--the next day.
When I got to school and into the classroom, Hime greeted me.
"...Ah."
Yesterday he was the first to come over.
However, today his reaction was a little different. He noticed my presence, but he remained quietly seated in his seat.
He seemed excited yesterday, so maybe he's calmed down now.
This level of excitement is more like Hime...it's closer to the Hime I've always seen, so I'm not confused.
"Hime, good morning."
I'll call out to you.
Of course, I was sure she would reply.
"...Ah"
Huh?
Hime's reaction seems strange.
Yesterday I was so excited that I hugged him in public.
It's embarrassing when someone goes to that extent, so that's a problem in itself, but it's still lonely to be ignored.
I'm calm...or am I?
As I get closer to her, I start to feel that way.
"Yo, yo... uuh"
Yeah. It's weird after all.
I realized it when I sat next to him.
Hime is not calm.
In fact, it was the exact opposite. His face was bright red and he definitely didn't look his usual self.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
What on earth happened to this child?
Even I was a little confused by his reaction, which was completely different from yesterday.
The first thing I worried about was the possibility of him becoming unwell.
It's mid-June now, and the rainy season is upon us, so the temperature and humidity are high, making it by no means a comfortable season.
I was worried that he had caught a cold and was acting strangely.
"I'm sorry... I'm so embarrassed I can't look at Youhei properly."
Hime muttered in a thin, small voice.
His gaze was not directed at me, but rather at an angle above me.
It was as if it was difficult to even make eye contact.
Did I do something?
No, I don't want to sound like an unconscious, invincible protagonist.
Although I thought it was strange that I, who could only become a weak enemy A, was thinking something like this, I couldn't help but worry about Hime's condition.
To be honest, I don't really imagine wanting to apologize if I've done something wrong.
Because Hime's expression doesn't look angry at all. Her face is bright red, so she's definitely just embarrassed.
There's no way I could mistake such pure and sweet affection for the fact that he might dislike me.
"My sister told me about what happened yesterday."
"From Hijiri-san...?"
"Yes. Well, it's not like he's a lolicon to everyone, just me..."
"Yeah... I, I heard it."
"Yes. I heard it."
And then that person said it!
I wish they'd kept this kind of talk to themselves. At the very least, if they were going to tell the people involved, I wish they'd made sure that what they said didn't reach me.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it... well, I did mean something, but I don't feel guilty about it."
I think for Hime, it was almost like a confession.
I see. That's why my face was bright red and I was fidgeting... If someone of the opposite sex called me "special," I'm sure I'd act weird like this.
"Of course I understand. But—I'm really happy that you said that, Youhei."
However, Hime was a good girl after all.
He made it clear through his attitude and words that he had no negative feelings.