My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 286

What happened to her?

I stared at her phone on the table, puzzled and confused. The screen had darkened, and I couldn't see what it had been displaying.

Just then—the phone reacted to something.

I don't know if it was reacting to the vibration or some kind of glitch. The only thing I'm sure of right now is that Izana's phone screen automatically lit up and displayed what was on the screen again.

In other words──

It's a female nude painting that's almost entirely flesh-colored and has a very familiar-looking figure.

The face wasn't drawn with facial features. But yes, Kawanami also said that. Izana's figure is rare even among gravure idols. Whether it's her full but beautifully rounded breasts, her curvaceous waist, or her alluringly perky buttocks—I, who am closer to Higashito Izana than anyone else, naturally know very well that all of this is based on her.

"────!"

So I immediately reached out and turned off the screen.

Then, I finally remembered.

When Isana first showed me the illustrations on the tablet, she said, "Don't look at strange files."

"...How could I have imagined you were drawing your own nude body..."

I know nude sketches are helpful. While I understand, there's no need to save them—

The sketch that was instantly imprinted in my eyes was completed by the reflection of Isana's back that I had just seen in the mirror. The front and back filled in the gaps, forming a 3D doll in my mind.

I didn't look at Izana that way.

Even if it doesn't exist, it's hard not to think about it if it's right in front of you.

Perhaps this tiny phone contains not only copies, but also real nude photos—

"Thank you for the treat—it was delicious—"

"...Oh, um."

I've decided to stop thinking about it.

Irito Mizuto◆Sexual desire

I knew immediately that I was dreaming.

--……Mizuto-kun.

Izana lay naked on the bed. She swayed her voluptuous body seductively, her expression pleading. My blood rushed through my veins, gradually robbing me of my normal thoughts.

I took a step forward, like a moth drawn by a lamp. Knowing I would be playing with fire and get burned, I couldn't stop myself from getting closer.

I cautiously reached out and touched her firm, upward-facing breasts, which seemed ready to be offered to me.

--Hmm...Water bucket...

In an instant, she transformed into a knotted woman.

My fingers sank into the woman's body as if they could never reach the bottom. That sensation caused my desire to overflow. I was lost in her gentle embrace, holding her tightly, caressing her body, rubbing against her, gradually becoming one with her—

—Just before my consciousness was about to be swallowed up and disappear by desire, I woke up.

The ceiling of my room was blurry and hazy. I stared at it absentmindedly, and gradually, an unpleasant feeling slowly seeped into my heart from the depths of my chest.

It feels awful.

It's so bad that I want to resent being born a man.

"...Ah, you're awake?"

That's such a bad coincidence.

At a time when I wanted to curse, I heard that voice.

"Mom said she's going to cook lunch and asked me to wake you up—"

The woman's face appeared in front of the ceiling.

She's still as lovely and beautiful as ever, and I want to look at her face forever. Perhaps there's no other person or thing in this world that I feel such tenderness for. But—

My gaze, however, was drawn to the ample bosom beneath that face.

"……knew……"

I shielded my eyes with my arm and answered in a hoarse voice.

"Can you eat something right after waking up?"

When asked this question by the clueless woman, I was driven by a violent impulse.

"Just say you understand... and ask me to leave."

His tone was rude and disrespectful.

I can't stand myself.

I curled up in bed, isolating myself from everything outside. By doing so, no one would know about my sordid desires.

Sexual desire needs to be tamed; it cannot be suppressed at all costs.

The words Kawabata had said flashed through my mind.

This is probably the essential condition for a person to maintain their humanity.

Irito Yume ◆ Defense

The graduation ceremony is approaching, and today is the last activity of the student council for this year.

About two and a half months have passed since I mustered up the courage to join the student council. The days filled with novelty and learning have finally come to an end, and I feel quite emotional.

I never expected that I would do so well in the student council...

I feel like I'm in a dream, living in a state I couldn't have imagined a year ago.

If only we could conquer the water battleground, it would be perfect!

"Our association will be holding a Christmas girls' party on December 25th."

In a review of this year's student council activities, President Hong made the following announcement.

"The location is at my home. Female members and male members should settle any plans they have made by Christmas Eve!"

Christmas Eve – December 24th.

This day is also a holiday for couples in Japan.

My most recent Christmas memory dates back two years—to the time Mizuto sneaked into my house one night. I've never had a happier Christmas than that. So happy that even after a long period of estrangement, the memory remains beautiful and bright.

But this year, I want to surpass that Christmas.

I've already decided on the gift. I've poured all my heart and soul into it. So much so that if even this doesn't make him understand, then I'm at my wit's end.

I made a vow to myself.

Conquer Shui Dou this year—if you can't do that, then confess your feelings yourself.

However, I feel the situation has changed. If this matter isn't resolved by the end of the year, I might lose my grip on the water bucket forever. Once next year arrives, he might take a different path and never return.

I'm going to catch him.

We absolutely must catch him.

I absolutely...won't let him escape.

So let me continue my aggressive attack today!

Living in the same house has its inconveniences, but the fact that we don't have to worry about not seeing each other during school holidays is undoubtedly a major advantage. Even if I'm trying to be discreet, there are plenty of opportunities if I time it right. Tonight, I'm going to keep up the momentum and shower him with affection to get him to respond...!

"I'm back—"

I said this at my front door, but no one responded. The living room lights were off as well.

At this time, Mom and Uncle Fengqiu are still at work, but has Shuidou gone out too? It seems that he goes out more often since the beginning of this month.

I went upstairs and tried saying again to the room with the sink, "I'm back." A voice came from inside the room: "You're back."

He is at home.

I opened the door a crack and saw him working on the computer... Could it be related to Dongtou?

I went back to my room first and changed out of my uniform into my loungewear. Today I decided to appear completely unguarded. I put on a loose shirt and a skirt and went out of my room.

Then I went downstairs and boiled water to make black tea. Next, I carried the teapot on a tray and knocked on the door of the sink room.

"I've made some tea, would you like some?"

Of course, this was just a convenient excuse. The real purpose was to get into the water tank room.

"Hmm──..."

I took the lazy reply as agreement and successfully made it to my destination.

Shuidou didn't turn to look at me, staring at his laptop, lost in thought. I had no intention of disturbing him. It would be counterproductive to bother him and make him lose patience with me.

I placed the tray next to the computer and poured black tea for both of us. Then I picked up my own teacup, blew on it to cool it down, and walked away, settling comfortably on the edge of the bed.

I sipped my hot black tea, staring at the back of Shuidou's head.

I won't try to talk to him, and I won't touch him. My only purpose today is to stay here.

To put it bluntly, it's about playing the role of a girlfriend in a battle.

As long as I stay here and act as if it's perfectly normal, Mizuto should slowly start to care. In other words, the certain boundaries we've maintained until now will come into play at this moment. If I maintain the same distance with him as Dongtou, these little tricks won't be effective.

After finishing my tea, I got up from the bedside and put the teacup back on the tray. Then, I casually glanced at the bookshelf and pulled out a book as if it were perfectly natural.

I took the book and collapsed onto the bed.

Choosing a loose shirt and culottes as loungewear was also for this moment. The subtle, unguarded feel of the culottes' hem should be hard for guys to ignore—that's what it says online.

I lay lazily in bed reading a book.

"........."

"........."

Thinking about it carefully, I think I've been longing for this kind of relationship since junior high school.

While cuddling and kissing 24/7 can be sweet, I also cherish these stress-free and blissful moments of tranquility. Perhaps my overreaction to the relationship between Mizuto and Higashito stems from the fact that they often spend time together like this.

The period of liking someone so much that you can't stand it—this kind of phase doesn't last long.

I know from experience that humans are creatures of habit. Even happiness gained unexpectedly will eventually become commonplace and lose its value over time.

But I always feel that even so, people might still pursue things that are eternal. They might pursue relationships where they can still feel happiness for a long time, even if their hearts no longer race or their emotions no longer flutter.

That was a relationship we couldn't build in the past—

So now, I want to make the water bucket as exciting as possible for me.

Without realizing it, I found myself raising my knees. The water basin was positioned on my hip side. If he turned his head now, he might be able to see a glimpse of my buttocks from the hem of my skirt, which was lifted up to my thighs.

As a basic courtesy for girls, I would normally straighten my posture immediately... but I pretended not to notice.

Let him see if he wants. As long as it captures Mizuto's heart—I'm willing to let him see as much as he wants.

Sigh, I've become so lecherous. Who's responsible for making me like this?

He needs to take responsibility.

"Hello."

When I heard him call me, I raised my head slightly and looked over my chest at the water bucket that had turned its head.

"I'm taking the teapot and teacups away. You're not going to drink them, are you?"

"Ah, okay. I won't drink anymore..."

Shuidou carried the tray out of the room.

As the door slammed shut, I tilted my head in confusion.

I didn't feel the gaze at all...

Mizuto looked calm and collected, a stark contrast to when he brought me the lotion to the bathroom or when I approached him wearing revealing clothes.

...Isn't it exciting enough? For Shuidou, who always plays with Dongtou's classmates, the thought of "having a member of the opposite sex in the room" no longer makes his heart race?

Since that's the case...! I'll try this next move!

With a click, the door opened, and the sink returned.