"While playing the game, I noticed that Yohei was asleep."
Hime continues chatting while holding my hand.
She looked me straight in the eye, as if to say that she still had a lot to say.
"So, um... I was playing a game."
That looked like a very hard-working
"It's getting late, shouldn't you go home?"
I feel like I'm afraid to say that.
You can really feel Hime's desire to spend more time with him.
So, wanting to reassure her, I nodded along.
"By the way, who won the match? I fell asleep before it was decided."
It's okay. I'm listening.
He said he was interested in Hime's story.
Hime smiled somewhat relieved at the question, which also expressed her intention... and answered slowly.
"... Were you asleep?"
"Yeah. Sound asleep... No, but I heard Shinyo-chan scream."
It is unclear whether that was a shout of victory or a cry of defeat.
Hime must have realized that I really didn't understand, as she blushed a little and turned away.
"It's a secret."
"Does that mean Hime won?"
"So, it's a secret."
Why are you so adamant about not telling me?
The reason for this is probably... the reward for winning.
"...Did you kiss?"
"That too is a secret."
Damn. I guess he didn't answer my shallow leading questions after all.
I vaguely remember something being done to my cheek. I wanted to ask who the winner was to find out who did it, but Hime dodged the question. I guess she saw through me.
Should I have asked when Shinyo-chan, who is not good at lying, was there?
"Hehe. It's a secret between Xin Yang and me."
No, even if Shinyo was there, she probably wouldn't tell me what was going on.
It seems they shared a secret.
Well, it can't be helped. It doesn't look like they'll answer even if I pry into it... well, I'm also afraid of finding out the truth, so I'll refrain from mentioning it any further.
Well, there's no way two of them would do it at the same time...yeah, no way.
I can't imagine that possessive Shinyo would allow me to kiss her, and Hime seemed to be in a good mood, so I chose a choice that would satisfy both of them - but no matter how I think about it, only Hime and Shinyo know the real answer, so I'll stop here.
"After the game was over, Hime and the others decided to take a nap."
"No, we talked after the match. I found it very interesting what happened at Shinyo's school."
"Oh. Shinyo-chan's school, huh?"
Of course, the six-year-old child is attending elementary school.
Originally, this was the place where eight-year-old Hime should have gone.
"I'd never been to the school before, so I was really intrigued. Apparently they keep rabbits at school, and they're really cute when they eat vegetables. Also, apparently the curry and fried bread they serve at lunch are their favorites, and they told me how delicious they are."
"...That's right"
Skipping a grade to attend high school is something special, so I can't sympathize with that feeling.
But somehow... I started to think that maybe Hime should go to elementary school after all.
I was able to get along so well with Shinyo-chan.
Perhaps he'll have more fun in a place more suited to his age than attending high school.