My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 8

...No, we can only blame ourselves for being idiots and not investigating things properly.

Thus, for us, the mere fact that the other person is wearing the same uniform as us is enough to make them an object of hatred.

"...That uniform doesn't look good on you at all."

The woman spoke in a cold tone and with a dark gaze.

"...You are the one. Especially pleated skirts, they look particularly bad on you."

I spoke in a chilling tone and with dark eyes.

"Aren't most school uniforms pleated skirts?"

"I misspoke. You're simply not suited to be a high school student."

"Oh, really? You're the one who's not suited to be human."

"Then you're not suited to stay on Earth."

"Then you're simply not suited to stay in the solar system!"

"Then you're simply not suited to stay in the Milky Way galaxy—!"

Then our discussion expanded to the inappropriateness of the universe and even the three-dimensional world, until we were interrupted by a lady peeking out from the living room.

"Wow! You both look so good in them!"

It was my stepmother, Aunt Yuren.

Aunt Yu-Ren, more energetic than usual, managed to bring the two of us, who were in the most tense moment, together. Her baby face was all smiles as she nodded happily.

"The uniforms at a top school are really something else! You two are both amazing! To get into such a difficult high school! You truly are our kids!"

There's a reason why we might tease each other about how ugly the uniforms look, but we would never say, "Go to another high school."

Because our parents were very happy that we got into high school.

My family background is somewhat similar to that of Yui—so we both know this is a sensitive topic, and it's obvious even without being told.

"Got it! Let's take a picture! Come on, you two, get a little closer!"

Do not make jokes.

I really wanted to say that, but seeing Aunt Yu-ren's happy expression as she excitedly picked up her smartphone, I, as her stepson, felt too embarrassed to dampen her spirits, and my biological daughter, Yu-nu, seemed to feel the same way.

We stood side by side, put on smiles, and took a picture.

I have to say, I'm getting better and better at faking a smile. Humans are truly adaptable.

"—Hehe. Looking at you like this, you two really do look like a couple, don't you?"

I was deep in thought when this sudden move startled me and made my heart jump.

...Is it serious? Is it showing on your face?

"Mom, what are you saying? We just met!"

As the girl spoke calmly, she kicked my shin. It seemed her anger was written all over her face.

"But look, Yui, you look like me, and Mizuto looks like Komine, don't you? I was thinking that if we were high school students, that's probably how it would feel~"

"...Don't use the child to show off your relationship. Besides, how do I look like your mother?"

"I'm sorry."

Xiaofeng refers to my father, whose real name is Yilihu Fengqiu.

"Why don't you two go to the car first? We'll be there as soon as we're all settled."

After leaving those words, Aunt Ren went back to the living room.

Today is the entrance ceremony. Not only are the two of us new students here, but my dad and Aunt Yu-Jin, who are our guardians, will also be at the school—what do you all think this means?

"……well."

"Don't sigh and complain, it'll catch my bad mood."

"How can I not sigh? If it were just about getting into the same high school, at least we could pretend we didn't know each other..."

Nobody at that high school knew us.

So, we could have easily pretended to be strangers.

Who knew that we would become siblings, forced to ride in the same car with the same parents and go to school together.

Pretending to be a stranger under these conditions is extremely difficult.

"See you later then!"

"Water Fighter—Make more friends!"

Upon arriving at school, after going through the general formalities such as taking photos in front of the school gate, we temporarily parted ways with my dad and the others. Before the entrance ceremony, we had to go to the classroom to meet our classmates and homeroom teacher.

We had been notified of the class assignments beforehand. The school seemed to assign classes based on entrance exam scores—in other words, with little regard for family background—so we were naturally placed in the same class (Class 7, Grade 1). I've stopped complaining about such trivial matters.

As soon as her father and the others left, Jie stretched and yawned.

then……

"Stinky otaku."

"Stinky fanatic."

"Skinny monkey."

"Shorty".

"I'm not short anymore!"

"In my eyes, you're still just as short."

We released the pent-up grievances we had been holding in. It was necessary to let it all out, otherwise it would have exploded.

We entered the school building and headed towards the classroom of Class 7, Grade 1.

"So, what do we do?"

"What do we do?"

Are you planning to go into the classroom together like this?

"Anyway, we share the same surname, so we're bound to attract attention. Let's just take it easy."

"...He's completely different from the shy guy he used to be."

Did you say anything?

"no."

Indeed, perhaps caring too much can backfire.

After finding Class 7, we entered the classroom openly through the front door.

All eyes turned to us. About twenty students had already gathered in the classroom, frantically selecting items... no, friends.

According to the list posted on the blackboard, my seat was in the front row by the window.

Since both Yui and I share the surname "Irito," our seats will inevitably be arranged one in front of the other—I, with the surname "Mi," will sit in front, and Yui, with the surname "Yu," will sit behind (Note: the Japanese syllabary order)... I had a bad feeling that Yui was sitting behind me, but I decided to sit down first.

--Bang!

"it hurts!"

She kicked my chair from behind.

That really lived up to expectations!

I turned and glared at her, but the murderer just stared out the window, feigning indifference. This woman…

I'm afraid I'll have to wait another month before I can change seats. During this time, I'll be forced to attend classes while constantly under threat from behind. This is really unfair; I need to devise a strategy as soon as possible…

Many classmates were watching us from a distance.

"...You still have the leisure to kick my chair?"

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Is it okay if you don't hurry up and make friends, you high school prodigy?"

"Who are you saying debuted in high school?"

This girl had a somewhat unsophisticated impression back in her third year of junior high, but now she's practically a different person—she's grown up, both inside and out. In other words, she's a completely different person from the Ayai Yui who gave me the love letter at the end of summer vacation.

She entered a high school where I was the only acquaintance of hers under these circumstances. What else could it be but a high school debut?

"You don't need to worry about me, Mizuto-kun."

Jie smiled with a disdainful expression.

"I have a sure-fire winning formula."

"Irito-san, which junior high school did you attend before?"

"It's just an ordinary public high school, nothing to brag about."

What do you usually like to do?

"Reading, please. Sorry, it's not a very interesting hobby."

"I heard you topped the entrance exam, right? How long did you study?"

"I really wanted to say it hasn't been long, but actually I was working so hard that I forgot to eat and sleep, and I still feel a sense of relief now."

A group of people were laughing and talking loudly behind me.

...Irito Yume reached the top of the class hierarchy on her very first day of school.

After the entrance ceremony, we returned to the classroom and finished a brief class meeting. Then, the incident happened. The students who had been observing from afar suddenly swarmed around us like ants finding sugar.

That's right, it was the entrance ceremony. The magical artifact that Jie Nu mentioned came into play during the ceremony.

It turns out this woman is a freshman representative.

This proves she's number one. In this undisputed elite high school, this will definitely be a major advantage. It turns out that Irito Yui isn't some lowly commoner who needs to busy herself making friends everywhere.

However, this kind of thing is not important to me at all.

Damn it...!

Why is this girl's grade better than mine?! Ugh...!

It seems that under the halo of the title of freshman representative, I, who share the same surname as her, have been completely overshadowed for some reason. That's fine. I stood up from my seat as if I had been pushed out of the crowd.

Now that the entrance ceremony and class meeting are over, there's nothing to do at school. I'll just go show my face to my dad and the others, and then leave early.

Anyway, it's not like I have to go home with this woman—we're not a couple.

"........."

I felt like the girl glanced at me secretly, but I was probably mistaken.

Humph.

Congratulations on having the opportunity to make a lot of friends.

I was holed up in my room reading, and before I knew it, the sun had set.

Feeling thirsty, I went downstairs to find a drink, just as the front door opened.

"I'm back."

It was Jie Nu, all alone. Her parents had been back for a while—several hours had passed since the entrance ceremony ended. They told her that her classmates had invited her to a parent-teacher meeting, and she had gone.

What a successful debut! He's completely different from the guy who used to struggle to even find a group in PE class.

The girl walked silently down the corridor, and grinned triumphantly as she brushed past me.

"Are you lonely?"

"...Huh?"

Seeing me frown, the woman chuckled, which was quite unpleasant to watch.

"I'm sorry I won't be able to spend all my time with you anymore."

"...It's fine, don't mention it. I hope you're so busy replying to LINE every day."

"I will."