My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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The next episode, episode nine, will finally settle the plot points from episode six. What plot points? If you have this question, please reread episode six carefully. Wasn't there a mysterious old man who suddenly appeared and then disappeared?

The anime adaptation is also progressing smoothly. As someone from the original work's team, it's time for me to focus on the "future" developments. I don't think it's that bad, but surely you all don't think that Mizuto and Yume getting back together will lead to a happy ending, right?

So, that concludes Kamishiro Kyosuke's presentation of "My Stepmother's Burden is My Ex-Girlfriend 8: It's Time to Show You Your Full Power." In the end, it was actually Higashito Izana who revealed her true abilities.

Volume 8: It's Time to Show Me Your Full Power (Illustrations)

Volume Nine: A Proposal Isn't Enough, Chapter One Guarantees an Interesting Journey

Taiwanese version from Angel Anime Forum

Light Bookshelf × Angel Anime Entry Team

Image source: Hai

Input: kid

Irito Mizuto ◆ The Definition of Happiness

"Mizuto-kun—you must have already figured out what happiness truly means to you, right?"

This person, who is much older than me, said this in a tone that seemed to have seen through everything.

"Hollywood movies end with a kiss, and RPGs end with a wedding ceremony. These are the typical 'happiness' that most people imagine. However, there is no fixed definition of happiness in reality. Some people are considered marginalized by others but live comfortably, while others are considered mediocre and talentless but are content with the status quo—some are even unaware of their blessings, always envying others and pursuing things they don't actually need; we've all seen too many comedies like this."

His eloquent and articulate remarks were like a breath of fresh air.

"I think you must be smarter than others, so that you've already discovered at a young age that your definition of happiness isn't 'family'."

Everyone, unintentionally, imagines things.

Imagine yourself having a family in the future.

Having a partner, having children, and starting a family—it's as if everyone is deeply ingrained with this concept, imagining that kind of future.

But is that really what I need?

Does my life really need that kind of future?

"Middle school students can be naive and ignorant, acting without considering the consequences. University students are expected to behave like adults. High school students are somewhere in between—naive and ignorant, but also gradually maturing, like a caterpillar yet to emerge from its cocoon. This has always been my view—I sympathize with you being in the most difficult stage right now. Asking someone your age to make such a major decision is too immature and too mature—"

I felt like it was none of my business.

It wasn't him, it was me.

Even now, it still feels like it has nothing to do with me.

Which one do you want to be?

Even so, tough choices still lie ahead.

"Should I revert to being a child, acting impulsively and making reckless choices without considering the consequences, praying for a happy ending like in an RPG—or should I grow into adulthood, keeping my current feelings to myself, and pursuing my own happiness efficiently, like in an RTA game?"

Keikoin Ryosuke smiled like a game GM.

"I wish you the best in making the best choice. As your stepsister's former father, I wish you good luck."

Irito Mizuto: Offense and Defense Under the Nokatsu Table

Kyoto is a world-renowned tourist city, but setting aside short-term stays, from the perspective of long-term residence, I think everyone would agree that the environment here is not suitable for living.

In the sweltering heat of summer, it's like a sauna; in the dead of winter, it's as cold as a refrigerator—I really don't think this basin-like climate of extreme heat and cold can be completely erased by the scattered Buddhist temples and shrines. Besides, locals usually don't visit any of the local tourist attractions, so it's practically a disadvantage. I've even forgotten where Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) is.

December arrived.

With the autumn foliage season over, the cold winter has finally begun to unleash its full power these past few days. To combat the cold air mass, my family has deployed a secret weapon from deep within the warehouse to the front lines.

That is, a heated table.

"...It's so cold..."

When I occasionally return home after a short trip outside, I slam the door shut, shivering. While this escapes the biting wind, the house is just as cold as an icebox. In fact, the lack of sunlight can make it even colder indoors than outdoors—I'm starting to miss the hot springs of Kobe.

I went straight to the living room without taking off my coat. Even with the heating on, it would take some time for the room to warm up. In a corner of the living room, surrounded by sofas, there was a device that was easier to warm up than the heating.

Not long ago, there was a glass coffee table, but now there is a kotatsu (heated table) with a blanket covering the space underneath.

I tucked my legs into the blanket, and the warm air slowly warmed my frozen legs. But I had only just breathed a sigh of relief—

It has a soft, fluffy feel.

—My outstretched toes touched something soft.

"……Um……"

Hearing what sounded like sleep-talking moans, I finally realized...

On the blanket to my left, a familiar woman peeked out from there.

Without even thinking, I threw back the blanket covering my lower body. In the dim orange light, I saw pale legs bent at the knees like a baby's. My long skirt was lifted, revealing my smooth, delicate thighs. If my gaze had gone any lower, I might have even seen my underwear.

"……Um……"

After I stared at it for a full ten seconds, the woman who had turned into a table warmer snail seemed to twitch as if she were cold, and raised her knees even higher. If this continued, her buttocks might be exposed, so I quickly pulled the blanket down.

I looked down, unconsciously watching her sleeping soundly with only her head sticking out from under the kotatsu table—Yui's sleeping face.

...I feel like I've seen this situation before...I think I've experienced something similar before, before I went to Kobe.

Izana was there too, so I didn't do anything outrageous—but in this situation where no one was watching, her lack of vigilance inevitably gave rise to a certain thought in my mind.

No, of course, that kind of thing is unacceptable. If someone in your family were to peep at someone else's lower body under the kotatsu (heated table), even if they weren't your ex-lover, it would destroy the family.

I should restrain myself now and quickly retreat to my room... but on the other hand, the warmth of the kotatsu (heated table) makes it hard to leave...

Poke.

Someone poked my knees as I sat cross-legged.

When she came to her senses, she realized that the woman who had peeked out from under the covers had already opened her eyes a crack.

She's awake? ...Thank goodness she didn't wake up when I lifted the covers.

The woman below the shoulders remained nestled in the kotatsu, staring intently at my face—and then poked my knee with her toe from under the covers.

"........."

"........."

We stared at each other in silence for a long while.

The girl just stared at me without saying anything. So I didn't have anything in particular to say either.

In short, it seems she has no intention of kicking me out of the kotatsu (heated table).

I took off my coat, took out the book I had just bought from the bag, and started turning the pages on the kotatsu (heated table).

During this time, Jie continued to poke my knee with her foot several times. I would occasionally glance at her, and a smug smile would appear on her lips.

Does she want me to stay with her...?

For some reason, I just didn't want to do as she wanted, so I silently pushed back her mischievous foot that she had stretched out. A little while later, Aunt Ren came over from the front door.

"Ah, Mizuto, you're back—"

As Aunt Ren spoke, she walked over quickly and noticed that Jie Nu was also huddled in the blankets.

"Ah—Yui—you'll catch a cold if you sleep here."

"Hmm──..."

The girl answered in a drowsy voice, but made no move to leave the kotatsu.

"I just can't do anything with you..."

After Aunt Ren left, she started poking me again.

And she looked at me with such affectionate eyes, I wonder what she wanted? But I'm not the kind of person who'll suffer in silence.

I seized the opportunity, quickly slipped my hand under the covers, and grabbed the bare foot that Jie Nu was extending.

"ah……"

I grabbed her delicate foot and immediately began to tickle the sole of her foot with my other hand.

"Mmm! Don't do that...mmm~!"

The girl struggled and writhed silently, but I didn't let her go and continued to tickle her.

—It's just an ordinary, everyday scene.

As a family, we naturally experience fleeting moments in our lives.

However, within this comfortable and stable life, there is something irresistibly stimulating to the heart.

"...Hoo──..."

When I finally stopped scratching, Jie Nu looked at me with a slightly flushed face and a hint of resentment.

Then suddenly, only her eyes showed a smile, almost as if she was being coquettish, and her freed feet began to rub against my knees with the soles of her feet.

The sense of security that comes with being part of a family.

The thrill of being a couple.

Two conflicting emotions lingered in my heart, shifting and changing in an instant.

I'm going crazy.

So crazy that he almost lost himself.

Irito Yume ◆ A pavilion on a pavilion in the air

"Senior! Senior♪"

Senior Sister Ya Shuang's sweet voice, eight octaves higher than usual, rang out in the student council room.

Did you watch the official live stream yesterday? It was so exciting! I can't wait for the update!♪

"...Yes..."

The person sitting on the guest sofa with Senior Sister Ya Shuang's head resting on her shoulder was, of course, Senior Brother Xing Bian. While dealing with her, Senior Brother Xing Bian kept turning his head to look at us with an embarrassed expression.

"Senior, can I talk to you again tonight? I haven't finished my quest yet, so how about you help me run a dungeon?"

"""

Listening to her 100% cutesy voice, I, Asuhain-san, President Kurenai, and Haba-senpai all just silently went about our business. There was no conversation between us; the only thing that could counteract Asuhain-senpai's cloyingly sweet voice was the sound of her laptop typing on the keyboard.

"…………well……"

Finally, Senior Xingbian sighed, then pushed Senior Yashuang aside and stood up abruptly.

"Huh? Senior?"

"Hong, I'm sorry. I won't be coming to the student council room again."

Upon hearing his sudden announcement, Senior Sister Ya Shuang was stunned.

"Huh?! Why?! That means I'll have so much less time to see my senior!"

"It's all your fault for not doing anything!"

The voices of President Hong and Senior Xingbian overlapped.

After being corrected by her boss and boyfriend from both professional and personal perspectives, Senior Sister Ya Shuang pouted capriciously and looked in a completely unrelated direction.

"...It's okay to just chat for a bit...I've only just started dating my senior..."

"Of course something will happen. How can you be a role model for your juniors like this? ... Just finish your work properly first, and I'll stay with you as long as you want."

After being gently patted on the head by senior Xingbian, senior Yashuang looked up at her boyfriend with a resentful expression, then said with dissatisfaction, "Okay, okay..."

"I'm off then." Senior Xingbian simply said to us and left the student council room.

Senior Sister Ya Shuang watched him leave with reluctance before sitting down in her seat with a dejected look on her face.

"Sigh... not enough senior classmates..."

"...I had long suspected that you were the type to value romance more than friendship or work, but seeing it actually happening right before my eyes is still quite unbearable to watch."

When President Hong said this with her eyes half open, "Hehe," Senior Sister Ya Shuang inexplicably giggled and acted cute.

"Sorry, this might be a bit too much for a single person, meow?"

"........."