My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 342

After staring into my eyes for a long time, Jie Nu suddenly smiled.

"That's right. We've been discovered?"

"Don't I know you? We've been living together for a year."

"You're right, it's been a year already—"

With a heave, the girl propped herself up.

She ran her fingers through her disheveled hair and stood up directly from the sofa.

"Shouldn't we be going to buy groceries soon?"

"That's true... there will be a lot of people in the supermarket."

I stood up and said, "I'll go get my coat," and walked out of the living room.

It's still unclear whether what he said earlier was a joke or he was serious.

But—I've confirmed one thing.

--As long as you know how to read the time and place, is that enough?

Irito Yume ◆ Day 2, Part 4

What do you want to cook?

"Curry or fried rice, please."

"You don't just know these two things, do you?"

"It's simply because these two are the easiest. There's no point in spending a lot of time cooking."

"Okay, I understand what you mean."

"how about you?"

"Hmm... how about something like omelet rice?"

"How cliché..."

"What do you mean by cliché?"

"Okay, the worst that can happen is that it turns into fried rice with ketchup."

"Don't talk like I'm destined to fail at making egg crepes, okay?"

We held a meeting and discussed things while also strolling around the supermarket.

I won't be as nervous as I was a year ago. I'll just treat it as part of a family matter.

Back then, I looked down on my junior high school self, pretending to be very mature, but looking back now, I was actually quite naive. As I reminisced about what I had lost, I followed him to the meat section.

"ah."

Shuidou stopped, looked at the meat, and said:

"Pork... braised pork with ginger would be good too."

"Ah...it is delicious, but..."

"What's wrong?"

Will eating ginger make my breath smell bad?

Letting the memory of your first time be tainted by curry or ginger is probably not a good idea—though, if we're being picky, the ketchup on omelet rice is probably the same. Maybe brushing your teeth will remove the smell?

"Wait...wait for me."

I pretended to receive a notification, took out my phone, and turned my back to the sink.

Searching for "bad breath from braised pork with ginger"...

Let me see? Ginger helps reduce bad breath...wait, the opposite?

"Sorry! Someone just sent me a message."

As I put my phone away, I turned to the sink.

"Don't you need to call back?"

"Ah, no need, it's not urgent—so, you said you wanted to cook braised pork with ginger? Sure."

"Then let's buy pork."

"Um."

Surprisingly, it turned out to be the perfect dish for today... Is it really just a coincidence? Could this guy have known all along before making that suggestion...?

Put the pork for two people into the shopping basket, then looked towards the vegetable section.

Do you have any cabbages at home?

"Ah... I don't think so."

"If it's ginger, remember it comes with a flexible tube."

With a shopping basket in one hand, Shuidou efficiently selected items at the supermarket.

Was everything planned out in advance? To prepare step by step for tonight...? So the real main course isn't pork, but me?!

No, no, Mizuto probably doesn't know how I feel... Considering his personality, he would never express his love to me so directly. But he must be thinking about it. Or perhaps he's anticipating the possibility of that kind of thing happening, and using that as a basis for deciding what to eat for dinner. Probably...

After buying what we needed, we left the supermarket.

We didn't buy much. Without any discussion, Shuidou helped carry the things.

The sky was already turning towards dusk, and night would soon fall. A night that would become a lifelong memory was about to begin…

As I felt the tension slowly rising, I walked forward at the same pace as Shuidou.

Without being particularly competitive, I humbly accepted the most natural silence and felt the presence of my family beside me.

"...It feels like it's been a long time since I've felt like this."

Not long after, I casually muttered something under my breath.

Mizuto's face turned slightly toward me.

"It's been so long since I've had such a relaxing time..."

"...After all, you've had so many things to do lately."

"yes……"

Living together and attending high school, I tried to adapt to my new life while maintaining my grades.

After entering the second semester, I became an executive member of the cultural festival and got to know President Hong.

After joining the student council, there was a whole series of things to learn... negotiating with various clubs and committees, organizing school events, and even going on a trip.

Later, as the new year began, I got back together with Shuidou—I went to great lengths to keep our relationship a secret from my mother and classmates.

"Although the life is busy, it's also quite fresh and fun..."

I didn't have these experiences until I was in junior high school.

Previously, there were limited things I could do; the world was fragmented into small pieces...

"But sometimes, I still crave moments like this..."

Everything requires what we call energy.

In the past, I dreamed of having a fulfilling and busy campus life. But in reality, I still feel tired at times.

At times like these, I feel incredibly fortunate and happy to have someone accompany me, temporarily escaping the passage of time.

I think my life should be perfect and flawless.

In the past, I was disappointed in my own existence. I couldn't do things that others could do, which always bothered me about how to live a life at the average level.

But everything changed the moment she met Mizuto.

Even if some people say I'm narrow-minded, there's nothing I can do about it. Because it's simply the truth. If I hadn't met Mizuto, I wouldn't have thought of changing myself, nor would I have tried to reinvent myself in high school. The changes that love has brought to my life are so significant that I'm almost ashamed, and it has shaped who I am today.

The reason things have turned out this way is because I like water.

Because right now, the one walking beside me like this is Mizuto—

"Ugh."

I called out to him.

Before he could answer.

I reached out and slipped my hand into the sink to clasp it.

She leaned against his shoulder, feeling his warmth.

"What's wrong?"

"Is it not possible?"

It's alright, it's alright.

My resolve went unnoticed. It was just my lovely girlfriend's adorable physical contact—

—No, I think…

Even this defensive line—this unyielding stance—

For us, it was all just physical contact...

It's pretty much the same as a warm-up exercise.

This is a warm-up for destroying the last wall.

"........."

"........."

We didn't speak again until we got home.

All I could hear was the sound of my heart beating faster.

Irito Mizuto ◆ Day 2, Part 5

Dinner concluded successfully.

The braised pork with ginger turned out well, and I didn't cut my finger while shredding the cabbage. There were no awkward silences during the meal; we talked about the books we've been reading recently and the new semester starting in April.

"You can use the bathroom first."

"May I?"

"It will take me more time."

I submerged my body from the shoulders down in the bathtub, and let out a long, thin breath.

"……good."

After muttering to myself, I washed myself more carefully than usual and changed into the women's bathroom.

Then I went up to the second floor and started preparing.

Irito Yume ◆ Day 2, Part 6

After taking a shower, I first wrapped myself in a towel and dried my hair.

Having made thorough preparations, I picked up the change of clothes I had brought to the changing room.

I wore it yesterday, but the plan fell through. This morning, I washed and hung the Decisive Breasts in my room to dry, and they're barely dry now.

The sexy lingerie I prepared for this day felt a bit out of place with my personality. I was hesitant about whether to change it to my usual (just a little cuter) lingerie, but in the end I decided to respect the decision I made when I bought it.

I carefully tucked the flesh from my armpits into the bra cups. Although I'm not qualified to say anything about Senior Sister Ya Shuang, this little bit of vanity is something every girl should have, right?

After checking how I looked in my underwear, I put on my usual pajamas over it.

"……good."

After muttering to myself, I let my hair, which I usually tie up, fall loose as I walked out of the dressing room.

Then, in the living room, facing the sink.

Irito Mizuto ◆ Day 2, Part 7

When Jie came out of the shower, I glanced at her.