The Hoshimiya sisters decided to take a bath.
Meanwhile, I was left alone with Mei in their room.
""""
It seemed like dinner preparations were running late, so I was sure Mei would leave the room, but...she didn't move an inch.
He was standing right next to the round table.
...If I stay silent, he looks just like a child. Looking at his adorable face makes me want to relax, so I look away to pull myself together.
I love kids, and I don't mean that in a weird way.
Whenever my niece comes over to our house, I always play with her. I think the reason I was interested in Hime is because I have a deep-rooted love for children.
However, Mei-san only looks young, but she is an adult inside. I want to treat her with the proper respect.
That's why... I'm also unsure of what to say next.
(That's awkward.)
The atmosphere was heavy enough that I found myself thinking, "It would have been easier if the other person had been a real child." The situation of both of us just standing there in silence was also awkward.
At times like these, I become acutely aware of my passive nature.
He doesn't feel this way with Hime, but he can't bring himself to talk to his classmates like this. That's why he doesn't have many friends.
In the case of Kiyoshi, she is cheerful and talkative, so the atmosphere never becomes awkward...but it's a different story when you're with a quiet person.
I wanted to at least sit down to calm down, but I wondered if it was okay for me to sit down when Mei-san, who was older than me, was standing...and it seemed that even Mei-san was bothered by the silence.
"Aren't you going to sit down?"
That's good. Thanks to her speaking up, I finally opened my mouth.
"Mei-san, why don't you sit down?"
"I'm a maid. I can't sit in the same seat as the guests."
...I see. That's what it was.
I was relieved to find out that it wasn't because she didn't want to sit at the same table as me or anything.
"In fact, it's more of a nuisance for you, the guest, to be standing there all the time."
"Ah, yes. Sorry."
Correction. I've been scolded, so I'm feeling nervous again. It might be too early to relax.
Mei-san, despite her adorable appearance, seems to be the type to say what she wants to say clearly. As someone who can only speak vaguely, I admire her straightforward personality.
And at the same time, I also thought:
I think it's very adult-like how he casually calls out to her when things get awkward.
"Would you like some iced tea?"
"...I'll enjoy having this"
I was offered a drink, so I took a sip first.
The tea flowing through the straw was not too sweet. I was surprised by the refreshing aroma and cool, refreshing feeling that filled my mouth. It was completely different from the tea you get at convenience stores...it was a taste I had never experienced before. I wonder if this is what they call authentic black tea.
"I wonder."
"It's delicious. It's refreshing, or should I say calming..."
"I'm glad if it suits your taste. If it's not sweet enough, I recommend adding milk or syrup. Although, this tea tastes better with less sweetness, as the aroma stands out better."
...Mei-san is surprisingly talkative.
I thought he was a man of few words, but maybe that's not actually the case.
I still haven't figured out this guy's personality.
I don't know what kind of person he is. I still don't know whether he has a good or bad impression of me...