My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 305

The first volume of the short comic book includes an appendix: A belated after-school date.

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Translation: kura_lin

"The cause and effect of the matter are clear now, but since I've already done that, I feel it's necessary to take it a step further." After I explained my brother-complex declaration to the people I knew, one of the girls, who had a strange aura, said casually, "Go home with your brother today, Irito-san."

"...Huh? Why...?"

"Because you see, if someone really has a brother complex, they'll definitely go on dates after school, right?"

Therefore, I found myself in the following situation. After class, I linked arms with Shuidou, pretending to show off to my classmates as we walked out of school.

After learning the whole story, Mizuto sighed.

"Well, for convenience, it's better to have a backup plan than to expose ourselves and then be surrounded by those annoying guys."

"...What do you mean 'it's better to have a backup plan'? This is my after-school date! It's the date with the guy who's admired by all the boys in the whole grade!"

"Yes, yes, yes. Then, let me ask the beautiful girl who is first in the grade to be your protector. Where should we go for an after-school date that all the boys in the grade are drooling over?"

"Uh-huh……"

I searched my memory for past dates. ...After-school dates? After school...

"...like, for example, going to buy food...?"

"puff."

"What are you laughing at! The fact that we haven't had a proper date is because someone didn't take me, isn't it?!"

Unable to think of any other solutions, we decided to try walking towards areas with large crowds, still in our uniforms. It was naive of us to think that there would be something to do in crowded places.

Later I saw a shop selling crepes.

I clasped my hands together and said aloud, "The Way of the King!"

"stale……"

"what?!"

I glared at my stepsister, who looked away. What the heck! Tell me, what's wrong with eating crepes on a date?! They're totally perfect for a date!

Fortunately, there weren't many people in line, and we quickly placed our order.

"I'll have chocolate custard... What about you?"

"I don't need it. My stomach is full."

"Oh, yes."

They're like completely incompatible people. Do you think they can get through high school like this?

I sat down on a nearby bench and immediately took a bite of the crepe. The soft texture of the custard and the sweetness of the chocolate spread across my tongue.

"So sweet—"

"You'll get fat."

"Unfortunately, I have a body type where nutrients tend to accumulate in my breasts."

"So you were malnourished in junior high?"

"That's right. My boyfriend always has a grumpy face, which makes me lose my appetite."

I spoke to him in my usual tone while taking a big bite of my crepe. Mizuto and I sat on the same bench, idly watching the crowd in front of us.

...Does making him wait for me to finish eating count as a date?

At least during our relationship, I don't recall ever experiencing this situation.

I looked down at the crepe I'd eaten a third of, then looked up at the sink beside me.

"...I said..."

"what's up?"

"Want to eat?"

As I spoke, I held the half-eaten crepe to Mizuto's lips. Mizuto blinked a few times before his gaze settled on the crepe.

"...I see. It does seem like something you'd do on a date after school."

"Yes, isn't it?"

"Uh-huh."

Just as I was trying to make an excuse, Mizuto beat me to it and took a big bite of his crepe.

"...So sweet"

After chewing and swallowing the crepe, Mizuto licked his lips and said. Looking at his lips, glistening with saliva, and the crepe stuck between his teeth, I couldn't help but compare their softness.

...No, no, no. What am I doing now? I've touched that place countless times—

"Hey. Turn your face around."

"Huh? W-what's wrong—"

I tried to lift my face to drown out Mizuto's voice, and before I knew it, Mizuto's hand reached out to me, and he stroked my cheek with his fingers.

"You've got cream on your face. Are you a child?"

I saw yellow custard cream stuck to Shuidou's thumb. Shuidou slowly brought his finger to his lips... just then, he stopped.

"........."

After a moment of stillness, Shuidou took a tissue from his pocket and wiped the cream off his fingers.

...I said. Why didn't you just use a tissue from the beginning? Why did you wipe it with your fingers? Because you were planning to lick it off, right? If that's the case, why did you stop just before you were about to lick it off?

I swallowed all these questions along with the crepe stuck between my teeth.

After I told the girl who suggested the after-school date the whole thing, she tilted her head and said, "No, if it's just to show that you're a brother-complex, wouldn't it be fine to just do it at school?"

"……ah"

Seeing my stiffen expression, she said without changing her demeanor, "Irito-san... you're serious."

From that day on, no one tried to strike up a strange conversation with me or Mizuto anymore. Even though we weren't serious...!

The scene on the back of the appendix to the 4th volume of short comics

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Translation: Beatrice

I listened to the sound of chalk scratching on the blackboard while gazing at the long black hair in front of me.

After a month of waiting, I finally got my first seat change since starting high school, and I'm now in this perfect spot—sitting behind Yui Irito. I'm racking my brains over this.

Okay, what should we do?

During that month, having exposed my back to this woman, I endured all sorts of hardships, from being poked by mechanical pencils to having my chair kicked in class. But after changing seats, the roles were reversed, and now the power to attack is in my hands.

Hmm...that back view looks quite appetizing. Smooth, flowing black hair, a slightly hunched back from copying notes on the blackboard, delicate hands occasionally combing her hair, and glimpses of her white ears peeking through the strands...

"........."

...She didn't notice at all. That's understandable, since her back was facing this way.

Was this guy also like this before we changed seats, staring straight at my back when I didn't know? When I was shaking my tired head, or when I was dozing off...?

"Um……"

The girl stretched and yawned, looking up at her head as it swayed, revealing a whorl of hair on the top of her head and a glimpse of her fair neck through the swaying strands of hair.

"........."

No, no, no, I'm not looking at anything.

Even if there aren't many opportunities to stare at something like this, there's not much point in just looking at things like the hair whorl or the back of the neck.

At least more—yes, let's find places that seem like weaknesses, and then poke at them until she gets annoyed… Oh, how about her side…?

...Think about it carefully.

The nature of the problem is completely different when this woman does this and when I, as a man, do this.

If this guy does it, he'll just be annoying. If I did that, it would definitely be sexual harassment, right?

...The world is unfair.

Having finally secured a favorable rear position, is there no way to retaliate?

—Just then, his eyes met those of the girl.

"ah."

The girl hurriedly turned back to the blackboard.

Just now...did he turn around? Did he turn around?

I lowered my voice and asked the figure from behind.

"(What's up?)"

no answer.

Did you not hear me? Or are you not going to answer?

I thought for a moment, then gently tapped the woman's shoulder with the pen.

The woman's body trembled.

However, they showed no intention of turning back.

What's going on? I haven't done anything yet. Did something happen that would make her turn back? If she cares about my actions, this deliberate ignoring is a bit strange. I probably don't look too good at this point—but I just sat down here, and seeing this woman's back is rather unusual.

……ah.

Is that how it is?

To test this idea, I said softly.

"(—You can't calm down if you can't see me?)"

The woman's shoulders trembled slightly.

The fact that they neither turned back nor answered proved the point.

……snort.

This month looks like it will be quite enjoyable.

I reached out and poked the snow-white nape of my neck that was faintly visible among my black hair.

"(Alas!)"

The girl let out a soft moan. She turned her head, her eyes seemingly in protest.

I withdrew my hand, pretending to be nonchalant.

I retract my statement. This is not sexual harassment.

The saying goes, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." You learned that in class, right?

The connection to the hair dryer in the appendix of the 5th volume of short comics.

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Translation: Beatrice

After taking a shower, I peeked out of the dressing room and secretly peered into the living room.

But the perceptive Xiaoyue noticed it, and she turned her head and revealed a bright smile.

"Yui-chan! How's the water temperature?"

"...Didn't you peek?"

"I didn't see it, I didn't see it!"

She said it with a smile, and although it still felt a little strange, based on my experience living under the same roof as my ex-boyfriend, I figured she wasn't spying. I decided to believe her for now. I walked into the Nan family's living room.

To give my mom and dad some time alone, I used this as an excuse to plan an overnight stay. Ultimately, I chose Xiaoyue's house as the location. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? I don't have any prejudice against her, but I feel like Xiaoyue occasionally makes physical contact that goes beyond friendship… or am I just ignorant? Is this how friends act?

"Speaking of which, Xiaoyue."