At the end of the day, I just try to be kind to others for my own sake.
He is by no means a fundamentally good person. I would be lying if I said I didn't find any feminine charm in Kiyoshi.
However, due to his inherent trait of servility, he has no desire to even try.
Furthermore, Kiyoshi is Hime's older sister, and she's very friendly with me. If she dislikes me, it will ultimately cause a rift in my relationship with Hime. That's why I don't want to take any risks, even if I'm alone with Kiyoshi.
What you want to lose is more important than what you want to gain.
If that's the case, I want to avoid risks and maintain a peaceful relationship.
"I'm a more calculating person than you think, Hijiri-san."
...I know this may disappoint you, but I felt I had to say this.
Kiyoshi finds a member of the opposite sex like me a novelty. She's an attractive person, and men often approach her, so it's understandable that she's surprised by me not doing anything.
However, I don't want people to find anything special about it.
Because I am, as everyone would admit, an ordinary person. Just an ordinary high school boy you could find anywhere.
I'm not like the "Prince Charming" type of person that appears in shojo manga, who has no sexual desire and is devoted to women. I just wanted to make that clear... Well, I don't think that's what I'm perceived to be, but just to be sure.
I've said a lot of things, but to sum it up...I'm not the kind of person who has illusions.
"Even now, I'm helping out because I think Hime will be sad if Hijiri gets a failing grade... and that's a big part of why I'm helping out."
This may not even be something I'm doing for Hijiri.
I felt that it was not good to overestimate him or give him the wrong impression, so I confessed my feelings.
"Hmm. I see."
Hijiri listened to me calmly as I poured out my honest feelings.
...Well, now that our friendship has deepened, I understand.
She had a look on her face that said, "I don't understand anything difficult," but her eyes were fixed on me, as if she was trying to determine something.
In his own way, Hijiri was listening carefully and seriously.
I've gotten to understand her well enough to understand that.
So I faced it head on too.
I decided not to dodge the question and to honestly express my feelings.
"Yohei is always thinking about Hime-chan."
"Yes. Because she's a dear friend."
"...Are we really just friends?"
"No, she's not just a friend... She's become attached to me, she's so cute I wish she was my little sister."
"So... you're happy that you're my friend because you're cute, Hime-chan?"
"--That's a mean thing to say."
After all, he's not a stupid person at all.
Kiyoshi has a keen eye for others, and I think that perhaps his ability to judge others is even better than Hime's.
Despite his appearance, I know he's actually quite a talented actor.
So even now that we've become closer, I still don't really know what she's thinking. I think Hime is much easier to understand because she's expressionless but quick to speak her mind.
However, I couldn't really confirm what he just said, so I made a proper correction.
"It feels like they put a price tag on me."
"...A price tag? What's that? Are you studying for a Japanese test?"
"It's a metaphor."
"Ah, Hiyu. Mmhmm, Hiyu."
Hmm. I feel like I should study a bit more, but that's beside the point.
Now is the time to communicate clearly.
"Sorry. I meant it as a metaphor... Hime found value in me as a person. I was able to see that I was the kind of person that an innocent and honest child like that would become attached to me - that's how I began to think of myself."
I'm an ordinary person, but I don't hate myself at all.
In fact, I even like being ordinary. I don't excel in any way compared to others, but I'm not inferior in any way either, so I find my peaceful life very comfortable.
However, because of this, I was unable to see the "good parts" of myself, and I didn't even have the motivation to look for them.
But Hime found these good points in me and affirmed them.
Ozora Yohei is a kind person, so gentle that a girl named Hoshimiya Hime has grown attached to him, and that is what makes him valuable - and so she put a price tag on him.
Without Hime, I probably would never have known I had any value.
Once I started thinking like that, I felt like my heart became brighter.
The confusion that had been swirling in my chest disappeared, and I felt like my life had become clearer.
Despite what he said, he was still feeling inferior. Perhaps subconsciously, he was concerned about his own worthlessness.
Thanks to Hime finding value in me, the dark feelings that had been swirling around inside me disappeared.
I am grateful for that.
That's why I want to repay her in some small way, and if possible, maintain a good relationship with her for a long time to come.
But that's all there is to it.