It was right after I broke up with Hime.
Hijiri and I were leaning against the wall in the corner of the hallway, having a conversation.
The content, of course, was about the suspicion that I was a lolicon.
"Actually, Hime--"
This was all a misunderstanding on Hime's part.
Even though I wanted to deny it, I didn't say it forcefully because I didn't want to hurt her.
The rumor has been exaggerated because of Hisamori-san from the newspaper club.
After I explained them briefly, Hijiri sighed deeply.
However, that is not a negative thing.
"Ah... I see."
Kiyoshi simply sighed, as if he was somehow relieved.
He didn't seem fed up or annoyed, which made me feel relieved.
Good. It seems like Hijiri-san will understand.
"Hime-chan is surprisingly stubborn... she's the type that won't change her mind."
It seems that her older sister, Kiyoshi, was also well aware of Hime's surprising side.
"Because he's a smart kid, he's never had adults deny his beliefs. Maybe that's why he's the type to never doubt his beliefs."
"...I thought so."
"But because she's smart, she's not the type to get confused easily, and she never caused any trouble. For example, she was making a fuss saying, 'There's a bug in my futon!' so I went to check and it was just trash, but Hime-chan didn't believe me and ended up sleeping in the same futon as me. That's about it."
...Oh?
From what I just said, it doesn't seem like he believes everything I say.
Kiyoshi also trusts Hime, which is why he seems to listen to both sides and think objectively.
"I'm sure I'm exaggerating, but... Hime-chan isn't the type of girl with extreme delusions, you know? And she's certainly not the type to cause trouble for others. So, maybe Yohei has a bit of that sort of preference too?"
"So... you're doubting me?"
I was a little surprised.
I don't look at Hime that way.
It's not that I think she's cute because she's a little girl.
Princesses are wonderful and charming precisely because they are princesses.
Hime might think that I fell in love with her because I'm a lolicon, but that's definitely not the case.
This fact didn't seem to be conveyed to Hijiri, which made me feel a little annoyed.
"There's no smoke without fire, you know?"
"Huh? Why is there a fire? I'm not talking about a fire."
When I mentioned the proverb, Kiyoshi's eyes widened in confusion.
Ah, yes.
I guess proverbs don't get through to Hijiri. Come to think of it, he wasn't very good at studying.
"...No, I'm sorry. Don't worry about what I just said."
But thanks to that, I feel like the waves of emotion have subsided.
I felt relaxed, or maybe my strength was gone... That's right. It's not like Hijiri-san is hostile towards me.
Even now, he never criticizes me.
She still hasn't rejected me.
"Yes, yes. I understand. Hime-chan is so cute, it's inevitable that she'll tickle your senses."
No, rather, Hijiri-san...is she trying to get closer to me?
Huh? Something seems a bit off?
"But Yohei is a good kid, so I'm sure you'll be able to endure it. I'll help you too, so let's do our best together. Let's do our best to cure your lolicon, okay?"
...See, I thought so!
Although the degree may have differed, it seems that Hijiri has ultimately decided that I have a lolicon side to me.
However, it seems that they are not abandoning me, but rather accepting me and trying to heal me.
It was the same with Hime... The Hoshimiya sisters are too tolerant of lolicons!