My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

"I am extremely grateful, Master!"

"Who's calling you a master?"

It's easier to teach with two people working together.

Although it was the first time Dongtou and Chuanbo had met, Chuanbo's social skills were unmatched, so there shouldn't be any problems.

And so, Saturday arrived.

I brought Kawanami, whom I had arranged to meet outside, to my front door.

"Thinking about it, this is actually my first time visiting Irito's house. I couldn't come when I was trying to visit Irito in the hospital because I was ostracized."

"This is the first time I've ever let a man into my house."

"You're making it sound like this isn't the first time for any girl."

"Nan, my classmate."

"Oh yeah... you actually mistook that guy for a girl, you're such a pushover."

The threshold for being a pushover is too low. Just because Nan's gender is mentioned, he can be made into the male lead. It's too easy to make money.

However, Nan wasn't the only girl I brought home.

"Come on in. It's scorching hot outside."

"Yeah, it's so hot—"

The July sun was scorching. With Kawanami's shirt flapping in the wind, I opened the entryway door.

"Excuse me... Where are your parents?"

My parents aren't here.

"Mom and Dad aren't here, right?... So these are Irito-san's shoes?"

"Seeing the women's sneakers on the Sanhe dirt floor," Kawanami said.

You have a sharp eye... but those aren't Yui's sneakers.

"It seems she has arrived."

"Huh? Who is it?"

Just as Kawanami turned his head in surprise, the living room door was flung open with a whoosh.

Her long, flowing dress and black hair swayed gently. Emerging from the living room was none other than my unworthy stepsister—Irito Yume.

When Yume saw me and Kawanami appear in the entrance hall, she stared in disbelief, her mouth agape.

"Hello, sorry to bother you, Irito-san."

Kawanami casually raised his hand in greeting, but Yui didn't respond.

"Wait...wait, wait ...

I saw her run into the corridor with a clattering sound, then forcefully pull my arm away from Kawanami.

After pulling me to the stairwell, Jie spoke furtively and in a reproachful tone. It felt like something similar had happened before.

"(Seriously, what's wrong with you?! Why did you bring Kawanami-kun here?!)"

"What else can I do... because he asked me to teach him to read."

"(You haven't forgotten, have you...? She came today too...!)"

"Yes, it seems she's safely home. I was worried that, in the worst-case scenario, she'd just wander around the front door until we came back."

To dare visit someone else's house alone—that guy from the east end has really improved.

"Teaching the same thing twice is too troublesome. Wouldn't it be more efficient to teach it together?"

That's such a brilliant idea! I'm very pleased with my brilliant idea.

Just as I was nodding incessantly, Jie Nu seemed to feel a headache and pressed her forehead.

"(Ah—yes, that's right…! That's exactly the kind of person he is…!)"

"Why do I feel like you're treating me like an idiot? Should we go outside and sort this out?"

"(Anyway! Take Kawanami-kun to your room! I'll teach Higashi-kun in the living room—)"

"—Yui-chan~?"

The sound from the east end came from the living room.

"Isn't Mizuto-san back?! Yui-san?!"

"Wait, wait a minute! Not now—"

The sliding door to the living room opened with a whoosh.

Standing there was Izana from the east end, wearing the casual clothes that Yui and Minami had picked out for her last time.

then.

Higashito Isana's eyes—and Kawanami Kogure's eyes...

There was no chance of misjudging; the other person's figure was spotted head-on.

The two squinted their eyes...

He frowned...

Without concealing their skepticism, they said:

"...Who are you?"

"...Who are you?"

"Ahhh..." Yui covered her eyes as if she had given up.

I tilted my head slightly.

Why does the atmosphere feel so strange?

"My name is Higashito Isana, and I am Mizuto's one and only best friend."

"I am Kawanami Kogure, I am Irito's most important and first friend."

"What?"

"how?"

In my living room, a man and a woman I had just met sandwiched me between them, glaring at each other.

The person on my left grabbed my arm.

"What's going on, Mizuto?! Who is this thug?! He's lying to me, right?! I'm your only friend, right?! Right?!"

Kawabata on my right shook my shoulder.

"What's going on, Irito?! Who is this busty girl?! How can someone like this be in your house?! This house should be your and Irito's sanctuary!"

How could it become like this?

I never dreamed that Higashito, who is shy around everyone, and Kawanami, who is friendly to everyone, would dislike each other from the first meeting—honestly, how did things turn out like this?

Although, given Toutou's personality, he wouldn't appreciate someone like Kawanami who has a frivolous appearance, and Kawanami probably wouldn't associate with Toutou's type—

Ignoring me as the two of them pulled and swayed me back and forth, Jie was on her phone.

"(Xiaoyue-kun—…! Come save me—…!)"

It seemed she wasn't going to help me. I sighed helplessly and pushed the two of them away from each other.

"Alright, calm down. It seems there's been some misunderstanding on both sides."

""Misunderstand?""

"Kawabata, this girl's name is Higashigoto Izana. We met recently and are just friends with similar interests."

"...We met recently and share similar interests?"

"At the east end, this guy's name is Kawanami Kogure. He claims to be my best friend, but he's just a classmate who's been pestering me without my consent."

"...Why are you clinging to me like this?"

Dongtou and Chuanbo frowned, staring at each other's faces as if they were judging each other.

To be honest, I don't understand what misunderstanding these two guys have, but whatever the misunderstanding is, as long as they calm down and think things through, they should be able to put aside their differences.

And so, perhaps my calm explanation worked, because the two of them nodded as if they had suddenly realized something.

"I see, so it's the stalker who's been bothering Mizuto."

"So that's how it is. They're the swindlers who targeted Irito."

"Why would it be interpreted this way?!"

Did you even listen to my explanation?

Dongtou pulled my arm forcefully, pulling it towards her chest. My upper arm sank into her soft, fleshy breasts, but she seemed unconcerned, staring at Chuanbo with eyes like a watchdog.

"Please, stalker, don't come any closer. Mizuto is my friend, and I won't give him up to anyone!"

"You're the one who should get your filthy hands off me, you fraudster."

Kawanami's eyes were filled with murderous intent as he pointed at the face to the east with an air of oppression.

"You think otaku are so easy to fool? Too bad, Irito isn't that kind of man. I suggest you back off before your self-esteem gets hurt."

"Ugh...! So mercilessly, they're digging into someone's still-healing wounds...!"

"Oh! Looks like she's already run into a brick wall! What a pity! I didn't get to see that presumptuous, headstrong woman with a long face!"

"Waaaaah... Waaaaahh ...

Dongtou hid behind me, her voice trembling with tears.

Faced with this situation, I really couldn't remain silent any longer.

"Excuse me, please stop bullying Dongtou, Kawanami."

"What! You're going to side with her?!"

"I'm not taking sides. I don't know what she did to offend you... but I've already told Dongtou that I'll be bullied along with her if she gets bullied."

"Mizuto-kun..."

"Sorry to interrupt Dongtou's sweet mood, but shouldn't we just save him?"

The female demon interrupted, but I simply ignored her.

"I did dump her, but others should respect her courage to confess, and they shouldn't laugh at her. You need to apologize to her, Kawanami."

"Oh no...! Oh no, you're really angry...!"

"Kawaba-kun... I don't know what you're bothered by, but it would be better to apologize. For some reason, this guy's temper drops drastically whenever Higashi-kun is mentioned."

Of course. If a friend is ridiculed, you should retaliate with equal anger. Isn't that how everyone does it?

"Well……"

Even so, Kawanami still resisted for a while with a bitter expression, until I stared at him silently for a long time before he finally gave in and admitted his mistake.

"...It was my fault...I got a little too excited..."

"Did you hear that? So what do you have to say, East?"

"Alright, I'll forgive you then. Considering your tacky hairstyle with the ends sticking up like a savage."

"You bastard! I think you're just faking your injury!"

"Eek! Mizuto-kun...!"

"Hey, Kawanami."

"...Please, please allow me to sincerely apologize once again..."

Looking down at Kawanami's head, which had been lowered again, I decided to let him off the hook. To err is human, to forgive divine.

"Hey! Hey, Irito, look! That guy's sticking his tongue out!"

"Uh-huh?"

(Illustration 008)