My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 57

"Wow, so good, so perfect for you! Glasses girl with a knot is super killer... absolutely killer..."

Xiaoyue was inexplicably excited and kept taking pictures of me, but she has finally calmed down now.

Seriously, it's just wearing glasses, why make such a fuss? How could simply adding a vision correction device suddenly make someone cute or handsome? Not to mention trying to save that image on a smartphone—sorry, I can't understand that feeling at all. Absolutely not!

We sat down in the reading area, with our backs to the corner of the library where Shuidou and Dongtou students always sat.

Then I placed the smartphone, mounted on its stand, on the table and turned on the front camera. The screen showed our shoulders, and the images of Shuidou and Dongtou in the background.

This way, surveillance can be conducted directly without having to look at the target. Not only that, but it can also be magnified. This was Xiaoyue's idea.

"...Hey, Xiaoyue. May I ask how you know about this kind of tracking technique?"

"No way──♪"

A feeling of encountering the dark side made me decide not to ask any more questions. Xiaoyue's affectedly cute voice is creepy.

I turned my eyes to the phone screen.

While Shuidou simply sat on the air conditioner unit by the window, Dongtou took off his shoes and socks and sat barefoot on it, hugging his legs. Wouldn't he get scolded for that? That's not a place for people to sit, is it?

"(...If Dongtou-kun doesn't realize her mistake after doing that, then she's really too much, isn't she?)"

"(Huh? What do you mean?)"

Xiaoyue continued to whisper to me.

"(I've heard that guys find it kind of sexy to see girls barefoot.)"

"(...That's right. It's just a more advanced version of showing legs.)"

"(Not only that, it's a sports sit. Sitting in that position so high up, it wouldn't be surprising if her underwear was constantly exposed. Plus, she's using her knees to squeeze her huge breasts flat...)"

"(Oh, maybe it's for support. When I read, I lean forward, so my chest feels heavy—)"

"(Oh, I see. I never knew that.)"

Her expression, eyes, and tone of voice were completely devoid of a smile. She's so concerned about her figure...

...However, on the other hand...

The camera in front shows Mizuto and Higashito, quietly engrossed in their books. Occasionally, they'll point out the books they're reading to the people around them and then chuckle to themselves.

That image reminded me of my past with that man; should I say it evokes nostalgia, or makes me blush...?

Since it reminds me of our current relationship, it's perfectly natural that the distance between them is not typical of ordinary friends of the opposite sex.

They were so close that their shoulders touched.

They were so close that they could kiss each other with just a slight lean out.

Even if it's not that kind of relationship, being so close should make them somewhat aware of each other's presence.

but……

But the situation is not so.

"(Irito-kun, you really weren't even looking. There were those breasts right there at that distance, and you didn't even notice...)"

"(...I'm starting to feel a little sorry for Dongtou.)"

"(Even I look at her. I even keep looking at her chest when I'm talking to her.)"

"(I think you watch it too much.)"

However, I think this is a good thing.

This makes girls feel very at ease, and the introverted Dongtou classmate is probably so close to him because of this. As a friend, I think this is really great.

But now, Dongtou's classmate is treating that guy as a woman.

It's heartbreaking to see someone completely ignoring him like this—or rather, feeling utterly hopeless.

If the guy already had that kind of feeling before we started dating, would I still dare to confess my feelings?

I remember it was because I could sense that he saw me as a woman to some extent that I, a coward, dared to make up my mind...

"(Did you really not treat her like a girl at all?)"

Xiaoyue looked like she couldn't accept it and said in a low voice;

"(We have such compatible interests! And she's actually quite cute up close, and her figure is pretty voluptuous, isn't it? If I were Irito, I'd be thinking about her constantly.)"

"(Don't call her lewd...but, you're right...)"

In terms of circumstances, it was almost the same as what happened back then.

A similar encounter.

Similar interests.

Similar locations.

So it's unreasonable that I can date that guy, but my classmate from the east can only be friends with him.

...He must just be hiding his true intentions.

She's only developed a poker face because she dated me; it's only a matter of time before she's exposed.

We didn't want to miss that moment, so we continued to monitor—

Then, several tens of minutes later, the incident occurred.

Shuidou slammed the book shut and stood up. He'd probably finished reading. Perhaps looking for the next book, he walked towards the bookshelf in front of him…

"(ah!)"

Xiaoyue let out a soft cry.

"(What's wrong?)"

"(Um, um! Dongtou's skirt...!)"

"(Huh? -- Ah!)"

It was only after Xiaoyue pointed it out that I finally noticed.

The girl from the east end sat barefoot, hugging her legs, on the air conditioner by the window that jutted out like a shelf—and only at that moment did her legs spread slightly to the left and right.

Saw.

Her light blue underwear was completely exposed.

I hurriedly tried to warn her via LINE, but it was too late.

Mizuto took a new paperback book from the bookshelf and turned around.

So, of course he noticed Dongtou's classmate.

Therefore, the small piece of cloth that was not properly protected naturally came into his view.

—I clearly witnessed Shuidou's gaze drift towards that spot.

Sure enough!

No matter how composed he pretended to be, how could that unassuming girl-lover possibly miss out on such a perfect prey as Dongtou?

"Hey, Dongtou. Your underwear is showing."

Mizuto pointed to the crotch of the girl from the east end and said to her with an expressionless face.

"(Huh?)"

We were all speechless.

For a moment, I couldn't understand what had happened.

Dongtou seemed to be like me, "...Huh?" he groaned blankly, then looked up and slowly shifted his gaze to the direction Shuidou was pointing—

"～～～Ugh!!"

Her face flushed red like a fireball, and she quickly sat in a W-shape to hold down her skirt.

Dongtou's gaze fell on the hand tightly gripping her skirt, and she murmured in a trembling voice:

"...You...you saw it...?"

"Hmm? That's why I reminded you."

Mizuto tilted his head blankly and said.

Is this man heartless?

"Thank you... thank you..."

Dongtou blushed and finally managed to say, "I'm going to the restroom..." and then put on his shoes.

Xiaoyue and I exchanged a nod and then headed to the women's restroom closest to the library.

Our classmate from the east end met us there, and the first thing he asked was:

"...Do you think he treats me like a girl?"

"Absolutely not."

I'm sure of it.

Irito Mizuto only regarded Higashito Isana as a like-minded friend.

That is the truth, and there is no room for misunderstanding.

...why is this happening?

The situation is exactly the same as it was back then.

"Aha, ahahahaha... I thought so too... How could anyone possibly see a gloomy, introverted girl like me as a girl... ahahahaha, ahahahahahaha..."

"Stay rational! It certainly looks uncertain right now, but it's too early to give up!"

"No... information..."

"Xiaoyue, you're kicking me when I'm down! You're kicking me when I'm down!"

"ah……!"

Dongtou's legs suddenly gave way and she began to lose her balance, so the two of us quickly supported her shoulders.

Dongtou kept chuckling, creating an ominous atmosphere that seemed to invite curses just by hearing it.

Seeing how much she's been hurt... she really loves Mizuto.

"...Hey, Dongtou-kun."

Seeing that her legs had regained their strength, I timidly asked:

"As we've already proven, that man is really oblivious... What exactly do you see in him?"

"Yeah, I haven't asked that yet! I want to know too!"

"Hmm... if you ask me where, I don't know how to answer..."

The student in the east corner looked flustered, his eyes darting around, and then he said softly:

"...Probably...the sound?"

""sound?""

"Mizuto is generally aloof, but he can be very gentle and caring towards me sometimes. Whenever I hear his voice, which is a little softer than usual, how should I put it, it makes me feel lightheaded and I really want to scream...hehe...♥"

Seeing Dongtou's shyly blushing cheeks yet blissfully smiling, Xiaoyue and I both leaned back.

"It's so, so blinding...!"

"First love...! The dazzling light of my first love is burning me to death, Yume...!"

That level of innocence is too toxic for someone like me who's experienced the dark side of love! The worst part is I can really empathize with him! I get it! That guy can be so gentle sometimes!

"Now we just have to quickly pair Higashi-san and Iri-to-san together, and show her that having a boyfriend isn't all good. Hurry up and become someone who can complain with us!"

"Uh, yes. I'll do my best."

"You shouldn't try so hard for this! It's okay to keep dreaming about love!"

You must not come to our side!

"Okay, anyway, we need to let Irito know she's a girl first. No, I really don't believe there are guys in this world who would so openly point out a girl's underwear is showing—"

"I'm so sorry, I don't know how to talk about my younger brother..."