Jinseigyakuten Uwakisare Enzai wo Kiserareta Orega Gakuenichi no Bisyoujo ni Natsukareru V1 Illustrasi

 Chapter 2: Good Friendship

Hijiri Hoshimiya. Known as the most beautiful girl in school and the older sister of Hime. To even think about wanting to date her feels like an impossible fantasy. Reaching out to her would be as presumptuous as trying to touch the highest of flowers.

"Please marry my sister."

There was no question mark. Hime said it in the same tone as if she were asking me to tie her shoelace because it had come undone. How was I supposed to react to that?

"...I couldn't sleep."

I was restless, unable to settle down with sleepiness by my side. Even when I woke up in the morning, Hime's words still kept spinning in my mind, making it hard to calm down.

I thought about it all night—what Hime's words really meant.

I guess it's my fault for saying something strange.

"I think you're cute enough that I’d want to have you as a sister," I recalled what I had said yesterday.

Yeah, I definitely shouldn’t have said that.

But even so, Hime seemed happy about it. She accepted my feelings directly, without any misinterpretation.

Hime is a kind and honest girl. Her expressions and gestures are adorable, and most of all, being with her feels so comfortable. I don't want to make her sad.

That’s why it’s so difficult. I still can't quite grasp the emotional weight of Hime's words. Was she serious? Or did she just blurt it out in the heat of the moment?

How should I face the request of "please marry my sister"? I couldn't find an answer.

Hmm... I guess there's no use thinking about it forever.

With that thought, I shook off my doubts and began preparing to go to school.

"Hime, good morning."

As soon as I arrived at the classroom, while walking toward my seat, I noticed a girl with long silver hair and called out to her. It wasn't just because she stood out with her appearance, but more likely because I had Hime on my mind.

I greeted her with my usual morning words, and she immediately jumped up and bowed her head.

"Youhei-kun, good morning!"

Huh? Usually, she stays seated when greeting me, but today she stood up. Her voice was cheerful, and she seemed to be in a good mood.

"...It makes me happy when you call my name."

Ah, right. Today was the first time I called her by her name during a greeting. After saying something more embarrassing yesterday, calling her by her first name felt almost natural. In fact, Hime seemed so happy that any lingering embarrassment completely vanished.

"You look a bit sleepy today."

"Can you tell? I didn’t get enough sleep."

"I'm worried. I hope you don’t end up getting sick."

"I'll probably be fine. I ate breakfast properly."

"I see. Breakfast is the source of energy, after all."

...This is really unusual.

Normally, Hime doesn’t talk much in class. She usually spends her time reading a book, and I just watch her profile from afar, as part of my routine. But today was different. Even though her seat was next to mine, she leaned over my desk, eagerly chatting away without sitting down.

While I found her gestures endearing, I couldn't help but feel the gazes of our classmates on us.

(They’re looking, aren’t they?)

I could understand why. After all, it was Hime Hoshimiya, smiling and talking.

And the person she was talking to was just an ordinary, plain high school boy. It must have seemed like a strange sight to everyone around us.

(I hope Hime doesn't mind.)

I didn't care about myself, but I was concerned because Hime seemed to have a bit of difficulty in large groups. I worried about whether the attention might be stressful for her.

"Um, if it's okay with you... would you like to have lunch together today?"

To my surprise, Hime seemed completely unbothered.

She didn’t seem to mind the stares at all. Her large eyes were focused solely on me.

...Maybe I was worrying for nothing.

Hime was as calm as ever, surprisingly so for an eight-year-old.

"Yeah, of course, I'd love to."

"...Am I making you feel uncomfortable?"

"No, actually, I was kind of nervous eating alone, so I’m happy."

"Wow... yay!"

Just agreeing to have lunch together made her eyes sparkle with joy, her expression pure and childlike.

Seeing her like this always gives me energy.

...Come to think of it, there was no mention of Hijiri Hoshimiya at all.

I had been concerned about it, but perhaps Hime just blurted it out without thinking. If that’s the case, then there's no need to overthink it. With that, I finally felt a sense of relief.

I'm glad. It looks like today will be just like any other day after all.

Lunchtime arrived.

Normally, this would be the time when I quietly eat a convenience store bento by myself in the classroom. It’s not like I particularly enjoy eating alone; I simply never managed to make any friends after the class shuffle. Before I knew it, the social dynamics of the class had already solidified. That was my mistake.

But today, since I had a promise with Hime, I wouldn’t have to feel lonely.

...Come to think of it, Hime usually leaves the classroom for lunch, doesn’t she?

I decided to ask her, just in case she wasn’t eating her lunch in the classroom.

"Hime, where do you usually eat lunch?"

"I always eat in the principal’s office, so let’s head there."

...The principal’s office?

Why would she be eating there?

She explained the reason as we walked.

"To put it simply, it's probably a matter of consideration."

"That sounds a bit off..."

"I’m not exaggerating. It’s out of consideration... though it’s not something I asked for."

Tap, tap, tap. Every time her small indoor shoes touched the linoleum floor, a light sound echoed that could hardly be produced by high school students.

Not long ago, Hime had been walking ahead, her small steps quick and light. Because of this, her body bounced more energetically than the other high school students, and her hair fluttered. I followed her, watching her shining back, reflecting the dull fluorescent light.

"My position is a bit special, so I think the principal is doing this as a favor to me," she continued.

"I see. The principal’s office... that sounds like a lot of trouble."

"Trouble? No, it’s not troublesome at all."

"Really? The principal seems like a pretty friendly person."

"No, not really... but why are we talking about the principal?"

"...Huh?"

"...Hmm?"

Something was off. It seemed like we weren’t quite on the same page.

Hime seemed to notice this too, stopping and looking back at me, tilting her head slightly, looking up at me.

"Could it be that you think I’m eating lunch with the principal?"

"Isn’t that the case?"

"No. I’m just using the principal’s office. He’s not there."

I had assumed the principal would be there since it was his office.

"It’s probably special treatment. I feel guilty for using my position like this. But it's hard to reject such kindness."

Hime let out a small sigh, looking troubled.

I could sense what she was feeling.

(Hime probably doesn’t like being treated overly deferentially by adults, does she?)

She disliked even being called “Hoshimiya-san” by me, so it made sense she might feel uncomfortable with the principal’s clear deference.

But it seemed like she didn’t want to make a scene, so she said nothing.

Once again, Hime acted more maturely than most, deciding her actions based on reason rather than emotion.

Though she was only eight years old, she behaved as though she were much older. But just because she could act this way, it didn’t mean she wasn’t feeling anything.

A good example of this was when she met the principal earlier.

"Ah, Hoshimiya-san! Sorry, I was delayed leaving the meeting."

We ran into the principal as soon as we arrived at his office, looking flustered as he hurried out of the room.

"It’s fine," Hime responded flatly, her tone emotionless.

"I’m the one using the office, so please don’t worry about it."

She was clearly uncomfortable, but still didn’t show it. It was typical of her to be polite, but her lack of emotion bothered me.

"What? Hoshimiya-san, you don’t need to be so formal. You’re attending this school, so this is the least we can do!"

"...I see."

But the principal paid no attention to her discomfort. He clasped his hands and bent low at the waist, as though in excessive admiration. It was clear that Hime was an exceptional person, but her troubled expression made it hard to ignore.

I decided to step in.

"I’ll be using it too. Is that alright?"

There was a brief silence as the principal seemed to realize he hadn’t even noticed me standing there.

"...Who are you?"

Apparently, he hadn’t recognized my presence at all. To him, I probably wasn’t worth acknowledging.

"He’s a friend. Would it be alright if he ate lunch here too?"

As expected, Hime quickly stepped in to smooth things over, and the principal understood immediately.

"A friend... I see, a friend! Of course, that’s fine. Please, please, come inside, Hoshimiya-san, you should relax in there. Oh, you, come with me; I have something to discuss."

His attitude toward me was so different now.

He was being somewhat condescending, but I didn’t want to make things awkward, so I went along with it.

"Hime, you go ahead."

"...Alright."

As expected, Hime was sharp. She probably noticed I interrupted their conversation to wrap things up quickly, so she quietly went into the room to avoid making my actions pointless.

She looked like she had something to say, but I’d ask her about it later.

For now, I needed to finish up with the principal’s conversation as soon as possible.

"Is it really true that you’re her friend?"

Yeah. He's definitely different from Hime. The principal’s condescending tone doesn’t really make me angry... but it’s still annoying.

Well, I guess this is how an older man would talk to a high school student. But in this case, it feels like he’s treating Hime in an excessively special way.

"Make sure you don’t upset her mood."

Changing your attitude depending on the person is not necessarily a bad thing, I think.

But the calculating attitude of adults like him feels really uncomfortable to me as a child. I can sort of understand why Hime doesn't like it.

"Hoshimiya-san is a treasure of our school. Do you understand the meaning of her attending this school? I doubt you do."

"Well... I guess not."

"Every time she achieves something great, our school’s name will be recorded in historical documents. Our school will be recognized as the great school she attended. If she graduates without any whims, the benefit to our school will be immeasurable."

The principal started speaking at length without me even asking. It seemed like lunch with Hime was going to be delayed. I just wanted him to finish already.

"You, as an ordinary student, are of a completely different status compared to her. So, if you’ve become her friend, then use that position to your advantage. Be careful not to upset her. If you do that, I might make things easier for you in terms of grades and academic records."

"I’m not really interested in that."

"...You don’t understand, do you? To put it another way, if she ever decides to leave our school—if you’re somehow involved in that, we could do anything with your record. That’s how it works."

I see. So this isn't advice or guidance; it's just a threat.

Hime has a great value, and he wants me to understand that and build relationships accordingly. He wants me to act with consideration for profit and loss. To flatter her, to curry favor, to keep her happy.

That’s what he’s trying to get me to do.

"...I’m not worried about that."

It’s stupid. Ridiculous. There’s no way I’d do something like that.

I won’t make a foolish choice that would only worsen my position.

There’s no point in seriously confronting someone like him—an adult with such a calculating attitude.

"Hime is an important friend to me."

But maybe I couldn’t help it. Maybe it was a small act of defiance that made me say it.

"I won’t do anything to make her sad."

I implicitly told him that I wouldn’t do what he said, and it seemed like the principal caught on.

"...Do you really understand what I’m saying?"

Oops, that’s bad. The principal furrowed his brow and looked at me suspiciously.

What should I say to smooth this over? As I was thinking this, suddenly, a voice broke the tension.

"Sorry! Did I make you wait?"

A savior had appeared.

The tense atmosphere relaxed instantly as a soft, carefree voice echoed through the room.

"Oh, it’s the principal! Thank you as always for letting me use the principal’s office!"

"Ah, yes, well, it’s no problem."

I turned to look, and there was a soft-looking girl.

She was a beautiful classmate with chestnut-colored hair styled in light waves, fitting her perfectly. She had a gentle, almond-shaped gaze that gave her an elegant older-sister vibe. Even though she was the same age, her mature figure made me feel a little intimidated just standing near her.

No wonder she was called the most beautiful girl in the school. Just being near her felt overwhelming.

I hadn’t spoken to her before, but I knew quite a bit about her.

That’s because I had recently become friends with her sister.

"Hoshimiya Hijiri-san?"

"Yep, it’s Hoshimiya Hijiri-san!"

Hime’s older sister was there.

"Hey, hey, what were you talking about? The principal always talks for so long, so please try to keep it short, okay? Hime-chan is probably getting tired of waiting."

She greeted us with a soft smile and raised one hand casually.

Because of her unique relaxed atmosphere, it seemed like the principal lost his urge to say anything more to me.

"Ah, yes... I’ll leave it at that. Please, don’t keep Hoshimiya-san waiting any longer."

He said that and walked off toward the staff room.

I watched his thinning hair as he walked away, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Phew..."

That was close. I may have been a bit too defiant just now. I should have tried to handle it more diplomatically, but as I was reflecting on this, suddenly I felt a light poke on my shoulder.

"Hey, let’s go in already."

It was Hoshimiya Hijiri calling out to me.

Come to think of it... when did she arrive?

The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence, especially right when the tension between the principal and me had reached its peak. Was that just a coincidence?

"Sorry. And... thanks for earlier."

I decided to thank her, wondering if she had intentionally helped me.

"Hmm? Thanks for what?"

However, Hoshimiya Hijiri tilted her head in confusion.

It seemed like she didn’t think she had helped me at all, and it was just a coincidence.

Even so, the timing felt too perfect to be random, but... well, it wouldn’t solve anything to keep wondering about it. For now, I decided to leave it alone.

…Oh, right. I’d completely forgotten—this is actually my first time meeting Hoshimiya Hijiri.

We’ve already exchanged a few words, but should I formally introduce myself? While I was hesitating, she opened the door to the principal’s office and gestured for me to enter. Flustered, I followed her inside.

The room was about ten tatami mats in size. At the back was the principal’s desk and some bookshelves. Portraits of past principals lined the upper walls. In the center was a low table, flanked by two-person sofas facing each other.

On one of those sofas sat Hime, perched neatly.

“...Oh.”

Our eyes met. Hime looked like she had something to say. She was probably curious about my conversation with the principal. However, before she could ask, her older sister, Hoshimiya Hijiri, spoke to her first, delaying that discussion for later.

Well, it wasn’t exactly a cheerful topic, and there was no need to bring it up right now.

“Sorry, Hime-chan~. Did I keep you waiting?”

“No, I just arrived a moment ago myself.”

“Are you hungry? Sorry~! I forgot my lunchbox today.”

“It’s fine. I brought it with me. I found it on top of the shoe lockers before I left.”

“As expected of Hime-chan! You’re a genius!”

“This just means you’re forgetful, big sister.”

“That’s mean! Your big sister can do things when she tries, you know!”

Hijiri pinched Hime’s cheeks with both hands as if to retaliate. Her cheeks stretched like soft mochi under Hijiri’s playful teasing.

“Hime-chan doesn’t show enough respect for her big sister, I think.”

“I don’t respect a big sister who forgets her lunch. I do love you, though.”

“Eh? You love me? Then it’s all okay~.”

…This girl is really laid-back.

Just listening to her voice made me feel like the tension was draining from my body. I’d assumed I’d be nervous meeting the girl reputed to be the most beautiful in the school.

Her appearance had an air of mature charm that felt intimidating. Yet her personality was surprisingly approachable.

“Big sister, could you please stop pulling on my cheeks already?”

“Nope.”

“Then fine. You can keep doing it. Youhei-kun, this is my big sister.”

Leave it to Hime—she hadn’t forgotten about me. On top of that, she even introduced me, giving me an opening to speak.

“Uh, um... I’m Youhei Ozora. It’s nice to meet you… I guess?”

“Pfft. Saying ‘nice to meet you’ after we’ve already met is kinda funny.”

Hijiri-san smiled at me as I awkwardly introduced myself. Her eyes curved into soft lines, dimples forming on her cheeks. That warm expression made me smile back without realizing it.

“I’m Hoshimiya Hijiri~. I’m Hime-chan’s big sister!”

“Right. Nice to meet you, Hoshimiya-san.”

“Nope!”

Hijiri-san finally released Hime’s cheeks, which bounced back to their original position, now faintly red from all the pulling. Hijiri, on the other hand, looked dissatisfied.

“What do you mean, ‘nope’?”

“Who’s this ‘Hoshimiya-san’ you’re talking about?”

Huh? What does that mean?

Isn't your name Hoshimiya-san… oh, I get it now.

"Hime also has the name Hoshimiya right, wouldn't that be confusing?”

“But I call her ‘Hime,’ so it’s easy to tell them apart.”

I tried to explain my reasoning.

“...Hehe.”

For some reason, Hime seemed happy. Her sister, however, still looked displeased.

“That’s not fair.”

“Not fair? What’s not fair?”

“It’s not fair that only Hime-chan gets a special name! Why won’t you call me ‘Hijiri’?”

“I’m sorry.”

There’s no way I could casually call a female classmate by her first name.

“‘Hijiri-chan’ would work too!”

“Even more sorry.”

“Ugh! Then how about ‘Hijiri-onee-chan’?”

“Extremely sorry.”

“Then, uh…!”

Hijiri seemed determined to keep thinking. It looked like neither of the Hoshimiya sisters liked being called by their last name.

What should I do? Hijiri-san didn’t seem like she’d give up until we settled on something.

“Youhei-kun, my sister can be surprisingly stubborn, so she won’t let this go until she decides on a nickname.”

Hime, seeing how fruitless this was, tried to throw me a lifeline.

“How about ‘Hijiri-rin’?”

That’s no help. It’s a sinking ship.

“...How about ‘Hijiri-san’?”

Adding “-san” to her first name was still a stretch for me. I’d never called a female classmate by their first name before, so even this much took a lot of courage.

“Boring~. But I guess it’s better than ‘Hoshimiya-san.’”

“I think nicknames are nice, but starting with that might be a good step,” Hime said, sounding diplomatic.

Both sisters reluctantly accepted my suggestion, considering my discomfort.

Thank goodness. The nickname dilemma was resolved.

“Looking forward to getting along, Youhei~!”

Wait… how is Hijiri-san so comfortable calling me by my first name like that?

Hearing her say it so casually made my heart skip a beat.

"Would you like to have lunch with me?"

When Hime invited me, why did I automatically assume it would be just the two of us?

"I always have lunch with my big sister," she replied.

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t considered that possibility. Of course, if Hime’s eight-year-old sister was at the same school, there was no way her older sister wouldn’t be nearby, keeping an eye on her.

"Did that surprise you?"

"...A little."

I wasn’t upset, of course. But Hime is a clever girl. I suspected her not mentioning her sister’s presence was intentional.

"Surprise success... Hehe."

So it was deliberate after all.

Hime seemed pleased with her prank, her eyes sparkling mischievously as she wiggled happily on the sofa.

I couldn’t help but forgive her. She was just too cute.

"Geez, Hime-chan, how dare you keep that a secret from me! Pout."

But unlike me, Hijiri-san didn’t seem pleased. To get back at Hime, she started poking her nose repeatedly. Despite saying "pout," it was obvious from her expression that she wasn’t actually angry.

"I told you last night, big sis."

"...Did you?"

"Yes. I said, ‘I’m going to invite Youhei-kun for lunch,’ right before I went to bed."

"Hmm. I guess I wasn’t really listening. You talk about Youhei-kun every day, after all."

"P-please don’t say that!"

For once, Hime was flustered, covering her sister’s mouth with her small hand. Hijiri-san smiled softly at the sight of her little sister acting this way.

(What a close-knit pair of sisters.)

Just watching their exchange made it clear how strong their bond was. The way they were constantly close to each other was proof of their deep connection. Hijiri-san clearly adored Hime, and Hime wholeheartedly admired her sister.

It was such a beautiful sight that I almost felt like I shouldn’t intrude.

Trying not to disturb their conversation, I quietly sat on the opposite sofa. With the glass low table between us, the scene now had Hijiri-san and Hime on one side, and me on the other.

I pulled out my hamburger bento from the convenience store bag and was about to start eating when—

"Youhei-kun, why are you sitting there?"

Hime stopped me, her crimson eyes round with curiosity.

"Come sit here."

But Hime was sitting on the two-person sofa, and Hijiri-san was already there, so there was no space left.

"There’s no room."

"I’m small, so it’s fine."

"Yeah, I’m thin too, so it’s fine~."

Hijiri-san, following Hime’s lead, started to make the same claim.

...Thin, huh?

Sure, she wasn’t overweight, and her stomach seemed flat, but she had some prominent features. I’m not going to point out where, but you get the idea.

"I’m not fat."

Hijiri-san said it again, as if to defend herself. Maybe she’s self-conscious about her figure?

I absolutely don’t think she’s fat. But yeah, there are some parts that are... larger than others. Like her chest and thighs.

"Right, Hime-chan? I’m not fat, right?"

"You’re not fat. You’re just about a kilo above average."

"Don’t say the numbers!"

Hijiri-san seemed embarrassed, and Hime couldn’t help but giggle.

"I think it’s fine as long as it’s within the healthy range. Youhei-kun, don’t you think maintaining a healthy body is more important?"

Oh no, Hime’s dragging me into this conversation.

Talking about someone’s body shape can be such a delicate subject for a guy.

"Yeah, I agree that being healthy is the most important."

I gave a vague answer, trying to avoid any misunderstandings.

Being healthy is definitely the most important thing—not talking about sizes or figures.

"Youhei is such a perv."

"That’s completely unfair."

Great, now Hijiri-san was embarrassed and covering her stomach, though it was clear she was trying to cover the wrong part. But I didn’t say anything to avoid further complicating the conversation.

"Well, I’ll just come sit over there."

Once the tension had passed, Hime stood up and moved to sit beside me on the sofa. She sat to my right.

"I’ll go too."

"...That might be a bit too much."

"I’m not fat!"

"I wasn’t saying that. It’s just a matter of space."

"I can still fit in this little gap!"

Hijiri-san insisted, refusing to let the matter go.

She may seem gentle, but I could tell she was pretty stubborn. There was a quiet strength in her determination to not back down.

Hijiri-san twisted her body to squeeze next to Hime, and now, with the three of us seated—me, Hime, and Hijiri-san—on the two-person sofa, it surprisingly worked, thanks to Hime being so small.

But there was one problem.

It was really close. Hime and I were practically pressed together. There was no weird intent, but being so close made me feel a little embarrassed, so I did my best to hold it in.

"This is bad, Youhei-kun."

"Oh, sorry. Is it too cramped?"

"No, it’s just that... my plan was for you to sit next to my sister, but now I’m sitting next to you and it’s making me all flustered."

That’s not good. I don’t want Hime to be embarrassed.

Wait... this was all part of her plan.

I had a feeling she was deliberately drawing me into this conversation, and it turns out I was right.

"The mummy catcher becomes the mummy," Hime said, her words getting tangled as she fumbled over her tongue.

She’s so cute when she’s embarrassed. But that only made me more flustered.

In the spacious principal’s office, the three of us were squeezed tightly together.

What a strange lunchtime this turned out to be.

I was starting to get an inkling of why Hime had invited me to the principal’s office. Could it be that she... is trying to play matchmaker between me and Hijiri-san?

"Please marry my big sister."

I recalled her words from yesterday.

Since then, Hime hadn’t mentioned it again, so I thought it was just something she said in the heat of the moment.

But it seemed that was just my wishful thinking.

It wasn’t some empty or exaggerated statement—Hime appeared to be actively working to make that bold claim a reality.

(...I wonder if Hijiri-san knows about this.)

That could drastically change my perspective.

If she doesn't know, things can stay as they are. But if she does... then what?

Well, there’s no real way of finding out, and in any case, my behavior shouldn’t change.

It would probably be stranger to try to act overly familiar. The best approach is to act naturally as usual.

In that case, for my own peace of mind, it’s better to assume Hijiri-san doesn’t know about the marriage talk. That way, I can keep things calm.

"Youhei, what are you eating?"

"Hamburger bento."

"Wow, a hearty meal for lunch. I’m a light eater, so I don’t think I could finish a hamburger."

"...But I see Hijiri-san eating a pork cutlet bento, don’t I?"

The word "hearty" actually suits that more.

The large pork cutlet sitting in Hijiri-san’s box would definitely outweigh the convenience store hamburger in terms of sheer weight. Hime’s meal is about two sizes smaller, so comparing the two makes Hijiri-san’s pork cutlet look even bigger.

"Pork cutlet isn’t heavy!"

Hijiri-san ate happily, her meal looking really delicious.

...At this rate, I guess I’m probably fine.

Hijiri-san, casually talking with Hime, had been this relaxed since we met. If she knew about the marriage talk, she’d surely act differently.

Her carefree smile made me feel like she thought of me as harmless.

Because of that, I was able to stay calm and act naturally, without the usual nervousness.

"Right, Hime-chan? Pork cutlet is more of a snack, isn’t it?"

"...Pork cutlet does not count as a snack. That size has enough calories to be a full meal."

"Ah~. Didn’t hear that~. Munch, munch."

Hijiri-san was escaping reality.

Ignoring Hime’s comment, she dove right back into eating her bento.

On the other hand, Hime had been unusually quiet. She had spread her bento out on the table, but the chopsticks she was supposed to use were resting motionlessly in her lap, tightly gripped in her small hand. She was staring blankly, focusing on one spot.

"Hime, is something wrong?"

I was concerned and called out to her.

She slowly turned toward me.

"...I don’t feel like eating much."

She had seemed fine just moments ago.

Now that I looked closely, her complexion didn’t seem right. Her pale skin had turned slightly red, especially her cheeks and ears. Maybe she has a fever?

"Are you feeling sick?"

"I don’t know. But after sitting next to you, I suddenly lost the desire to eat."

"...Should I move over there?"

Maybe the space was too cramped and she was feeling uncomfortable?

I suggested sitting across from her, thinking it might make her feel better.

"...That would be lonely."

She shook her head. She seemed to dislike the idea.

She was tugging gently at my sleeve, as if to say she wanted things to stay as they were.

"Okay, but you should try to eat as much as you can, even if it’s just a little."

"Yes. I’ll do that, of course."

She said that, but her hands still didn’t move.

I was worried about her health, but she didn’t look like she was in any real distress.

"It’s strange. I actually feel better than I expected."

She, too, seemed puzzled by her own condition.

There wasn’t much point in worrying excessively, so maybe it was best to keep an eye on her for now.

If something really was wrong, Hijiri-san—who has a deeper connection with her—would likely notice first. Since she was acting normally, I assumed everything was fine.

I glanced at Hijiri-san to confirm this.

"Mm. Hime-chan, are you leaving your pork cutlet behind? Well, if you don’t want it, I’ll take it. No need for thanks—it’s only natural for me as your big sister."

Hijiri-san was completely controlled by her appetite. She was taking a piece of pork cutlet from Hime’s bento.

She hadn’t noticed Hime’s odd behavior at all.

Hijiri-san... Though she gives off the impression of an older, more mature sister, I started to think she might be a bit more carefree than I originally thought.

In this case, even if she heard about the marriage talk, it didn’t seem like she’d think much of it.

That aside, I was still worried about Hime.

For now, I should just watch her closely and make sure she’s okay.

In the end, Hime barely touched her bento.

It wasn’t just the encounter with the principal, but also the first meeting with Hijiri, which had shortened our usual lunch time... That might have been part of the reason.

However, even with that, Hime hadn’t eaten at all.

"I'm fine, really."

It seemed like her health wasn’t actually the issue.

Her complexion was good, and more than that, she seemed to have the energy to strike a muscle pose with her thin arm, as if trying to show off how well she was doing. If there was nothing wrong, that was a relief.

With the rainy season starting and the temperature gradually rising, maybe she was just a little slow to adjust to the heat. She might be experiencing something close to summer fatigue... I’d been overly concerned, but Hime seemed to notice that.

"Thank you for worrying about me. You’re so kind, Youhei-kun."

Hime accepted my concern with gratitude, not annoyance, and it warmed my heart. Her genuine reactions were really comforting to see.

On our way back from the principal’s office, we walked down the hallway together.

Hijiri-san had rushed off in a hurry, probably due to having gym class right after lunch. Hime had eaten the rest of her meal, but I was more worried about Hijiri-san. I hoped she wouldn’t end up feeling sick.

"By the way, was your conversation with the principal okay?"

During our walk, as there was a lull in the conversation, Hime immediately asked me that.

Since Hijiri had been with us, I hadn’t had a chance to bring up the principal’s matter. Maybe Hime had been worried about it all this time.

"Did the principal say anything strange?"

Her face showed a look of concern.

I had noticed it before, but it seemed like Hime excessively feared troubling others. Perhaps because of this, she often suppressed her emotions.

Her patience and ability to respect others were undoubtedly part of what made Hime such a kind person.

But at the same time, I couldn’t help but think that it was okay for her to be a little selfish and act more like a child in front of me.

"Well, the principal did say something strange, but you don’t need to worry about it. No matter what was said, my feelings for you won’t change."

"…Feelings, you say?"

My words from yesterday hadn’t been just something said in the heat of the moment.

They were my true feelings—pure thoughts I had wanted to keep hidden in my heart. Now that I had said them, I couldn’t take them back.

So, even though I felt a little embarrassed, I decided to properly say it again.

"I think you’re really cute, Hime."

I told her, with no lies, just the truth and my feelings.

"I’ll never hate you, no matter what happens."

"…Ehehe."

Hime smiled bashfully, pressing her hand to her chest as she looked at me, her cheeks softening with happiness.

Maybe my words had put her at ease, as she didn’t say anything more after that.

(...I think I might be getting a little embarrassed now.)

At that moment, I too became flustered by my own words and couldn’t think of anything else to say.

And so, we walked in silence all the way to the classroom.

I had been keeping an eye on Hime's condition, but she had seemed perfectly fine, so it seemed there was no need to worry anymore.

Well, if she was feeling a bit hungry from not having lunch, she could always have some snacks.

I had actually hidden some snacks in my bag that I wanted her to try today... but then she said:

"I'm sorry. Actually, I’m going to have to leave early after school for about a week."

Hime said this while hurriedly preparing to leave, and her voice sounded really apologetic... or rather, disappointed.

"I’ve been having remote meetings with an overseas colleague about some research, and it's gotten busier lately."

"I see... That sounds tough."

Research. Hearing that word again reminded me that Hime was indeed someone special.

What kind of research was it, and how was she involved in it? I had no idea, and it made her feel distant, as if she were in a completely different world.

"It’s really tough. It’s hard not being able to chat with you after school, Youhei-kun. You’re my source of comfort... Ugh."

Correction. Hime wasn’t distant at all. In fact, the emotional distance between us felt very close, and her words immediately eased any sense of loneliness.

I was happy about her affection... but I couldn’t say that to Hime, who was looking so down.

She looked so disheartened that I hesitated to even point out that she was struggling more with missing me than with her research.

"I was hoping we could have lunch together to cheer me on, but it still feels like it wasn’t enough."

It seemed like inviting me for lunch wasn’t just about introducing me to Hijiri-san after all. It was because she genuinely wanted to spend time with me.

"I'm sorry, I can’t stay for a long chat... My ride’s here, so I have to go now."

Even the time for small talk was limited.

I hurriedly reached into my bag and took out what I had prepared.

"Hime, eat this later."

I handed her a chocolate pastry—a classic snack with a soft sponge cake coated in chocolate and filled with cream. I gave her two.

"You didn’t eat lunch, so I think this will be a good snack. Good luck with your research."

It was meant to be a small gesture of support, hoping it might help Hime, even if just a little.

But it seemed that, for Hime, it wasn’t just a small gesture.

"…Just the thought behind it makes me feel full."

Hime carefully pressed the chocolate pastries to her chest, holding them gently in her small hands.

The look of disappointment from earlier had disappeared.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Youhei-kun. Bye-bye."

It wasn’t "goodbye," but "bye-bye," and the warmth in those words made my chest feel full. I quietly cherished her affectionate tone in my heart.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

I waved back, and with light steps, Hime began walking away. Just before leaving the classroom, she turned around and waved once more, so I waved back just as firmly.

I was relieved. Hime had gotten better.

Because of that, my own spirits were lifted as well. Even though I had been sleep-deprived, my thoughts were surprisingly clear.

Maybe that’s why, right after Hime left, I noticed something was off in the classroom.

(...I’m being watched.)

I could feel the gazes of my classmates.

It was the same as this morning—eyes on me. Of course, I knew the reason.

It was Hime. The girl who had always been alone, suddenly talking to me so familiarly... It was impossible for that not to catch attention.

She had never tried to interact with anyone before. She’d respond when spoken to, but her attitude would be indifferent. I’d never seen her talk so deeply with anyone, let alone smile.

"Did you see Hoshimiya-san smile? She looked so cute!"

"Wait, were those two always this close?"

"I wonder what kind of relationship Ozora-kun and Hoshimiya-san have. Could it be—"

Maybe it was because I was aware of it, but I kept hearing the girls talking about us, even though I couldn’t see them directly.

The tone didn’t seem bad, but they suddenly lowered their voices at certain parts, making it feel awkward. What did they say? Was it something difficult to say? I wanted to correct any misunderstandings if necessary, but since I couldn’t hear the details, I didn’t know how to act.

(This is bad... Is there a strange rumor going around?)

Hime stood out. For better or worse, she was the kind of girl everyone noticed. There was no one better suited to be the subject of gossip.

I didn’t want any bad rumors to spread. If they were something that would hurt Hime, I wanted to correct them.

I didn’t want to see Hime’s expression clouded. I started thinking about what I should do when, suddenly, I felt someone tap my shoulder.

"Sorry for the sudden interruption!"

The voice was bright and energetic, which would’ve been fine... if it wasn’t so loud and right next to my ear.

"My ear..."

It was too loud. I instinctively covered my ears, which meant I couldn’t hear the gossip anymore.

Who was it? I’d been trying to eavesdrop, so the sudden noise hit me hard. I grimaced and looked in the direction of the voice, where I saw a girl I didn’t recognize.

She had sun-kissed skin and a ponytail that suited her well, looking like an active, lively girl. Was she from a sports club? She was small but seemed quick and nimble.

"Are you Ozora Youhei-senpai!?"

"...Yeah, that's me."

"Nice to meet you! I’m Kumori Hane, a first-year!"

Her voice was loud and clear, ending every sentence with an enthusiastic tone, and it was obvious she wasn’t concerned about the volume. She had been smiling brightly the whole time.

"Can I help you with something?"

"Yes! Actually, I’m in the newspaper club... and I was hoping to interview you, Ozora-senpai!"

"Interview me? Why?"

The fact that she wasn’t from a sports club—despite her appearance—didn’t surprise me as much as the question itself. I was an average student, just like most others. I didn’t think I’d be the subject of an interview.

"You’re close with Hoshimiya Hime-senpai, right?"

Ah, so that was it.

It wasn’t about me. She was after Hime.

"The mysterious, genius eight-year-old! The rumor’s been spreading all over the school that she’s suddenly become close with you, Ozora-senpai. So I’d like to get the details from you!"

"...Rumor, huh."

Even first-year Kumori-san had heard about it. It had spread throughout the school, which explained why I had been feeling eyes on me since this morning.

I was curious about what kind of rumor it was. What exactly was being said?

She was in the newspaper club, so her antenna for gossip was probably very sharp.

It might be a good idea to ask her about it.

(Talking about Hime to others feels like I'm exploiting her, but... sorry.)

I’d apologize to Hime when I saw her tomorrow.

But before that, I needed to understand what the rumors were about.

If there were bad rumors, I’d correct them.

I wanted to make sure no harm came to Hime... As an older person, I needed to do what was right.

With that in mind, I nodded to Kumori-san.

I agreed to the interview, and Kumori-san led me to an unused empty classroom.

It was in a corner of the first-year floor. Apparently, it had been left unused due to the decline in student numbers, and now it served as a storage and work space. Tools likely used for the cultural and sports festivals were haphazardly piled up along the walls.

"If you apply, anyone can use it! So, the newspaper club usually uses it!" Kumori-san explained.

In the center of the empty classroom, there was a space cleared out, with several desks arranged in a rectangle. She gestured for me to sit in one of the chairs. After sitting down as instructed, Kumori-san stood rigidly beside me.

What should I do? It felt really awkward to be the only one sitting.

"Why don’t you sit too?" I suggested.

"Me? Oh no, I can’t do that in front of you, senpai!" she said.

"...The newspaper club is pretty athletic, huh?"

"I was in the track and field club until middle school! I still can’t shake off the training... I mean, the guidance I got back then, so don’t mind me!" she explained.

Ah, I had guessed right. Her ponytail and tan skin made her look like someone from a sports club, and it turned out she really was.

"I had to stop running because of an injury, so now I’m running with a pen in the newspaper club!" she added.

"...I see."

"Wait, was that not funny? I thought I said something clever, but maybe it wasn’t."

It seemed my reaction wasn’t as good as she expected, and Kumori-san seemed a little embarrassed.

No, I thought it was clever. But right now, I just wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

I couldn’t help it—my attitude was a little prickly.

"...Don’t you have a club room?"

"They told me, 'We can’t assign a club room to just one person,'" she said.

"Just one person?"

"I think of it as a club with a hundred people!" she replied cheerfully.

She was so positive, even though her circumstances weren’t ideal. I could tell after just a bit of talking—she wasn’t a bad person.

But still, the fact that she was from the newspaper club made me wary. The media has a reputation for being hungry for scoops, and the fact that she wanted to write about Hime likely meant she wanted to write an article about her.

I couldn’t shake the worry that Hime might be written about poorly. That doubt made my attitude colder than I intended.

"About the interview... there’s one thing I want to ask first," I began, wanting to change the direction of the conversation before my attitude soured even more.

"What kind of article are you planning to write?"

"Of course, it’s about Hoshimiya Hime-senpai!" she said.

"Is that just for fun?"

"...Huh?"

It seemed Kumori-san finally realized what I was worried about. Her smile quickly faded, and her expression froze.

"I-I mean..." she stammered.

"If it’s going to be a mocking article about Hime, I’d prefer you not write it," I said, subtly conveying that I didn’t want her doing anything that would cause Hime trouble.

That should be enough to make her reconsider.

Kumori-san, looking flustered, had a sad expression, like she was about to cry... Wait, was she about to cry?

"I would never want to cause trouble... I’m really shocked that you think that."

She looked genuinely sad.

Her eyes were watery, and she gritted her teeth as if trying to hold back tears.

"Not long ago, Hoshimiya-senpai was in a news article online. I interviewed her about it last month... The article in the school newspaper got a good response, so I thought maybe I could write about her more personal, cute side this time..." Her voice lost its energy as she continued explaining.

Her words trailed off, and I finally realized.

(This girl’s a good person!)

I had assumed all newspaper club members were always hunting for a scoop, but that was just from watching too many manga and anime. Kumori-san wasn’t like that at all.

"Hoshimiya-senpai is such a mysterious person... The only way we hear about her is through weird rumors. But I heard you two are close, Ozora-senpai. So I thought I’d ask you about the wonderful side of Hoshimiya-senpai that you’ve seen... I’m sorry, I must be bothering you."

"N-No, I’m sorry. I might’ve been too paranoid," I said, quickly apologizing.

"I-I’m not blaming you, senpai! I was just being a little thoughtless..." Kumori-san mumbled, looking down.

This was bad. I had been the one who messed up. My unnecessary suspicion had clearly hurt her feelings. I felt guilty.

"Hime... Hime really loves sweet snacks," I said, trying to make up for it by sharing a cute detail about Hime.

"Especially chocolate treats. She looks so happy when she eats them. It’s so cute."

"...Oh!" Her face lit up immediately, and her shoulders perked up as she eagerly jotted down my words.

"That’s so cute! Just imagining it is making me lose it!"

"She doesn’t eat just one at a time, though. She can’t resist and stuffs them in her mouth before swallowing. Her cheeks puff up like a squirrel’s."

"I see! This is exactly what I wanted to know!" she said, grinning as she continued to take notes.

Her earlier gloomy expression had disappeared completely.

Kumori-san was back to being cheerful and bright, happily writing down everything I said.

(...She really didn’t mean any harm.)

I felt embarrassed for being so cautious just because she was from the newspaper club. I’d hurt her feelings for no reason. I sincerely apologized and decided to answer her questions as much as I could, hoping to make up for it by being as helpful as possible.

I had expected to be asked much more inappropriate questions.

Things like Hime's secrets, her negative sides, her flaws... I thought she would want to hear stories that made her sound amusing or ridiculous.

But it was different.

"Hime-senpai likes sweets, she's really close to her older sister, and she laughs a lot when they're alone together... Hehehe, this is exactly the kind of story I wanted to hear."

What Kumori-san asked about were just the everyday aspects of Hime’s life. She was interested in cheerful stories. She wanted to know about Hime's cute side, things that would never cause her any trouble—quite the opposite, they would make her seem even more likable.

"How about this for the headline... 'What’s the surprising side of the Princess?!' Does that sound good? Oh, of course, I’ll ask for permission from Hime herself. Don’t worry about that," Kumori-san suggested.

"Uh, yeah. I get it. I’m sorry for being suspicious," I apologized.

"No, no! I’m the one who boldly asked for this interview even though we’ve just met, so it’s only natural for you to be cautious. You don’t have to keep apologizing," she said with a smile.

It seemed like Kumori-san wasn’t the type to dwell on things. She didn’t seem to mind my earlier slip-up at all.

After she had finished asking what she needed to, she glanced over her notes with a satisfied look.

However, as she was flipping through the pages, her hand suddenly stopped on one particular page.

"...Ozora-senpai, you consider Hoshimiya-senpai a close friend, right?"

"Yeah, of course."

I answered immediately, knowing full well how important she was to me.

Seeing my response, Kumori-san’s expression became a bit more serious as she muttered something.

"Actually, there’s a strange rumor going around about Hoshimiya-senpai."

"A strange rumor...?"

"—That she has the principal treat her to lunch every day..."

From the way she read the note aloud, I had a feeling it was related to some of the rumors about Hime.

"That she stays late after school reading and the teachers can’t scold her because they have to keep her in a good mood... things like that."

These weren’t entirely baseless rumors, which made them feel like the kind of stories that could easily be twisted. There was some truth, but it had been distorted and exaggerated to the point of being almost entirely false.

"I don’t like those kinds of stories, so I’d never spread them... but I do see people talking about them sometimes," Kumori-san explained.

"You don’t like rumors?" I asked.

"Well, I’m in the newspaper club, after all! Information without verification is just fantasy," she replied.

Hearing this put me at ease. Kumori-san was on Hime’s side, and I didn’t have to worry about her spreading unfounded rumors.

"...Hime isn’t actually having lunch with the principal. It’s just that she eats with her older sister, Hijiri-san, in the principal’s office," I corrected.

"I see. So that’s what it is. I just wanted to clear up the rumors and stick to the facts."

"The reason she stays after school reading is that she’s waiting for her older sister, who’s in the student council and often stays late. They always go home together. Hime never stays past the school’s closing time."

"...Rumors are just rumors, huh?" Kumori-san shrugged, letting out an exasperated laugh.

"But I’m glad I got to clear things up. If I hear any more rumors about Hoshimiya-senpai, I’ll make sure to correct them properly. I trust your words because you’re close to her."

At that moment, I realized. The reason she suddenly brought up those rumors was to confirm whether they were true or false.

I could tell now that Kumori-san was someone I could trust.

Feeling reassured, I decided to ask her the one thing I was most concerned about.

"Are there any bad rumors about Hime?"

If there were such rumors, I hoped Kumori-san might be aware of them.

"Well... there are a couple of things that seem like strange rumors, and they’re the kind of misunderstandings that could get out of hand," she began. "One rumor is a bit odd."

Unfortunately, my hunch was right. There seemed to be some bizarre rumors about Hime after all.

Kumori-san flipped through her notebook and stopped again on a certain page, likely the one with the rumor.

"Here it is... It’s such an unbelievable story that no one really believes it, but it could still give Hoshimiya-senpai a really bad reputation."

"What’s the rumor?" I asked, intrigued.

Kumori-san read from her notes aloud, and it was clear that her information was spot on.

"—That Hoshimiya Hime entered this school in order to get her sister, Hoshimiya Hijiri, admitted through the back door."

I didn’t understand at first and tilted my head.

"Backdoor admission? What does that mean?"

"Have you ever thought about why Hoshimiya Hime entered this school, Ozora-senpai?" Kumori-san asked.

I was asked to think about it.

Why did she enroll here... Huh? Why?

"A genius girl who could graduate from a foreign university with accelerated studies—do you think she would choose this school?" Kumori-san asked.

"Probably not," I replied.

The school was known as "Shirakumo Academy," but its official name was Shirakumo International High School. However, the active international exchanges it once had had faded over the years, and its current level could be considered equivalent to an average high school in terms of general education. The only thing that set it apart from a normal high school was that it had more classes focused on international relations.

In terms of level, it was considered above average within the city, but nationally, it was not top-tier. As for me, I chose to attend because it was the closest school to my house.

There was no particular reason for Hime to have chosen this school.

"The truth is, only Hime herself knows. But it’s definitely something that makes you curious, right? Why is Hoshimiya Hime here?" Kumori-san said.

"Yeah, it’s definitely curious," I agreed.

"And so, the most plausible rumor that’s been circulating is that she came here to get her older sister, Hijiri-san, admitted through the back door," she continued.

"That... doesn’t sound plausible at all," I replied, feeling it was an outlandish story.

But it seemed that my lack of knowledge made me think that way.

"Don’t you know about it, Ozora-senpai? It’s actually a pretty famous story," Kumori-san said, glancing at me with a slightly awkward expression.

Naturally, I had no idea what she was referring to. I just stared at her silently, and then she whispered the explanation.

"Hijiri-san, Hime’s older sister, apparently... isn’t very smart."

Not very smart...?

I was about to dismiss it, but then I suddenly remembered what Hijiri-san had been like during lunch break. I froze, unable to move my head, and reconsidered my initial reaction.

Hijiri-san had a mature and graceful aura, and despite her relaxed and fluffy demeanor, she gave off an impression of being intelligent.

But after interacting with her, I realized there were quite a few things about her that didn’t seem so sharp. To put it bluntly, she had a few rather silly sides to her...

"Her grades are apparently the worst in her year. They say her test scores are so bad that her friends won’t even let her see them," Kumori-san continued.

"...No way," I muttered. "Isn’t that just a rumor? It might not be true."

"I wish it weren’t true, but... during spring break, she was apparently the only one to attend the remedial classes for those who failed their exams. I heard she took them with someone who had been on a leave of absence," she explained.

This was bad. It seemed like there was some truth to the rumor.

It was beginning to look like Hijiri-san being bad at studies wasn’t just a rumor—it was likely close to the truth.

"That being said, I still think the backdoor admission rumor is too far-fetched. No one really takes it seriously, but for some reason, it keeps coming up in conversation, probably because it’s an interesting topic," Kumori-san said.

The issue seemed to be that Hime’s presence was so extraordinary, it made such rumors believable, even though they were absurd. The fact that Hijiri-san’s academic performance was true only added weight to the rumor, making it sound strangely plausible.

"I thought you seemed concerned about Hime-senpai, so I wanted to let you know," Kumori-san added.

"Hime wouldn’t do something like that," I immediately responded.

"Of course not! Someone like Hoshimiya-senpai would never do something so shallow," she agreed without me needing to elaborate.

It seemed like Kumori-san understood perfectly without needing further explanation. There was no need to say anything more.

"Oh, it’s getting late, huh? Thanks so much for talking to me today! If there’s anything else, I’d love to interview you again," she said with a smile.

"Thank you too," I replied, grateful for the conversation.

She had shared a lot of information about the rumors, and more importantly, she hadn’t helped spread any of the false ones.

It was thanks to people like Kumori-san that such rumors didn’t spread too far. Someone like me, who has very few friends, had never even heard of some of these rumors.

It seemed like there wasn’t anything to worry about after all.

The rumors, though baseless, didn’t carry any truly malicious intent. I must have been overly cautious, becoming sensitive to every little thing.

Feeling relieved, I let out a breath and felt the tension leave my body.

(I’m glad Hime won’t be troubled by any of this.)

As I thought more about Hime, I returned to the classroom to grab my things, and then I saw something strange.

"...Hime?"

There was a girl sitting at Hime's desk. She was lying face down, so I could only see her back. The classroom lights had already been turned off, and it was dim, so I couldn’t clearly make out her figure.

I called out instinctively, even though I knew Hime had already gone home for the day. But then I noticed something.

The hair was chestnut-colored, and there were loose waves in it.

"It’s not Hime-chan~," a voice called out, and I turned on the lights in the classroom to confirm what I had heard.

It wasn’t Hime. But she wasn’t a complete stranger either—she was someone close to Hime, so I didn’t feel like I was entirely wrong.

"Sorry, Hijiri-san, I didn’t realize," I apologized.

"Yup, it’s Hijiri-san~... Hey, why do you sound so disappointed?" she teased in a lighthearted tone.

Her playful response didn’t make me feel amused, but rather, it just made me feel a bit drained.

Just talking to her felt like it was sapping both my energy and my willpower.

I wonder why Hijiri-san is here.

"I wanted to see Youhei~," she said.

"W-why?" I stuttered.

"Just kidding," she laughed.

"It was a joke...?"

"Hehe, did that make you nervous? Or was it annoying?"

...Well, maybe a little of both.

After school, in the classroom. Normally, this would be the time I spend alone with Hime, but today, I was with her older sister, Hijiri-san. It felt like a strange situation.

"Well, Youhei, you probably want to see Hime-chan, don’t you?" Hijiri-san teased.

"Not really," I quickly replied.

"Your face says otherwise~."

She was teasing me, wasn’t she?

This was the first time I was talking to Hijiri-san without Hime around. I was alone with the academy’s most famous beauty.

If it had been me until yesterday, I probably would have been nervous. Just the fact that she was teasing me felt like a surreal experience.

But, maybe because I knew Hijiri-san’s personality, I was unusually calm now.

(...Backdoor admission.)

The rumor that Kumori-san had told me about kept running through my head.

Looking at Hijiri-san again, I couldn’t help but think about it.

If I wanted to be kind, I’d say she’s a bit forgetful, but if I was being blunt... she seemed a bit... not too sharp.

Of course, I had no intention of asking her about it. But the thought was stuck in the back of my mind, and since not much time had passed, I still hadn’t managed to sort it out.

I should forget about it quickly. After all, it was just a rumor.

"So, why are you here? Hijiri-san, you’re from a different class," I asked, wanting to get straight to the point since it was getting late.

"Same reason as you, Youhei~. I’m waiting for Hime-chan," she said.

No, I wasn’t really waiting for her... Wait, what?

"Hime went home first because she had a meeting to attend," I explained.

"......???"

Something seemed off. Hijiri-san had a lot of question marks floating over her head, looking utterly confused, almost as if someone had asked her for directions in English while she was in a foreign country.

"Hime said she had a remote meeting. I think someone came to pick her up, too," I added, trying to explain clearly.

"Then why are you here? Aren’t you waiting for Hime-chan?" Hijiri-san asked.

"I just finished up my own business," I replied.

"Uh... hmm... oh!"

It seemed Hijiri-san had finally remembered.

"Ah, now that you mention it, I think she did say she was going to leave early today?"

"Hijiri-san... you forgot, didn’t you?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"I-it’s not like that! I heard, but I just couldn’t remember!" she said defensively.

Isn’t that exactly what forgetting means?

"When I realized Hime wasn’t here, I figured maybe she was in the bathroom or something," Hijiri-san continued. "I came here about ten minutes ago, so I thought she was just taking longer than usual. Really, I did."

"I’m not doubting you," I said, trying to reassure her.

The classroom lights were already off, so it was clear Hijiri-san had only just arrived. She must have planned to meet Hime and leave together.

"You had student council work again today, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, it finished a bit earlier than usual, so I came to pick up Hime-chan... Sigh," Hijiri-san sighed deeply, looking frustrated.

It seemed like forgetting about Hime really bothered her. She slumped over the desk, resting her head on one arm, looking quite downcast.

"—I really am hopeless," she muttered.

It wasn’t so much that she was speaking to me as much as it was something that slipped out.

The usually carefree, laid-back Hijiri-san seemed strangely negative now. It didn’t feel like her at all.

"I’m not ignoring her, you know? I always listen to everything Hime-chan says seriously, but before I know it, I just forget things..." she trailed off.

She wasn’t saying she took Hime for granted. It was clear from her words that she did care about her little sister deeply. But perhaps because Hime was so important to her, Hijiri-san was disappointed in herself as an older sister.

"I’m just really bad at remembering things. Of course, that applies to studying, but also just remembering promises... Like today, I forgot my lunch. Fortunately, Hime-chan noticed and brought it to me," she continued, her voice soft.

...The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift.

Hijiri-san, who always smiled brightly when with Hime, was now sighing with a dejected expression.

"I love eating, so I always thought I’d never forget my lunch, and I even volunteered to bring it today. But... I forgot for the first time, and Hime-chan and I were both starving," she added, looking distant as she spoke.

(It’s... from that day, isn’t it?)

Hearing that, a memory clicked in my mind.

It was the time I had given Hime her first snack.

She had been hungry then, and now I realized it was because of Hijiri-san.

"Since then, Hime-chan has always checked if I have my lunch before she leaves. Thanks to that, even if I forget, like today, she helps me out. But... sometimes I just feel bad about myself when I can’t even remember to bring my lunch," Hijiri-san continued.

Her gaze was fixed on me, but her focus seemed far away, like she wasn’t really aware she was talking to me.

She had let out her frustrations, and once she started, it seemed she couldn’t stop. It was like a dam had broken, and words kept flowing out.

"Hime-chan has such a good memory, so why am I so bad at it...? I’m supposed to be the older sister, but I feel so pathetic..." she muttered.

It seemed like Hijiri-san’s troubles stemmed from having such an exceptional little sister. It was hard not to compare herself to Hime, which made her fall into self-loathing.

"I don’t think you're pathetic," I said. "You’re even the vice-president of the student council."

"…It’s just for my grades. I’m not good at studying, so I have to make a good impression on the teachers at least, or I might not even pass to the next grade," she replied.

Though her words were softened with consideration, it was clear she was rejecting my shallow sympathy.

"Rather, it’s because of the student council work that I make Hime-chan wait until after school… She says ‘don’t worry about it,’ but I’m still causing her trouble. If I were more reliable, I wouldn’t have to worry about grades, and I wouldn’t need to be in the student council. I could just go home with Hime-chan right away. I’m such a terrible older sister…" she sighed.

"No, no. That’s not true… I don’t think so," I said, though I could sense she wasn’t looking for comfort.

Still, I couldn’t help but want to reassure her because, right now, Hijiri-san looked so down.

But maybe my attempt to comfort her was more of an annoyance.

"There’s no such thing," she said firmly, shaking her head. There was no drawl in her voice like usual.

Her tone was cold as she rejected my words.

"Because I’m such a fool as an older sister, I’m putting unnecessary burdens on Hime-chan. I can’t even remember to bring my lunch, and that causes her trouble. Of course, she doesn’t get angry, but I’m making her worry."

She couldn’t stop.

My careless comment had triggered something in her, and now it seemed like she couldn’t hold back.

"At school, she couldn’t just leave me alone, so she ended up going to the same high school—ah..."

After she spoke, Hijiri-san quickly covered her mouth, as if realizing she’d said something she hadn’t meant to.

"…S-sorry. Youhei, you’re just so easy to talk to, I said something weird. You can forget about it, okay? Forget it, please!" she stammered, flustered.

She was clearly trying to backtrack, asking me not to press on. Hijiri-san was looking for someone to empathize with her.

"Yeah, I think you’re overthinking things, Hijiri-san. Maybe you’ve been too hard on yourself," I could have said, offering light-hearted reassurance.

That might have been the easiest way to end the conversation without digging any deeper.

But something told me that ignoring what Hijiri-san really wanted to say wouldn’t help her in the long run.

"To forget... maybe I’ve gotten too close to Hime,"

But I had learned not to regret facing difficult truths. I wasn’t going to shy away from this. I looked Hijiri-san in the eye, shaking my head.

"…Is it okay if I don’t dodge the subject?" I asked gently.

"I’d like to hear it, if possible. You don’t have to say anything you don’t want to," I added.

"That’s cheating, Youhei… Alright, I guess."

It seemed like Hijiri-san had realized I was serious. She gave a resigned shrug and sat up slowly.

"It’s not a big deal. It’s just that I’m pathetic, and Hime-chan is an angel, that’s all," she said with a sigh.

"Hime’s an angel… Now that I definitely want to hear," I said, leaning in.

I wasn’t worried about whether Hijiri-san was pathetic or not—I’d make my own judgment on that later. But if she was going to talk about Hime being an angel, I was all ears.

"…Actually, Hime-chan didn’t even need to go to a school in Japan. She had already earned her university degree overseas, so there was no reason to attend school here. But when I decided to go to this school, she suddenly said she wanted to go here too," she continued.

This was curiously related to the rumor Kumori-san had told me about—about why Hime was attending this school.

"The real reason Hime-chan goes to this school is for me," Hijiri-san said.

So, Hime was attending Shirakumo Academy simply because her older sister, Hijiri-san, was here.

"She worried about me and couldn’t leave me alone. She wanted to be nearby, to help me whenever I made a mistake. My sweet, cute, and loving little sister, Hime-chan. I really do love her… That’s why it makes me so upset and frustrated. I’m such a burden on her, and I feel so pathetic."

Hearing her confession, I couldn’t help but smile.

I wasn’t mocking her—it just felt unbelievable.

"That’s not true," I said instinctively, the same words I had used earlier.

"…But it is," Hijiri-san said, her face suddenly hardening. She seemed frustrated that I wasn’t taking her seriously.

But this time, my words weren’t shallow—they came from the heart.

"No, really. Hime would never think of Hijiri-san as a burden," I said, firmly.

I was confident in my answer.

Of course, I couldn’t be 100% sure of Hime’s feelings, but I was certain that Hime’s affection for Hijiri-san was something that could never be mistaken.

"Because Hime loves Hijiri-san so much."

Today, while we were having lunch together, I couldn’t help but think about something. They were such a close pair of sisters.

"I think it’s true that Hime is worried about Hijiri-san. But it’s not just that. Hime goes to this school because she loves Hijiri-san," I said.

"…Why do you think that? If she loves me, there’s no need for her to come to this school," Hijiri-san replied.

"Is that so? That’s just how it looked to me," I said.

When Hime was with Hijiri-san, she was much more at ease than when she was with me. It was clear she trusted her more than anyone else.

"She doesn’t want to be apart from her beloved older sister. She wants to be together as long as possible. That’s why I think she goes to the same school," I explained.

Hime might seem mature, but in reality, she was still an eight-year-old child. It made sense for her to want to stay close to someone she loved because she felt lonely.

"She’s not a burden at all. On the contrary, Hijiri-san’s presence is actually a help to Hime," I added.

"A help… to her?" Hijiri-san asked, uncertain.

"Yeah. I think so," I said.

I didn’t want her to misunderstand.

From the outside, Hime and Hijiri-san seemed like a perfect pair of sisters, and I didn’t want to make it seem like I was challenging that image.

I understood how Hijiri-san felt, too. With such an exceptional little sister, it was natural to compare herself and feel down at times.

Hijiri-san’s assumptions weren’t completely wrong, either. Depending on your perspective, it was entirely possible to interpret things that way.

But I wanted Hijiri-san to know there was another way to look at things. And if she loved Hime as much as I thought she did, I believed that just that realization would be enough for her to understand.

"………"

Hijiri-san was silent for a moment. She was staring at me, probably sorting out her thoughts.

After about ten seconds, she suddenly buried her face in her hands, hiding it.

"I’m not crying," she muttered.

"I didn’t say anything," I said, surprised.

"I’m not crying… sniff."

Maybe my words had really struck a chord with her. If that was the case, I’d be really happy. Maybe, deep down, she already knew.

If she hadn’t understood Hime’s feelings, my words wouldn’t have had this much of an impact on her.

…Both the older sister and the younger sister clearly cared for each other deeply.

(Rumors are just rumors, after all.)

Who cares about rumors like entrance exams through back doors? There’s no shallow reason behind it. Hime goes to this school for her beloved older sister.

With this, I thought everything would be okay.

I felt relieved seeing the close bond between the Hoshimiya sisters. No matter what happens in the future, I was confident they would always remain close.

Before I knew it, the sky had turned a reddish-orange hue. Summer was approaching, and lately, the days had been getting longer. It was already past evening, and the baseball team on the field had turned on the lights.

I was once again impressed by the high school baseball players… and while I was thinking about this, I realized that Hijiri-san had somehow stopped crying. Or perhaps she had forced herself to stop.

She was looking at me with a composed expression, as if trying to say she hadn't been crying at all.

"...You've got snot coming out," I pointed out.

There was plenty of evidence left behind—slightly damp spots on her cheeks, the snot that had dripped, her bright red eyes and nose. Ignoring it would have been far too unnatural.

"I'm not crying... Just pretend I’m not," she muttered, as if she had finally come to terms with her own pride.

Hijiri-san pressed a handkerchief to her nose and asked in a small voice, almost pleading.

"I don’t think crying is something to be embarrassed about."

"It’s not that. I'm the kind of person who doesn’t cry. It would only make Hime-chan anxious, right?"

As I heard this, I remembered something. My own older sister always used to be smiling. It could have been due to the age gap between us, but I never once saw her show a sad expression in front of me.

Maybe it was her own sense of pride as an older sister.

"Guess I let my guard down. I didn’t expect you to make me cry, Youhei."

Hijiri-san said this with a half-smile, and her gaze seemed a little resentful.

"I’ve been trying so hard to be an 'older sister.' Couldn’t you have noticed a little?"

I had been thinking about this for a while.

(It’s different after all.)

Her atmosphere, tone, and attitude... They were all different from when Hijiri-san was with Hime.

To be honest, I was a bit surprised. I had always thought of her as a gentle, carefree, and happy girl who never seemed to have any worries. She seemed like the type of person who was always content, just eating, sleeping, and living happily without any problems. But it seemed I was wrong.

Hijiri-san, for her own reasons, deliberately put up this kind of act.

In other words, she wasn’t an "airhead" who never thought about anything.

"I might be a useless older sister, but at least I don’t want to make Hime-chan feel anxious."

That’s why Hijiri-san always smiled.

Gently, softly, to make those around her—no, to make Hime smile.

"Ah, I think I understand why Hime-chan got attached to you, Youhei."

"…And I think I understand why Hime looks up to Hijiri-san."

Without thinking, we both muttered the same thing, and realizing we had been thinking the same way, we exchanged a smile.

"Heh. So, which one of us goes first?"

"I’ll go first then."

I wanted to say it clearly to her.

Why Hime loves Hijiri-san so much.

"I know. Hime-chan understands that Hijiri-san always acts bright and cheerful in front of her. She’s a smart girl, so she knows how much you care for her, and that’s exactly why she loves you so much."

"Hm, hm. I see, I see... That’s pretty embarrassing to hear."

Hijiri-san grinned, looking genuinely pleased. She seemed to be basking in Hime’s feelings of affection. It was clear she was hiding her embarrassment by speaking in a playful way, but she wasn’t hiding her emotions at all. It was just like Hime.

Or maybe it was Hime who was like Hijiri-san.

They were both such honest sisters.

"Ha… When you’re around, Youhei, I just can’t help but relax. My cheeks, my guard, my feelings—they all just loosen up."

"Even your tear ducts?"

"I don’t know what you mean by 'tear ducts.'"

Now, it was Hijiri-san’s turn. She seemed to be giving me a compliment in return… maybe?

"Well, I know I don’t have much of a commanding presence."

"That’s a good thing."

"Is it really a good thing?"

"Heh. Is it complicated for you as a guy? But honestly, I feel really calm when I’m next to you. Good or bad, I tend to let my guard down."

"Really? I guess it’s a good thing not to make you feel tense."

"Yeah. And that’s why Hime-chan must have gotten attached to you."

...So that’s why she felt comfortable with me.

The reason Hime had opened up to me.

It all started with me giving her some candy. But I wondered if it was more than just that. Maybe she had genuinely been evaluating me, too.

"Hime-chan tends to overthink things, but... when she’s with you, she feels safe, and that lets her stop thinking so much."

If that was the case, then I was really happy.

I’d never had someone truly acknowledge me before, so I appreciated Hijiri-san’s words from the bottom of my heart.

"…Hey, can I ask you one last thing?"

Of course. I had no reason to refuse.

I nodded, and Hijiri-san straightened up, meeting my gaze before asking her question.

"What do you think of Hime-chan?"

As soon as I heard her question, I realized why she had straightened up. She didn’t want me to dodge the question. She wanted me to answer seriously. She wanted to know what kind of feelings I had for her precious little sister.

"...She’s a cute friend, someone I’d want as a little sister."

So, I answered honestly.

"Of course, I know she’s an exceptional and remarkable child. But she’s also very childlike and adorable... She’s honest, pure, and she has this charm that makes my heart warm when I’m around her."

I tried to suppress the embarrassed feelings rising in me and said what I truly felt.

Then, Hijiri-san smiled softly.

"Heh. You really do see Hime-chan for who she is."

Maybe it was because I praised her beloved little sister.

Hijiri-san looked genuinely happy.

"...You’re approved, I think."

"Approved for what?"

"Well then, what exactly did you pass?"

Her posture had completely relaxed. Her body was swaying softly, almost like a soft-bodied animal.

(Ah, that’s the real Hijiri-san.)

I could tell instantly. The serious expression from earlier was gone. It was as if she had decided that the "serious side" of her was done showing for the day.

"Yeah, yeah. I knew Hime-chan wouldn’t get close to someone who’s a bad person, but after actually talking with you, I feel a lot more at ease."

Maybe she had been observing me to ensure that I wasn’t a danger as Hime’s friend. And perhaps this "pass" I’d received meant that I was officially approved... In that case, it was reassuring to have her approval as an older sister.

"I’m glad too, that we can get along!"

I was also relieved that I could build a good relationship with her as well. It seemed like Hijiri-san thought the same, which was good.

"……"

For a brief moment, there was silence between us. A pause in the conversation.

"U-Um... you know…"

At that moment, Hijiri-san stood up and took a step closer to me.

The sunlight streaming in from the window illuminated her face, making it look slightly more flushed than usual as she muttered,

"Well… don’t worry about what Hime-chan told you. I’d really appreciate it if you could just start as normal friends without overthinking it…"

"Huh? What do you mean by that...?"

I couldn’t quite understand what she was saying.

Of course, I was about to ask her for more details, but—

"That’s all! Bye, Youhei!"

Hijiri-san quickly turned and walked away, leaving me with no chance to ask anything.

"Yeah... see you tomorrow."

I waved my hand, but it was all I could manage. What had just happened?

There was nothing for me to worry about that Hime might have said... Wait, maybe there was.

"Please marry my sister."

Yesterday’s words came back to me, repeating in my head.

"—So it’s about the marriage thing, huh?"

I said it aloud and felt certain.

I was probably right. Hijiri-san had likely known about the marriage from the start.

"I had no idea..."

I had completely assumed she didn’t know anything about the marriage talk… Her behavior had been so natural, it made me believe that she had no clue.

She never acted suspicious of me, nor did she overthink things. She had interacted with me as if I were just another classmate.

And that was despite her sister suddenly telling her to "marry that guy."

(Seriously, she’s a mysterious person.)

A chill ran down my spine.

So Hijiri-san had been watching me the whole day.

If there had been anything suspicious in my behavior, she would probably have suggested to Hime to stay away from me.

As her older sister, she was just trying to protect Hime.

I wasn’t upset about that—on the contrary, I felt reassured to know that Hijiri-san was a reliable person. If she was looking out for Hime, then I knew Hime would be safe.

But I had been so relaxed, so unguarded, that I hadn’t been cautious around Hijiri-san.

(Maybe she even saw the interaction with the principal?)

I recalled the moment I had first met Hijiri-san. She had appeared just as the conversation with the principal had started to get tense.

Thanks to her, everything had ended smoothly. I had thought it was a bit of a coincidence at the time, but now I wondered if it had been intentional.

From that moment on, I had been under her observation.

"So it’s 'pass,' huh?"

I thought it was a pass as a friend of Hime’s, but…

Could it be that the "pass" meant something more? Maybe as a potential marriage candidate...?

That felt like jumping to conclusions. I knew it was too early to make such a judgment.

But ever since that realization, my heart had been racing. I must have been caught off guard and was now feeling flustered.

"Sigh... I should head home."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and gathered my things. My heartbeat was still fast, but I knew there was no point in overthinking it right now.

Hijiri-san had said it herself. She wanted me to just start as a regular friend and not think too much about it.

If that was the case, then I would try to be myself, naturally. I figured that would be the best thing for both Hijiri-san and me.

(…I kind of want to see Hime now.)

Today had been eventful.

I had done an interview with Hisamori, heard some rumors, comforted Hijiri-san, been evaluated... I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired.

I needed a little time to settle down.

Maybe that’s why, all of a sudden, I felt like I really wanted to talk to that girl.

The next day, I left the house earlier than usual.

Perhaps because I had been sleep-deprived, I slept soundly last night, and I felt good. I woke up refreshed, had a proper breakfast, yet my mother was still complaining, saying, "I wish you were always like this." I didn’t really listen and, as usual, stopped by the convenience store before heading to school.

My usual arrival time was about ten minutes before class started.

Hime was already there by this time, so exchanging greetings with her had become a daily routine. However, since I arrived thirty minutes earlier today, she wasn’t there yet.

Maybe I had arrived a bit too early. I sat down at my desk, feeling disappointed that she wasn’t there.

That’s when it happened.

"...Ah."

Just a few seconds after I sat down, I looked toward the classroom entrance and saw the silver-haired girl staring at me with wide eyes. But it only lasted for a moment before she quickly approached me.

"Good morning, Youhei-kun."

Hime bowed her head politely as usual. But when she lifted her head, she bounced up slightly, and her face was full of joy, making it clear she was happy.

Seeing her silver hair flutter, my cheeks naturally relaxed.

She really was cute.

"Good morning, Hime."

"I was surprised to see you here earlier than me."

"Actually, I slept too much and woke up early this morning."

"Early to bed, early to rise is a good thing. Youhei-kun, you're so good."

Hime patted my arm lightly in appreciation.

I was genuinely happy to be praised, even if the one praising me was an eight-year-old girl.

"How are you doing, Hime? I was worried since you didn’t eat lunch yesterday."

"I’m doing fine, of course. Thanks to the sweets you gave me, the research meeting went smoothly as well. Thank you."

"I’m glad I could help."

"Yes. And since I was able to see Yohei-kun early this morning, I feel even better."

...Ah, I feel so at ease.

Her pure, genuine affection warmed my heart.

Being next to her was simply comfortable.

Of course, it wasn’t that I found Hijiri-san or Hisamori-san hard to talk to—it was just that Hime was special... Oh, speaking of which.

"Hime, actually, there’s something I need to apologize for."

The mention of Hisamori-san’s name reminded me.

"Yesterday, I was interviewed by Kumori-san from the newspaper club, and she asked about you… I ended up talking a lot about you without asking first. I’m sorry for talking about you without permission."

I made sure to apologize to Hime, even though I hadn’t said anything bad. Still, I felt I needed to express my regret.

"It’s fine, really. Don’t apologize."

Hime didn’t seem upset at all.

She looked completely confused, as if she didn’t even understand why I was apologizing.

"I’ve been interviewed by Kumori-san too."

"Now that you mention it, she did say something about interviewing you about your research."

"…By the way, what kind of things did you talk about with her?"

"About how cute you are, a lot."

"Eh? I’m cute...? Ehehe."

She actually seemed pleased by that.

It seemed like Hime was weak to compliments.

She immediately blushed and got all flustered, which was just so like her and incredibly endearing—

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