My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 260

I had no choice but to remind her, and Jie Nu replied, "Well, you're right..." and sat down next to me.

The scenery outside the window gradually moved closer to the sky.

The view expanded to the back of the buildings, offering a panoramic view of Kobe Port. Just then, a white cruise ship crossed the sea.

...With such a beautiful view before me, my consciousness was involuntarily drawn to a position opposite to that of the window.

The fact that I was sitting next to Yui reminded me of what happened at the foot bath yesterday.

Looking back, it was just a trivial matter. I only touched his hand, just his fingers. There was no kiss, no touching of his buttocks or breasts, but why was my consciousness completely captured by that memory?

During the dating period, holding hands was taken for granted. Linking arms, hugging, or kissing were all natural parts of daily life.

Even so—yes.

In my memory, we have never revealed our inner desires as openly as we did yesterday.

Physical contact in a relationship is, in essence, a connection of hearts. It involves opening one's heart to another, showing mutual understanding and intimacy.

However... yesterday's was...

Desire—or instinct. It can be said to be the part hidden deep within the heart, almost like a beast.

It is a part that should never be seen by others.

Now I understand it. I have to admit that both I and the girl share that quality. And—

I accepted the filthy part of each other that was hidden behind rationality, both in relation to Jie Nu and in relation to Jie Nu.

In terms of behavior, they only touched hands. They actually accepted that part of the experience, but it severely shook their inner defenses.

It makes me think, "Oh, it's okay, I guess."

It makes me want to... give up and endure it.

I am very likely... afraid of becoming like that.

"Wow! That's so high!"

Izana, completely unaware of the danger, looked out the window and shouted excitedly.

"I heard this place looks absolutely gorgeous at night! Am I too early?"

"...You'd only come to ride a Ferris wheel at night if you wanted to confess your feelings."

That was incredibly dangerous. In that pitch-black room where the only light source was the night view—I wasn't confident I could resist touching her.

"Oh, you're right~ So maybe that senior is also planning to confess her feelings here."

"Hmm? Which senior are you talking about?"

"...Huh? Yui-kun, is it okay to say this?"

The woman smiled wryly and said:

"It shouldn't matter, right? By the time we meet up with Senior Sister Ya Shuang and Senior Brother Xing Bian, everything should be over."

Senior Sister Ya Shuang and Senior Brother Xing Bian... Oh, those two. I can roughly guess who confessed to whom.

"I'll confess my feelings during the trip. I just hope I don't get rejected and make things awkward."

"No way! They seem to have a really great relationship, they look like a couple right now, how could he possibly be dumped?"

"........."

"........."

An awkward silence fell between me and Jie Nu.

Isana stared blankly at our faces, speechless. "Ah!"

"Yes, that's how I got dumped."

Isana laughed heartily. Since the person involved is making a fool of herself like this, my concern for her feelings is pointless.

Jie smiled somewhat awkwardly and said:

"If only everyone could be as open-minded as Dongtou..."

"Well, it's because I was attracted to Mizuto's body back then."

"Hello."

While the difference between dating and not dating may indeed only lie in whether or not sexual intercourse can occur, you're being too...

"No, if it's just about hanging out or something, there's nothing wrong with being friends. Isn't dating basically about wanting to do something risqué?"

"Well, that's right..."

"Perhaps that really is true..." Yume murmured to herself.

Perhaps, that really is the case.

The reason I have no intention of confessing my feelings, even though I am clearly determined, is perhaps because I want to deny my true feelings—or perhaps unconsciously, I am unwilling to reveal my inner instincts to the girl.

Even if Jie Nu is willing to be tolerant, I don't want to see myself like that.

This must just be a naive and immature sense of self. It must just be a trivial sense of pride. Even so, I still don't want to see myself as someone who can only express emotions through desire.

Preferring to believe there are better ways, stubbornly seeking things that don't even exist—

"The reasons for dating depend on the individual."

—There's simply no such method. I know that perfectly well. But…

"Izana tends to think more logically, so perhaps this is the only conclusion she can reach. But some people can also find value in a romantic relationship from an irrational perspective... Or are you the type who can only see the opposite sex in terms of their physical appearance? You appear so reserved and dignified, but your mind is full of erotic thoughts?"

"Huh?"

Jie Nu was startled and blinked several times.

She probably didn't expect me to ask her that. Because her inner defenses were already on the verge of collapse. It wouldn't be surprising if they crumbled at any time.

That's why I'm doing this.

That's why I can't face it seriously. Caring too much about those issues will only lead me astray. Shameful things can only be covered up, and the cover used to cover them up is called reason. To maintain my sense of self, let me just ignore it with reason.

"No...no way! You're just a skinny monkey!"

"I was just talking about the opposite sex's body, not my own."

"Ugh...!"

"Stop talking! You need to know that some people, not only of the opposite sex, but also of the same sex, only care about the body!"

"Please, show more concern for humanity."

For now, we can only take it one day at a time.

If we don't do this, we can't continue to be ourselves.

Haba Jouji: Not eating the meat that's already in your mouth can make you feel inferior.

My special skill—or rather, habit—is observing humans.

Blending into the background allows me to clearly see the behavior of those around me. Because there's not much else to do. No one will notice me or talk to me. So, without realizing it, I've developed a habit of analyzing other people's personalities from their expressions, gestures, tone of voice, and other cues.

So I know.

Hong is avoiding me.

The reason couldn't be clearer: it was what happened last night. I was pinned down by my classmate Hong, dressed as a bunny girl, who whispered sweet nothings in my ear, and I couldn't help myself—

...Can you blame me? I'm a man after all; it would be strange if I didn't react at all in that situation. It's already quite remarkable that I was able to maintain that level of composure.

but……

As soon as Hong noticed something touching her bottom, she scurried away. Although I thought to myself, "You were the one trying to seduce me," Hong probably thought she was loving a harmless animal. And when that animal suddenly bared its fangs, she naturally became wary.

Moreover, simply speaking from a girl's perspective, it would probably feel very uncomfortable.

...If Hong gradually distances herself from me like this, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Someone like her shouldn't even bother with someone like me. Now things are just returning to normal.

But... at the very least, I want to apologize to her.

I feel that as a human being, I should at least properly resolve this matter.

Even if it means I disappear from her world as usual, at least I have to do this little thing—

I've been looking for an opportunity all day.

Then, that moment finally arrived.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom..."

Not long after entering the Maritime Museum next to the port, Asuhain said that he would leave temporarily.

Only Hong and I remained.

This is a great opportunity.

"Ah-zhang—"

The moment Hong turned her head, I immediately bowed my head and apologized.

"I'm so sorry."

“…Huh?”

Hearing me apologize in a low voice in the museum, Hong let out a confused gasp.

"I'm so sorry, I put something disgusting on you last night. If you just say the word, Hong, I'm willing to resign from the student council—"

“Wait a minute!”

Hong first shouted to stop them, then quickly looked around and lowered her voice to say:

"(What happened last night was started by me! How could you be the one apologizing!)"

"(...Isn't it because of that incident that you're avoiding me today?)"

"(No, no! Today is because...)"

After stammering and hesitating for a long time, Hong finally lifted my head up.

"(Anyway! What happened last night wasn't your fault! I didn't feel uncomfortable at all! You have no idea how much I love you!)"

"(Huh?)"

"(No, sorry. I let it slip... Anyway, you don't need to resign from your student council position!)"

"(If that's the case... why did you run away back then?)"

"(That's because...)"

A blush rose on Hong's porcelain-white skin, and her jade-green eyes darted around pleadingly.

After her gaze wandered around, she glanced at me and said:

"(I should say, it suddenly felt real... The thought that this was the same as that startled me... and I started to get scared...)"

...Were you startled?

Are you getting scared?

Someone like Hong...?

"(You must think it's strange that I'm always trying to seduce you and saying things like that!)"

Then, Hong seemed to have gone all out and spoke her mind directly.

"(But you can't blame me! I'm a genuine virgin! All those stories about relationships were just hearsay! Of course I'd be a little hesitant in front of you!)"

"(You talk about something so embarrassing as if it's something amazing...)"

"(Stop nagging, mind your own business! It's all your fault for not seizing the opportunity sooner!)"

Well... perhaps that's true.

"Sigh..." Hong sighed deeply.

"(I was trying to explain things to you clearly, but now I've messed everything up.)"

"(All I can say is... I'm sorry.)"

"(It's alright. I've already made up my mind.)"

Hong looked up at my face with eyes that seemed to have made up their minds.