My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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What if I go to a festival during summer vacation?

What if you're preparing gifts for Christmas?

What if you exchange chocolates on Valentine's Day?

Even this "IF" statement is wrong. Before expecting the effects of these actions, there are more important things to do.

No novel consists only of blank spaces between the lines.

Without words, it's just a blank sheet of paper.

The first thing we should do is sit down and have a proper talk.

If there really is an answer...

This is the only perfect answer.

Mizuto Irito: A one-winged bird cannot spread its wings

When I got home from school, it seemed that no one was home.

Dad and Aunt Youren should still be at work, probably working hard to finish the last of their year's work.

As for Yui... I don't know. My understanding of that girl isn't deep enough to predict all her actions.

However, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. What I really need to know is the deeper part of her.

I walked into my room, which I hadn't visited for a day. It's only been a day; nothing much has changed. It's just a cluttered space filled with books, the one I know best.

I recalled the most recent and vivid memory of what happened in that room. At that time, Yui, having dressed in disheveled clothes, left the room apologizing—

I remember that she wasn't carrying anything in her hands at that time.

I glanced down at the edge of the bed, then lifted the blanket. Nothing there. My gaze fell on the floor; still nothing. In other words—

I lay on the floor and peered under the bed.

--Found it.

I reached out and took the thing.

It is a palm-sized gift box with a ribbon pattern.

I sat on the edge of the bed and opened the box.

The ring, sculpted into the shape of wings, still radiates a silvery glow.

"........."

I didn't intend to pick it up.

I am not suitable to wear this ring right now.

However, I know how much courage it takes to give a ring. Anyone with a partner has probably thought, "Maybe I could try giving a ring." Then, each time, they immediately dismiss the idea, telling themselves not to rush things, or rather, not to put too much pressure on the other person. A student wanting to give someone a ring—there's a limit to trying to act mature—and so on.

Indeed, this might be seen as feigning maturity. But for us now, feigning maturity may have its necessity. I don't know if Jie Nu has this thought, but the decisions we were forced to make were indeed too heavy for a student to bear.

Children or adults.

Students or working professionals.

These labels have nothing to do with us; we must be human beings.

As an independent individual...

Make a decision.

...Can this really be considered love? Falling deeply in love, overflowing with affection and nowhere to express it. In terms of a clear emotional state, it certainly is love. But the decision we need to make is far greater. Not just for the sake of this momentary feeling, but a choice that will determine our entire future.

We can no longer use breaking up as a way out.

The significance of this choice is even greater than that of couples who are legally able to divorce.

In romance novels, a decision is made and everything ends happily. But in reality, we still have a long road ahead of us.

There's still the future to live through.

Can one make decisions about the future, which will last for decades, at the tender age of sixteen?

"--Heh."

What a foolish question and answer.

That's impossible.

Anyone who dares to say they can do it proves they haven't used their brain to think.

I can't do it.

One person cannot do it.

I took out my phone and entered "ring wings" in the search bar, then compared the ring in the gift box with the displayed image.

After I finished, I went to my desk and took something out of the drawer.

It's a business card.

The name written on it is Keikoin Ryousei.

I dialed the phone number printed below my name on my phone, held it to my ear, and listened to the ringing. After the fourth ring, the sound stopped abruptly, replaced by a deep, steady male voice.

Hello, I'm Keikoin.

"I am Irito Mizuto."

I told him briefly.

"Could you please introduce me to a part-time job? I'd prefer one that pays within three days."

Irito Yume ◆ Earning a heart for a heart

When I returned home from my classmate's house in the east, I saw Shuidou's shoes in the entryway.

The moment I saw it, I felt a little nervous. But at the same time, I felt a little relieved.

Now we can go back to the same home.

I know this is a kind of dependence, but the fact that our connection will never be broken truly comforts my heart.

That makes sense. Since that's the case...

I stumbled upon something by chance.

Unlike before, we no longer have a relationship where one of us has to initiate a meeting. Since that's the case, on the contrary...

There seemed to be someone in the water basin's room, but I didn't go over; I went straight into my own room.

I want to give myself some time to think.

So that I can catch up a little with the water bucket that has thought so much about me.

I want to be alone for a while.

Because once I stop thinking, this relationship will probably end.

—Then, five days passed.

During this period, Shuidou always rushed out in the morning.

Sometimes Xiaoyue or other students or members of the student council would invite me out, but there was always a part of my brain constantly thinking.

Think about the relationship between water and bucket.

Reflect on the talent of Dongtou's classmate.

Reflecting on the lives of my mother and her family.

Thinking about my own future.

How could I possibly predict the future when I can't even imagine the big exam two years from now?

Even so, I continued to think about it.

My cousin Yuanxiang suggested that I treat this as summer homework and solve it little by little. She said I should put aside matters involving family or friends and focus on clarifying my own feelings first.

That period is over.

Having determined my own feelings, I've started to consider my family, friends, and other people around me.

even so.

even so.

Even so────

December 31st.

This year's past is coming to an end.

Volume 9: A Proposal Isn't Enough, Chapter 5: When the Lovebirds Spread Their Wings

Irito Mizuto ◆ Awakening

"—Are you prepared for this?"

December 29th. After completing the three-day service as I requested, Uncle Keikwang-in asked me this question.

The part-time job that Uncle Keikoin introduced me to was doing odd jobs at his company. It included things like organizing documents, managing the company's snack cabinet, and writing delivery addresses for packages—basically all sorts of miscellaneous tasks unrelated to my creative work. He said that since their company was small, having someone to do these odd jobs was very helpful.

Although this was my first time working, I was fortunate to occasionally do some housework, and my experience preparing for the cultural festival was also helpful. Moreover, even though it was only a small part, the opportunity to participate in the on-site work of the game company allowed me to gain invaluable experience beyond my expectations. For example, I learned how to give creators who were engrossed in their work a break.

At the end of the three-day novel experience, Uncle Keikoin said, as if it were a farewell:

"As the saying goes, 'A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days' absence,' and you are completely different from when we met half a month ago. Can I assume you have overcome your confusion?"

"……No."

I shook my head.

"I think no one is without confusion. Even the most brilliant genius is no exception... You should understand this better than I do."

Uncle Keikwang smiled meaningfully.

Perhaps, in the end, this person truly saw through everything. He probably already anticipated everything I'm about to say.

Even so, I still have to say it.

That's my answer to the question I just asked.

"There's no way to get rid of confusion. I think we should learn to live with it."

Uncle Keikoin looked slightly surprised, and it took him a moment to react.

"To live with it?...and not to cross it?"

"Yes. To sweep away or overcome confusion... perhaps only the Buddha himself could do it."

After a long pause, Uncle Keikoin chuckled calmly.

"As expected of a book lover, that's a truly learned way of answering—speaking of which, 'enlightenment' is originally a Buddhist term."

That is, to eliminate confusion and realize the truth.

For those of us living in a world of suffering, this principle is still too far removed from our reality.

"Uncle Keikoin, I've heard Yui mention before that she likes mystery novels, and it seems she was influenced by you."

"Hmm? Oh—I was also a big fan of mystery novels when I was a student."

"What's your favorite mystery novel?"

We're both book lovers, but this is the first time we've talked about this topic in three days.

Uncle Qingguangyuan hesitated for a moment, then said:

"This is a difficult question to answer... But let's put it this way, if we're talking about the ending, my personal favorite is probably 'The Mathematician Who Couldn't Laugh'."

—That night at the forest school, when I first met Yui Ayai, I was reading this book.

"This choice is a bit unique. In the same series, the more common choice we hear is probably 'All Become F'."

"I liked that ending; it highlighted the spirit of scientific thinking... um."

After Uncle Keikoin finished speaking, he suddenly fell silent.

Perhaps they've become aware of it. They've realized that what they're saying now has the same meaning as my answer.

"...You've won the argument."