My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 26

Because right now, I have no obligation to make this woman like me.

I—we—have been freed from this obligation.

"...I'm telling you."

The woman said, her mouth leaving the beverage can.

"Doesn't that sink look like a place where corpses might float by?"

I also took my mouth off the beverage can and said:

"I think you need to be hospitalized, with that mystery novel brain of yours. Talking like that makes you sound like someone who barely survived a bizarre event but has developed mental problems."

"What's wrong with you? Don't you ever have that thought? When you see that pointy thing on the Gion Matsuri Mountain Pot, like an antenna, don't you think, 'If a corpse were stuck in that, it would be a really interesting murder case'?"

"I never even dreamed of such a terrible and apocalyptic thing. If I were to fantasize, the worst I could imagine is that 'a man-eating shark appears in the Kamo River and eats up couples sitting at equal intervals.'"

"That's what's truly terrifying! Seriously, how could a shark possibly swim in such a shallow river!"

"Sharks have unlimited potential, so it's fine!"

"Yeah, right! It's just a fish!"

"Very well, let's go check it out. Since this is an aquarium, you'll be awestruck by the sharks' boundless abilities and will eventually kneel in defeat."

"Where does this guy get such confidence... He's even more arrogant than that murderer who impersonated a legendary name to send out announcements."

We stood up and threw the empty cans into the nearby trash can.

I see. That's what I thought.

There is no obligation to please the other party, nor is there any reason to dislike them—they are just step-siblings you once knew.

Thinking about it this way, it seems much better than being in a relationship that's going badly.

"Stinky fanatic."

"Stinky otaku."

We hurl insults at each other for no reason.

I don't feel sad at all.

◆ The Maiden ◆

"Ouch! Water's spraying over here!"

"Hey, you! Don't just casually hide behind me!"

"Why is this wall so noisy? You're making it so I can't hear the dolphins."

"You dare say that the incomprehensible calls of dolphins are more important than your stepbrother's words! In that case, you'll be punished with a wet and unkempt display of your body!"

"Wait...no, no, no! Today's clothes are no good, you idiot, you idiot, you idiot!"

I had a great time playing with Shuidou and we explored the aquarium until we got our money's worth.

We enjoyed the adorable penguins, which soothed our souls; watched the dolphin show while playfully splashing each other; and then had lunch at the aquarium's café. Of course, we continued our usual banter.

On my way home, I stopped at a bookstore to buy something, and by the time I got home it was already evening.

"I'm home—" I called out in a slightly tired voice, but there was no response from the living room. It seemed that Mom and the others hadn't returned yet.

"Ugh... I feel like I'm about to die. I really shouldn't have dressed like this, which I'm not used to."

Shuidou followed behind me, taking off his shoes, rubbing his shoulders and turning his neck as he did so.

Ah... this outfit has to end here. It would be a lie to say I don't feel sorry for it. Besides, knowing this man's personality, even if I begged him, he probably wouldn't wear it again for me.

Okay, whatever. To be honest, I'm a little tired of it after watching it all day. I've had my fill of it.

I thought to myself, "I'll go change into my loungewear too," as I walked towards the stairs...

"...Ah, whoa, Kawanami sent me a bunch of LINE messages."

Shuidou seemed to be heading to the sink to remove the hairspray, but then stopped and looked at her phone.

Then, his eyes were fixed on the screen...

He took a box out of his pocket...

He took out black-rimmed glasses from the box!

"────!"

Glasses? ...Glasses!

By the way... this guy always wears blue light filtering glasses when using his computer or phone at home!

And he, now...

I want to create a college student tutor-style look that feels like my fantasy has become reality...!

—I put it on.

The intellectual style was suddenly amplified, and a certain emotion welled up inside me.

"...Seriously, what's that guy so excited about... Anyway, let's get the hairspray off first—"

"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!"

Just as Shuidou was about to open the bathroom door, I grabbed his shoulder with all my might.

Shuidou jumped in fright and turned to look at me. His eyes, hidden behind his glasses, were wide open.

"Huh? What? Stop?"

"Your hair...no! You can't mess it up!"

Although the grammar was a complete mess, it seemed the meaning had been conveyed. The eyebrows behind the black-rimmed glasses furrowed.

"...Why can't I scratch the mess?"

Because it looks so good with glasses.

Of course, I can't say that.

I... I need to think about this...! Now is not the time to be clumsy! I need to prove to him that I am no longer the person I was in junior high! I must come up with a way immediately so that I can appreciate this impossibly handsome, intellectual, and melancholic literary youth a little longer!

My brain cells have never worked so hard. I dug into my memories for a breakthrough, and finally, I remembered something.

This is it!

"This...this is punishment for the underwear incident! As the older sister! I have to record what my brother looks like dressed up in his best clothes!"

◆ Water Fighter ◆

Each can issue an order to the other, as long as it does not violate public order and good morals.

I successfully got Jie to go out on a date with me by using the right I gained from the underwear incident, but Jie hasn't used that right yet.

Until just now, I had completely forgotten about it...

...But I never expected her to use it this way.

"Sit on the sofa, yes. Then, cross your legs, yes! Spread this paperback out on your lap! Yes, yes! Then rest your elbows on the armrests and prop your cheeks up! Yes, yes, yes, yes!"

*Snap snap snap snap snap snap!* Jie Nu's phone emitted a series of camera shutter sounds.

From the front, right, left, and slightly lower angles... I could only stiffen my whole body like a mannequin while trying to stop my cheek muscles from twitching.

"Heh, heh ...

Who taught Jie Nu to relax her expression like that?

Her expression was even happier than during her first kiss.

"...Hey. That's not the look you should give your stepbrother, sis."

"Huh? What do you mean? Can you please not push your luck? He's just a little handsome."

"Uh... yes."

"Don't think that just because your slender figure, flowing hair, long fingers, and slightly mischievous eyes perfectly match my ideal type, you can talk nonsense!"

"Uh...yes..."

It seems to suit her taste perfectly.

It seems to have hit her sweet spot perfectly.

I had thought she would think I looked terrible, but it seems that stylist Kawanami's skills are impeccable.

This made me feel embarrassed, so I turned my face to the side and covered my mouth with the hand that had been supporting my cheek. I don't know what chord this gesture touched in her heart, but the camera shutter speed increased even further.

It made my back unbearably itchy... But well, it wasn't for nothing that I was fooled by Kawabata's sweet talk.

"Hehehehe... I have so many photos of handsome guys on my phone..."

Seeing the woman looking at my photo with such a relaxed and at ease expression, I felt a surge of service instinct within me. I gave her a sarcastic smile and said:

"Is simply taking photos enough?"

This is the kind of man who takes an inch and wants a mile.

"Since I'm being a good Samaritan, I'll grant you one more request, sis?"

"Huh?...Really? Anything is fine with you?!"

"As long as it's within my capabilities."

"Well, then!"

Jie Nu's eyes sparkled, and she plopped down on the L-shaped sofa with a thud.

"I'm sitting here, and you gently hug me from behind, whispering random things in my ear!"

"...What kind of request is this?"

"It's just punishment! It has nothing to do with my preferences! Gently hugging my sister who's sitting on the sofa from behind and whispering sweet nothings is just a younger brother's duty!"

Ideally, there should be such an obligation.

...Well, fine, the orders are in this guy's hands. I have no choice but to obey.

I stood up and walked around to the back of the girl sitting on the sofa. Just looking at her back, I could feel her heart pounding, which made me feel strangely nervous as well.

What are you going to whisper...? It's probably the kind of line you'd hear in a shoujo manga, but... um...

I dug up similar lines from what I'd heard in shoujo manga. Seriously, is he going to say this? Do men really say things like that? Ugh, so annoying! It's so cheesy!

◆ The Maiden ◆

I feel like I made some outrageous request in a moment of excitement, but whatever.

I wonder what he'll whisper to me? And how he'll whisper it? My heart is pounding with excitement and unease.

The restlessness lasted a while. As I adjusted my hips for the third time, a sense of determination washed over me from behind. It was finally about to happen. My heart pounded even harder. Oh no, I was so excited. My whole body went stiff—and just then…

Gently, as if wrapped in wings, he embraced my shoulders from behind.

Then, at a distance where I could almost feel his lips, a deep, resonant voice, both cheerful and masculine, whispered in my ear at a volume only I could hear.

"(—Got you.)"

Then I don't remember anything.

◆ Water Fighter ◆

In an instant, a violent wave of regret swept over me. What was I saying? I might as well be eaten by a shark right now.

But, but, I did say it, I said it to her. I whispered it to her as she requested! And as sweetly as possible! Okay, laugh out loud or whatever! I was prepared—and then…

A fair hand gently touched the arm that was holding Jie Nu's shoulder.

The girl turned around, her dark, diamond-like eyes looking up at me from very close range, and she murmured softly, as if trying to hide from the world's gaze.

"(—You caught me.)"

Then I don't remember anything.

◆ The Maiden ◆

And so, the unexpected aquarium date came to an end, followed by the tragic ending of finding two corpses in her own living room.

That being said, many mysteries remain. Where did those loafers in the entryway come from? Why did Mizuto go to such lengths, even dressing in a fashion he wasn't used to, to ask me out? And why did Mizuto die at the photoshoot in the living room, and not just that? What did I do to him?

It's really unsettling. If this were a mystery novel, it would be a complete failure. The only thing I'm sure of is that I have a lot of pictures of my ideal man saved on my phone.