My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 268

I clenched my fist, then lowered it to my chest and opened it.

Of course, he had nothing in his hands.

There was nothing there, but I felt that it wouldn't be long before I could grasp something else.

"Ya Shuang... thank you."

"what?"

"Thanks to you, I've started to realize something."

The decision about what you want to grasp is made immediately.

I grabbed Ya Shuang's shoulders and pulled her forcefully towards me.

"Oh...ah?"

"You're the one who told me to be serious, aren't you?"

I felt the delicate, soft, and warm touch of Ya Shuang's body as I whispered in her ear.

"Don't let the wind drown out my voice, listen carefully. I... it seems I really do like you."

"Huh? Huh!"

Being with her like this, I understood.

Not just because she has now saved my heart.

I did worry about her before. But at the same time, I also think she's a strong person.

A part of me admires her. But her lazy, carefree attitude is also a reflection of myself.

It took me a moment to realize—I couldn't take my eyes off this guy.

So, yes.

The answer was probably decided from the beginning.

From this day forward, you will be the only one in my eyes for the rest of my life.

A lifetime? That's too heavy a word.

Without spare energy, composure is lost, and no room for maneuver is left.

But I still wanted to talk about it, so I did.

So engrossed that I couldn't tear myself away, without a single extraneous thought mixed in.

"...Huh...?"

Ya Shuang opened her eyes wide, her mouth opening and closing, and looked up at my face.

"You...you just said...you just said!"

"What's wrong? Act a little happier! You've turned the tables!"

I'm serious, so don't try to cover it up, just tell her again.

"I'll be your boyfriend. So please be my girlfriend."

Ya Shuang's body began to tremble.

"────Eek ahh ...

Yaaaaaah! Yaaaaah! Yaaaaah...──

The echoes from the mountains slowly dissipated into the sky.

Irito Yume ◆ Her true feelings will be revealed in her actions

After a few minutes, the senior students came down from the top of the tower after the mysterious screams echoed around.

For some reason, Senior Sister Ya Shuang was walking unsteadily, leaning on Senior Brother Xing Bian's shoulder.

"Senior... what's wrong?"

I thought she was injured, so I asked her to check on her, but Senior Sister Ya Shuang held onto Senior Brother Xing Bian's shoulder tightly and said:

"I...I can't straighten my back..."

"Huh...? W-why...?"

"It seems like this is what happens when someone is genuinely frightened."

Senior Xingbian chuckled. His expression seemed much gentler than before, how to describe it... as if he felt a kind of tenderness towards Senior Yashuang.

This...could it be!

"Aisa...could it be...?"

President Hong asked tentatively, and Senior Sister Ya Shuang revealed a soft, gentle smile.

"Hehe. Hehehe. Hehehehe~~~"

"Stop laughing so disgustingly, and explain yourself clearly."

"I just can't do anything with you~ You really want to know that much~ Well, there's nothing I can do about it then~ Hmm."

Senior Sister Ya Shuang finally stood firmly on her own two feet. She tightly grasped Senior Brother Xing Bian's left hand and raised it high like a sports referee.

"Let me formally introduce you! This is my younger sister Ya Shuang Ai Sha's boyfriend, Senior Xing Bian Yuan!"

"What kind of introduction is this?"

Senior Xingbian was dumbfounded, but did not deny it.

It was a comeback victory.

On this day, seizing what could be considered the last few minutes, Senior Sister Ya Shuang successfully won over the boy she liked.

However, at the same time...

Chairman Hong and I were both taken aback by the sight before us.

"...President Hoshibe..."

"Senior, is your shoulder... alright?"

Senior Xingbian's left arm was raised high above his head by Senior Yashuang, but he looked as if nothing was wrong.

Strange... or is it the other shoulder?

"Oh, this one."

Senior Xingbian looked at his left shoulder and said:

A lot has happened, some things, some not.

"Huh? What do you mean you're okay, senior? What happened to your shoulder?"

Senior Sister Ya Shuang looked completely puzzled. Seeing her reaction, we were even more astonished.

"Excuse me, Aisha—don't you know about my shoulder problem?"

"Huh? Huh? What is this? I really don't understand."

"Senior Xingbian injured his shoulder and can't lift it high!"

Upon hearing what I said, Senior Sister Ya Shuang widened her eyes in surprise and exclaimed, "Eh!" She hurriedly let go of Senior Brother Xing Bian's hand.

"No, no way! Is that so! Did I hurt you—wait, but just now…"

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

Senior Xingbian stared intently into Senior Yashuang's eyes and lightly touched his left shoulder.

"This—you've already cured me."

"Huh...? Huh...?"

While Senior Sister Ya Shuang was still confused, Senior Brother Xing Bian had already taken her hand again and led her away.

"It's almost lunchtime, I'm starving."

"Ah, you're right! Now that you mention it, I'm getting hungry too..."

"Me? Hey, you little devil character, why aren't you calling yourself 'Aisa' anymore?"

"Don't...don't make fun of me!...I don't need to specifically say my name, you already remember it, right?"

"That's true, Aisha."

"Oh no! Don't call me that all of a sudden...!"

We walked behind, watching the couple who were openly showing affection as they walked.

It turns out only Senior Sister Ya Shuang didn't know.

That means—

"Perhaps no boy wants to show weakness in front of a girl he likes."

The president's muttered words made me chuckle.

These two senior students are a match made in heaven.

Kawanami Kogure ◆ Courage

...Well, you've shown me something.

You really showed me what I'm made of, senior.

Since that's the case, and since I was the one who instigated you—then I, as your junior, should also learn from you.

"--Yo!"

He raised his hand slightly to greet me as I sat on the steps.

"What are you doing—sitting here all by yourself?"

Xiaoyue walked lightly up the short, arc-shaped staircase that resembled an open-air theater, carefree and without a worry in the world.

Yes, I'm always the one running away.

It happened last night at the hot springs. It happened when we parted in the hospital room. It happened when I collapsed from a perforated stomach. You could say the reason for all of this is that I didn't explain things clearly.

"I'm here to witness the whole thing. You see, you can see a little bit of the rooftop terrace from here, right?"

After saying that, I turned to the back. There was a tower made of white bricks and tiles there, and you could peek a little bit at the top platform where Xing Ge and the others had just been.

Wow—it really is!

Xiaoyue lightly tiptoed slightly to look up at the platform at the top of the tower and spoke.

"How did you find a place like this? You're practically a stalker."

"It's so pathetic that even you can say that. It's nothing, I just happened to find it while wandering around the neighborhood."

I didn't hear what they said.

All I know is that Senior Sister Asou would occasionally shout out—other than that, all I saw was what the two of them probably did.

Even so, it's clear enough.

It made me realize clearly that the two of them were confiding their true feelings to each other.

To face the other person seriously.

...Seriously, I admit defeat.

How could I not think deeply after witnessing such a scene?

Is it really okay for me to continue with the status quo?

Fear, dread about my own constitution and old injuries, and the continued indifference—am I planning to live like this for the rest of my life?

Unlike Xiaoyue, who had already made up her mind to face this matter.

But I'm hiding away in a safe haven I've created out of pretense, just getting by. Is that the right thing to do?

...I'm overthinking again.

What's wrong with choosing to run away? What's wrong with being perfunctory? Only when you're young do you think it's wrong. Just like when I didn't dare to tell Xiaoyue about my pain, and ended up in the hospital.

But now that you've taken that first step, I have to go along with you.

Because this pain doesn't belong to me alone.