--As expected, what I had feared happened.
The incident occurred during a short break between the first and second periods.
I was waiting for the next class while rocking Hime, who was sitting on my lap.
"--An emergency interview!"
A first-year girl came running into the classroom yelling loudly.
It was Hisamori from the newspaper club, with striking curly chestnut hair.
"Is Ozora-senpai there?!"
"Huh? Wh, what's going on?"
"Ouch!"
As soon as she spotted me, Hisamori immediately came running over to me.
She came over with a notepad in one hand, and when she saw me and then Hime sitting politely on my lap, she bowed vigorously.
"Hello!"
He seemed flustered so I wondered what was going on, but he started off by greeting me, which I thought was very polite. It seems he was in a strict club in middle school, so it's probably a remnant of that.
"It's Hisamori-san. Thank you so much, it's very kind of you... hello."
Meanwhile, Hime was still going at her own pace and bowing deeply back. So cute.
Unlike Hisamori-san, I'm very laid back. I was completely unfazed even when Hisamori-san showed up.
Come to think of it, Hisamori said that he had interviewed Hime before... so it seems they are acquainted.
"Hisamori-san, what's wrong?"
"Sorry for the sudden message! Well, actually, there's a big rumor going around...!"
"rumor...?"
I wonder. I have a really bad feeling about this.
I was afraid to ask, but it was something that was bothering me, so I listened to what Hisamori had to say.
"The truth is, I heard a rumor that Ozora-senpai is a huge lolicon and is seducing Hoshimiya-san!"
...See, I thought so!
My bad feeling turned out to be correct. It seemed that Hisamori had come during this short break between classes to see if the rumors were true.
"Th-This is just a baseless rumor, right? It's really just a prank, so I want to properly deny it, but... I came to check just to be sure."
And Hisamori-san was as healthy and great as ever in the newspaper club.
I guess they came to verify the facts to deny the bad rumors.
"Of course—"
That's not true.
It was just before he said that.
"--Yes, I'm a lolicon."
It was an unexpected betrayal...or rather, innocent words of affirmation without any malice echoed from above my lap.
The source of that voice is, of course, Hoshimiya Hime.
"Huh?! Is that so...?"
"Yes. Youhei-kun deceived me. So, he's taking responsibility and becoming my little sister."
"...D-Deeper details!"
No, wait a minute!
Please don't move on and leave me behind.
"Hime?! I told you earlier that I'm not a lolicon, right?!"
"Yes. I never forget what I've heard, so I remember it well."
"Well, then why...!"
"Hehe. That's because... Youhei-kun is so embarrassed and it's so cute♪"
Ah, no good.
This kid is really making a big mistake.
It seems she has already decided that I'm a lolicon. She thinks my denials are just because I'm embarrassed, and doesn't listen to me at all.
And she doesn't seem to mind that I'm a lolicon...or rather, she seems happy about it.
That's why, even when asked by others, he doesn't even try to hide it. Rather, he proudly declares it.
Well, as I thought... my bad feeling was right.
Hime doesn't care at all about what others think of her. She is a happy girl who doesn't compare herself to others and believes that as long as she and those around her are happy, that's enough.
That's not a bad thing at all.
But now, I couldn't help but feel that things were going in a negative direction.