My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Page 407

If she had accepted Yume's invitation to join the student council, she might have been even more popular than the current student council, which is now known as the "Beautiful Girls' Student Council."

So, what happened after that incident?

I gently patted the shoulder of the girl who was sighing as her practice session came to an end.

"Eh? W-What's wrong?"

"What are you scared of? I'm not going to do anything."

"I'm sorry... I was just bombarded with instructions, so..."

"That's perfect, let's say something in that cute tooth-pulling voice."

"Please spare me!"

I smiled at the girl who was wailing and got down to business.

"I was wondering what happened after that. Have you talked to Daocang about inviting her?"

"Ah, um. I was thinking of waiting until after the cultural festival to talk about it, since that's what I did when I was invited... But since there weren't any other candidates, I thought I'd give it a try..."

"You refused?"

"No... I should say I'd like to consider it."

Jie Nu smiled bitterly.

"To paraphrase what Michikura said back then—"

Jie cleared her throat with a soft "Mmm."

"Look, your younger brother is pursuing me right now. I might find myself unable to get away from him, or something..."

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"Bad job"

"Huh!? I thought it looked pretty similar..."

"That guy talks even more shamelessly and without a sense of decency, and there's a certain distance between him and me."

"...You seem to know this very well."

I felt a slightly disdainful look in my eyes. Although I've gotten used to it by now, getting too used to that kind of gaze might not be a good thing.

If we were at home and no one else was around, I might have put my arm around her shoulder to get away with it, but I couldn't do that in the classroom. So, for now, I decided to refrain from making any excuses and simply raise my hands in surrender.

"On the other hand, that's all I know. Although that guy is very outgoing with everyone, he's the type who doesn't easily reveal his true thoughts to others."

This is in stark contrast to Isana, who, although shy, would completely open up once she got to know someone.

Jie Nu was still looking at me with a sulky expression.

"But you're pursuing it, aren't you?"

"What's the point of pursuing that? It's pointless in any way."

I lowered my hands and tilted my head.

"I neither asked her to be a screenwriter nor did I ask her to write a screenplay. Why use me as a reason to uphold the student council's recommendation?"

"I don't know. Maybe I sensed your anticipation?"

I'm looking forward to it... I don't think I've shown that kind of feeling, and frankly, because of script discussions and meetings, we barely see each other even once a day, so the chances of us meeting alone are practically zero. I don't think she has the opportunity to sense that kind of feeling.

Seeing my puzzled expression as I tilted my head, Yui suddenly leaned closer with a reproachful look.

"If I find out you're toying with an innocent junior, I'll be furious!"

"...That's absolutely not what I was thinking!"

"Then we should be even angrier. Public enemy number one!"

That's really unreasonable...

However, Dōkura isn't the love-obsessed type like Yūjo, so there seems to be no need to worry about that.

School was about to end, and I decided to check on Isana before going home today.

Walking down the corridor bathed in the red glow of the setting sun, I pondered what I had heard from Jie Nu.

Why did Daocang specifically bring me up when he decided to retain the student council's invitation?

If she wanted to keep her thoughts to herself, she could have simply said, "I'd like to think about it some more." Why did she specifically mention my name? If she's willing to actively pursue her goal of becoming a screenwriter in the future, I'd be more than happy...

"senior"

Said that Cao Cao Cao Cao arrived.

A simple hair tie binds his black hair to both sides. Now in his model student mode, Daocang stands by the window, bathed in the slanting rays of the setting sun.

"It's so great to run into you. I was just thinking of waiting around here, maybe I'd bump into you."

"Did you need something?"

"I'd like to discuss something with you. It seems some parts of the script need adjustment..."

Once rehearsals began, the script needed adjustments due to performance requirements and other factors. I would discuss these adjustments with Daocang from time to time, mostly when I visited their class to check on things…

"It's almost time for school to end. Are you in a hurry?"

"Soon. How about we talk as we walk?"

Even on my way home I have to work... I'm starting to feel like a workaholic more and more. Thinking of the examples of Mr. Keikoin and Aunt Yoshihito, I can't help but feel a little uneasy about the future.

Daocang smiled, walked briskly to me, and tilted his head slightly as he spoke.

"Are you embarrassed? About going on dates with me after school or something?"

"This is necessary risk mitigation. I do have a girlfriend, after all."

"Ah~"

Daocang made a sound as if he understood, then looked up at something else as if he remembered something, and tilted his head again.

"But Senior Dongtou is different, isn't he?"

"...? Did I tell you that?"

Currently, most people at school probably think that Izana and I are dating.

"I gradually understood after talking to my senior. When he talked about Dongtou senior, it didn't feel like he was basking in the praise, but rather like he was showing off."

"Really? By the way, what's the difference between these two?"

"They're quite different!"

The setting sun painted half of Daocang's face with a rosy glow, and she smiled with a slightly troubled expression.

"Completely different"

His expression and tone suggested he had something to say, but before those concrete words could be uttered, Daocang simply chuckled.

"Besides, I find it hard to imagine my senior getting excited about large breasts, don't I?"

"...Thank you for having the right understanding of me."

We've been standing here chatting for a while now. Instead of wasting time on this, we should hurry up and finalize the so-called script discussion.

Just as I was thinking this, I noticed another familiar face in the sunset that filled the corridor.

Isana peered somewhat bewilderedly at the situation from the shadows around the corner leading to the stairs.

"Isana!"

When I called out, Isana's shoulders trembled violently. I felt as if she was about to run away at any moment, so I quickly walked towards her.

"Come out if you're there."

Izana hunched her shoulders and turned her face toward the wall.

"But... I'm afraid I'll interrupt your conversation..."

"You're still bothered by this even now..."

Isana's gaze swept past me, quickly glancing at Michikura. Was she hesitant because there were unfamiliar people around? Well, it's not that I can't understand her feelings.

"senior!"

The sleeve was pulled hard from behind.

When I turned around, Daocang was looking at me with a reproachful expression.

"Please don't run away suddenly. I haven't finished talking to you yet!"

"Ah...sorry. I saw Isana."

Michikura was still clutching my uniform sleeve, his gaze fixed on Izana, who looked uneasy.

"Ah... Senior Dongtou, you're here..."

"……Um"

Isana gave a brief reply, followed by an awkward silence.

Izana and Michikura stared at each other in silence.

What... what's going on with this atmosphere?

While I was still confused, Daocang spoke up again.

"I'm currently discussing the script with my seniors. As rehearsals progress, we're making constant tweaks, and it's getting more and more fun!"

"...I just finished one painting. One more and all will be done."

"You write very quickly. Although I've heard from my seniors that I'm considered quite fast as well."

"Well, I've been under strict training by Mizuto-kun for a long time now."

"Oh, I see. A long time ago..."

"Yes, that's right. A long time ago."

...I have a feeling the atmosphere is a bit ominous...?

Am I just imagining things? I always feel like Isana and Michikura are deliberately showing off the way they talk. Even when Isana showed some inexplicable hostility towards Kawanami, she didn't seem to speak like that, and Michikura is the kind of person who's friendly to everyone, so of course I've never seen this side of her before.

"What happened between you two...? Did you have a fight without my knowledge?"

"No"

Daocang answered immediately, his voice slightly stiff.

"We wouldn't do something as vulgar as arguing. Right, Dongtou-senpai?"

"...Yes. We didn't argue."

"That's good……"

Is it just because we don't interact much that the conversation feels awkward...? The feeling of being excluded is making me uneasy.

"Were you originally planning to go back with Dongtou-senpai today?"

"Ah, um... well, I guess so. If there aren't any other plans, that's probably how it's been lately."

"Then let me join you too. Is that what you call having two women on your left and right?"

Daocang smiled brightly as he spoke, but I always felt that what I was holding seemed to have thorns or poison.

"Let's talk about what we need to discuss on the way."

"Well, that's definitely the most efficient way... Isana, is that alright?"

"...Sure. I'm not his girlfriend or anything..."

I sensed something was off. Although I sensed something was off, she hid it so well that I wasn't entirely sure. Not enough for me to ask, "What's going on?"

"Let's go then!"

"Ichikura said quickly, moving his hand from my sleeve to my elbow and pulling hard. At the same time, my other elbow was held somewhat awkwardly by Izana."

Rather than being surrounded by women, it was more like I was being escorted like an alien as I embarked on my journey home that day.

"Oh...!!"

When Kawanami placed the sign against the classroom door, a murmur of amazement rippled through the students watching.

The sign features a cool, aloof female character. Her short, dark blue bob and slightly indifferent expression are striking. Even her toes are meticulously depicted, making her look almost lifelike.