My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 296

"I'm so sorry to trouble you..."

Haha!

"In short, as long as I can see the New Year's countdown, that's fine."

"You value this a lot?"

"Don't you think this is what New Year's Eve should feel like?"

"Ah—I think I understand now."

"If you don't pay attention and find that the date has changed, you'll feel like you've been cheated."

"I understand, I understand!"

Shuidou left the living room. I heard him go upstairs.

"Last year, I only realized it was New Year's when I saw the New Year's greetings on LINE."

Is Yui the first to offer New Year's greetings?

"Is there anyone who doesn't want to be the first to offer incense?"

"If I had anticipated the network would be overloaded!"

"Hmm... I might offer my congratulations in person this year."

"That's true, we'll meet up soon."

"Two points, right?"

"Yeah! Yes, yes—ah!"

"What's wrong?"

"That's what I called about!"

"Ah, I see."

"Yes, that's right. I should tell you—Nasuka's mother seems willing to drive us. Since this is a rare opportunity, we're discussing whether we should just go on a trip to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine—"

"Wow! That's great!"

"Oh, you seem quite interested?"

"I look forward to it every year, but I feel that going there for the New Year is too far, so I give up."

"After all, it's an hour's walk—so, is that it?"

"Okay, that's decided!"

"OK—let's meet at the Karasuma Oike intersection at 2 PM!"

Mizuto entered the living room, carrying a paperback notebook.

He strode over and shoved his legs into the kotatsu (heated table). His toes reached out from the side and touched my calves.

"By the way, aren't you going out with Kawanami-kun?"

Mizuto opened the paperback book on the kotatsu table. It was "Pegasus in the Sky".

"Huh? Why are you mentioning him—?"

"Why don't you two go on a date while visiting shrines during the New Year?"

"Come on, I'm not going!"

"why?"

"Because that guy runs into acquaintances everywhere he goes. Actually, so do I."

"Wow~"

Why did you yell "Wow!"?

"I think the sunshine type is amazing."

"What's the big deal?"

"But in crowded places like Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, they probably wouldn't recognize it, right?"

"Hmm—okay, you're right."

I slowly straightened up and left the sofa behind me, stealing a glance at Shuidou's expression as he read.

"How's it going on your end?"

"What's going on?"

"Irito-kun. It seems he spent Christmas Eve at the Kawanami house—"

"Ah, just as I thought."

"You didn't know?"

"All I know is that he's not home."

"Irito-san really doesn't understand the situation—! She's leaving Yui alone in her room for a rare Christmas!"

"Weren't we invited to the chairman's party?"

That's right!

I feel that given Xiaoyue's personality, speaking like this is a bit roundabout.

It's like having something on your mind but being too embarrassed to ask directly.

"Xiaoyue, are you not satisfied?"

"Hmm—it's not that I'm dissatisfied—"

"Because you couldn't spend time with Kawanami-kun?"

"Oh, really! ...No, I just think..."

See, it's started.

"Both Irito and Yui seem to have something on their minds... I'm a little worried."

Xiaoyue is such a kind person.

We prevented her from spending Christmas with the person she liked, but she worried about us.

"We're fine."

To put my dear friend at ease, I said firmly.

"Everything will be alright."

Although the future is unpredictable.

But now I have an unfounded confidence that makes me believe things won't get too bad.

"Oh, I see... then that's alright."

Xiaoyue didn't press the matter further and said:

"Two points then! See you at Karasuma Oike!"

"Okay, I've got it."

"Walking alone at night is dangerous. Irito-san should take you here!"

"……good."

I also hope he'll be willing to give it to me.

That's settled then! Bye-bye!

"bye."

I only put the phone down from my ear after the other party ended the call.

I felt a little tired from talking, so I leaned back on the sofa—

"...I'm saying..."

A rude voice quietly entered my ears.

"What's up?"

I leaned back on the sofa, looked up, and gazed at the sink.

Mizuto closed the pages of the paperback and stared at my face.

"........."

"Xiaofeng, do you always put white miso in your homemade zatsu?"

"........."

"Hmm? I don't think there's a specific way to cook it. My mom just uses white miso."

Our mothers' voices drifted from the restaurant, breaking into our silence.

Shuidou turned his head and glanced over there.

Perhaps it means... it's not convenient to say here.

Mizuto turned his eyes back to me, opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed his mouth again and lowered his head slightly.

Then he stared at my face again before finally speaking:

"If you're going to a New Year's shrine visit tonight, it would be better to get some sleep now."

"……Yeah?"

"Doesn't Yui usually go to bed early?"

My female classmate.

This way of addressing me means he considers me family.

As soon as the tension subsided, my head suddenly felt dizzy. Perhaps it was because I had just eaten, or perhaps the kotatsu was too warm; sleepiness began to weigh down my eyelids.

"Don't fall asleep here."

"...Okay, sure..."

"After waking up from my afternoon nap..."

I've become a little more sober.

Give me some time.

……Um.

I answered him in my head, then perked up and slipped away from the kotatsu.

"I... also have something I want to tell you."

There's something else I'd like to apologize for.

We were both keeping our voices down during this conversation. I glanced quickly at my mom and the others in the restaurant; it seemed like they weren't listening to us at all.

"Hey, do you have any other works by this author? Could I borrow them?"

Mizuto picked up "Pegasus in the Sky" and suddenly spoke.

"Okay, come to my room to get it later."

This is a disguise done just to be on the safe side.

It was a foreshadowing to ensure that our time alone wouldn't seem suspicious.

After I left the living room, I went upstairs to my room.

I'm worried about messing up my hair while napping, so I'll just tie it into two buns like usual. As for clothes... I'll change them tonight anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

I lay back on the bed.

I stared at the ceiling and sighed softly.

Then, I started thinking.

Thinking about the future.

And our affairs.