

Iri handed me a can of black tea. The can was covered in condensation, and it felt slippery and cool.

So, you don't need to be afraid... You can cause me as much trouble as you like, it's okay.

I held the canned black tea in both hands and lowered my head.

I dared not look at Irito's face, afraid that some emotion would erupt and break down. I was afraid that he would see something even worse than he was now.

I hooked my finger around the pull tab of the canned black tea, trying to cool down my ridiculously hot face... but...

──…………Cannot be opened…………

Irito smiled gently.

-- I'll open it for you.

This incident transformed what was supposed to be a disastrous first date into an irreplaceable memory.

I thought to myself, we must come together again next year. This time I won't get lost, and I'll fully enjoy the festival.

...However, I never had the chance to avenge myself.

We had that fight just before the start of the following summer vacation.

Let alone dating. During the summer vacation, which lasted for more than a month, we didn't make any plans whatsoever.

Even so, I still went to the festival.

I walked alone in the crowd, squatting where he had found me a year ago, gazing at the throng of people, gazing and gazing—of course, no one came looking for me.

If only we hadn't had that argument.

As I thought this, I imagined myself walking with him in the crowd—

...Neither dry nor crisp. It really is neither dry nor crisp.

Even though it's over, they still won't let go. In reality, there are no "what ifs," "supposes," or "if onlys."

To be honest, I didn't make any promises to him, but I clung to those beautiful memories, vainly believing that he would come looking for me. That alone made me hopeless.

If I really want to reconcile with him, I should use a simpler and more direct method, such as calling him or something else, and tell him this in person.

Since I can't do it, it's over between us.

...Go home.

I was tired of observing couples and families at the aquarium. Although I was happily lost, I figured I'd eventually reach the exit by following the crowd. That's what I thought, and then I looked up…

Someone handed me a can of drink.

“…Huh?”

I looked up.

Irito Mizuto is right in front of me.

He looked down at my face with a slight smile, much more handsome than before. But the only thing he gave me was a can of beverage, still containing black tea.

He said it.

His face wore a sarcastic smile devoid of any gentleness.

"I've come to greet you, miss. Perhaps you should really work on your sense of direction?"

◆ Water Fighter ◆

This malicious and sarcastic remark was tantamount to throwing away all the goodwill she had earned so far. Upon hearing this, Jie Nu's eyes widened in surprise.

At that summer festival, I searched for her everywhere in the crowded streets that I couldn't stand, listening to a bunch of depressing things I didn't want to hear through my phone. Then, I helped her open the tab on her can of black tea.

Nothing could improve my feelings for her.

Everything that woman did only annoyed me and failed to win my heart—objectively speaking, that date was a complete failure.

But really, I don't know why... ever since that date, I've become—really want to be by this girl's side.

Is it what they call a protective instinct? Or is it that somewhere deep down, I envy your courage to be honest and show vulnerability to others...?

Whichever it is—I understood the moment I saw it.

The woman sitting on the bench was named Irito Yume.

She was my annoying stepsister, whom I had just become family with.

It is definitely not Yui Ayai.

It is something that has not yet become a memory.

Jie looked at the beverage can I handed her, and took the slightly damp can with both hands, its surface covered in condensation.

She said it.

His face revealed a malicious smile that showed no trace of gentleness.

"Thank you for coming all this way to pick me up. I think you're the one who needs to work on your reading taste, aren't you?"

"What did you say? Let's go outside and settle this with a book review debate."

"Then I'll go first. Ango Sakaguchi's 'The Non-Serial Murder Case'."

"Then I'll go second. Mori Ōgai's 'The Dancing Girl'."

"Don't remind me of that scumbag Toyotaro!"

"The 'Non-Serial Murder Case' is clearly just a parade of scumbags, isn't it!"

"It doesn't matter since most of them will die eventually anyway!"

After this brief exchange of pleasantries, I sat down next to Jie.

Jie looked down at the beverage can in her hand. The small pull tab tightly sealed the can, which was dripping with liquid. Jie slowly hooked the tip of her slender index finger around it.

After a slight resistance, the pull tab hissed as if air was leaking out.

No one's help is needed; it's effortless.

I opened my canned drink and took small sips with Jie, moistening our lips.

Couples and families walked past us in a steady stream. I couldn't help but wonder, which category do we fall into now? Couples, family, or some other kind of relationship?

Even I couldn't help but feel nervous when Ayai Yume was by my side.

My heart was racing, my hands were sweating profusely, and my whole body felt stiff.

But now—even though I feel the same woman sitting right next to me, my heart is utterly calm.

That's for sure.