My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 357

Because I know that worrying too much about trivial matters will definitely cause me to miss opportunities.

"Aren't you hot? I'm starting to crave something cold. Will you keep me company?"

"Wait, wait a minute...!"

I forcibly grabbed Asuhain's hand and pulled her away.

I've personally experienced this kind of forceful approach far too many times. Thank you, Xiaoyue.

Back at the place where we split up with Mizuto and the others, we lined up at an ice cream shop in a building. Asuha bought the sea-blue soda ice cream flavor, while I chose the less common golden rice cake flavor.

The shops and buildings were packed with people, so we took our ice cream outside to eat. Luckily, there was an empty bench next to the trees, so we sat down to rest. Although we were in the sun, it was much cooler than the sweltering summer in Kyoto.

I scooped a spoonful of the low-dairy white ice cream from the paper cup and put it in my mouth. The sweet taste spread in my mouth, providing a slight cooling effect.

"When I saw that it said Jin Chu Gao flavor, I was curious about what it would taste like... but when I thought about it carefully, I realized that I had never eaten Jin Chu Gao before."

It tastes like an unusual vanilla and cookie flavor; it's not as novel or quirky as the name suggests—just a normal, delicious ice cream.

Asuhain, sitting next to me, also scooped some blue, wavy ice cream from a paper cup with a spoon and took a bite. Seeing her with the spoon in her mouth, I asked:

"Is yours delicious?"

"……tasty."

"How about we swap a drink? I'd like to try yours too."

“Oh—”

"Come on, ah—"

"Huh?... Uh-huh?"

While Asahiya-san opened her mouth in confusion, I scooped a spoonful of milky white ice cream and stuffed it into her mouth.

Seeing Asuhain blink in surprise, I smiled and said:

"So, which one do you prefer?"

"...If I had to choose...this one tastes better."

"Oh, okay? Then let me have a bite of yours too. Come on, ah—"

As I opened my mouth, Asahi-no-Ya-Yuan awkwardly put the spoon into my mouth.

The refreshing flavor enveloped my tongue. It was very pleasant to eat and truly captured the essence of summer.

"I think I prefer this flavor, should we switch?"

"Oh... I'm fine with anything..."

We exchanged paper cups.

While we were eating ice cream, it was almost entirely me chatting about everyday trivialities. For example, what the other members of the student council were doing now, or what we were learning in class recently. Even if she didn't reply, I kept talking, like constantly knocking on a door that refused to open.

After everyone's paper cups were empty, Mingri Yeyuan finally spoke up for the first time:

"Irito-san... why do you keep talking to me?"

She looked down at the empty paper cup that held the ice cream and said softly.

"I... am such a boring person. And I thought... you were the more introverted type."

These words were as if they had been cut and pasted one by one from a chaotic and unsolvable mind.

What kind of answer does Asuha-in-san hope to receive? I thought about it for a moment, but of course, I couldn't possibly know the answer.

"...To be honest, I'm just barely hanging on right now."

So all I can do is cut out the words in my heart and convey them to her.

"But I feel that if I don't push myself, everything might end... We'll continue to live in this awkward situation, neither seeking a solution nor severing ties, and gradually, naturally, we'll lose touch... I can predict that's how things will develop. And I feel... I don't want that."

"You and I are just colleagues in the student council, aren't we...? It's only natural that we won't have anything to talk about anymore after the student council term ends...?"

"Is that so?...Maybe so."

I can't find the words to deny it. Just colleagues in the student council? -- I don't think so. Then are they friends? But I don't seem to know Asuhain-kun well enough to make that claim with complete confidence.

"But...wouldn't that be very lonely?"

Even so, I still can't change how I feel.

"The scene of our first meeting, the memories of our trip to Kobe, and the efforts we made to prepare for our graduation ceremony... all of these remain in my memory. So if you leave me, it will feel very lonely..."

Asahi-no-Yuan listened to me silently.

I remember it all; they are all beautiful memories. Since that's the case, what's wrong with wanting it to continue like this?

"I can sense you're avoiding me, probably because I did something wrong... I don't understand what I did wrong yet, and I won't ask if you don't want to tell me. But... I still don't want to drift apart from you. There's only this one thing... I absolutely have to let you know."

Through my relationship with the water, I learned the importance of expressing my inner feelings.

I will no longer naively expect the other person to understand the meaning of my silence. If the other person doesn't speak, I will take the initiative to speak.

Completely opposite to my behavior in junior high school—this is the person I aspire to be.

"Thank you for listening to me... Shouldn't we go back and rejoin everyone now?"

Seeing me stand up, Asahi no Uehara also nodded slightly and stood up.

The distance between us hasn't narrowed. But at least I've taken a step... I guess you could say that?

Irito Suito ◆ Immerse yourself in the ocean world

After checking into our hotel in Nago City for the next day, we students moved around the vast area according to our chosen itineraries.

A few of us opted for snorkeling and banana boating. Only our group and Yoshino's group from Class 2-7 chose this itinerary, a total of twelve people. We went to the hotel's private beach, changed into our swimsuits, and then put on our wetsuits over them.

Everyone sat by the sea listening to the instructor explain the precautions, practice how to breathe through a snorkel, and learn diving hand signals before being divided into groups and boarding speedboats to go out to sea.

The sky was so clear it seemed like it had been deliberately arranged. Sunlight shone on the sea, reflecting a dazzling, shimmering light. Just looking out at the sea was enough to excite Yui, Kawanami, and Minami.

Only Izana huddled in a corner of the speedboat, looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy.

"We've set sail... Please, I beg you to bring me safely back to land..."

"Don't think of it as something so terrifying, right?"

I sat down next to her and gently patted my friend's stiff back.

"It's not like we're going to dive that deep, and besides, you don't have sea phobia, do you?"

If Isana really had a fear of the sea, I wouldn't force her to go out to sea, no matter how strict I am. But she just has poor motor skills and is afraid of swimming. I believe that as long as it's a non-competitive recreational activity, even she can enjoy it.

Actually, this is based on my own experience. Nine out of ten reasons why people dislike sports come from being forced to compete with others in physical education class—for example, being eliminated instantly in dodgeball, standing still and unable to help when playing soccer, or falling behind others by a lap in a long-distance race. These experiences can make people dislike sports.

In comparison, snorkeling simply requires following the instructor's instructions and floating in the sea... However, this is my first time trying it, so it's just a guess.

"Relax and have fun, just think of it as an aquarium."

"Going to the aquarium doesn't mean you'll drown...! Unless the tank bursts...!"

"We're really going to the aquarium tomorrow, so please don't leave any weird foreshadowing now. Don't worry, you're wearing a life jacket, so there's nothing you can do about sinking."

"Yeah, right!"

The female coach smiled and bent down to speak to Izana.

"Don't worry, the safety measures are very thorough. Just enjoy the diving! If you're really scared, you can always ask me for help!"

"Okay, okay..."

...Well, I think there's no need to worry. It seems she still has the energy to react nervously to adults she's meeting for the first time, so it should be fine.

Then we arrived at the designated location, made ample preparations, got off the speedboat, and peered out to see the underwater world.

Actually, I wasn't entirely without nervousness, after all, this was my first time officially swimming in the sea. Moreover, Luo Lou High School didn't have swimming classes, and apart from the prior practice, I hadn't swum in a long time.

However, the tension in my heart vanished as I looked at the dazzling coral reefs under the sunlight on the sea.

I'm not the type to be easily moved by nature, but I have to admit, this feeling was like glimpsing a view of another world.

We followed the coach's instructions and swam nearby, enjoying the underwater world. Yui, Minami, and Asuhain went to tease the colorful fish that inhabited the coral reef.

Since bringing Asuhain back from her solitary journey in American Village, the two seem to have grown a little closer. Asuhain still seems a bit hesitant, but Yui actively initiates conversations with her, bridging the gap between them.

Faced with this unprecedented situation, I am filled with deep emotion. Although her high school debut was a success, I feel that her deep-seated personality remains unchanged. That is probably an innate trait that cannot be changed by effort.

However, when facing Asuhain, Yume becomes almost like Minami, who has just become her friend, using her unwavering strength to guide Asuhain and try to deepen their relationship.

I recalled things from my junior high school days, remembering that girl who was even more clumsy than me and couldn't fit in with the people around her—and how I actually went against my usual ways and tried to build a relationship with her.

...Well, compared to Yui-chan now, my feelings back in middle school, or Minami-kun last year, were probably a little less pure...

While I was taking care of Isana, Kawanami was pulling me along as he eagerly dived into the sea. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Isana's eyes were wide open, her gaze fixed intently on the underwater world through her swimming goggles—it seemed I didn't need to worry about her.

As I gradually regained my feel for swimming, I saw the girl gently waving at me.

I quietly left Isana and Kawanami's side and swam to Yui's side, where I discovered... was it called tropical fish? Dozens of striped, palm-sized fish had formed a group.

The girl gently reached out her hand to the school of fish, and a few fish nudged her hand with their noses. I did the same, and in the same way, some fish came over and nudged me.

They were living, breathing beings—that was the natural feeling I had. Things that couldn't be felt through a screen or a glass tank were right there in my hands.

Yui and I gazed at each other through our swimming goggles, sharing laughter with just our eyes.

What... After all that talking, didn't I enjoy it too?

I thought to myself that if I were in junior high school and saw my future self enjoying school trips like this, I would be very disappointed.

Irito Yume ◆ A figure that disappeared into the darkness

"It's so beautiful! A vast expanse of blue stretches as far as the eye can see!"

"That's right...! A school of fish swam right past me...!"

"I'm so lucky that the sun is shining today. The view is just as pure and blue when I look up, it feels like I'm one with the ocean."

After the snorkeling experience, we took off our wetsuits and sat on the speedboat to share our thoughts.

The bikini swimsuit worn under the wetsuit was something we bought together with Dongtou. Nan was practically obsessed, especially when we were helping Dongtou choose a swimsuit. But now, with the swimsuit that had captivated her right in front of her, Nan was talking about her experience with diving.

"I rarely come to the beach, but now I think I quite like the sea."

Looking at the rippling sea, Nan said.

"Yume's description is so apt; it feels like I've become one with the ocean... all the little things become insignificant. I'm thinking of saving up to come back and have fun again sometime—what do you think, Kawanami!"

Kawanami was suddenly asked this question, but without any confusion, he replied:

"Oh, sure! I'd like to try surfing next time."

"She's surfing too! She's got a real knack for being fashionable and sunny!"

"I want to tan myself into a dark, shiny seaman...!"

"It will definitely be super weird!"

Nan and Chuanbo burst into laughter.

While they were chatting, I said to Asuhain sitting next to me:

"How about Asuhain-kun? Are you having fun?"

"Yes... I'm not good at describing it, I can only say I was deeply moved."

Asahi-no-in said this, his expression seemingly enlightened.

"Nan is right, it's like my insignificant self dissolving into the sea and disappearing... It's been a long time since I've had such a carefree time."

Since what happened this morning, Asuha-in has been talking to me more normally. However, she's become unusually talkative. Is it also due to the forces of nature?

Incidentally, Shuidou was leaning against the edge of the speedboat, seemingly lost in thought, probably a bit tired from the unfamiliar activity. He apparently chose the Ocean World experience to address Dongtou's lack of exercise, but now it seems he has no right to criticize him.

After the speedboat reached the shore, a rest period ensued. It seemed like this time was spent freely playing in the water.

That being said, I wasn't actually that energetic, so I just watched Yoshino and her group playing on the beach from under the parasol. Just then, Xiaoyue thoughtfully brought me a chilled canned drink.

"You've worked hard!"

"Thanks for your hard work."

When I pulled the tab on the canned drink, Xiaoyue sat down next to me.

Then, just as I was about to take a sip of my drink, she gave me a mischievous look and said this:

"Yui really knows her stuff ♥"