My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 73

He is my ex-boyfriend and stepsister – Mizuto Irito.

For some reason, the two people with whom we have a complicated and unfortunate connection appeared there.

"Kawa...Kawabata?"

For some reason, Xiaoyue's face twitched slightly.

"What are you doing here? And with Irito-san...?"

"What else could I be doing? I'm here to buy clothes. Summer's here, and I want to pick out a summer outfit for Mizuto, who lives in Irito's family, before the hell of final exams begins."

"I didn't ask you to..."

"Izumi said in an extremely annoyed tone."

Kawanami grinned, put his hand on his shoulder, and said:

"Don't say that. I'll make you the most handsome man this summer!"

"I told you I didn't need it. Damn it, I shouldn't have chosen to stay overnight at your place..."

"It must have been a huge success, right? Not only did I arrange time for your parents, but I even bought you clothes!"

I see. I was wondering why he would go out with Kawanami-kun, it turns out he was being used as a bargaining chip by Kawanami to cover his stay.

...Speaking of which, that "handsome guy" approach for aquarium dates, could there be a summer version? I...I just want to ask a tiny bit more clearly...

"Oh!" Kawanami raised his eyebrows and looked in my direction.

"Irito-kun, you seem different from usual. You're super cool."

"Right? Looks like even you know your stuff—you understand how great it is!"

"What do you mean 'even if it were me'? Are you saying you're the one gloating?!"

After Kawanami mentioned it, I remembered something.

My current outfit is completely different from what I wore in junior high school.

Shuidou glanced at me, then froze completely.

In the past, my style of dress was simply an extension of the way men dressed during my middle school years—but now I am completely different.

Although Xiaoyue and Dongtou both said it looked great—no, no, cheer up, I need to have my own opinions! So what if this guy thinks it doesn't look good? It has absolutely nothing to do with me. I'll just wear what I like.

Okay, tell me your thoughts. Whatever you say won't hurt me—just when I was preparing to fight to the death…

Turned his head.

Shuidou immediately looked away.

...As expected, it didn't suit his taste?

Oh, really? So what? Whatever.

"Um?"

Unintentionally, Kawanami's gaze drifted behind us.

Over there, the curtains were drawn – it was the fitting room where the student from the east end was changing clothes.

"Is someone else with you?"

"No, no, we don't know each other! I'm on a date with Yui today—!"

Huh?

Xiaoyue, while rambling on, came over and hooked her arm around mine. At the same time, she whispered in my ear:

"(Yui, we can't let this guy run into Higashi-san!)"

Are Kawabata and Toutou classmates?

I don't quite understand the situation... Anyway, I'd better keep my mouth shut for now.

"Right……"

Kawanami seemed to believe it and looked away from the fitting room.

Just as Xiaoyue was secretly letting out a sigh of relief, the incident occurred.

--Click!

From behind us, inside the fitting room, came the sound of a phone taking pictures.

""……Um?""

Then, after a short blank period.

Buzz! -- First, a short vibration came from somewhere, then Mizutani took his cell phone out of his pocket.

Then, I stared at the screen with eyes that looked like I hadn't had enough sleep.

It froze for a few seconds.

Then, he glanced briefly at the fitting room where the student from the east end was waiting.

""……Uh-huh???""

"No way?" The thought flashed through my mind.

Xiaoyue probably made the same guess.

Could it be that, Dongtou, just now—

"Oh? LINE? Who is it?"

"...My dad."

Mizuto casually moved away, preventing Kawanami from seeing the phone screen.

After quickly typing what appeared to be a reply with his thin fingers, he said:

"Don't waste time, Kawanami, hurry up and get things done. I want to go home and study as soon as possible."

"Yes, yes, yes. Okay, after all, you're catering to my interests. Let's go then—"

Mizuto hurriedly left, while Kawanami waved lightly and disappeared into the crowd at the shopping center.

After watching their backs disappear into the distance, Xiaoyue and I slowly turned our heads to look at the fitting room—

—Swish! The curtain was suddenly pulled open.

"Oh no! W-What happened?!"

Dongtou's shoulder jumped in fright—he was wearing clothes.

A slightly V-neck blouse was gently slipped over her body, tucked into a tulip skirt. Xiaoyue had told her to do it this way, not only to make her chest less noticeable but also to accentuate her waistline.

The color scheme features a greenish khaki upper body and a near-brown beige lower body. While somewhat simple, this understated style might suit Dongtou better.

She gives the impression of a simple village girl from a fantasy work, which I think would suit Dongtou, but let's not worry about that for now.

My gaze and Xiaoyue's were fixed on the smartphone she was clutching tightly.

"...It seems there was no violation of public order and good morals."

"It seems she's not that lewd."

"Huh? Huh...?"

Dongtou looked at the two of us with puzzled expressions.

If Dongtou were half-naked and holding his phone in the fitting room, that would be the worst-case scenario; however, Dongtou doesn't seem to be that impulsive.

"Looks like we jumped to conclusions too quickly. Well then, I won't scold you, Dongtou."

"Yes. Although I have some reservations about you doing this without asking for our opinion, I can understand your desire to show it to him first, so I'll forgive you."

"Huh!...How...how did you guys know...?"

Xiaoyue first stopped her from asking further with a look, and then asked:

"So? What was his assessment?"

"...Uh, well..."

Dongtou covered his mouth with the phone he was holding.

However, since it wasn't completely covered, you could easily see the sly smile playing on his lips.

Now I know without even asking.

She kept glancing up at us, and said timidly:

"...Can I...buy this dress?"

"Can."

Xiaoyue nodded with an inexplicable air of arrogance.

Then I nodded, and Dongtou looked at his phone screen and started to chuckle happily again.

Okay, whatever the starting point or standard—whoever the standard is—we can gradually develop our own standards later.

"...Hehe...♥"

Watching my classmate Dongtou happily checking her phone and then looking in the full-length mirror, I realized that she had indeed followed the same path as me down the exact same line.

"...Dongtou, may I ask you a question?"

Since we were already out having fun, the three of us went shopping together at the mall.

During the journey, Xiaoyue went to the restroom, and I took the opportunity to make up my mind and ask her a question.

The classmate sitting next to me on the bench licked the whipped cream from his crepe lips and asked, "What's the problem?" as he turned to me.

"Um... Dongtou, after all this talk, do you still like that guy?"

"Are you talking about Mizuto-kun?"

I nodded.

That happened just this month. After being dumped by Mizuto, Higashi-kun's way of getting over the pain seemed surprisingly refreshing. Yet, she often acts like she still likes him, especially when Mizuto himself can't see it.

So, which one is it?

Does she still like him, or has she already let go?

I still like him.

Dongtou, munching on his crepe with relish, answered crisply.

"The reason I like Mizuto isn't because he might become my boyfriend. I think I'll continue to like him normally, whether as a friend or as a guy."

"Then you won't...?"

I hesitated for a moment.

"...Do you feel sad?"

"That's hard to say, isn't it? At least being together as friends is even happier than before. Because I don't have to hide my feelings for him anymore."

"But, what if..."

I think back to myself not long ago.

"...What if that guy gets a girlfriend?"

"Hmm—I'd probably feel really bad about that. I know it's a bit presumptuous of me, but I can't help feeling like I've lost. But I think even if Mizuto gets a girlfriend, he probably won't keep his distance from me, so it's not so bad. Although we'll only know for sure when it actually happens..."

"Or rather," the student from the east end continued:

"I might get a little jealous if Mizuto makes other friends."

"what?"

"I'm the one who gets along best with Mizuto! But he's having fun with someone I don't even know without my knowledge. Just thinking about that possibility makes me...! Ugh, just imagining it makes me angry!"

Dongtou took a big bite and ate the entire crepe in one go.

Huh? That's strange... Ah, I know. Dongtou is in a different class than us, so he doesn't know Chuanbo.

So that's how it is... Now I finally understand why Xiaoyue said we couldn't let Dongtou and Chuanbo meet.

"...He's not jealous of his girlfriend, but he's jealous of his friends?"

"It feels like someone has trespassed on my territory. Could this also be considered a kind of 'sleeping away'? ...I guess it's the same for Yui-kun, right? For example, one day, a younger sister of Mizuto-kun who was separated from her suddenly appears—how would you feel?"