My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

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"........."

I was startled. Really startled.

The stronger feeling was disappointment.

It seems I originally thought I still had a chance with Mizuto.

I was so supportive of my classmate! Women are terrifying. She seemed nice to me on the surface, but then she was secretly plotting her move!

...But thinking about it carefully, it seems like my classmate did the same thing to me before. Anyway, women are truly terrifying creatures.

"........."

No, no, no, no.

I think I probably didn't really believe I could date Mizuto.

Yes, this mentality is like when my idol gets a boyfriend...

It's like... I genuinely want people to be happy, but what is this feeling that pierces my heart...?

I don't know how to explain this complex and strange emotion swirling in my chest.

No matter what words I use to describe it, I will always miss some parts—only this certainty is the most obvious fact to me.

Then, without realizing it...

I'm sitting at my desk again.

Holding the stylus and launching the drawing app felt like turning off an alarm clock, done subconsciously.

The drawing board was completely blank... Incredibly, the drawing was right in front of me.

Next, simply trace it with a paintbrush.

My soul tells me that I have no choice but to do this.

Irito Mizuto: A Word More Than a Thousand

On the second day.

I uploaded illustrations to Isana's Twitter account, which I was originally responsible for managing.

I think I'll never forget the moment I saw this illustration.

What first caught my eye was the azure sky reminiscent of a summer day. A contrail stretched across the sky as if it had been sliced ​​open.

Then, a girl in a sailor uniform sitting on the embankment looked up at the conch shell.

She swung her feet as she took off her loafers, a smile forming on her lips—yet it also seemed as if she were reluctantly clutching her red scarf tightly.

The published work was accompanied by only one line of explanatory text.

But this one line of text has already told the whole story.

"Be happy."

"……Um."

Staring at my phone, I finally managed to squeeze out this reply.

I haven't made a mistake.

You haven't made a mistake either.

Although we didn't become lovers.

However—it can certainly become something that changes the world.

This illustration set a new four-figure retweet record for Isana's work.

Thank you.

Also, please give me your guidance.

A brand new daily life is just beginning.

Volume 9: The Proposal Isn't Enough - Epilogue: An Eventual Perspective from a Romantic Comedy

It's not the final chapter yet.

In recent episodes of "Stepmother and Child," I've always started writing without any plan. This time, I had absolutely no clue about the next scene, or even the development two or three lines ahead. I was writing and thinking at the same time in this completely bewildered state. So (spoiler alert) when Mizuto came up with the keyword "respect" for me, I was truly relieved and slapped my knees in approval.

I must find a way to secure the future of Mizuto and Yume. I've been thinking about this ever since the book was first published.

After all, this relationship started with a breakup, and I can't just end the story by ignoring the fact that "couples may break up one day." From the beginning, I knew I couldn't simply let Mizuto and Yui get back together and have a happy ending; that's self-evident.

Recently, many one-on-one romantic comedy manga have ended quickly after only four or five episodes. Most of the works I've seen only go so far as to cover the initial stages of the relationship, with the story concluding in about one episode. While sales are likely a factor, the main reason is probably that unless the story delves into the "methods for making a lifelong commitment" after the two become lovers, there's simply no more plot to explore.

This is the event perspective of the romantic comedy genre—the horizon of events.

This time, Mizuto and Yume have at least found a method that works for them. However, as Mizuto also explained, the long "eternity" that the two will embark on is, to put it bluntly, a constant process of change. Whether "respect" has the strength to withstand these changes can only be known through actual testing.

So, okay, I'll give it a try.

Heading to the other side of the event horizon—but it's uncertain if that will be the next episode.

Don't rush, "that moment" will come sooner or later. Until then, let's appreciate the happy and sweet moments of couples who have just started dating.

So, that concludes Kamishiro Kyosuke's presentation of "My Stepmother's Burden is My Ex-Girlfriend 9: Proposal Alone Isn't Enough." By the way, I actually spent about a month drawing this since the beginning of the year.

Volume 9 only has a marriage proposal, not enough illustrations

Even in short stories, one cannot be careless in places that are not visible. Since one is doing something unfamiliar, one must be even more careful.

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Translation: Chiya Kūnagisa

"Can you see it?"

"I can see it."

On the other side of the computer screen, Dongtou was waving his hands. Through the live video software, Dongtou's figure, who was at home, appeared before my eyes.

Perhaps because it was a tablet, the camera angle was a little low, and you could only see her upper body, still wearing the usual shirt and hoodie outfit.

"It still feels a bit unbelievable that I'm able to meet up with Mizuto-kun at night."

"They usually get back in the evening, and they call each other at night."

As I said this, I looked behind me at the east end. Beneath the snow-white wall, was that her bed, completely exposed?

"Although this is the first time I've seen your room, it's surprisingly tidy."

"Huh?"

"Eh?"

"Ah, ah~. Is it, isn't it~? Surprisingly tidy, isn't it~"

"...Please point the camera at the floor and take a picture."

"As long as it's not observed, it's impossible to determine whether my room is clean or not; this is Schrödinger's room."

"Schrödinger is turning in his grave."

Well, I'm not in a position to criticize someone else's messy room.

"So? What was it you wanted to show me? You even made a video call specifically for this."

"Ah, you're right. Just a moment, I'll get it right away."

Just then, there was a knock on my door.

I turned around.

"Um?"

Are you free now?

"Ah, I'm free."

With a click, Jie Nu pushed open the door and walked in.

The woman, who appeared to have just taken a shower and was wearing pajamas with her hair tied in two buns, was holding a printed sheet of paper.

"I have something I wanted to ask you—...Huh?"

The woman suddenly froze on the spot.

His eyes were open, his mouth was slightly open but he didn't speak, and it seemed that even his breathing had stopped.

What's going on all of a sudden?

Just as I was completely bewildered, Jie Nu's face flushed red as if it were boiling.

"You...didn't you just say you were free?"

"Huh? I did say that."

"Why are you so calm!? Shouldn't those things be hidden away and watched secretly!?"

"That kind of thing...?"

What is this guy talking about?

The girl trembled slightly, repeatedly glancing away. ...No, it wasn't just glancing away, she kept glancing this way? She was looking at the computer directly opposite me?

I turned my gaze back to my computer screen.

"Mmm...They are definitely looking this way..."

In the center of the screen.

A woman was rummaging through something under the bed, her buttocks swaying back and forth, her panties completely exposed.

"East……!?"

East end! Is this guy not wearing anything underneath because the camera only shows his upper body?!

The light blue fabric, barely concealing her buttocks, was tucked into her tender flesh, and her body was slightly tilted to the left—let's just say that this was evidence that she had been sitting in the chair the whole time.

This scene is just like an adult video.

Then, as I displayed this scene on the screen, it was as if I were doing something shameful.

"In short...!"

The woman's voice was filled with anxiety.

"You can ask questions anytime...! I'll come back after this is over—oh, no, I'll come back tomorrow!"

"Wait, wait a minute! Just a moment—"

"Excuse me—!"

I wanted to explain, but Jie rushed out and slammed the door shut.

Damn it! That woman's thinking dirty thoughts again!

"What happened?"

Back in front of the camera, Dongtou calmly asked me a question.

The lower body, with zero defense, had disappeared from sight, and my scene returned to its all-ages state.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

I suppressed the urge to sigh and spoke.

"Eastern Head... there are some things I need to tell you."

"Um? 』

"First of all, we must not let our guard down, even in places that are out of sight."

"Huh? Are we back to the topic of rooms again? Mizuto's room is definitely messier—"

"Secondly, since you're doing something you're not used to, you need to be even more careful."

"? 』

Some people, not quite understanding what was going on, tilted their heads.

Hopefully, she will realize her mistake after the call ends...