It seems that Kiyoshi had completely forgotten that Hime had returned home earlier.
"Hey, I was just a little sleepy."
He was embarrassed and tried to act innocent, but it was easy to tell from his obviously flustered expression. I guess he's the type of person whose emotions show on his face.
As expected, Hijiri is a little bit absent-minded.
Even I, who had only just met him, could tell. Of course, he seemed to understand it too.
"Hmm... I have a bad memory."
He quickly gave up on insisting it was a lie.
Now he has his hands up in the air as if he has given up and is smiling wryly.
"Hime-chan remembers everything she sees... why can't I remember anything?"
Is it self-deprecation?
Because she has a fluffy personality, I always thought she was cheerful... but perhaps that's not the case.
"Hime is just amazing, I don't think it's really Hijiri's fault."
"Hmm... I wonder?"
Oops.
I tried to offer some comforting words, but Kiyoshi's face never brightened.
Rather, he stared at Hime's desk with a troubled look on his face.
"Yohei, what do you think of Hime-chan?"
...The atmosphere is a little different from before.
He was always calm and collected in front of Hime, but now that she's gone, it seems like he shows a different side of himself.
It's a side of him that he can't show to his sister...or perhaps doesn't want to show.
There's no need for frivolous words. I feel that way, the weight of the air.
That must be the reason.
Unconsciously, I replied with words that I really thought.
"I think of Hime as a cute child. Of course, I know she's very talented. On top of that, I think she's also a very honest and innocent young girl."
"--Correct. Before she's a genius, Hime-chan is an honest and kind-hearted child. She's a very good girl who is trying her best to live up to her parents' unreasonably heavy expectations... She's also a loving girl who can't take her eyes off her troublesome older sister."
He doesn't speak in his usual fluffy manner, stretching out the ends of his words.
In a serious, yet clear and beautiful voice, she continued speaking in a whisper.
"It's because I'm such an idiot, her older sister...that I'm tying her down. Making her worry...I can't even remember messages, so I'm putting a burden on Hime-chan. She's making me carry my parents' expectations as well...What a pathetic older sister I am."
...I guess it's more like a complaint than a whining.
It seems that Hijiri feels guilty towards Hime.
That may be why he is feeling negative after forgetting Hime's message.
(That's what it was.)
However, what you just said was extremely beneficial to me... it cleared up a certain question for me.
"The reason why Hime is attending this school is because of Hijiri-san?"
That's right. The reason why a girl who is recognized as a genius by everyone is attending such an ordinary high school.
Apparently it was for his beloved sister.
"Actually, Hime was planning to go to a university overseas. But I was accepted as an alternate and somehow it was decided that I would be able to attend... and then all of a sudden, she said that we wanted to go to the same school."
...I see.
According to the rumor I heard from Hisamori, Hime was attending this school in exchange for passing Kiyoshi... but of course that was a lie.
The truth was much kinder.
However, I'm sure Hijiri still has some thoughts about it.
"Compared to my talented younger sister, I'm just a useless older sister."
That disappointing murmur was unlike Hijiri's... his voice sounded painful.