My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 81

"Hey! Don't just stand there shyly without saying anything! You're making me shy too!"

As I fanned my burning face with my hand, Dongtou tilted his head and said, "Strange?" You were the one who blushed first, how come you're back to normal so quickly!

"Speaking of which, wasn't Nan with you today?"

"We're not a duo."

"Is that so? I thought you guys were in the same group as me and Mizuto."

"That's too serious..."

When did we start being seen this way? But personally, if someone asked me who my best friend is, I would answer Xiaoyue.

"Actually, I just sent her a LINE message, but she didn't reply. It also doesn't show as read..."

"Could it be... that I said something wrong last time, and she's still angry...?"

"I don't think so. Didn't she contact you too?"

"That's right, but... it should be alright, right? It should be alright, right?"

"You worry too much"—I almost said that, but as someone who used to be shy, I can really understand how she feels. Even a slight slip of the tongue during a conversation can hold a grudge for a long time.

Just for her own good, I hope I can meet with Xiaoyue sometime today.

"—What? Are you talking badly about me?"

"Awaaaah!"

The student from the east end let out a strange cry, startled, and jumped up on the spot.

The person who appeared lightly behind her was none other than Xiaoyue.

"Xiaoyue, where have you been all this time? I sent you a LINE message."

"Really? Sorry, my tummy hurts a little!"

Dongtou breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"Oh, I see... I thought..."

"Did you think so?"

"No, no! It's alright!"

"I'm so concerned~"

Xiaoyue jokingly said that she started to pester Dongtou, teasing her by moving her hands around in a lewd manner.

It looks exactly the same as usual.

Having probably had enough fun, Xiaoyue moved away from Dongtou and lightly slapped her palm.

"Oh, right! I heard, Yui! I heard you took back the top spot? Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Xiaoyue."

I asked as casually as possible.

"How did you do on your final exams?"

"Me? Me..."

Xiaoyue laughed "Hahaha" while pretending to be confused.

"It seems like I was a bit lax this time. At least I didn't fail."

"Oh? Could it be that you're in the same line of work as me?"

Dongtou's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly.

"I should have done better than Dongtou, right? But if I had known this would happen, I would have asked Jie to teach me too."

Then Xiaoyue glanced at me and said:

"Oh! But if it would be too much trouble for you, it's okay, alright?"

That was the only flaw that Xiaoyue revealed.

She built an unshakeable "normal state." Only a tiny flaw allowed the minor imperfection to slip by unnoticed.

If Xiaoyue were truly as usual, she wouldn't have set up such a defense at all.

She should be able to subtly persuade me to agree and get me to give in to her.

But then, as if afraid of something, she took precautions. What was she afraid of? Was she afraid of being rejected? No, that's not right. It was precisely because it was an unintentional slip that it was honestly revealed in her words.

Yes, that's right—she said "troublesome."

Ah, I haven't thought like this in a long time.

I'm really glad that I had a boyfriend during junior high school.

If I hadn't had that experience, I wouldn't have noticed this flaw.

"……Won't."

I shook my head decisively.

"It's not troublesome at all. Let's aim for the top ten next semester, Xiaoyue."

"Really? Thank you! Ah, but I might not be able to get into the top ten."

Haha. Xiaoyue laughed as usual.

She wouldn't talk to me. No matter what I said, she wouldn't confide in me.

Then I'll figure out her feelings myself.

No problem—I can do it now.

After we chatted happily for a while, Dongtou said:

"Then I'll go and give Mizuto, who just lost his top spot, a little nudge!"

"No, he really will get angry with you."

"That's fine too! I'm off!"

Dongtou disappeared like a whirlwind in the direction leading to the library.

This girl is still the same; she seems to lack personal opinions but is actually very assertive. One moment she appears timid and hesitant, the next she speaks her mind without any sense of propriety—her type is probably not obedient, but rather independent and self-willed.

After it was just the two of us, Xiaoyue glanced at me, revealing a shy and hesitant attitude.

"...It's just the two of us left now."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow then."

"How slow-witted!"

Xiaoyue patted my shoulder with a smile, and I couldn't help but chuckle too.

Last semester, we spent so much time establishing our rhythm of conversation.

I probably won't need to do anything special; this relaxed and carefree time won't disappear. Xiaoyue isn't as clumsy as me or that guy. Even if I'm a little impolite or make a mistake, she'll skillfully speak up for me and cover it up, and I'll be back to "normal" the next day.

But—that's precisely why.

I believe it's my turn to muster the courage today.

"Well then, let's go back. Maki and Nasuka both said they have club activities today—"

"—Xiaoyue!"

"Huh! What's wrong? What happened?"

Xiaoyue turned around in fright and stared at my face.

I made up my mind—and bravely uttered the words I had spoken for the first time in my life:

"...Want to go...to sing karaoke...?"

"Oh~ I think this is the first time the two of us have come in alone."

"Yes, yes, me too..."

"You seem a little nervous?"

Xiaoyue laughed and mocked me, standing motionless at the door of the karaoke room.

It seems to be looking to see where I want to sit.

After I sat down on the right side of the sofa, which was farther from the door, Xiaoyue sat down a person's distance away from me, letting her small bottom sit down.

The thought of her holding my arm in the family restaurant makes me realize how distant she is.

What thoughts went through her mind after being criticized by her classmate from the east end?

Something distracted her, causing her test scores to drop—

—At this point, the answer is all too obvious.

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

I'm not good with words; even if I try to express my feelings in words, I can only convey less than 10% of them. That's right, so I wrote down the feelings I most wanted to convey in my life in a letter and handed it to the other person.

So, in order to convey my feelings—to let Xiaoyue express her feelings.

I can only take action... not rely on words.

"Me? ... Xiaoyue."

I mustered my courage and confessed to her.

"Actually, I have almost never sung alone in front of other people."

"Is that so?... Ah—that's true. You always sing with everyone, or it's just the two of us... Yes, it's always like that."

"Um……"

I used the touchscreen tablet to select a song.

Seeing me pick up the microphone, Xiaoyue clapped her hands, "Oh—".

—During junior high school, when I was practicing for choir competitions, my biggest concern was not attracting attention.

Rather than how to sing better.

That was just a way to avoid drawing attention to oneself in order to avoid messing up—because even if one sang very well, it would still unnecessarily attract attention.

I don't like being unconventional.

I don't like being a special case.

One must always hide among the crowd to avoid fear.

Someone like me, who is not smart, not dexterous, and clumsy... it's best if no one hears my voice.

but.

Ahh—actually, it's happened several times. I don't know how many times.

Sometimes when I don't do things well, it makes me anxious, sad, upset, and lonely—I feel like no matter what, no matter who it is, I just want to vent and expose my true self.

Yes... sometimes, of course I want to vent my feelings out loud.

What about vulgar, unsophisticated girls, or talented and beautiful top students? I wish I could throw all those roles away and yell and scream.

In times like these, who would I want by my side?

Irito Mizuto? Higashito Isana?

No... I don't feel right about either of them.

That's right.

At times like these, I wish she were the one to hear my cries—

"──────!──────!!"

I forced the sound out from deep within my abdomen and roared into the microphone I was holding.

My emotions filled the cramped karaoke room.

This is what's bothering me. I'm angry about the past. When someone got jealous for no reason because of me, I didn't understand their feelings at all and even made them apologize to me.

This is my resolve. I swore when I took off my glasses and let my hair down that I would never repeat the same mistake.