“...” She combined the experiences of this school trip in an extremely straightforward way. “During investigations, she’s really cool and smart, but when she’s alone with the protagonist, she becomes ridiculously affectionate and erotic! Oh, and by the way, how about we have the protagonist have a fetish of being deduced!? Like, ‘By observing the movement of your gaze, it’s obvious you’re lusting after my thighs,’ she says while lifting her skirt! Isn’t that great!?” She has way too many desires. It’s way too overwhelming, but... sometimes, that kind of thing is rather good. But in terms of branding... The current Isana is quite leaning towards a refreshing youth theme... “That sounds good, right!? Let me draw it! Well, I’ll draw it without permission anyway!” “Alright, alright! It’s not like stopping you would make a difference!” Thus, this character, born in a burst of inspiration, would later cause a massive buzz, leading to a certain message being sent to Isana. But that’s a story for another time. ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ “I’m really sorry!” After the tour of Shuri Castle, as we were waiting to board the plane at Naha Airport, Isana confessed everything to Yume. As a result, Yume’s reaction was— “~~~!!”
She covered her face with both hands, turning bright red, unable to say anything. Isana tilted her head and looked at me, who had been a bystander, with a puzzled expression. “Um... does this mean, like, I’m forgiven?” “Doesn’t seem like it.” “...How embarrassing... To think that someone I know saw that... Ugh... I want to die...” Ah, I see... Indeed, Yume’s usual demeanor and her when she’s relying on me are quite different. Isana crouched next to the crouched Yume and timidly spoke. “I-It’s okay! It was cute!” “I don’t want my friends to see those cute parts~!” “I think it’s nice to have a face you only show to your boyfriend! Even if from now on, no matter how strict you are, when you say tough things, you can think, ‘But when I’m alone with my boyfriend, I’m all lovey-dovey,’ right?” “Kill me~...!” And so, leaving a small wound in Yume’s heart, our school trip came to an end. Surely, we’ll remember this trip many times in the future. Especially Yume, who seems like she won’t be able to forget it even if she wants to.
[1]: A famous castle that served as the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000. [2]: A Shinto shrine in Kyoto which has the rank Beppyō Jinja (the highest rank for shrines) by the Association of Shinto shrines. [3]: A convenience store chain that is prevalent in Japan. [4]: Just realized I forgot to make this TN earlier in this volume; Kyoto has strict regulations regarding business brandings regarding color schemes, of which businesses must follow brown/sepia tones for their logos in order to maintain consistency with surrounding buildings.
Final Chapter - The Fifth Day, Just The Two Of Us (?) Mizuto Irido ◆ Four Day Deficit After returning home from the school trip, perhaps due to the fatigue of the unfamiliar journey, I fell into a deep sleep before the sun had even fully set. When I woke up, it was still bright outside. I thought I had napped for only about two hours at most, but it was already the next morning. The night was already gone... However, my consciousness was unusually clear, though the feeling of having wasted time was something I couldn’t shake off. I went down to the living room, and my parents apparently hadn’t woken up yet . The dinner I skipped yesterday was wrapped and placed on the table. I gratefully ate it since I was quite hungry. Today was a makeup holiday for the school trip. I had been quite active during the trip, so I decided to take it easy today. Thinking so, I opened a paperback book on the sofa in the living room. After a while, my parents woke up and headed to work. The makeup holiday meant that it was a regular weekday for the world. It somehow gave me an odd sense of superiority. A bit later, around 10 in the morning, Yume finally appeared. “Good morning...” “Good morning.”
Yume, who entered the living room while stretching, had changed from her pajamas to casual wear. She wore a familiar long-sleeved blouse and a fluffy long skirt. However, having seen her in summer clothes for the past few days, it felt a bit strange. After preparing and finishing tea and toast, Yume went to the bathroom once before returning to the living room. She approached me sitting on the sofa, sat down beside me with a thud, and then leaned over, resting her head on my thigh. “You must be tired.” I said that as I looked down at her, and Yume let out a little “Hnm…” as if slightly groaning. “Are you completely off today?” “Yeah. I’ll be meeting everyone else in the Student Council and giving them souvenirs only tomorrow. “You’re still so conscientious.” “It’s called being normal.” I closed the paperback book and gently stroked Yume’s cheek as she rested on my thigh. Yume looked up at my face and asked, “Are our parents at work?” “It’s a weekday, so yeah.” “They won’t be back until evening?” “I suppose so.” “...Do you want to?” Well, if our parents aren’t at home, it’s natural for the conversation to turn that way. Yume even said something like “after we get home” to Isana the other day when she was excitedly teasing us about it. But.
“I feel somewhat deflated, not in the mood for that.” “Ah~...” Yume nodded as if understanding. “I think I understand how you feel. I also want to take it easy for a bit.” Having endured four days of abstinence, it’s not like I didn’t have any physical desires right now. Well, it’s not like spending a relaxing two hours with Yume and deciding later when I feel more motivated is a bad thing. So, without kissing or touching each other’s bodies, just like normal siblings with a close bond, we spent a leisurely morning. When it was time for lunch, we divided the tasks and made pasta together. The side dishes were potato salad and soup, a mix of refrigerated and instant ones. Today, we decided to take it easy. Once our stomachs were filled, our minds finally relaxed. Now it was Yume’s turn to give me a lap pillow, and we spent our time reading books or chatting. At that moment, Yume’s smartphone on the table made a soft ding. Yume picked up her phone, checked the screen, and started typing a reply with a serious expression. I casually asked, “Who is it?” “Asuhain-san.” So she initiated the message... I didn’t quite expect that, but thinking about it, she did seem like that kind of person. But if she finds out I’m getting a lap pillow from Yume right now, she might erupt like a raging fire. Yume continued the message exchange for a while. While looking at the phone, she smiled subtly and whispered something small. I had been looking up at her from her thighs the whole time.
... I lifted my upper body, sat back within touching distance of Yume, and wrapped my arms around her slender waist. “Hm? Mizuto?” Turning Yume around, who looked curious, I put her in a so-called back hug position. I tightly pressed our bodies together with my arms wrapped around her front from both sides, burying my face near Yume’s neck. Yume smiled interestingly. “Feeling lonely?” I didn’t answer. However, as I deeply inhaled Yume’s scent, it felt like my missing energy was re-entering my body. Exhaling lightly near her ear, Yume slightly squirmed, emitting a soft “Ngh.” Following that, her previously affectionate expression carried a hint of sensuality. “Shall we... go to your room?” she asked with a smile. Instead of replying, I sweetly nibbled on her earlobe. Yume giggled ticklishly. “Sorry, Asuhain-san,” Yume said, swiftly typing one last message on her phone before stuffing it in her skirt pocket. And as she turned her head back, I couldn’t resist and our lips met. A few seconds after parting, Yume smiled teasingly. “Your calm atmosphere from earlier seems like a lie.” “...I owe you, four days’ worth,” I confessed. There were still several hours before our parents returned. During the school trip, finding time alone was a challenge. Even tomorrow or after, we didn’t know when we’d have the house to ourselves again.
It was essential to repay the deficit that had spanned over four days’ right here. Frustrated, we stood up and moved from the living room, our family space, to our personal space, my room— —Ding. A notification came from Yume’s skirt pocket. “...” “...” We both looked down at her pocket in silence. “Is everything okay?” “I-it’s fine, it’s fine. They said it’s fine if I don’t respond for a while.” So, refocusing our minds, we joined our hands and went upstairs, entering my room. Despite the clutter of books making it difficult to walk, as long as my bed was neat, it was fine. I pushed Yume onto the bed, and a delighted “Kyaa” escaped her. While covering Yume lying on her back, I kissed her again. This time, it wasn’t like the playful kind as before, but the type to heighten each other’s moods— —Ding. Another notification sound echoed from her pocket. “...” “...” We involuntarily separated our lips and stood frozen for a while. Yume slowly took out her phone from her pocket, checking the screen. “Who is it?” “...Asuhain-san.”
She must have checked it by just looking at the notification. Yume then tore her gaze away from her phone. “Can I put my phone on the desk? It’s kinda getting in the way.” “...Sure.” Yume slipped out from under my body and took her phone to the study desk a little away from the bed. After fiddling with it for a bit, she placed it on the tabletop. Then, as she returned, Yume said, “I turned off the notifications, so...” “Got it.” Now, let’s get back to where we were. Yume placed her knees on the bed and gently rested her hand on my shoulder. This time around, I found myself being pushed down. Yume pressed her soft body against me and once again brought her lips to mine. “Mmm... Fuu...” I wrapped my arms around Yume’s back and gently slid my hand into her blouse. Tracing the smooth skin on her back with my fingertips, I slowly lifted the hem of her blouse, searching for the hooks of her bra in the middle of her back. Snap. The moment I unhooked it with a sound, something bubbled up inside me. It’s strange, no matter how many times it happens, the excitement I get during this moment never fades— —Ring, ring, ring, ring! A ringtone echoed from the direction of the desk. “...” “...”
Now, let’s refocus— —Ring, ring, ring, ring! Let’s— —Ring, ring, ring, ring! Refocus... —Ring, ring, ring, ring! “Jeez!” Yume, holding her unhooked bra against her clothes, got off the bed. She quickly moved, picked up the phone that kept ringing, and answered it. Ignoring the call might be suspicious... That was the only choice Yume had. “Hello? ...Yeah. It’s okay. ...Yeah. ...Yeah. ...Eh? Now!?” With one hand holding the phone to her ear and the other pressing her chest, Yume, in a troubled expression, turned to look at me. “No, I’m just a little busy right now... —Eh? No, no, not like that...!” After exchanging a few more words in a flustered manner, Yume hung up and sighed. “...So what’s with Asuhain?” I asked hesitantly. There was no need to ask who the other person was anymore. Yume then answered with a very apologetic tone. “Well... I was supposed to meet with everyone from the Student Council tomorrow, but they decided to do it today instead...” “I see.” “But, but, as expected, I'll refuse! Originally, it was supposed to be tomorrow!”
“No... You can go.” I said, suppressing my feelings. “Your relationship with Asuhain is important too... We can always find time together.” Above all, I don’t want Asuhain to have any strange suspicions... She even said she’d kill me, after all. “Eh...? But...” Yume, pressing her smartphone against her chest, said in a worried tone. “It might sound strange coming from me, but... is that okay..?” It’s not okay at all. “It’s fine. What do you think of me? I can control desires just fine.” “If you say so...” Yume thought for a while with her hand on her chin, then moved to sit at the edge of the bed in front of me, kneeling on the floor. “Ngh.” And then, she reached out her arms as if asking for a hug. I embraced her body in confusion. Yume tightened her arms around me as if imprinting the sensation of her body onto mine. My sense of touch, that was left lingering, was still keen, capturing everything from the softness of her chest, the contours of her ribs, to the rhythm of her breath, as if it were all engraved on my skin. After a while, Yume reluctantly pulled away from my body and looked into my face. “With this, endure until tonight... Can you do it?” Like a mother talking to a child. I smiled wryly and replied, “I can.”
“Also, I think you already understand, but...” “It’s okay. Don’t worry.” Let me explain. Yume Irido is the type who dislikes it when her boyfriend watches adult videos. “Well then...” As Yume stood up, she turned towards the entrance of the room, fastening her bra that had been left undone while heading there. “I’ll be heading out. I’m really sorry!” Turning back at the door, she clasped her hands together as if praying, then went out into the hallway. “Hello, Asuhain-san? About the earlier conversation...” The voice speaking to the phone gradually faded away. When it became completely inaudible, I collapsed backward onto the bed, exhaling a loud, audible sigh towards the ceiling. Surely, there will be many more moments like this in the future. After all, I’m always careful not to get caught by Dad or Yumi-san, so even with Asuhain added to the mix, it shouldn’t be that big of a problem. However. Just this once... just this once, let me utter a single complaint. “...How tough…” I will definitely repay this deficit of ours. I made that strong determination.
Author’s Afterword I don’t mean to boast or anything, but the truth is, I don’t really read mystery novels much. I lean more towards mystery games, and when it comes to novels, I only manage to read about one per year. So, when I have Yume mention a title of a book, I read that work on the spot and write about it with makeshift knowledge. Even someone like me can write mysteries. Lately, I’ve been thinking that I want to spread that perspective. However, aside from that, let me explain why I decided to turn Tsurekano into a mystery this time. Originally, the idea of turning Tsurekano into a mystery existed before it was published as a book. I abandoned it at that time because I lacked the confidence to summarize it well and judged that different genres shouldn’t be mixed. However, as the number of volumes exceeded 10, and I had to consider concluding the series, I felt it was getting a bit tough to continue in the same way. In fact, I’ve been struggling with two things since around the fourth volume. One is, “I don’t know how to put together a romantic comedy in the form of a long story.” The other is, “If I focus on episodes with other characters, Mizuto and Yume’s appearances will decrease.” I might not have said it much before, but writing a pure romantic comedy set in the present day is a first for me with Tsurekano. Until then, I had only written stories involving battles or mysteries, so I wasn’t really comfortable with organizing a story in the form of a romantic comedy. I thought I could try various things and learn while writing, but after writing up to the 10th volume, I still didn’t understand. Writing without knowing anything, struggling to make it into a book, was so difficult. Writing Tsurekano was overwhelmingly more challenging than seemingly laborious mysteries. There is a perspective that says good work can come from the author’s struggles and deep contemplation. However, even if something
good is created that way, it’s meaningless if you can’t articulate why it’s good—especially through my experience in anime production, I strongly felt this. Now, the theme I’m pursuing is “reproducibility.” Reproducibility—whether you can repeatedly create something equally interesting. If you don’t find that, even if things work out at the moment, there would be no future. Without a future, there would be no growth. Without growth, you get bored. I think “boredom” is the poison that kills every author—so I judged that I didn’t have the talent to give reproducibility to a long romantic comedy and chose a different approach. That’s where the choice of mystery came in. Why mystery? Now, let’s finally move on to the discussion of the other worry I mentioned. By adopting mystery as the axis of the story, you can focus on other characters as the drama’s focal point while securing the roles of the so-called Holmes and Watson—this time, Mizuto and Yume. In fact, in this 11th volume, the story mainly featured Asuhain, but there was only one scene from Asuhain’s perspective. Mysteries make it easy to structure the narrative in that way. Mizuto and Yume’s relationship has gone as far as it could with the 10th volume, and I wanted to use Mizuto’s detective aptitude, and such various conditions and ideas overlapped, so I decided to try it. It took about a month just for planning, but thanks to that, I was able to work quite comfortably. I switched to voice input for writing this time, so I did get frustrated with the endless misrecognition of “Asuhain,” but overall, it was okay. [TN]: Asuhain can often be mispronounced or misread as “Asuha” or other mispronunciations. So, the story this time around was in the form of a mystery. I believe I did a pretty good job. If those who became interested in my mystery writing from this 11th volume, please read more of my mystery intense works like “Sherlock + Academy” or “I’ll Answer Your Mystery” (shameless plug).
The next volume is planned to resolve more around Kawanami × Akatsuki. One morning, the two wake up in the same bed!? ... Other than that, I haven’t thought of anything yet. Plans are undecided. So, that’s it for “My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex Volume 11,” by Kamishiro Kyousuke. You might already know, but I like writing about girls messing around.
Fan Translator’s Note Thanks for reading our fan-translation of Tsurekano Volume 11! We hoped you enjoyed it as much as we did. If you did enjoy it, please take the time to rate the series and maybe even write a review on Novel Updates! I’d like to express my appreciation to yimasu and Ikea, who helped me with editing and proofreading respectively. Fan-translating this volume would have taken me more time if it wasn’t for them. I’d also like to thank Indi for helping us typeset and translate the colored illustrations. It seems like the official-translation will be catching up by the time Volume 12 releases, so this will most likely conclude our fan-translation of this series. Feel free to join our discord server for any updates or to just chill with us! We also translate other series which we upload to our website as well! As always, please support the author by buying the official translation when they’ve catched up! Please do not reupload our fan-translations, nor resell them. Fan-translating is just a hobby for us, and we do not plan on making it as a means to monetary gain. - NaCl
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