My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 324

"That's true, just like 'Mario Kart,' which is lightweight and accelerates faster."

"Yes, yes, yes."

However, the top classes on the leaderboard are all heavyweight classes with relatively high speed.

"From this perspective, I think table tennis probably has the best chance so far."

"Yeah, you ripped me off when we went on family trips before."

"Right—you were still angry with me that time, and it drove me crazy."

"Why didn't you ever think of practicing seriously?"

"Whether it's suitable or not and whether you can get addicted to it are two different things."

By the time you're nearing the end of your first year of high school, you'll have a better understanding of human nature.

The reason why so-called geniuses are remarkable is not because they are exceptionally gifted. What makes them remarkable is their boundless motivation to become engrossed in something.

When a person finds that they lack that motivation, they take a step towards adulthood.

...But I don't know why?

I always feel like I'm the one who's been abandoned—

"It's okay if you don't wait for me."

"I have something to do—the office, just passing by."

Ok?

A familiar voice came from inside the school building, and we turned around.

We are now in the corridor connecting the school building and the gymnasium. We crane our necks to look into the school building and see the two from the Irito family at the end of the corridor.

Irito-kun should be heading home, he's carrying his schoolbag. As for Irito… why is he still at school? Didn't he say he wasn't going to the library and wasting time with the east side anymore?

"My mom asked me to buy something, so I have to buy it on the way back."

"I have no choice but to help carry the things."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"Take your own schoolbag."

"mean."

Nan and I looked at each other in surprise.

The two members of the Irito family didn't seem to have a particularly good relationship at school. That's why the rumors about Irito having a crush on her younger brother, which she herself started when she enrolled, disappeared so quickly.

But something seemed off about them just now…

"Then let's go home."

"it is good."

Finally, the decisive moment arrived.

Irito's movements were smooth and natural, as if she were doing nothing.

She reached out her hand and took the hand of her stepbrother, Irito.

Irito leaned her shoulder against hers in a coquettish manner, but Irito coldly reminded her, "We're still at school," and let go of her hand.

However, the two still walked side by side, their relationship as harmonious as ever, toward the shoe section...

"........."

"........."

We were speechless as we watched them walk away.

In my heart, there is only one sentence.

—I've been tricked!

That guy Irito, he actually did this behind my back without my knowledge...! I knew it! Something must have happened between them after he came to stay overnight at our house on Christmas!

"Hey, Minami...!"

I spoke to Nan with a mixture of frustration and excitement.

Upon closer inspection, Minami's mouth remained slightly agape as she stared intently at the corridor where the two figures from the Irito family had disappeared.

"...Hey? What's wrong?"

"...Um—that's it..."

Nan closed his eyes, paused for a moment as if considering his words, and then said:

"...Small lovelorn?"

"Huh?"

Why are you only bringing this up now? Didn't you give up on Irito a long time ago?

"Of course, Yui goes without saying. After all, I proposed to Irito once too. How should I put it? I feel a bit conflicted..."

"Please, you're not even truly in love with either of them, can you even call it a relationship?"

"That's right!...That's right, but..."

...Okay, this kind of thing is rather complicated.

I thought I had let go of the past, but I haven't; I thought it was over, but it's not.

The connection remains, unnoticed even by oneself; one has never been able to escape the past.

"Should I comfort you?"

Just kidding. This should be more useful for the guy right now.

Sure enough, Nan looked up at my face, grinned, and said:

"So, should we go to your place or mine?"

"Huh? Why only at home?"

"Of course. When it comes to comforting a heartbroken girl, I think of..."

"Don't portray me as one of those scumbags driven by lust!"

Nan let out a chuckle, his shoulders swaying slightly.

You're really making that kind of dirty joke. I just saw those two looking so innocently in love...

...A pure and innocent love.

Perhaps it's just how I appear. Those two weren't having an easy time either; they were in a much more difficult situation than we were. It was only by overcoming those obstacles that they were able to reach the kind of relationship we just described.

In contrast, I am still...

"Sigh." I sighed.

"...Hey, what time do you finish your club activities?"

"Huh? It'll be over in half an hour, what's up?"

"Then, I'll wait for you until then."

Both of them have made progress—of course, I can't remain a bystander forever and just let things slide.

"Before going home, let's go find some fun somewhere else."

"Is it okay? It's been so long since I've gone out to play."

"To commemorate your heartbreak, I'll treat you to a meal."

"Yay! Getting injured was definitely the right thing to do!"

"An injured guy wouldn't say something like that."

Nan ripped off the vest I was wearing over my shoulders and threw it back at me.

"Wait for me! I'm going to finish the match in a flash!"

After leaving those words, Nan ran away like a gust of wind.

"...There are time limits for basketball."

Clutching the vest that still held that guy's warmth, I smiled.

It was only after much difficulty that I finally made up my mind to take that trip to Kobe.

I should start thinking about the future.

Mizuto Irito ◆ Long-distance relationship within a family

At home, the time and places we can spend together as lovers are limited.

It can only begin after school, from when I get home, until my dad and the others come home.

After that, we could only exchange a few words in the second-floor corridor when our parents were on the first floor or in their own rooms.

Goodnight.

"Good night."

After exchanging a gentle wave with Yui, I returned to my room.

As I sensed a faint presence from the next room, I walked around the pile of books and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Then I looked down at my phone and received a notification from Jie Nu.

Goodnight❤

Seeing the heart at the end of the sentence that wasn't there before, I smiled. How pretentious.

I'll reply with "Goodnight" one more time and lie back on the bed.

As long as you use a mobile phone, you won't be restricted by time or place.

Before bed, we can chat on LINE like this, and sometimes we even have long video calls.

But—we only have a brief moment to touch each other.

This is practically a long-distance relationship. Even though they live in the same house, the furthest distance they're ever from each other is actually at home.

Even so... one day, we will move on to the next phase.

We went through a lot during junior high school. This time is both a new beginning and a continuation of that period.

If you know we're family, why would you still choose to be lovers?

We... must prove it.

This will prove that we will not repeat the mistakes we made in junior high school—that we can go further than we did back then.

"........."

Pretending to be profound when saying such things doesn't really make you much different from a teenage boy with unrealistic fantasies.

I wonder what Yui is thinking?

Does she plan to move into a new phase with me?

Irito Yume ◆ Expectation and Anxiety

"well……"

I lay on my back in bed, quietly pressing my hand against my chest.

Sometimes, I feel my heart racing for no reason.

Starting this month, an entrance to the future suddenly appeared before my eyes. Just imagining myself crawling into that entrance makes me blush and my heart race with anxiety. I have to admit I'm a little emotionally unsettled.

Because I just can't help but think back on it.

I recalled the radiant happiness on Senior Sister Ya Shuang's face—and the moment I first stepped into this house about two years ago.

"~~~~"

I hugged my pillow and rolled around on the bed.

Of course, I was mentally prepared, but when it actually happened, I still felt very uneasy. After searching online, it seems that the most common place for the first "occurrence" is "my boyfriend's room." Senior Sister Ya Shuang's situation sounds similar. But in my case, my boyfriend's room is right next door, and my parents live in the same house, so it's not so easy to plan.

But sooner or later... I think the time will come sooner or later.