My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 44

However, there are probably very few opportunities to break through this partition and run to the neighbor's house.

I rested my arm on the railing and casually gazed at the night view.

The sea of light that stretched outwards from in front of me was interrupted by the shadows of the mountains and then began to spread upwards into the sky.

The stars seemed several times closer than usual, and were unexpectedly beautiful. Perhaps it's because I've never seriously looked up at the night sky before. Even when supermoons or blood moons caused a stir, I never bothered to open the window and gaze at the night sky.

If I had to say something—that's right.

The only time, it happened that morning at the junior high school in the forest—

"Wow..."

I heard a somewhat familiar voice.

I looked to my left.

That is, the direction of Nan's home.

""……ah.""

As it turned out, our eyes met.

I made eye contact with the woman standing on the other side of the white partition.

As soon as Jie noticed me, she awkwardly looked away, stammering and not daring to speak.

Ok……

"You're already in high school, is it really that shameful to be moved to exclaim 'Wow...' when you see a night view or starry sky?"

"If you know, don't say it!"

Jie's face turned as red as a heated oven, and she buried her face in the balcony railing.

On her head, she wore a fluffy hood with little bear ears—the kind of hood that's more than just childish. Two tufts of black hair, tied up with white scrunchies, peeked out from under the hood, hanging down her chest like towels.

(Illustration 008)

Ok……

"It seems that being seen wearing cute animal pajamas even though you're in high school must be quite embarrassing for you."

"He even finished me off! You devil! You sadistic stepson!"

I told you he's my stepsister, and you're my stepsister too.

"Waaaaah...!" The girl lowered her head and trembled. I smiled kindly like a saint to comfort her.

"Oh, don't worry about it. Living under the same roof as a man my age must have put a lot of pressure on you. I understand that you want to take this opportunity to vent."

"Stop showing this malicious pity, okay...? I was forced to wear these pajamas by Xiaoyue..."

"It's okay, it's okay, I think it's cute (cute to the point of being silly)."

"I heard you! Don't assume that just saying 'cute' will make a girl happy!"

"I knew about this little thing, that's why I said it, isn't it?"

"That's even worse!"

Perhaps she hadn't adjusted her mindset yet; she didn't retaliate and was completely overwhelmed by my sharp retorts. Looks like we've entered a bonus stage; I need to earn as many points as possible now.

"...You are the one."

As I was thinking about how to tease her next, Jie Nu raised her still slightly flushed face and glanced at me sideways.

"Why is someone running up to the balcony? What are they thinking? Looking down at the city at night, are they some kind of mastermind behind a conspiracy? Are they having a fit of teenage angst?"

"It would be a lie to say I didn't feel anything, but unfortunately, this isn't the top floor. Don't underestimate chuunibyou—"

The term "chuunibyou" (a Japanese term for someone who is overly educated and has a delusional personality) actually reminded me of a memory that made me feel sentimental.

The girl looked at me with surprise as I suddenly fell silent, "...Ah." Then she turned her gaze to the night sky.

Then, a slight smile appeared on her lips, and she said:

"The moonlight is beautiful."

"...Hmm."

My cheek twitched... This guy reacted really fast.

The girl turned her gaze from the night sky back to me and smiled mischievously.

"So you still remember—? That night at the forest school. Your memory's pretty good, huh?"

"...You're the one who's really something, remembering even what I said. When it comes to memory, you're probably the better one—"

"How could I...forget?"

The smile on the woman's lips was ethereal, like the shimmering light of stars, which made me hold my breath.

The woman's slender fingers reached past the partition and slowly extended towards my face—

—Then it suddenly changed direction and pointed at my hand.

"The Mathematician Who Never Laughs"

"...Huh?"

"The book you were holding back then. I liked that book too, so I remember it very clearly. You should thank Professor Mori Hiroshi."

"Oh, really?"

I turned my gaze away from the night view as if trying to escape, resting my elbow on the railing and propping my cheek up. I could only try my best to maintain my expression in a futile struggle, while the woman chuckled softly, displaying her sadistic nature.

"Is it really that shameful to be found out that you're already in high school but still cherishing those little memories from junior high?"

"...Yes, yes, how embarrassing! Congratulations on your successful revenge."

"So unlovable."

The woman rested her chin on her arms, which were crossed over the armrest.

Perhaps it was because of her hunched back, or perhaps it was because she was wearing bear pajamas, but she looked even more childish than usual. Yes, just like before, the petite Ayai Yui.

"…………I'll say it."

The woman, still resting her chin on her arm, said:

"If I told you—I've liked you since then, what would you do?"

I glanced at the woman's profile. She glanced sideways at my reaction.

There was no intention to play a trick on anyone.

"...What else can we do? What can this change?"

"That's true... In fact, I didn't really like you back then."

"Not yet?"

"Never mind what I said."

The girl covered her mouth and looked away, as if she had said something she shouldn't have. I wanted to pursue the matter further, but the atmosphere wasn't right, so I changed the subject back to what we were talking about.

"Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

"It's nothing... It's just that seeing Xiaoyue and the others like that made me feel... that some things are probably accumulated and cultivated over time."

"...As time goes by, right?"

Indeed, there is a kind of bond between Kawanami and Minami—I know that would invite the usual response: "Who would have a bond with someone like that!" So, to put it another way, it's like a kind of professional knowledge accumulated over many years.

—On the surface, we seem to get along quite well.

The ability to do this is likely not only due to their shrewdness, but also because they have known each other well since childhood. It is through long-term interaction that they have deepened their understanding of each other, enabling them to see the bottom line that cannot be crossed, maintain an appropriate distance, and pretend to be at peace on the surface.

A relationship that lasts only about a year and a half is not enough to reach that level.

That being said, adding another two months wouldn't make much of a difference.

"...There's no need to make up for the two months that didn't exist."

After I began to speak softly, Jie Nu pressed her cheek against her arm and looked in my direction.

"If we need time, we have plenty of it—of course, provided that Dad and Aunt Yu-Jin haven't broken up."

"...Do you think it's possible for them to break up?"

I don't think so.

If their sweet talk becomes unbearable for us—in other words, if it's like we used to be—it might be unsettling. But perhaps it's true that adults are adults; I think Dad and Aunt Yu-Jin have established a good relationship of mutual care and concern.

We'll probably be step-siblings for the rest of our lives.

"...How annoying!"

"That's right."

It's no joke that this kind of relationship is meant to last a lifetime.

...However, if we spend enough time together—maybe we can become like Kawanami and the others, able to pretend that things are going well on the surface...and stop arguing so easily like we are now.

I don't know how to put it, but it always makes me feel—

"—Are you lonely?"

Looking to the side, I saw Jie Nu pressing her cheek against her arm, grinning mischievously at me.

"If you feel lonely, I can keep yelling at you, okay?"

"I just think it's boring when you can't have a proper argument, not that I deserve to be scolded."

"Idiot—moron—dead otaku—"

"...I'm talking about you."

I stared into the girl's dazed eyes.

"You seem sleepy."

"…………Um."

The woman admitted it in a soft, yielding voice.

"Don't fall asleep on the balcony. If you're found frozen to death the next morning, it's not my fault."

"I'll first stuff fibers from your clothes under my fingernails—"

"Don't come up with such a terrible idea when everyone's almost asleep!"

I pushed back the hand that Jie Nu was reaching out to try and fabricate a false accusation. Her hand became as hot as a baby's; she might actually fall asleep on the balcony like that.

I really wanted to flick her forehead to wake her up, but before that, there was something I wanted to ask her. She was still half asleep, about to break free from the spell of sleep, and would definitely give me an honest answer right away.

I gazed at the starry sky, which was different from yet similar to it two years ago, and muttered to myself:

"Are you happy?"

This was probably the first time in her life she had ever spent the night at a friend's house.

Noisy and boisterous, laughing and shouting, working hard together—enjoying the moment.

Are you happy to do something you didn't have the chance to do two years ago?

The girl didn't look at the starry sky, but continued looking at me, and replied with a smile:

"……Um."

Then he said:

"……Thank you."

I turned my gaze back to Jie Nu, picking up the things I had lost two years ago.

"You're welcome."

Then I reached out and gave the woman a quick flick on the forehead.