As has become customary, lunch break is held in the principal's office.
At first, she was nervous about using this room, which the principal had given her permission to use out of consideration for Hime...but now she had gotten used to it and was actually feeling more relaxed.
In a crowded, crowded place like a school, this separate space feels very comfortable. That is, as long as you don't bump into the principal.
"This unaju is delicious."
I've heard that humans are adaptive creatures.
Thanks to that, I got used to the principal's office, and I no longer felt nervous about eating with the Hoshimiya sisters.
That's why I think I was able to point this out even when I saw the beautiful girl, Kiyoshi, munching on eel in front of me.
"It's on your cheek."
He must have been eating with great force, as there were grains of rice stuck to his cheeks... and there were two of them. One on each side. They were in the center, in plain sight, and they were so neatly stuck that it made me wonder if he'd put them there himself.
"What? Are you kidding me? Really, Hime-chan? Can you make sure Yohei isn't lying?"
"I have no reason to lie."
Why is it being suspected?
I began to think that he didn't trust me very much, but I soon understood what Hijiri was trying to say.
(Oh, no... he's deliberately talking to Hime.)
Hijiri has a laid-back demeanor and seems a bit absent-minded, but she cares for Hime more than anyone else and tries her best to be a great big sister.
It seemed to me that maybe she still didn't trust me, but just thought it would be an excuse to talk to her sister.
I'm not sure if the rice grains on his cheeks were intentional... but I guess I'll just assume it was a deliberate act.
I'm also worried about Hime's strange behavior, so it would be great if Hijiri could handle it well.
"..."
"Um...Hime-chan? Hey?"
However, as expected...Hime's reaction was not good.
As expected, my mind was elsewhere, or rather I was spacing out. I was staring at the delicious looking unaju lunch, but didn't even try to eat it.
That didn't change even when Hijiri spoke to me.
"Hime-chan? Grains of rice...Hey, listen to me~"
Still, Sei speaks to him again and again.
He probably knows she's not ignoring him, but he looks lonely. He shakes her shoulders as if he wants her attention. But the girl remains spaced out.
...I wonder if it's okay.
Hime didn't seem to respond at all, so I got worried and decided to call out to her.
"Hime?"
"--yes!"
The answer was immediate.
It could be said that the moment he called out, Hime replied, almost overlapping with his words.
Although she didn't react to Hijiri-san, she reacted to me with extreme sensitivity.
"No... well, Hijiri-san called me."
"Is that so... Big sister, what's wrong?"
"...Rice grains?"
"Oh, it's on your cheek... excuse me, I'm going to the bathroom."
Their response was simple, or perhaps even cold.
My sister never got what she deserved. After dismissing Hijiri, Hime quickly left the principal's office.
After that, only a stunned Hijiri-san and I, who was smiling wryly, were left behind.
""""
Ugh, that's awkward.
Hime's reactions were completely different to mine and to Kiyoshi. It almost made me feel a little sorry for her.
"...Can I cry?"
Saying this, Hijiri was already in tears.
Well, this happened because this person told Hime how I really felt, so it's my own fault.