My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

"Then... when the whole family went on the trip, we even sneaked out of the hotel..."

"……Um……"

"...I'm so happy..."

"…………Um…………"

Back then, this guy and I hadn't yet become a boy and a girl.

We weren't childhood sweethearts or lovers back then.

(Illustration 013)

"We have so many memories... really, so many that I'm tired of them... But... all these memories... just because our relationship didn't go well... do they all become part of hell...? Just thinking about it makes me..."

When I heard the hissing sound of sniffing, I thought I had misheard.

"...I can't help but feel...so lonely..."

I had never heard him speak in such a trembling, tearful, and fragile voice.

Xiao Xiao actually cried... Really, I don't know how long it's been since I've seen him like this.

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

"What's up……?"

"...Do you still remember...that promise...?--"

As the hoarse voice faded away, the small body completely lost its strength.

I planted my feet firmly and hugged him tightly from the front.

At that time, their line of sight was at the same height, but now it is 30 centimeters higher than mine.

Back then, we used to run around together, but now our bodies are so big that I can hardly hug them.

However, if you look up at the night sky, you will see the same brilliance as before.

"...I remember, Little."

Of course.

You think I'd forget? Dream on.

◆ Kawamura Kogure ◆

"You're finally up."

Awakened by the stunned tone, I slowly opened my eyes.

Against the backdrop of a shimmering starry sky, Xiaoxiao leaned closer to look at my face.

There was a hard, wooden feeling behind me. The thing that made the back of my head feel soft against was probably her thigh. It seemed I was lying on a lakeside bench, resting my head on her thigh.

"...How long did I sleep?"

"About half an hour, I guess. I don't know without my phone."

"Oh...no wonder it's so cold..."

I shivered. Even though it's summer, it's still chilly to sleep outdoors for half an hour at night. However, the high fever and nausea that had gripped my body before I lost consciousness had subsided considerably.

"...If you feel much better, could you please sit up? My legs are starting to go numb."

"I will, lying down isn't very comfortable anyway—it hurts!"

I gently pressed down on my thigh, which I was using as a pillow, and then the object supporting my head suddenly disappeared, and the back of my head slammed hard against the seat of the bench.

I was in so much pain I couldn't scream, but I was also a little surprised.

Her thighs seem to be fleshier than before. They feel like they'd suck your fingers in—has she built up muscle, or has the muscle that should be in her chest just moved here? ...Really, only now is she starting to become more like my type.

On the one hand, in order to get rid of the lingering sensation on my hands, I sat up and protested.

"Don't you know how to treat patients well?!"

"It's none of my business~ Why don't you find a girlfriend to treat you better? Aren't you very popular with women?"

"Are you being sarcastic? If it weren't for this constitution, I would have already—"

Xiaoyue first stole a glance at my face, then said in a slightly barbed tone:

"sorry."

"...Why do you seem so resentful?"

"No, I just feel bad for interfering with your wonderful high school harem life."

Harem? I'm not that popular, okay? What do you take me for?

—I don't want you to talk to me like we're strangers…!

At this moment, Xiaoyue's sobbing image resurfaced in my mind. Just now, when I heard Xiaoyue yelling and screaming, her allergic reaction flared up uncontrollably… which meant that she was still the same as before. In other words, her current reaction, which almost sounded like jealousy, was—

"—I'm saying...you...!"

I felt hives starting to appear on my arms.

"I've just recovered from my illness... please tone it down, okay...?"

Even my head is starting to feel hot... Strange? Only my body used to get hot; I don't remember my head or face getting hot. No, I just haven't noticed it yet. This is also an allergy symptom, it must be—

"—Pfft!"

Suddenly Xiaoyue burst out laughing, "Hehehe!" and started shaking her shoulders.

Huh...? What, what happened? Just as I was losing track of what was going on, Xiaoyue quickly turned her head towards me.

A mischievous smile played on her lips.

"I was faking it just now."

"…………What?"

"How strange~? Why does your face look so red~? I was just pretending to be jealous~ Aren't you being a little too self-conscious? Little♪"

"Waaaaah... Waaaaah...!"

I... I've been tricked...! Who would choose a time like this to play a prank on someone...?! That's so mean...!

"Want to lie on my lap again, Xiaoxiao? Come on, come here, come here!"

"Stop it!!!"

I feel regret from the bottom of my heart once again.

How could I have ever had a girlfriend like this?

Such a major failure, I don't think I'll ever experience it again in my life.

Therefore, I must reiterate:

—Anyone is fine, just don't date your childhood sweetheart.

"Excuse me, may I bother you for a moment?"

"!"

A familiar voice came from the darkness, and we turned around in fright.

The person standing in the dim moonlight, I couldn't be mistaken—it was Higashito Izana.

His face, which was usually expressionless, now looked extremely embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt your flirting... but if it's convenient, could you please tell me where the shrine for the festival is...?"

"Dong, Dongtou...? How long have you been watching...?"

"It starts with the part where she says, 'Would you like to lie on my lap again, little one?'—no, but it's okay! I don't have any friends I can tell anyone! Although I'm the kind of person who's pretty loose-lipped!"

"Doesn't that mean you'll talk nonsense to Irito or Yui?! Wait, wait a minute! Just kidding! That was just a joke!"

◆ Irito Mizuto ◆

The training program has officially concluded.

On the third day, we left the hotel and boarded tour buses according to our classes. Dongtou looked worried and scared, but there was nothing we could do; we were in different classes. I'll use the phone I sent back to keep you company and kill time, so just bear with it.

Seeing Minami sit in the back and Kawabata walk to the aisle seat, a girl shouted:

"Hey, Minami-kun! Why aren't you sitting with Kawanami-kun?"

This joke isn't over yet? I thought it ended yesterday. If everyone keeps teasing them after the training camp, I'll really feel bad...

I had barely begun to worry when Nan answered nonchalantly:

"Ah, we broke up~"

"So fast! Haha!" "Why? What was the reason for the breakup?"

"Hmm—we have different philosophies, don't we?"

"You guys play in a band!" "Hahahaha!" "Hey, Kawanami! How does it feel to get dumped?"

"I want to be a normal guy again~"

"Your idol is a celebrity!" "Hahahaha!"

...That's quite clever; their answer was the perfect ending. Now the joke wouldn't drag on until the end of summer vacation.

As I rested my chin on my elbow by the window, admiring the moment, my phone beeped with a notification sound. It was Jie Nu.

It seems like things are going pretty well between Minami and Kawanami.

It seems so.

I heard from a classmate in Dongtou that they were flirting in a secluded place. Could they already be dating?

Maybe.

Why don't you have any interest at all?

<Absolutely not.>

This experience made me realize that dating ROMs don't suit my taste.

Hey, buddy.

A man said flippantly, "Come sit down next to me." It was obvious that it was Kawanami Kogure.

"Don't presume to call yourself my best friend. You're probably the type who would stand up for me if I were being bullied, right?"

"I don't quite understand what you mean, but anyway, I'm the type who'd rather prevent things from happening than help them... Thanks for last night, thank you for your help."

"I'm just cleaning up the mess I made."

Actually, I knew nothing about what had happened between Kawanami and Minami. However, I could sense without much thought that their relationship was deteriorating, but I thought this shrewd man would have a way to resolve it, so I tried to provoke him a little.

And this approach seems to have had a positive effect, I think, because of this socially adept person—no, this shouldn't be related to social skills. In short, it was Kawanami Kogure who accomplished it through her own abilities.

"Since we're going to have to clean up the mess anyway, may I ask a question?"

"What's the problem?"

"Where did you and Irito go last night?"

"........."

I tried my best not to let him notice my stiffness. Looking out the car window, I saw the reflection of Kawabata's unsettling, wicked smile.

"It seems like you two somehow ended up back at the hotel together. I thought you were looking for Dongtou where you were lost, so why did you go back first?"

"...We thought Dongtou had gone back too."

"Then let me ask you another question. Why were you and Irito both wearing gym clothes back then?"

"...Because I've already taken a shower."

"Taking a bath while Dongtou is lost? And you're inexplicably overprotective of Dongtou?"

"........."

"Thinking about it this way, the answer becomes clear. You must have encountered some situation where you absolutely had to take a shower immediately. For example... getting completely soaked."

I sighed quietly.

With such keen observation skills, how could she still argue with Nan?