My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 95

"...Why are you acting so suspiciously, huh?"

Her eyes were unfriendly, half-open, as if she were provoking someone—but her voice trembled as if she were confused.

What Xiaoyue showed was the remnant of the character she had built up over the past few months to deal with me.

This character was already riddled with flaws and unbearable to watch. Even so, Xiaoyue continued to argue with me.

"That was just...a joke, wasn't it?...If you're so embarrassed, I'll...a little..."

"It's not that...it's just that, how should I put it, even when no one else is around, you still have to be with Xiaoxiao—"

"Xiaoxiao?"

"Ah, no! I misspoke! ...I just couldn't process what I was saying for a moment—"

"Okay, whatever, it doesn't matter. I don't care. It's just a punishment game, right? Hmm."

His speech was weak and feeble. There was confusion and hesitation in it. He was just as bewildered as I was. He couldn't figure out what expression to use when speaking to me; the carefully constructed facade crumbled, leaving him only able to conceal his true feelings. Just like me, it felt like our hearts were connected, like we had returned to the time before we started dating—

But why?

"How should I put it... yeah, if this way of addressing someone becomes a habit, wouldn't that be terrible? Students from other classes might overhear... I don't want things to keep spreading..."

You're looking at me with a strange gaze, aren't you? It's awkward, isn't it? Judging from your reaction, that's probably it, isn't it?

But why am I so indifferent?

Why didn't I get hives, and why don't I feel like vomiting?

Why is my usually overreacting self-awareness completely unresponsive now?

Why—does what you say sound so shallow?

"You see, you probably don't want that either, right? Besides, Yui doesn't want things to escalate—"

Ahhh... It's hopeless.

"Exactly, if this gets blown up any further, it'll be really troublesome. I'll be careful."

“…Huh?”

"I can't bear to see Irito feel guilty about this. You should also be careful."

This is utterly boring, hopeless. What's the point of turning this fake act into a real one? What kind of pretend play is this?

Do you really think we can become like Mizuto Irido and Yume Irido?

Yeah, right. We're not in that sweet and sour relationship, not in that respectable relationship. We're just foolish, ignorant, and dull-witted, hopeless wrecks.

Don't let yourself be influenced by others.

We have nowhere left to start over.

"I'm off then. I'm going to the bathroom."

I waved gently and walked past Xiaoyue.

It's so simple, there's not a hint of confusion or hesitation. No itching or anger. Really... it's so easy and simple to do.

"Hey...wait...!"

"What's wrong?"

I stopped and looked back at her. She called me, so I stopped. That makes perfect sense, right?

Anyway, we weren't arguing.

Xiaoyue opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she didn't even let out a sigh.

A frivolous, silly smile appeared on her face.

"Nothing much♪ Just making noise♪"

"Ugh! That's so cheesy!"

"What did you say!"

We both laughed, and then, very peacefully, turned our backs to each other.

"……well."

I thought I heard a sigh, but I don't know who it came from.

Seriously... hopeless.

◆ Nan Xiaoyue ◆

Do you believe me?

I've known for a long time that I have no right to say such things.

Is it too late to salvage the situation? How long am I supposed to keep relying on others?

Do you think I don't know that it's pointless to revert to the old attitude? We are different beings now than we were then.

"……well."

I was so happy back then.

When I was in elementary school—back then I never imagined I would become his girlfriend.

At that time... I was really happy...

◆ Kawamura Kogure ◆

The three-day, two-night intensive training session came to its final night.

This period allowed us free time. Best of all, we were even permitted to go outside. And at the same time, almost as if it were preordained, a festival was being held at a shrine near the hotel.

To put it bluntly, the school won't specifically prepare entertainment for us; we can go to local festivals if we want, but we'll have to take responsibility for any problems that arise.

However, for us, it's much better than spending the entire precious summer vacation in class—we can take advantage of this great opportunity to go on a summer festival date with the boy or girl we want to pursue.

I can't possibly miss this opportunity.

From the very beginning, I intended to send both Irito to the festival.

The most famous feature of this festival is said to be the enormous hand-held fireworks display. These are created by the performer holding a bamboo tube and spraying a torrential downpour of sparks high into the sky. Some are said to reach heights of up to ten meters, which must be incredibly impressive. Given this rare opportunity, it wouldn't be surprising to invite others to watch it together.

Of course, the two siblings couldn't just go together obediently, so they had to rely on conventional methods.

As long as all five of you are present, just like when you play video games, you can go as a group.

My plan would succeed once I got them into the crowded throng. I could then pretend to get separated from them and leave them alone. And since their phones had been confiscated, reuniting them would be difficult.

So we left the hotel and walked on the unfamiliar streets at night.

"Oh ho ho ho ♪"

"Unfortunately, I don't have a dog language translator. What does that bark mean, East?"

It means, "It's my first time going out at night with friends, I'm so excited!"

"...Just asking, are you confident in your sense of direction?"

"Please don't underestimate me. If you can't see the mountains, then it's south, right?"

"Your method only works in Kyoto. This is Shiga. You absolutely mustn't get lost!"

Things went surprisingly smoothly.

I thought Irito might realize my intentions and make an excuse to refuse, but to my surprise, he agreed without saying a word—maybe he actually wanted to go with Irito all along? Was he just waiting for me to ask?

I covered my mouth with my hand. Normally, controlling my facial expressions is my forte, but I only lose control of my face when I'm having happy fantasies.

I saw a few Rakuro students scattered around on the night road, but they were all dressed in casual clothes. I heard that last year some brave souls brought yukatas to the training camp, but it seems there weren't any this year.

"Ah—I really want to see Yui in a yukata—how about we all go to a festival together after we get back to Kyoto?"

"That's fine. Although the Gion Festival is over, there should be many more opportunities."

Xiaoyue and Irito, who were walking ahead, were chatting easily and happily. Irito and the others seemed to realize that things had gotten much bigger than expected and were reflecting on their actions—no longer forcing us to be together like they had in the morning.

Thank goodness. If people saw us walking together now, we'd really be ridiculed, it wouldn't just be a joke... I don't know if I could stay calm if that happened.

"Would you like to come along, Dongtou-kun? Let's go check out the festival—"

"Huh? Oh, okay, can I participate too...?"

"If you're willing to wear a yukata! You know what? You can't wear underwear under a yukata."

"This...this must be fake knowledge, right...?"

"Those who call it false knowledge are the ones who hold false knowledge!"

"Xiaoyue, you should put away these lewd thoughts. Dongtou is about to make the wrong decision."

"I...I knew you were after my breasts! You were only after my body!"

Dongtou, panting, jogged closer to Xiaoyue.

Only Irito and I, two grown men, remained at the scene. For a moment, all was silent.

"—Kawabata, what happened between you and Minami?"

To this question raised during a break, I answered without hesitation:

"No? Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, I was just asking."

"What are you talking about?"

I deliberately chuckled lightly twice, but Irito's expression remained unchanged.

"If you don't care, then forget it. I'm a ROM specialist today, I won't interrupt."

After saying that, Irito quickened her pace to catch up with Akatsuki and the others.

...After saying all that, isn't that considered interrupting?

What's your problem? There's nothing wrong with me acting this way. I was wrong about that matter; I misunderstood. It was just me... indulging in wishful thinking, wasn't it?

I set rules for myself in life: to become someone who doesn't need to be taken care of and won't bother anyone. This is the basic premise of my role.

But... even so, I thought there was still an exception.

There's no need to conform to a self-defined role—it allows me to be myself—to interact naturally with others based on my true thoughts—an exception.

It's shameful to be sad about something like this.

Because those thoughts were just wishful thinking on my part—

"You mean you won't wear anything any less?! You're ruining my precious breasts!"

"Ahhh! No! Don't touch! This is off-limits!"

"Yeah, you're dressed pretty conservatively today. You usually wear a hoodie and a tank top when you come to my house."

"Wait a minute! Is that what she's wearing under that hoodie?!"

"Whoa! I've found out! You're the kind of woman who only wears revealing clothes in front of men."

"That's completely fabricated! I was just distinguishing between loungewear and outerwear!"

"No, Dongtou, it's not right to wear pajamas to a boy's room."

Xiaoyue joined Yilihu and the others, laughing very happily.

That smile of yours, I bet it's just an act, isn't it? Just a fake personality, a fake smile, put on for this occasion? I always thought you were the only one I could tell my true thoughts to, but it turns out you're always like this, using the same persona you use to deal with others to deal with me. Yes, that's why I didn't see through your true nature—

—Even so, that's fine.

In my heart, someone else refuted this.

Even if that's the case, even if that's really the case.

Look at that smile, listen to the laughter coming from there. These things, at the very least—

Compared to when I broke down and cried in the hospital room...

Compared to when I was quietly disappointed and heartbroken over you...

...Doesn't this make you seem much happier?

"………………………………………………………………………………"

I looked up at the night sky.