--Early July.
It's summer. Although the number of days with maximum temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius is gradually increasing, the rainy season is not over yet, so we are still suffering from the sweltering heat and humidity.
Well, the rainy season will be over in a week, so it'll be better...or not. On the other hand, we'll probably be bothered by the damage caused by the sunlight that's currently blocked by the cloudy weather.
I don't like summer very much.
Sweating is just uncomfortable. In winter, if it's cold, you can just wrap up, but in summer, it's a pain because you can't take it off.
I would like to stay indoors in an air-conditioned room at least. But I have school, so that's not possible. Going to and from school is really depressing -- or, well, that was the case until last year.
Of course, I still don't like summer, but now I don't mind going to school.
Because I get to meet that girl.
"Youhei, the test is coming up soon. Have you been studying?"
"Yeah. I'm doing it little by little."
"That's impressive. As expected of Youhei... By the way, my sister didn't do anything."
"...I wonder if it's okay."
After school, I was chatting with Hime in the classroom as usual.
Of course, we were eating sweets as well. Today I brought some chocolate in the shape of a twig. Hime seemed to like the taste and has been munching on it with gusto.
As usual, he was munching and chewing directly from my fingers.
However, I'm sorry that the chocolate has melted a little, probably because of the high temperature... But Hime doesn't seem to mind, and in fact she sometimes tries to eat my finger along with it, and her little teeth hit it. Maybe because her baby teeth haven't grown in yet, they're still very small, so it doesn't hurt. In fact, it tickles.
And Hime is as cute as ever.
I hate summer, but this year Hime has been soothing me so it hasn't been too unpleasant.
"By the way, do you study, Hime?"
"No. I remember everything I learned... but I have to teach my sister, so it's a really difficult time."
"Eh? But you said earlier that you weren't studying."
"...I'll correct that. I'm busy trying to motivate you to study."
This was a problem that went beyond teaching.
It seems like Hijiri hates studying... She's gentle but has a strong will, and is surprisingly selfish and stubborn. It seems like it would be hard to motivate her to study.
"I'm trying my best, but it's quite difficult."
"Even Hime has her own difficulties."
"There are things I don't understand either, you know? For example, how you think... That's why I'm so tired during these exam periods."
Saying that, Hime leaned closer to me.
He brings his head to a position that makes it easy to pet him. I know this gesture is a sign that he wants to be petted, so I gently place my hand opposite the one that was giving him the treat.
"Hime is doing a great job. Thank you for your hard work."
"...Hehe. All my fatigue has disappeared."
Hime laughed. Her innocent smile was so childish that it made my cheeks relax too.
Ever since she came over to my house the other day, Hime has started acting like this and acting all spoiled. I feel like the distance between us has gotten even closer.
(...It's hot, but I don't mind it after all.)
I feel a little hot when someone is close to me.
However, Hime's warmth wasn't unpleasant at all. In fact, it was strangely soothing.