My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 94

"What does it matter? Let's take this opportunity to go back to calling each other that. It really gives off a childhood sweetheart vibe."

"We're not childhood sweethearts!"

"Don't say such cold things..."

"...I'm telling you, Yume."

I kept my face buried in the pillow and lowered my voice slightly.

"Even if you had a great relationship when you were young, it doesn't necessarily mean you'll stay that way as you grow up, you know? Sometimes you won't get along, and sometimes... the relationship just won't last."

"But Xiaoyue and Chuanbo can still see and talk to each other often, right? Their connection hasn't been severed yet, has it?"

"……………………That's right, that's correct."

"In that case, I think it's a bit of a shame to have a falling out and refuse to see each other..."

...In fact, under normal circumstances, the relationship would have ended long ago.

It's just that they live next door, and because they are both too young to move on their own or change their educational path, and they are childhood sweethearts—so they just happen to have a chance to meet.

Is it still possible to salvage the situation...?

If we take advantage of this time to pretend we're childhood sweethearts, pretend we're lovers...

...Are there still things that can be undone...?

◆ Irito Yume ◆

"Miss Yui, please listen to me!"

During self-study time, Dongtou excitedly ran to find me.

It was called self-study time, but it wasn't like the kind of self-study that was practically free time. Teachers stayed in the large classroom for students to ask questions. However, at that moment, many students crowded forward to ask questions, so we didn't have to worry about being warned by the teacher for talking privately.

What she wanted to tell me probably wasn't about things she didn't understand in class.

"What's wrong, Dongtou?... You seem to be in a good mood."

"Hey, hehehe, no? Hehehehe!"

His whole face looked smug. You can only be this happy when you get into a good school—or when you successfully confess your feelings.

Just as I was thinking, "No way," Dongtou classmate started talking excitedly:

"Well, just now—a classmate asked me something!"

"Huh? What's up?"

"They asked, 'Are you dating Irito from Class 7?'"

I almost couldn't breathe.

Dongtou didn't notice my reaction and pressed his hands against his soft, smug cheeks.

"Hey, hehe, do we look that much like a couple? This is a problem! Hehe! We're not that kind of relationship! Hehehe!"

I was practically bursting with excitement. Seeing her so happy, I somehow became happy too. A joyful mood mingled with a sudden surge of melancholy in my chest, creating a complex, marble-like pattern.

"...Well, you're both like that. It's understandable that you'd have these kinds of rumors if you spent all your time together. It's just that neither of you are the type to attract attention, so it's a bit surprising that you'd become the target of these rumors..."

"Well, in that respect—Mizuto seems to be surprisingly popular."

"what?"

What did she just say?

"Maybe it's because he got first place in the midterm exams—? Some girls who came to ask me if I was dating him said, 'He's not only super good at studying, but he's also really cute if you look closely!' They even said, 'I'm so envious of you, you and Irito seem to get along really well~'... Hehehehe!"

Dongtou laughed as if he was blinded by a sense of superiority.

Yes, I see... That makes sense... I got my current status because I achieved the top score in the entrance exam, so it's not surprising that the guy started getting attention from girls after he topped the midterm exam...

Huh? Is that guy going to become a heartthrob?

I'm having a hard time accepting this reality. Lots of girls want to date that guy? Okay, though knowing his personality, he'd probably reject even if someone confessed to him. No, no, since they all think Dongtou is his girlfriend, then there's no question of confessions—

"And then...? Dongtou-kun... what did you answer them...?"

Driven by an anxiety of unknown origin, I asked this question, and Dongtou smiled insincerely.

"Of course I made it clear. I said, 'We are not dating.'"

"That's true, that's true."

I said, "We're not dating, we're just good friends."

"Celebrities who have been involved in scandals!"

It's a completely ambiguous statement! It's definitely not meant to be interpreted literally!

The student in the east corner put on a relaxed, silly smile and said:

"No... it's just that... I feel a little too good."

"Look how smug you've become! How could you deceive people like that!"

"I wasn't lying. It just sounded a little like I was going to announce some good news later... Is there anything wrong with that?"

"This!...There won't be any problem."

Although having others mistake Dongtou for his girlfriend could help him avoid girls and save the guy some trouble... it could actually be said that there are only benefits and no drawbacks.

"Being misunderstood as having that kind of relationship by others has a pretty strong effect—"

Dongtou continued to chuckle happily and began doodling in the corner of his notebook.

"Even if I didn't originally have those feelings for Mizuto, after what others said, I might start to act like a girlfriend. Those two must have grown up in this kind of environment. I find it hard to imagine what kind of world that is."

"Those two people?"

"Nan and that scoundrel. They've been friends since they were little, right? I bet they've been teased by everyone since they were kids."

"...That's true, after all, I was hoping for this kind of situation to happen, which is why I made this plan..."

"People who don't have a childhood sweetheart will inevitably look forward to seeing such a plot."

Dongtou said, "I'm done," and put down his mechanical pencil. In the corner of his notebook, he drew a boy and girl smiling and talking through a window—the kind of scene often seen in manga where the childhood friends live next door. It's really well drawn…

"Just like someone who doesn't have a sister might want one. Besides, compared to a sister, someone of the opposite sex you've known since childhood is a very rare person—everyone who sees the two of them would definitely assume they're in that kind of relationship. As a result, the two of them might start to feel embarrassed not to meet everyone's expectations."

"Maybe. But that doesn't necessarily make them like childhood friends in a manga... because those are just fictional characters, aren't they? Like that silly couple joke from earlier, it's just for show..."

"So, are we just putting on a show by having them call each other by nicknames now?"

I fell silent… We hoped that calling each other by nicknames would make them feel embarrassed and start seeing each other in a different light. Could it be that, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they were simply subtly sensing and playing along with our intentions…?

"In short, there is only one thing I can assert—"

Dongtou ignored my thoughts and tapped his drawing twice with his finger.

"--Childhood sweethearts in real life are definitely not like this. It's such a dream come true."

◆ Nan Xiaoyue ◆

It would be a lie to say that I've never harbored any fantasies about childhood sweetheart relationships.

I've seen it many times in comics or anime. Living next door, like brothers and sisters, sharing many childhood memories, and falling in love with each other as adults—I too have harbored this kind of ideal situation or a collection of heartfelt wishes, a shining dream called childhood friends.

This is the kind of relationship I have with Xiaoxiao.

It's about those lucky individuals who, in real life, have achieved what many people dream of—if anyone has a childhood friend of the opposite sex who hasn't had such thoughts, please tell me. I'll immediately expose their lies.

Real life is actually about half fiction.

Everyone is searching for their place. Roles like leader, prankster, ringleader, or class monitor—they're all playing familiar characters. And they're trying to understand each other by observing the roles others are playing; a mere copy of a TV personality or influencer's conversation can easily liven up the atmosphere…

Similarly, I also see Xiao Xiao as a "childhood sweetheart" type of character.

Unable to distinguish between reality and fiction, I sincerely believe that we have the kind of romantic relationship that exists in anime.

That's why I was capable of doing such a thing.

Because we were childhood sweethearts, a match made in heaven. So, I thought that no matter what I did... Xiaoxiao would accept it... she would understand.

I know, I know I was so stupid back then. But, but I have to say...

Actually, I... just want Xiaoxiao to be happy.

That's all.

So... please, believe me.

Do you believe me?

"Don't give me that crap! How can I believe you?! Do you know what you've done to me?! How dare you spout such nonsense?! Are you out of your mind? So out of your head it's practically bubbling! Otherwise, why wouldn't you prepare chopsticks for me, wouldn't let me go to the convenience store, and throw a tantrum just because I was on duty with a girl?! Okay, okay, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have developed feelings for a crazy woman like you just because we've known each other since childhood! Huh? Why are you crying? I'm the one who wants to cry! Give it back! Give me back these past few months! Give me back all the time you've taken from me—!"

◆ Kawamura Kogure ◆

I remember that ever since I was old enough to understand things, I have never been afraid of not being able to make friends.

I don't need to pay special attention to anything; I can naturally talk to people and try to make friends with them. I'm quite bold and don't even know what shyness is. No matter where I am or who I'm with, I can integrate into a group as easily as breathing. I don't need to try; I have the confidence to adapt to any place from the very beginning.

Looking back now, it was probably some kind of survival strategy.

I have a vague memory of it. I remember it was when I was a baby, my mother was coaxing me to sleep with a smile on her face, and just before I fell asleep, she sighed wearily.

The memory is extremely vague; perhaps it was just a dream. But that scene set a purpose in my soul.

I must make myself able to survive independently.

I must not let anyone sigh because of my situation.

This purpose is all too natural to be considered an obsession. It took root deep within me during the formative stages of my soul, defining who I am.

And so, even when I go to unfamiliar places, I don't feel lonely; on the contrary, I feel proud of my independence. I have never tasted loneliness.

However, when I was with Xiaoxiao, I felt a little at ease.

I've never felt uneasy before, which might sound strange, but when I'm with Xiaoxiao, I feel like I've found my place.

—I don't need to try to be friends with Xiaoxiao, she will stay by my side.

—I don't need to do anything; Xiaoxiao will always be by my side.

—I don't need to say anything special, Xiaoxiao will understand.

Thinking about these things, like reaching a save point in a video game, I find myself feeling very relieved.

But frankly, it's nothing more than arrogance.

"oh."

"……ah……"

During the break between afternoon classes, I left my seat to go to the restroom and bumped into Xiaoyue in the hallway.

Without thinking much, I looked away, avoiding looking at the guy's face.

There were no other students around, so there was no need to tell those silly, idiotic jokes about couples. Of course, there was no need to call her by the outdated term "Xiaoxiao."

Sigh, but why is the atmosphere so awkward?

An itch on the back of my neck made me restless. I wanted to run away immediately, but I hesitated.

It's all Yili and the others' fault. They made us go back to how we addressed each other before, which made it so hard for me to adjust the distance between myself and Xiaoyue, and now it's all messed up again.

I broke up with her in such a terrible way, destroying a relationship I'd built up over almost ten years. But I still didn't want anyone else to worry, so even my parents didn't know about Xiaoyue and me. I lied and said it was because of the stress of preparing for exams that I developed a perforated stomach.

Xiaoyue, whom I would never have seen again, and I pretended in front of outsiders that nothing had happened—whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, I just happened to have this ability.

The ability to pretend to get along well with people you don't get along with is commonly known as social skills.

This woman and I both possessed this ability—so today, until this day, we both pretended to be doing a good job.

I never expected that... such a small thing would cause me to lose my composure.

The carefully crafted facade is crumbling just because of the way he's addressed. I've lost all sense of expression when I talk to this guy.

Like before? That's impossible.

Like before yesterday? Impossible.

Right now, I can't play any role in dealing with this guy.

I couldn't even think of what to say as my first words. All I could do was rub my itchy neck and let my gaze wander. This version of myself infuriated me.

Seeing my reaction, she said in a hesitant, soft voice: