Chapter 3: An innocent "I love you”
Morning. As I stepped out of the house, my eyes were dazzled by the bright, glaring sun.
It was the beginning of July. The news had said it would be another week before the rainy season ended, yet it already felt like it was over. The past few days had been nothing but clear skies.
I dislike the rainy season. But it's not that I particularly like summer either. If I had to choose, I’d say I find cold winters more comfortable, so I’m not fond of this season.
"It's so hot..."
The temperature was high enough that I couldn’t help but mutter to myself. Not long ago, I had cursed those rain clouds, but now I found myself missing them. As a small form of resistance, I walked along the shaded wall on my way to the convenience store.
The store was cool. It was almost cold, to the point where I felt I might catch a cold from the temperature difference.
I was here, as usual, to buy lunch and snacks. I grabbed a grilled meat bento that caught my eye and made my way to the snack aisle. While picking snacks that would be easy for Hime to carry, individually wrapped and in bite-sized portions, my hand suddenly stopped.
(Oh right, Hime’s staying after school today.)
Apparently, the research she had been working on had reached a conclusion. In other words, we’d have time to eat snacks together. I didn’t need to worry about the size or packaging anymore.
It had probably been a week. It felt like quite a while.
Of course, we’d still talked during class breaks and had lunch together in the principal’s office with Hijiri-san during lunch breaks, so we hadn’t been completely out of touch.
But those afternoons, the time we spent alone together after school, still felt special to me. I had been really looking forward to that time.
(Wait, no. I can’t eat all this.)
I found myself about to bring several snacks to the register. Without realizing it, my hands were moving as if I wanted Hime to try everything. Reluctantly, I selected a few and put the others back on the shelf.
After paying, I left the convenience store, and the heat enveloped my skin.
It was hot. But strangely, it didn’t feel as uncomfortable as before.
My steps to school felt lighter than usual.
It feels like it’s been a while.
After school. As I watched my classmates head home, Hime leaned her hands on my desk. Her hair bounced back from the motion, and I caught a faint scent of shampoo.
A refreshing citrus fragrance. The proximity between us told me how Hime was feeling.
"I’m really happy that I can have a leisurely chat with you, Youhei-kun."
"Thanks for your hard work on your research. I’m glad you finally have some time to relax."
"Oh, but… if you want to head home early, you don’t need to worry about me, okay?"
I smiled. It was so like Hime to be considerate in such a way.
"I’m not thinking that at all."
"Then, I’m glad."
"I really enjoy talking with you too, Hime."
"...You really enjoy it, huh?"
When I said that, Hime blushed and pressed her cheeks with both hands.
"You’re a genius, Youhei-kun."
"Really? I always thought I was just an average person."
"Yes. Because, even though we’ve only talked a little, my body feels so relaxed now. Youhei-kun, you’re a genius at making me feel all floppy."
Apparently, I possessed some incredible talent I was unaware of.
...Though, I knew that was just a joke. Still, being praised by Hime made me genuinely happy, and I felt good about it. I’m simple like that.
"If I don’t hold my cheeks, they’ll fall off."
"Want me to hold them for you?"
I couldn’t help myself. Seeing Hime being so adorable triggered my playful side, and those words slipped out.
Also, her cheeks looked incredibly soft, and I had the urge to touch them.
"If you do that, my cheeks might just melt away."
"Now I really want to see that."
"Meow, meow~."
It seems my teasing was working. Hime was so flustered that her words became unusually slurred.
She really did have a calming effect just by being around.
"Um, well…"
Hime hesitated. Her gaze darted around, occasionally glancing at me, then quickly averting her eyes when our gazes met. She repeated this for several minutes.
Before I knew it, all the classmates had left, and it was just the two of us.
Now, having thoroughly enjoyed watching cute Hime, I was ready to move on.
Of course, I intended to let her know I was joking, but before I could speak...
"...Just a little, okay?"
Now I was the one who was surprised.
"R-really?"
"Yes. If it’s you, Youhei-kun."
I couldn’t deny that I was curious. In fact, I was more than a little intrigued.
Hime’s cheeks. I’d always been envious of how soft and squishy Hijiri-san’s cheeks always seemed. I couldn’t help but want to touch them; they looked incredibly soft.
"Well, just a little then."
I probably should have refused, since Hime was embarrassed. But curiosity got the better of me, and I extended my finger.
Punyun.
Wow. What is this? Is it like mochi? No, it’s not. It feels smooth, yet soft… maybe it’s like compressing a high-end down comforter? What kind of comparison is that? I realized I had no idea what I was saying.
It was such an unfamiliar sensation. The comfort was so great that I couldn’t stop squishing and poking.
"Um..."
"…………"
"Youhei-kun?"
"………"
"Is it okay now?"
"…………"
"…………Ah!"
Such a strange feeling. I could hear Hime’s voice, but I couldn’t react. I could see her expression clearly, but my finger just wouldn’t stop.
It felt like I could do this forever. However, it seemed Hime was reaching her limit.
"My cheeks… they’re getting all loose…"
With a raspy voice, Hime called out to me, and I snapped back to reality.
When I looked at her, her face was as red as a boiled lobster.
"—I’m sorry!"
I pulled my finger away in a panic, but it seemed it was already too late, and Hime had pressed her cheeks tightly and stopped moving.
"A-are you okay?"
"...Youhei-kun, you’re so mean."
Hime looked at me reproachfully. She was so embarrassed that her eyes looked a little teary.
"I’m sorry for going too far, I just couldn’t resist how soft your cheeks were."
Even though it was a tease, I realized I had crossed the line. I apologized sincerely.
"Oh, it’s fine. You don’t have to apologize so much."
However, Hime was a kind-hearted girl. She didn’t scold me for my teasing and forgave me.
"I didn’t say I didn’t like it."
"Huh? You didn’t mind?"
"...I didn’t say that."
If you didn’t say it, then doesn’t that mean it’s a yes?
"Sometimes… it’s fine."
I guess it was fine. Hime was calm as always, and she was incredibly understanding.
"Ah, thank you?"
It felt like saying thank you would be a little awkward. So, I conveyed my gratitude in a vague way.
"No problem. If it’s you, Youhei-kun, I don’t mind letting you touch my cheeks."
It seemed like I had reacted appropriately.
Hime gave a small nod. Her face was slightly less red than before.
I was relieved. She seemed to have calmed down, and I could breathe easier.
Phew… that was close.
It had been a while since we were alone, so I guess my excitement had gotten the best of me.
We were both feeling a bit lighthearted when I decided to take out some snacks from my bag to cool off a bit.
“Hime, I brought this today,” I said.
“...Ah!”
Hime’s eyes lit up as she leaned in closer, her deep crimson eyes sparkling as she looked at the snacks I held in my hand.
“Thank you, as always.”
“You don’t have to thank me. Well, I mostly want you to eat them, so it’s no big deal,” I replied, placing the box of snacks on the desk.
The box was small, just about the size of the palm of my hand. I pressed along the dotted lines and opened the top, revealing bite-sized pieces of chocolate inside.
“Is this... just regular chocolate?”
“No, there’s macadamia nuts inside, so it’s a little different.”
The snack I had brought was macadamia nut chocolate. For the past week, I’d been avoiding unwrapped chocolates that Hime would have a hard time carrying home, so I decided that when the chance came to hand her some snacks directly, I’d go with these.
“Macadamia nuts... I see. You’ve used the hard outer shell to represent it in chocolate, huh? How interesting,” Hime mused, enjoying the look of the chocolate as if admiring a piece of art.
“Do you like this snack too, Youhei-kun?”
“Yeah, I buy it whenever I crave it,” I answered.
“Well then, I’m really looking forward to it. If you say it’s good, there’s no doubt about it,” she said, her voice full of excitement.
I felt a little flattered by the trust Hime had in me. I smiled and urged her to eat.
“Is it really okay?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“...Then, I’ll have some.”
Even though she showed some eagerness, Hime didn’t immediately reach for the chocolate. She simply opened her small mouth as if waiting for something.
“...?”
Hime was waiting silently, her eyes on me as though she expected me to feed her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
I suddenly realized. (Wait... is she expecting me to feed her?)
A while ago, when we were eating snacks in the classroom, Hime would always eat directly from my hand. She’d even nibble my fingers a little.
I held up a piece of chocolate and brought it to her mouth.
Just then, the door to the classroom creaked open.
“Hime-chan, I’m here~! It’s your sister~!”
The sound of the door opening startled Hime, making her jump and quickly close her mouth.
“Ah, sorry! Did I surprise you?”
It was Hijiri-san, with her usual carefree smile. She clasped her hands together in apology to Hime.
“...You’re early today, Onee-chan,” Hime said.
“I finished my student council duties early. Youhei-kun, hey there!”
Hijiri-san walked up to me and greeted me as well. We’d started eating lunch together every day recently, and I felt like we were becoming more comfortable with each other.
“Unusual. The student council always looks so busy.”
“The semester exams are in two weeks, so everyone’s focusing on studying now,” Hijiri-san explained.
“...Ah, it’s that time already?”
At our school, the final exams take place right before the summer break. It seemed that the student council members were taking it easy for now in order to focus on their studies soon.
“I need to study too...”
“Listen, Youhei-kun, Onee-chan failed every single test last year, and spent the entire summer break suffering through remedial classes and assignments!”
“Ah! Hime-chan, don’t say that! Youhei-kun will think I’m dumb!”
I didn’t think she was dumb, but I did get the impression that studying wasn’t her strong point. I kept quiet and just smiled awkwardly, letting it slide.
“B-but, studying can wait for now!”
“Well, that’s exactly why you always get in trouble when you put it off until the last minute.”
“Pffft! I’m not listening!”
Hijiri-san laughed as she glanced over at me.
“Hey, hey, what’s that? Youhei-kun, you’ve got something that looks really tasty!”
“Oh, this?”
I had completely forgotten about the macadamia nut chocolates after Hijiri-san’s arrival.
“Is it candy? I see, you’re giving it to Hime, right?”
“Yeah, I wanted her to have some,” I answered.
“Wow! Hime-chan, you always get so many treats from Youhei-kun, don’t you? He brags about it every dinner!”
“I-I don’t brag about it! I’m just reporting!” Hime murmured in protest, though Hijiri-san didn’t seem to hear her.
Hijiri-san’s eyes were fixed on the chocolates in my hands.
“Slurp...”
“Eww, Onee-chan, you’re drooling!”
“I-I’m not! I don’t want them!”
Hijiri-san was really bad at hiding her feelings. She quickly wiped her mouth but her eyes still followed the chocolates.
Since I had planned to give Hime some of the chocolates, I was a bit torn, but then Hime, perhaps noticing my hesitation, spoke up.
“Youhei-kun, you should give them to Onee-chan. I’ll take the other one.”
She reached out and grabbed another piece of chocolate for herself.
It seemed that, in front of her sister, Hime felt embarrassed and didn’t want to be fed.
I decided to respect her wishes, even though I was a bit disappointed.
“Hijiri-san, please, go ahead.”
“Really? Yay, thanks!”
Hijiri-san’s face lit up as she took the chocolate, her expression shifting to one of innocent joy. It was a different kind of reaction than her usual relaxed smile.
“I’m going to eat it now! Mmm, it’s so sweet!”
She quickly popped it in her mouth and chewed it right away, without savoring the flavor like Hime.
Then Hime took her turn, nibbling one half. She gave a satisfied look as her big eyes widened.
“Wow! The nutty flavor and texture blend so well with the sweet milk chocolate. It’s amazing... I could easily get addicted to this.”
As expected, Hime was more articulate than Hijiri-san when it came to describing the taste.
I felt relieved that both sisters seemed to enjoy the snack.
“Slurp...”
Hijiri-san was still eyeing the chocolates, clearly not full yet. I offered her the remaining pieces.
“I-I didn’t say I wanted more!”
“Sure you didn’t. Your face says otherwise.”
“Onee-chan, you’re really easy to read.”
“...Well, I guess I’ll have another one then. Thanks!”
Hijiri-san quickly grabbed another piece and popped it into her mouth. The moment she did, her face relaxed in sheer enjoyment.
Though they were practically opposites in appearance, it seemed the sisters shared similar tastes. Their reactions were also strikingly similar.
We spent the next while eating and chatting casually, but as Hijiri-san had already arrived, it wasn’t necessary for us to stay much longer.
About an hour passed after the end of school. At that point, we decided to call it a day.
"It looks like the student council work ended early again today,"
"Then it seems like you'll be getting home around the same time as yesterday."
"That's what I think."
The next afternoon, I got an update from Hime on the situation with the Starry Sisters. Hime's busy period was over, but it seemed like it would be a while before we had afternoons to spend together, just the two of us, like before.
"…If I say that I'm sad we won't have as much time to talk, I feel like my sister might get upset."
It was said as a joke, but her tone was clearly lower than usual, showing that she was feeling down. I knew she didn’t mean it in a way that indicated she didn’t like Hijiri-san. It was more like her own way of expressing how much she valued our time together.
I couldn’t help but feel happy about it. At the same time, I didn’t want to see her looking sad either.
"By the way, do you remember when I invited you to go to the convenience store together the other day?"
I brought up a promise we had made when we first started talking more seriously. It wasn’t something we had discussed in great detail, but I had kept it in the back of my mind, hoping we could fulfill it someday.
"—There’s no way I’d forget that."
It seemed that Hime remembered it too. She was clearly looking forward to it… though, knowing her, maybe she had a tendency to remember things like this well. In any case, I was happy that she had remembered.
"Would you like to go when we have some free time?"
"Is it okay? I’d love to go!"
When I invited her again, her voice brightened, and she eagerly nodded. She was so visibly happy that I couldn’t help but feel my own cheeks soften.
"We might have less time after school, but maybe we can find another time to make up for it."
"…Hehe."
Her smile was contagious, and I was glad she seemed to cheer up. She had looked a little down earlier, so seeing her happy now was a relief.
"You’re really wonderful, Youhei-kun."
"If you think that, I’m happy to hear it."
"Yes. I’ve always thought so."
Her pure and sincere compliment made me feel warm inside. It was no big deal, but I did think that Hime was also wonderful. I considered telling her, but I held back because I didn’t want to make her shy.
I thought that she probably knew how I felt about her, even if I didn’t say it out loud.
In any case, the time we spent together was short, so I decided to take out some snacks from my bag to give to Hime.
"Hime, today’s snack is this."
"Can we wait until my sister comes? She really liked the snacks yesterday and kept talking about them even after we got home."
I stopped my hand, which was reaching for the bag, at Hime’s words.
"Is it alright to wait for Hijiri-san? I thought we could eat together when she gets here."
"Well, she isn’t the type to mind, but... I think it would make her happier if we ate together."
I was impressed. Hime had noticed my concern. I was worried if it was okay to wait on Hijiri-san, but Hime reassured me with her words.
"Well... it’s true, I do want to eat with you alone,"
Hime said, a little embarrassed, her hands fidgeting, "but since you invited me to go out together later, I’m already really happy. I want to share that happiness with my sister."
What is this girl, so sweet?
"If that’s the case, then it’s fine."
"Yes. Just knowing that you think about me makes my heart full."
She placed her hand over her chest and smiled, her expression a mix of innocence and a touch of maturity. I found myself staring at her for a moment.
I realized again—
She had called me wonderful, but really, Hime herself was even more wonderful.
So, when Hijiri-san arrived, we all began eating the snacks together.
"So sweet! This is so good!"
It seemed like Hijiri-san was enjoying it even more than usual, losing all sense of her usual vocabulary.
As Hime had said, Hijiri-san was overjoyed to be eating the snacks together, and it was clear that she was extremely happy.
After school, I started talking with Hime about our plans to go out. Originally, we had just talked about going to the convenience store.
"I’ve never been shopping before. I’ve never been to a store outside, so I’m kind of nervous."
Hearing that, I started to reconsider. Since it was a special opportunity, I wanted to take her to more than just a convenience store.
"Is there any other store you'd like to go to?"
"Well, I can’t think of any particular places…"
Hime tapped her chin, deep in thought. Judging by her reaction, it seemed like she wasn’t too interested in the outside world.
I understood now. It wasn’t so much that she was unaware of the world around her; it was more that she just wasn’t interested. She was a smart girl, so I figured if she wanted to know more, she’d pick up on things quickly.
"Well, maybe just the convenience store then."
I wanted to make sure she didn’t feel pressured to go anywhere.
But Hime looked at me intently and shook her head.
"…I just thought of something."
"Huh? What is it?"
"I’d like to try playing a game."
I was taken aback. The word "game" came out of nowhere, something completely unrelated to Hime.
"I mean, that’s fine… but, Hime, do you like games?"
"No, I’ve never played them. But I heard that it’s one of your hobbies."
Now that she mentioned it, I vaguely remembered talking about what I did at home the last time she asked. It made sense now—she must have picked up on the idea from me.
"I’m interested. I want to know what you like."
Not the world outside. She meant me…
(I’m really happy…)
Her pure and unclouded affection made my heart warm.
It was such a straightforward, sincere feeling that I couldn’t help but feel energized.
"Got it. How about we go to the shopping mall near the station this Sunday? They have an arcade, and a supermarket where we can buy some snacks."
I suggested a specific time and place, and what had been an unclear plan suddenly turned into a concrete reality.
"Going out with you, Youhei-kun, feels like a dream. I’m so excited… Oh, but I’d like to visit the convenience store you usually go to."
"You can buy snacks at the supermarket, you know?"
"I know, there’s no need for it. I just want to see where you go shopping."
Well, since she asked, maybe I could take her there. It wasn’t hard to say yes.
…Not that I was saying yes just because it was hard to refuse. Looking at Hime, leaning in toward me, I could clearly feel her genuine happiness, and that made me feel warm inside.
"Okay, we’ll go to the convenience store after the shopping mall. It’s close, so it shouldn’t be a problem."
"…Yes!"
I nodded, and Hime eagerly mirrored my motion, her face bright with excitement. Her joy was contagious, making me feel more energetic too.
"Okay, see you Sunday. What time and place should we meet?"
"I’m fine with anywhere, anytime… Oh, wait a second!"
Hime suddenly clapped her hands, as if she remembered something.
"My sister. Right, my sister."
I wondered what she meant by that.
"Would it be okay if my sister joins us?"
"Of course, that’s fine… Were you feeling uneasy about something?"
It wasn’t in a negative sense of not wanting to be alone with me; I knew she wasn’t uncomfortable with that. Hime’s affection was so straightforward that I couldn’t feel any doubt. I wondered if maybe she felt more comfortable with her sister around.
"It’s not that I’m uneasy. I just want you and my sister to get along."
It seemed like she was thinking about something from before.
"I think it’s good for both of you to spend time together, like this. It will help you two get closer, and eventually, get married."
Hime was still working on her plan.
She had been trying to get Hijiri-san and me to marry for a while now, occasionally coming up with ideas like this.
"If you’re too aware of that, it might make things awkward, you know?"
"It’s fine. If we’re going to be married, I think we can easily overcome something like this."
I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about the idea.
Even though Hijiri-san knew about Hime’s intentions, she had stopped bringing up marriage, probably to avoid making things awkward between us. Right now, the relationship we had was just fine.
"Every time we talk, every time you’re kind to me, I start to feel more and more strongly about this."
However, it seemed that Hime had a bit of dissatisfaction with the current situation.
"If only Youhei-kun could become my older brother, that would be so wonderful..."
She said it in such a cute way, like a younger sister. Hime had been so happy about this. Her untainted, straightforward affection was refreshing.
Although Hime was a mature girl, she often showed a childlike innocence when it came to emotions. It seemed that, because of that pure straightforwardness, she might not fully understand the delicate balance between men and women.
"Of course, I think it's fine to take things slow. I'm not asking to become your girlfriend right away, so don't worry. It's just that I'm offering my support on my own, that's all."
For once, Hime seemed quite motivated, almost overly enthusiastic. She seemed a little out of sync, but I found that side of her endearing.
(This is probably why Hijiri-san can’t outright reject her, huh?)
I thought Hijiri-san had a positive view of me, but I also understood that it wasn’t in a romantic sense—it was more as a person she cared about.
I also believed that neither of us had romantic feelings for each other, but Hime didn’t seem to understand that part. Explaining love to an eight-year-old would be tough, and I think Hijiri-san was purposely vague on that front.
Since Hijiri-san wasn’t forcing me into any kind of marriage talk, there was no need for me to strongly reject it either. I just lightly smiled in response.
"Hey there! Big sis is here! Sorry to keep you waiting!"
At just the right moment, Hijiri-san arrived, and we began discussing the plans for Sunday.
"Going out? I wanna go, I wanna go! No, actually, I'm definitely going. I won't let you leave me out. I’m not going to let Hime-chan be taken away by you!"
Hijiri-san responded immediately, but for some reason, she seemed to be challenging me. She tightly hugged Hime, as if to claim her for herself.
It’s not like I was trying to take her away, though… Hime looked a bit uncomfortable with how tightly she was being hugged.
"Right, I brought some snacks today too."
To help Hime, who seemed to be struggling under Hijiri-san’s grip, I took out the snacks from my bag.
Today, I had brought some soft, moist cookies with chocolate chips—Country Ma'am cookies.
"Yay, I've been waiting!"
Just as I expected, Hijiri-san released Hime and immediately dove for the snacks. Phew, Hijiri-san was pretty easy to please.
"Phew... Youhei-kun, thank you."
"No problem. Hime, you have some too."
I received Hime's words of gratitude, which seemed to carry many different meanings, and in return, I handed her a cookie. When I handed one to Hijiri-san next, she opened her mouth wide and stuffed it in.
"Yum!"
"Hijiri-san-chan, that's unbecoming."
"Hmmm, mmm!"
"I don’t understand what you’re saying, but... I’ll eat it."
Hijiri-san’s way of devouring the cookie was so exuberant it almost seemed to make the act of eating enjoyable, while Hime, in contrast, took a small, polite bite. It was almost as if she was saying, "I'm not like my older sister."
"...The concept of cookies has been shattered. It's so soft, and the dough crumbles in my mouth. The chocolate chips are a perfect touch."
After giving a detailed review of the taste, Hime took a second bite, this time devouring it just like Hijiri-san had. It seemed she liked it today too, which was good.
"So delicious! After using my brain, sweet snacks taste even better!"
"Onee-chan, do you ever use your brain?"
"Of course I do! Even I have to rack my brain during class!"
"Really? I always thought you lived just for food and sleep."
"How rude! Hime-chan, you think I’m an idiot, don’t you? Geez..."
"Yes. I love how you don’t think about anything."
"You love me? Hmmm... I see. Well, if you love me, I guess I’ll let it slide."
Their conversation was so casual and relaxed, it felt almost magical. Just listening to it made me feel at ease. Hime, who trusts her sister so much that she sometimes lets her guard down, and Hijiri-san, who adores Hime to the point of spoiling her, made for an incredibly heartwarming sight.
Now, though, I had to bring up something.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your snack enjoyment, but... I was thinking of going to the shopping mall on Sunday. Hijiri-san, are you okay with that?"
I wanted to confirm the details of our outing now, while I had the chance. After all, today was Friday, and since we couldn’t meet on Saturday, this was the only time we could discuss it.
"The shopping mall is Aeon, right? That's totally fine! By the way, have you decided which stores you want to visit?"
"At the moment, probably just the arcade and the snack section in the supermarket. If there’s any place you’d like to go, Hijiri-san?"
"Hmmm... I’ve been there with friends before, but I don’t have a particular place in mind."
It seemed Hijiri-san was more familiar with the world than Hime, likely because she had a broader social circle and occasionally went out.
"It's pretty big, right? Walking around can get tiring, so I don’t want to visit too many places."
Wait—no, scratch that. Hijiri-san was probably just lazy and hadn’t thought much about the world outside. She'd only been there before, not necessarily because she knew it well.
"Don’t worry. Hime’s stamina is also a consideration, so we won’t stay too long."
When going out with an eight-year-old, you have to think about their energy levels. Plus, this would be Hime’s first outing, so I wanted to make sure I was mindful of that.
"...Youhei-kun, you're so kind."
It seemed Hime had noticed my concern. She was hiding her smile behind the cookie, but it was clear from the way she was grinning that she was delighted. How cute.
"What about Hijiri-san? Hime-chan, how about your sister? You can say she's kind too."
Jealous of my praise, Hijiri-san immediately tried to compete. However, in this case, I had a feeling she wouldn’t win.
"As for Onee-chan... if you were trying to give me a break by saying you’re the one who’s lazy, then I’d be grateful."
"...Of course, soda."
"I know you're lying. You’re just lazy and don’t like going out."
"L-Lazy? Did you just call me lazy!? I'm not lazy!"
"I didn’t say lazy. I said 'indifferent.' It means someone who prefers staying home instead of going out. Like you."
"...Hehe."
"And Onee-chan, you’re not fat. You’re fine just the way you are."
"Hime-chan... I love you!"
Once again, Hijiri-san hugged Hime, getting teary-eyed.
I could watch the two of them converse forever, and I was unsure whether to interrupt or not. Fortunately, Hime seemed to sense my hesitation.
"I think I interrupted the conversation. Youhei-kun, please go ahead."
Since Hime got the conversation back on track, I gladly continued.
"What time should we meet?"
"Morning is out for me. Sleeping until noon on a day off is the best!"
"Sorry, I’m such a lazy older sister. It would help if we could meet in the afternoon."
"Then how about 2 PM?"
First, let’s settle on the meeting time. I didn’t see the need to leave too early, so I thought a more relaxed time would be better.
"By the way, is it far from both of your houses?"
Since Hime had mentioned wanting to go to the convenience store I go to, I realized I had unintentionally chosen a location closer to my place.
"Maybe we should choose somewhere else."
I was concerned about their travel time, so I asked.
"It should be about thirty minutes by car. I’ll ask the housekeeper to give us a ride, so you don’t need to worry about it. Our house is in the suburbs, and there aren’t any big stores nearby."
"If it’s by car, that’s fine. Your place is around here, right? In that case, Aeon works for us."
I was glad to hear that they’d be driving. Since I’m walking, I appreciated the consideration.
"Alright, then let’s meet at... the entrance of the store."
"Got it. We’ll meet at the entrance at 2 PM... though I’m worried about possibly missing each other. It’d be good if we could contact each other just in case."
"True. But, didn’t Hime say she doesn’t have a smartphone?"
I recalled her mentioning that she didn’t like electronic devices. I had never seen her operate a smartphone.
"We have one at home. I just don’t like using it, but I can operate it. I don’t have one right now, though... Could you and Youhei-kun exchange contact information, please?"
I see... So that’s why. It seemed like Hime was subtly guiding us to get closer. While she wasn’t very expressive, I had started to understand her feelings more clearly recently.
Still, what she was suggesting made perfect sense. It would be good to be able to contact each other if anything happened, so I decided to follow her lead.
"Huh? I already have Youhei’s contact info."
"No, I don’t remember exchanging it."
"Huh? That can’t be... Oh, you’re right! Youhei, why didn’t you tell me? Geez! Come on, lend me your phone!"
I was relieved to see that Hijiri-san wasn’t opposed to the idea. Maybe it was actually a good time for us to exchange contact information.
Well, it seemed that Hijiri-san thought we’d already exchanged numbers.
(...Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve exchanged contact info with a girl.)
And of all people, it’s with Hijiri-san, who is known as the most beautiful girl in school. You really never know what life will throw your way.
"...Hijiri-san-chan, could you also send me Youhei-kun’s contact info later on my phone?"
"Hehe. Hime-chan, did you want Youhei’s contact info that badly? You should have just asked him directly instead of using me as an excuse!"
"N-No, that’s not it. It’s just... I thought it was a little lucky, but that’s all."
I really hoped they’d have these kinds of conversations when I wasn’t around to hear.
(How embarrassing...)
I almost couldn’t help but smile. If I wasn’t careful, I’d end up grinning.
It seemed that exchanging contact info wasn’t just about getting me and Hijiri-san closer, but also Hime’s little plan.
The second girl I’d likely exchange contact info with would probably be Hime.
She was really so adorable. Since this would be her first outing, I was looking forward to seeing more of her many different expressions.
That thought made me even more excited for the day to come.
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