My stepmother's burden is my ex-girlfriend.

Luckily, I was reading a book.

The words of our ancestors are always full of philosophy.

"This is what is called 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.'"

Irito Yume ◆ A Feeling of Longing

When I got home from the Christmas girls' party, Mizuto hadn't come home yet.

After asking my mother—

He said he was going to stay overnight at a friend's house. Maybe it's a classmate's house in Dongtou—

My mother chuckled to herself with delight, but I knew it was impossible.

Whenever Mizuto goes to see Dongtou, he always tells me first. I didn't quite understand his reasons at first, but what happened yesterday made me guess a bit.

Mizuto informed me in that way because he was in a dilemma.

What exactly is it that attracts Mizuto so much that he can't resist it?

What could have made Mizuto turn away from me?

I—must figure this out.

I can't do anything until I figure this out.

I sent a LINE message to my classmate Dongtou.

Can I come to your house to play tomorrow?

"Sorry to keep you waiting~"

Dongtou, wearing a cotton long-sleeved shirt, slowly peeked out from the doorway.

Her messy hair and wrinkled long-sleeved shirt shocked me with her lack of femininity. Although she always dressed casually when she came to visit, I now realized that was considered quite well-dressed by Dongtou's standards.

"Dongtou...did you just wake up?"

"No... I got up a few hours ago, but I was too lazy to change... I'm so sorry, I'm dressed like this..."

"No, it's okay... I just said I wanted to come to your house on a whim."

Dongtou let me in. She skipped and hopped across the hallway, and opened a door after only a few steps. It seemed this was Dongtou's room.

"Please come in~ Although, just like I said on LINE, there's nothing to offer..."

"Are you that busy right now?"

"Because there's a deadline!"

"Deadline? Is it some kind of competition?"

"It's the deadline set by Mizuto-kun~ I just finished drawing a Christmas illustration the day before yesterday, and now he wants me to draw a New Year illustration~ How Spartan~"

...So Mizuto really is her producer. Although I had heard about it before, hearing her say it herself made me realize it for the first time.

"...Sorry to bother you."

Dongtou's room was as messy as Shuitou's. Although the paperbacks were all stored in the bookshelves instead of being left haphazardly like Shuitou's, there were several large, thick, unfamiliar books piled on the floor around the desk.

Dongtou sat down in the chair and picked up the stylus. I walked behind her, who was hunched over, and without thinking much, peeked at the tablet on the table and said:

"You just mentioned New Year illustrations, but New Year's isn't until about a week later, right? Does that take a lot of time?"

"Ah, I'm not drawing a New Year's picture now."

"what?"

Dongtou started drawing smoothly.

"I had other things I wanted to draw, so I wanted to start drawing those first. As a result, my schedule became full."

Dongtou shyly let out a bashful "hehehe" laugh. Not only did he have a deadline set by Mizuto, but he was also independently drawing other pictures...? He had to finish two pictures within a week, which, simply by calculation, meant he had to draw one every three and a half days...

"Illustrations can all be drawn this quickly...?"

"An hour is enough to draw a sketch, but this is a serious full-color illustration. When I have to go to school, even a week is a rush."

"Then why push yourself so hard..."

"Huh? I can't help it, I just want to draw."

Dongtou spoke as if it were common knowledge, as if it were something that everyone in the world didn't take seriously.

However, this idea doesn't contradict my impression of Dongtou to this day. Yes, Dongtou has always been like this. In her heart, she holds common sense that is different from ordinary people, but which she takes for granted. Thinking about it carefully, this is actually a standard, speechless genius-type thinking.

Mizuto, who was closest to her, was the first to see through her way of thinking—and upon closer reflection, this was also quite reasonable.

I turned my gaze back to the mountain of books piled around the table and squatted down to look at the covers.

"Ah, those books are reference materials."

Before I even asked, my classmate from the east told me.

"It's about the background or the clothes. Although it's convenient to find pictures online, professional books also have their own unique flavor."

"You bought this yourself...? Do you have enough allowance?"

"No, most of them were bought by Mizuto."

"what?"

"I thought searching online would be enough, but he said that in the end, you still have to read books to get the right knowledge... He had previously said that there would be a reward if you kept to the deadline, but he used that money to buy that book."

I picked up the top book and looked at the price written on the back cover. It cost over two thousand yuan.

Compared to buying video games or going out with friends, reading is a much cheaper hobby. Buying used books is even cheaper. That being said, Mizuto has been buying books like crazy—he probably doesn't have much allowance left. Although he could afford to buy more if he used his New Year's money or other savings…

But he did so much just to cultivate Dongtou's classmates—was he really willing to do so much for that one purpose?

I stood up again and peeked at the tablet from behind my classmate on the east side.

This should be called...line drawing, right? It's taking a lighter draft as a base and redrawing it into a line drawing. I watched as her pen tip didn't tremble, and she quickly drew the outline of the female character in front of me.

That's a really good drawing.

As a layman, this is all I know.

If I saw a more complete drawing, would I be able to understand more parts? I scanned the room with this thought in mind, but it seemed there were no printed works.

"Dongtou, I have a question for you."

"What is it—?"

"Dongtou's paintings have been published online, right? Could you tell me his account?"

"Uh──..."

She seemed reluctant.

"Is it not possible?"

"It's not that it's impossible... but don't you feel a little embarrassed to tell your real-life friends your pen name?"

"Hmm...because my only social media platform is LINE..."

"Oh...pure people who haven't been corrupted by the internet yet..."

"Is it really not going to work?"

"...If you promise not to tell your classmates at school...that's fine."

"Why hide it? You draw so well."

"Mizuto said no. He said, 'You'll only be used to do this and that,' 'Don't use your surroundings to satisfy your need for self-esteem,' and 'Look to a broader social group.'"

"That sounds like something he would say..."

"Actually, I agree. Didn't we have classmates like that in elementary school? They became the most popular students in art class, and everyone would ask them to draw this or that in the classroom."

"Yes, I remember."

Although I felt envious after seeing it, for Dongtou and Shuidou, it was not only a waste of time, but also a complete disturbance.

Because Mizuto believes that she doesn't need to be praised in the classroom; she can make a name for herself in the wider world.

Dongtou told me about her website and pen name where she publicly shares her illustrations. I used my phone to search for it and found Dongtou's account page.

There are eight illustrations in total. I'll start with the newest one and work my way up to the oldest.

“…………!”

To be honest, I had imagined it.

I expected to see something like a reader submission column for a comic magazine, but it turned out to be a simple drawing made by an amateur.

But... Dongtou's paintings are not at that level at all.

Yes, technically speaking, it might not be as good as a professional painter. But, should I say it's the expressiveness...? Every painting presents a strong "color". I'm not just referring to the use of color, but perhaps you could say it's Dongtou's unique artistic style—a quality that conveys a certain message.

What's most unusual is that even I, a layman, could spot this trait at a glance.

Moreover, even when it comes to techniques that still need improvement, each piece shows progress compared to the last. Looking at them chronologically, you'll find that they were all published within the same month. It's certainly impressive that Higashigoto has made such clear progress in just one month, but Mizuto, who guided her in the right direction, is also remarkable. It even makes me think that if Higashigoto is a painting genius, then Mizuto might be the genius who nurtured her.

Finally, when I saw the earliest published illustration, I gasped.

It was an illustration of a girl with a distorted expression and wrinkles—a girl heartbroken from a breakup.

How should I describe it? Should I say that the expression—the level of emotional analysis—is unique? It's clearly the least technically skilled of all the illustrations, yet its impact surpasses any other one.

At the same time, this illustration—despite having no common features or expressions—reminds me of Asou-senpai's tearful smile when she was rejected after confessing her feelings in Kobe.

Yes, that's it—this illustration perfectly recreates Senior Sister Ya Shuang from that time.

Being able to accurately interpret other people's emotions, and even reproduce them precisely in illustrations—what else is that if not talent?

The matter is clear.

It's Kobe.

Mizuto, in Kobe, confirmed that Higashito's classmate was exceptionally talented.

Then, a new image—the water stains on the pages of "The Siberian Dancer"—emerged in my mind.

"...That's amazing."

I whispered it out.

"Dongtou...you're amazing!"

She was focused on her painting and definitely didn't hear what I said.

Therefore, I can frankly express my true feelings—to declare my surrender from the bottom of my heart.

I can't beat that kind of talent.

Even if I become an unparalleled beauty, I cannot replace this talent.

If Irito Mizuto had a destined partner, it would definitely be Higashigoto Isana. In their life story, I'm just a third wheel, I don't get any role at all.

I only dated Mizuto before.

I just live with Mizuto.

There's nothing special about me. I just love Mizuto terribly, that's all. Even if Mizuto's name becomes world-famous someday, no one will know who I am. Because my love life is completely unimportant to anyone else.

but.

but.

but.

But Mizutani thought about it seriously because of me.

Even though he had no other choice, he didn't easily abandon me. Instead, he thought and thought and thought again—causing himself so much pain.

this matter……

...this matter...

Do I really think it has no value?

"...Hey, Dongtou-kun. Can I ask you a very sudden question?"

"Please speak—"

"If Mizuto had a girlfriend he cherished very much... and told you that he was afraid she would be angry, so he couldn't see you anymore, nor could he help you pursue your career as an illustrator... what would you do?"