My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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Dongtou's hand, which had been skillfully moving as he wrote, stopped.

Then, she quickly turned her head, her eyes conveying a powerful message:

"I'm sorry, Yui-chan, but I really can't back down on this... It would be very troubling for me."

Dongtou, who can easily let go of heartbreak and who once said that it's okay for Shuidou to have another girlfriend, has actually put forward such a clear proposition.

"...That's what I mean."

When I heard her say that, I felt relieved.

Previously, I always felt that Dongtou was from another world. I felt that she came from a world with completely different values ​​than mine, and that we were from a completely different race. I even wondered how I could have once overlapped with myself, and how I was always confused by her actions and thoughts.

But at this moment, I finally understood.

The only difference between us is what we value most.

—In fact, the feeling of longing is the same for everyone.

and so……

"I'm sorry, I can't back down either."

I told her the same thing to her face, from an equal standpoint.

I think this is basic courtesy.

Dongtou looked dejected and said:

"...Is it really not possible?"

"Let's discuss the details later. It's too early to think about these things when things are still in the early stages."

"That's true... After talking for so long, it would be so lame if the two of them were both abandoned."

"Don't jinx it."

I chuckled, and Dongtou also laughed.

I'm so glad that I'm friends with Dongtou.

We will definitely find a way to be ourselves and move forward.

Mizuto Irito ◆ True Gentleness

Even though students don't have to attend classes, the teachers won't be on vacation for a few more days. This gave me the opportunity to go back to the campus.

I told the teacher in the faculty office that my stepsister, who is the student council secretary, had asked me to come, and I got the key to the student council room. Excellent grades are really useful in situations like this; it's easy to gain the trust of teachers and mentors.

And so, I stepped into the student council room for the first time.

In front of me was a reception area with sofas, and behind that was a meeting area with a long table and a whiteboard. I first went to the meeting area and looked at the agenda text left on the whiteboard that hadn't been erased.

The student council's progress report, the financial reconciliation process with the e-sports club, and the weekly New Year's greetings itinerary—meeting at 7:00 AM.

I have seen the handwriting on these words.

During my junior high school years... when I was preparing for exams with my daughter, I often saw this kind of handwriting in her notebook.

I turned my gaze to the cabinet next to the whiteboard. Folders stood side-by-side with their side labels facing outwards, one of them bearing a sticker that read "Student Council Announcement." I took it out and opened it to take a look.

Each page contained a printed "Student Council Announcement." Most of the text was typed, but some handwritten text bore the same familiar writing style. It was Jie's meticulous yet slightly rounded handwriting.

The student council announcements seem to be issued almost weekly, and the number is already quite considerable. Each one bears Jie's handwriting, perhaps because she felt that using only computer text lacked warmth. Indeed, I also think that adding some handwritten text gives it a more handmade feel and makes it more eye-catching.

...So that's what they've been doing all along. I've never really looked at these propaganda materials seriously.

Indeed, it doesn't move me like Isana's paintings. But I know her from the past. A girl who wouldn't even dare to ask for curry ingredients at the forest school is now making propaganda that the entire school will see.

These propaganda materials won't amaze the world, nor will they move people's hearts. In fact, most students, like me, probably wouldn't even bother to look at them.

Even so, I—at least I know—how admirable this propaganda is.

"I knew it was you."

Suddenly, I heard the sound of the door opening, and I looked up in surprise.

The petite but charismatic student council president, Akari Akari, smiled at me.

"I heard some family members of a member came over, and I was guessing... did Yui forget something?"

The student council president closed the door and walked over, and my eyes flickered for a moment.

"……No."

"It's obvious. If she forgets something, she'll come and get it herself; she has a very strong sense of responsibility."

With that, Hong Lingli walked to the kettle by the wall and opened the lid.

"I originally just came to pick up some information, but I've changed my mind."

She put the lid on the kettle and gripped the handle.

"Please sit down, I'll treat you to some tea."

Uncle Keikoin too. Are all highly intelligent people like this? It seems like they can't hide anything I'm thinking from them—

I walked to the reception area and sat down on the sofa. I'm not a member of the student council, so it's perfectly reasonable for me to sit here.

Hong Lingli took the kettle out of the meeting room, quickly returned, and turned it on. After waiting for a while, she filled a teapot with tea leaves and poured hot water into the kettle.

The girl has always been used to drinking black tea. I wonder if the student council members are the same. I didn't see any coffee powder.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

As Hong Lingli placed the teapot and teacups on the tea table with a tray, she sat down directly opposite me. Then she poured ruby-colored tea into both of their cups and said:

Let's get down to business.

She casually crossed her legs and looked at me with an air of nonchalance.

What do you want to know?

His demeanor was that of a sage, bestowing wisdom upon the warrior and helping him embark on his adventure.

I'm not good at dealing with this person.

I don't know why. Maybe it's because I was targeted by her during the school festival for some reason?

No, I'm certain now that it's not. It's her attitude—like that of a sage, who has already reached a conclusion on everything and figured out the answers to every problem—that makes me, who is constantly pondering and can never finish pondering, feel utterly ashamed.

I often seek her out, as a wise woman.

If I were to look for someone, I would look for her, the student council president—no.

She is Irito Yume's senior.

"...I only know what Yui is like at home and in the classroom."

According to Kawabata, I seem to be a serious and honest person.

"Knowing this was enough before. But now, the student council has become part of Yuzuriha."

If what he said is true, then I will speak frankly and without reservation.

"Please tell me, what is Yui like here?"

Know yourself and the enemy, a hundred battles will never end.

I need to know her better than I do now. I need to know what has changed and what has remained the same in her over the past eight months. Otherwise, I can't make any choices or decisions.

You must first understand your opponent before you can devise a strategy and use your wisdom.

Without understanding, no plan will work.

Hong Lingli gave a tentative smile, only tilting her head slightly.

"You seem to have forgotten to consider personal privacy."

"I need to know everything about her, including this part."

Lovebirds.

If I want to fly wing to wing with her.

Hong Lingli quietly picked up her teacup and unhurriedly moistened her lips with the black tea. Then she placed the teacup back on the saucer, revealing a knowing smile.

"hehe."

"……What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, my apologies. It's just that, upon reflection, we haven't really done many decent things."

...? I think the student council is doing a great job.

"It was probably only after becoming a student council member that I realized I was just an ordinary, unremarkable high school girl."

"...Are you talking about yourself?"

"Yeah. Studying, working part-time, handling student council affairs, and spending the rest of her time talking about romance—a typical high school girl, isn't she?"

Topics related to love and relationships.

...Dating topics...?

"...Are you talking about yourself...?"

"Don't look at me like I'm looking at something suspicious. I can fall in love too."

"........."

I suspect she was referring to Haba-senpai, but the way she blushed like Yui was beyond my imagination. Besides, when she unfortunately witnessed their encounter at the school festival, she also seduced him with a calm and collected expression.

"The only boy here always keeps quiet, so naturally the conversation goes on to those kinds of topics. Aisha even treats the student council a bit like a place to show off her boyfriend. Luckily, there's Lan, who's very straightforward, otherwise, it would be unimaginable."

"You mean... Yui-onna too?"

"I know who she likes, but Aisha probably doesn't know. Lan seems to think you're dating Dongtou... But you'd better not know too much. Hearing girls talk about their love lives might make you not want to date them anymore."

Hearing her say that only made me more curious, but it also felt like there was a Pandora's box that couldn't be opened in front of me, so I suppressed my curiosity.

Hong Lingli chuckled softly.

"My classmate Jie is usually serious and composed, with the demeanor of a top student. But when it comes to romance, she becomes a completely different person. She'll ask Aisha for advice and then get really excited, but when she's preoccupied, she'll noticeably quiet down. She's just so adorable. Just thinking that there's any man in this world who could win her heart makes me so jealous that my brain is about to explode."

How deliberate... I just said I knew who she liked.

"When she was in Kobe, things were a little different. When she saw Aisha get dumped, she got angry, which was rare for her. It wasn't just out of sympathy, but because she was angry that 'things shouldn't be like this'—she was indignant about 'dishonesty.' That was probably the ideal she held in her heart, but I don't know how she cultivated it."

……honest.

Serious and honest

"She doesn't sympathize with others or feel empathy without any basis, like many girls do. Whether it's sympathy or empathy, it's always based on something. That's what I admire about her. Because it means she can think from other people's perspectives—not just out of external social constructs, but she possesses genuine gentleness from the heart. Don't you think so?"

Genuine tenderness from the heart...

Yes—that's right.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have sacrificed the image she had worked so hard to build for her family who couldn't integrate into the environment when they first enrolled in school.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have supported someone else falling for her ex-boyfriend.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have interfered in her friend's relationship with her childhood sweetheart.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to find a man who wanted to watch fireworks alone in solitude.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be worried about her ex-boyfriend's suddenly appearing rumored girlfriend.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed up so late to ensure the success of the class's mock store.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have cared about her rival's physical condition.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been angry because her senior's confession wasn't met with honesty.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have agreed to live with her ex-boyfriend.

Yes—I know.

This has now been confirmed.

Reproducibility has been confirmed.

Since that's the case—I should know.

Knowing what actions to take at what time.

No one can predict the future; the future is full of unknowns.