My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

"Ugh—really. Toilet paper left in a place like this..."

As she spoke, Mom reached under the table and picked up a crumpled piece of toilet paper.

While I was still on the phone with my classmate, Irito.

"Didn't I tell you to throw it in the trash? You must have been lying in bed, too lazy to move, so you just threw it away—your ball control is terrible—"

"Wow! Wowhhhhh!"

How could you say something like that?! What if Irito-san hears this?!

I put my phone under the covers and jumped out of bed.

"I wasn't messing around! That wad of toilet paper just happened to fall on the floor—"

"Huh? Yui, you're usually pretty lazy, aren't you? Like last time, you were in the bathroom—"

"You're so annoying! If you have nothing to do, just get out of here!"

"Ah—rebellious phase! Yui, you've finally reached your rebellious phase, haven't you!"

When I heard my mother start saying some really outrageous things, I kicked her out of the room.

Then I went back to bed and, trembling, put the phone, which was still on a call, to my ear.

"No... I'm sorry... my mother just came by..."

"No, it's alright."

"...Did you hear what we said...?"

If someone hears this, I might never be able to pull myself together again.

I've always loved my mom, but maybe starting today I'll start to hate her. Perhaps this marks the official start of my severe rebellious phase.

I made such a solemn vow to wait for his answer, but...

"No... I didn't hear anything."

"Oh...I see..."

Great……

—But my peace of mind only lasted for a short time.

"...But at first, I kept hearing your heartbeat."

"what?"

I reflected on my actions.

Yes, I remember—

I quickly crawled into bed and hid my phone in front of my chest.

Hold your phone to your chest.

—Hold it to your chest.

I've always... pressed the phone's microphone against my heart...?

I kept broadcasting my heartbeat live to my classmate, Irito...?

"Ah, ahhh... waah ah, ahhhhhh—"

"N-No, it's okay, it's okay! I don't think it's a big deal! I should apologize for eavesdropping!"

"No...don't you find it annoying...?"

"How should I put it... it makes me feel like Ayai is alive and well... she's a real person... and that makes me feel reassured... Ugh, I've made that sound a bit awful. Sorry!"

"Ugh... Ugh...!"

So, so shy...!

So, having your heartbeat heard is such an embarrassing thing...? It's not quite the same as being naked or having your underwear seen; it's like having something deeper inside you spied on...!

"I...I...am I acting a little weird...?"

"No... if I had to say, I just feel like my heart is beating a little fast."

"Ughhhhhh~~"

"That's normal under those circumstances! It's normal!"

Ah~ He even comforted me~! So gentle~! I love him the most~!

"...You've already tried your best, Ayai. Have confidence."

Waaaaah!

He suddenly spoke to me in a soft murmur, which flattered me so much that I buried my head under the covers.

In complete darkness, I could only listen to Irito's breathing through my phone.

As you listen, the words naturally flow out:

"Could you... say it again?"

"You've tried your best."

"Um."

"You're great."

"Uh-huh."

"And—it's starting to sound more and more like a strange audio/video message."

"whee."

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, and Irito-san chuckled softly on the other end of the phone as well.

Although Irito isn't here... and I can't see his face... I feel that our hearts are connected.

"Ayai. 』

He suddenly called my name.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"……No……"

His tone sounded a little hesitant.

Actually, my phone was almost out of battery.

“Ah, I see…”

It seems that this dreamlike period is coming to an end.

Although I was reluctant to part, I didn't want to act spoiled or pester them.

"Irito-san, I'll do my best... Would you like to talk to me again?"

"Of course I will. I think I should be able to go to the library again the day after tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll wait for you, I'll wait for you."

"Then..."

"Hmm... then..."

"...See you another day."

See you another day!

After a few seconds of lingering silence, the call ended.

I lay in bed, staring blankly at the glowing screen of my phone.

The call lasted 43 minutes and 45 seconds.

August 12, 7:59 PM.

I peeked out from under the covers, looked up at the ceiling, and exhaled.

I really hope the day after tomorrow comes soon.

This thought is stronger now than it was forty-three minutes ago.

...Actually, he could have talked to me on the phone while charging.

Volume 4: Before the First Kiss War, the Couple Seeks Excitement: "Don't Say I'm Handsome."

"Hey, Mizuto-kun. Where's the bookmark for this book?"

In the afternoon, I was leisurely reading a book in the living room.

The woman called me over, and I reluctantly looked up from my book. She said, "This book," and showed me the book I'd borrowed from her last time… a bookmark?

"Oh...right, I think so. Probably somewhere on my desk."

"What—? On your messy desk? Why wasn't it properly tucked inside the book?"

"Sorry, I didn't need it. I'll go find it and return it to you later—"

"Give it to me now! You'll forget about it soon enough!"

"Huh? This is troublesome..."

"Huh? Isn't it your fault for borrowing something and not keeping it safe?"

"Ah—okay, okay."

I sighed and stood up from the sofa. "Yes, you're right, I know, I know."

I wanted to find something quickly before coming back to read, but before I left the living room, I noticed two pairs of eyes staring at us.

The gaze came from Dad and Aunt Yu-Jin, who both had a rare day off.

The two sat at the dining table, both looking like they were trying not to laugh.

“Wha…what’s wrong?”

When Yui asked the question, who had also noticed the gaze, Aunt Yui chuckled.

"No, it's just... because... right?"

"Yes, that's right. I understand, I understand."

Dad chuckled and swayed his shoulders slightly.

Both Jie and I were completely baffled, and could only tilt our heads in confusion. Was there anything strange about what just happened...?

Aunt Yu-ren was still chuckling softly as she said to us:

"But you two just now—were like a couple going through a rough patch."

"!"

Burnout period.

Basically, I've heard of this term before.

That is, the period when a man and woman who have just started dating get used to each other's company, their relationship becomes monotonous, or they begin to magnify each other's shortcomings.

Depending on the situation, they might even break up directly, making them a dangerous enemy of couples or spouses.

"I never expected this."

The woman pressed her cushion forcefully onto the floor and said this.

This is Yui's room.

In response to this unexpected situation, we convened an emergency countermeasures meeting.

"I thought I was gradually getting used to this kind of life and wouldn't make any more mistakes... but I didn't expect that getting used to it would actually have a negative impact..."

"The burnout period... Come to think of it, this is the phenomenon that most often occurs in real couples. Even if someone is pretending to be a couple in love, they wouldn't act out the burnout period, would they?"

"We broke up a long time ago!"

"That's true, but the problem is that it looks that way."

Of course, I don't think my dad and his family were serious—I don't think they realized we used to be a couple.

However, after living together for four months, it cannot be denied that the tension has indeed eased considerably.