My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 359

I need to find the right opportunity to talk to Asuhain-kun privately... Mizuto is right, the longer this kind of question is delayed, the harder it is to bring it up.

"Would you like to come along, Asuka-in-chan?"

I turned my head and said, "Tomorrow, Ye Yuan looks up from his reference book."

"I bet Asuha-in-san will also want to buy souvenirs, which she can give to the student council president or Asou-senpai!"

"That's true... I have indeed received a lot of care from them."

Good, it seems we can at least get her out of the room. If she stays in the room, there's absolutely no chance of them having a private chat.

"What about Dongtou's classmate—?"

Upon hearing Xiaoyue's question, Dongtou continued to lie on the bed and lazily waved his hand.

"I don't need it... anyway, there's no one else to deliver it to me..."

"You can give it to your mom or dad..."

I said with a wry smile, but Dongtou still didn't seem to want to get up; he must have been really tired.

"Alright then, let her get some rest."

After Xiaoyue finished speaking, she stood up from her chair.

I just said I'd go later, but it looks like I have to go now.

I stood up and went into the room.

"Let's go, Asuha-in-kun."

"OK."

Asahi-no-Yuan also put her reference books into her bag, picked up her wallet, and got out of bed.

And so, we left Dongtou's classmate behind and departed from the room.

After leaving the accommodation area, we walked directly along the road.

The coconut trees (?) planted along the roadside, with their slender leaves, were adorned with dazzling lights, making the road still bright enough even though it was already night.

Compared to the dazzling visual spectacle, the auditory experience was peaceful and serene. Only the gentle lapping of the waves echoed softly from afar… Listening to this sound of the waves made me realize that I was indeed in a foreign land. After all, living in Kyoto, there are almost no opportunities to be near the ocean (not as many as at Lake Biwa).

Just around the corner, you'll see the gift shop. It's a single-story building with a large awning protruding from the eaves.

Stepping inside, I found the store, about the size of a small supermarket, filled with golden rice cakes, pastries like Sha Weng, and handicrafts and folk art items such as wind lion figurines. Among these display cases, I immediately spotted someone I knew.

"Oh, you're here too."

Kawanami casually raised his hand to say hello. Beside him, Mizuto watched us silently.

Xiaoyue raised her hand in response as she walked toward the two of them.

"Wow, that's so thoughtful of you to buy souvenirs!"

"I never do this kind of thing carelessly, you know that."

"Anyone want to buy one for me?"

"Yeah, right. You're way too greedy for a bargain!"

Just as I was finding the conversation between these childhood friends adorable, I noticed that Mizuto was giving me a meaningful look.

His gaze instantly shifted to Asuhain, who was standing next to me.

That look made me understand what Shuidou meant.

"Asuhain-kun, let's go for a walk over there."

"Ah... okay."

Xiaoyue and Kawanami have now entered their childhood sweetheart world; this is an opportunity not to be missed. Asuhain and I quietly slipped into a corner of the shop. I knew Mizuto would buy me some time.

Irito Mizuto ◆ Specific Items

I remained calm and made sure that Yui had quietly left with Asuhain.

Fortunately, neither Kawanami nor Minami seemed to notice. If the two of them had kept asking questions, things might have gotten much more complicated.

I joined their conversation, making small talk to buy time. After a while, Nan casually looked like she had remembered something and said:

"Irito-san, something just occurred to me. I asked Yui about this before..."

"Oh, what is it? Tell me about it."

"........."

Seeing that Chuanbo was eager to hear before me, Nan glared at him fiercely.

"I'm not talking to you, you peeping tom, get lost! Go away, go away."

"Yes, yes, I know. I'll go to the side and cover my ears, okay?"

Kawanami raised his hands to emphasize his innocence and walked deeper into the store. He was seen looking at the merchandise on the shelves while obediently covering his ears with his hands. I truly admire her skill in taming her husband.

Then, Nan lowered her voice slightly and continued the topic she had been discussing.

"I talked to Yui about last night... Did something happen?"

"What's going on—no, first explain what you mean by 'last night'."

"No need to hide it anymore—I saw it all, you two went into the pool."

"How did you see that—well, asking that is probably pointless."

"Hehe, chumi!"

I don't know if it was stalking or surveillance... but it was all her most proficient tricks.

"By the way, you said you saw it, how long did you look at it?"

"It'll be about nine o'clock in about ten minutes—which means it will start around 8:50. I don't have a cell phone, so I can't be exact, but it'll be around that time."

"So you were being monitored... Then why are you asking me what happened?"

"After we talked about that, Yui seemed to fall into deep thought, so I guess something might have happened at that time... You two didn't have a fight, did you? It doesn't seem like it."

"There are indeed some issues..."

I'm a little undecided; I don't know whether I should tell her what happened last night.

If I were to tell her, she would certainly use her extensive network of contacts to help us. But I'm starting to have doubts about her as a person because of another small matter.

Moreover, she couldn't even bring herself to say it to her best friend, Yui...

"...What did you talk about with Yui? Tell me in more detail."

"What I'm telling you now... I told Yui that from the time she walked into the pool until the two of you came out, I was keeping watch at the pool entrance—"

"What did you say?"

If this is true... then the escaped prisoner has simply vanished into thin air.

"Is there anyone who can vouch for what you said?"

"What's going on? It suddenly sounds like a police interrogation. Yeah, Sakamizu and Kanai were with me back then."

"Does anyone know you're spying on us?"

"Only I know this, who can I tell?"

"I see……"

No wonder Yui was lost in thought. For mystery fans, this was practically a meticulously planned locked-room crime.

Therefore, the only possibility that can be considered is—

"……Um?"

No, wait... wait a minute.

Doesn't that make no sense?

After hearing about the little commotion this morning, Jie told me that when she returned to her room from the pool, everyone had already gone back inside.

"well……"

"Ugh! You two are always thinking for yourselves! What's wrong with you?!"

"Nan... I'm sorry, please don't ask anything else, just answer one more question for me."

"Let me hear your answer first. What's the problem?"

"You said you'd keep watch until we came out, right? Are you referring to the first time we came out, or the second time?"

"Oh—that was the second time. I watched you walk out of the pool, then turn back, and then come out again to take the elevator!"

"Is that so..."

If she hadn't continued keeping watch when we followed the figure into the corridor, then the events wouldn't be contradictory.

But if she keeps watch until we come out a second time—that's not right.

The person spying on us is not Asahi Yoin Ran.

Irito Yume ◆ Anyway, you wouldn't understand

Looking at the various Ryukyu glasswares on the shelf, I kept looking for an opportunity to speak.

Ideally, I'd confirm the truth with Asuha-in during a natural conversation... That was my initial thought, but it just didn't seem like it was possible to naturally veer into that kind of conversation. In the end, I still had to make up my mind. If I'd misunderstood, that would be best... But even if she really did it, I wouldn't be angry.

If possible, I just hope she can tell me what's on her mind—that's all.

While I kept stealing glances at Asuhain-kun, who was silently gazing at the Ryukyu glass, I politely spoke up.

"Um...can I ask a slightly odd question?"

Asahi-no-Yuan turned her face toward me.

I swallowed hard, still not daring to look her in the eye, and asked the question:

"Around nine o'clock last night...where were you, and what were you doing?"

I myself find this question both strange and impolite. Yet I can't put it any more tactfully.

Sure enough, tomorrow, Ye Yuan frowned in surprise and said:

"What is the purpose of your question?"

"I'm so sorry. Actually... I was meeting someone I like at the time..."

Since they've asked this question, I can only tell them the truth. However, I didn't mention that the other person was Mizuto, and continued—

"It seems like someone saw us back then. I'm really curious to know who saw us... so I was thinking if you know anything... could you..."

I glanced sideways at Asuhain's reaction.

Asuha-in's eyes were no longer on me.

She gazed at the brightly colored Ryukyu glass—and murmured something deeply:

"—You are so innocent."

"...Huh?"

Hearing this unexpected answer, this time it was my turn to stare at Asuhain's face.

"All you talk about is love, you're so unhappy... No matter how much I treat you as a rival, no matter how hard I try, you don't care at all..."

"...Asuhain-kun...?"

"But little did they know that in my heart—there has always only been you."

The moment I said those words, Asahiya-kun abruptly looked up and stared at my face.

Looking at me—I was probably utterly confused.

Tomorrow, Ye Yuan lowered her head and pursed her lips. Her expression seemed to be a mixture of frustration and resentment, as well as shame. I didn't know what to do, or what the right thing to do was.

Seeing that I didn't react for a while, Ye Yuan turned around.

"Asuhain-kun!"

She wasn't deterred by my voice and rushed out of the store.

Without thinking twice, I gave chase. I dashed onto the resort road, illuminated by artificial lights—before her small, running figure disappeared into the darkness.

I barely managed to catch up with her.