As I walked and chatted with Hime, I quickly got close to the school.
We'll arrive in a few more minutes. The number of students commuting to school has increased, and I, holding hands with Hime, stand out quite a bit.
Hime is quite famous at school. Until a few days ago, she had no contact with anyone and was a solitary figure who was looked up to by those around her.
That's why I think it feels so strange to have someone like me, who doesn't have any particular characteristics, sitting next to them.
I guess it's surprising after all... I'm getting a lot of attention and it makes me a little uncomfortable.
Hime seemed to notice my gaze and was looking towards the crowd - or so I thought, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
"...Around sixth grade, I guess."
She was staring straight at an elementary school student her age walking along the street.
He didn't seem to mind the attention he was receiving at all. He just stared intently at the two girls carrying their school bags, as if to say that he didn't care about anything.
"Is there an elementary school nearby?"
"Yes. If you go a little further down this road and turn, you'll find an old elementary school."
I'm a local in this area, so I have a general understanding of the geography.
In fact, I was very familiar with that elementary school.
"Youhei-kun, you seem to know a lot."
"Well, it's my alma mater."
There is probably no one who doesn't know about the alma mater that I attended until a few years ago.
"Is that so? I see... hmm."
Hime nodded in interest and stopped walking.
Then, staring intently at the elementary school students walking on the sidewalk opposite, he muttered the following.
"...I wonder if I can become as big a sister as that in four years?"
Saying this, Hime held her chest with the hand that wasn't holding my hand.
Huh? Hime seems a little anxious... Although she may look like a child, she is quite calm. As she gets older, she will become a proper big sister, so I don't think it will be a problem.
"It'll be fine. I think Hime will make a great big sister."
"Is that true? There are no signs of it right now, but will it ever become a great success?"
"Eh? No, no, it's more like a sign... isn't this enough already?"
She seems to have all the qualities of a big sister.
At the very least, she is more responsible than her older sister, Kiyoshi, so I think she will become a responsible older sister by the time she turns 12.
Or so I thought.
Apparently, Hime and I had slightly different perceptions.
"Are you feeling it enough?! I'm glad to hear that, but... well, it's not swelling at all, so I'm a bit surprised."
...picture?
What do you mean it's not inflated at all?
For a moment, I didn't understand what he was saying and looked closely at Hime again.
Her plump cheeks turned red, and then she held her chest just like before... hmm? Chest?
Breasts - so that's what it means!?
"Y-Youhei-kun, are you really that? Are you a lolicon? Well, I'm glad that you're interested in me, but... I can't keep this appearance forever, so one day I might not be able to live up to your expectations, you know?"
"No! That's not what I meant."
It was a misunderstanding.
Wanting to be more like an older sister is an internal thing, isn't it?
It seemed that Hime had been talking about something physical. When I realized that, I felt quite embarrassed.