Apparently Hime is in the library.
I wonder what happened all of a sudden. I hadn't heard anything about borrowing a book.
(...maybe I'm overprotective?)
I suddenly thought.
He was gone for about 20 minutes at most. If it had been a classmate, he wouldn't have paid much attention to it. Even if Hijiri had been gone for the same amount of time, he would have left him alone, probably basking in the sun somewhere.
However, when it comes to Hime, he can't help but feel nervous.
I start to worry, wondering if something has happened.
And this time, Hijiri-san had been contacted.
Since I already knew where she was going, I think it would have been fine to just wait quietly in an empty classroom for Hime to return.
Why did I suddenly want to go and look for it?
(I thought so... I guess she was nervous being alone with him.)
Perhaps, unconsciously, I wanted to get out of the empty classroom.
Perhaps he wanted to escape from the situation of being alone with Kiyoshi by using the excuse of going to look for Hime.
(This is what's bad about it though)
I don't really want to see my own flaws.
However, sometimes, I suddenly realize that this reluctance to cope has prevented me from developing outstanding abilities in anything. The result of constantly avoiding serious challenges is the mediocre person I am today.
If I had faced Kiyoshi head on at that time, perhaps my relationship with her might have progressed. I felt ashamed of myself for being so timid.
...Ah, no good.
When I'm alone, my thoughts tend to go in circles like this. Ever since I met Hime, I'd had fewer opportunities to feel negative, but... I was falling into a loop of self-loathing.
That's when I arrived at the library.
Inside, there were a few students quietly studying and reading, but from the entrance, the silver-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.
It seems to be somewhere in the back. I weave my way through the bookshelves and move further in.
And I found it.
"..."
A little girl was standing there reading a book. She seemed so focused that she didn't even notice me coming.
A size that shouldn't normally be found in a high school library. From what I'd heard before, Hime is about 120cm tall. That's average for an eight-year-old girl, but she's by far the smallest among high school students.
She was the smallest female student except for Hime, standing at around 140cm at most. Hime was even smaller than her.
Now, what should I say?
I knew she'd be surprised if I called out to her out of the blue, so there was no point in hesitating.
"..."
Hime is engrossed in the book. She keeps turning the pages at an unrelenting pace.
So, trying not to startle him as much as possible... but still making sure he noticed me, I called out to him in a low voice.
"...Hime?"
"Wow."
As I feared, I was surprised.
As soon as I spoke, Hime started to tremble. She was so surprised that she dropped the book she was holding, so I picked it up for her.
"Oh, it was Youhei-kun."
While I was bending over, Hime seemed to notice me.
The next time he looked up, he was smiling his usual friendly smile.
"Sorry for scaring you."
"No, no. Don't apologize. It's my fault for not noticing you getting so close."
When I handed her the book, Hime took it and held it to her chest. I politely said thank you as always, but she just stared at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Well, Hime came home late, so I was a bit worried..."
Hmm. Is this statement a little creepy?
Some people may think that being overprotective or worrying excessively is a nuisance.
Hime might think so too.
For a moment, I felt uneasy.
"Hehe. You're so kind to care about me, Yohei."
...That's true.
Hime is a much more innocent and honest girl than I thought.
This girl is not shy. She understands and accepts people's kindness.
(Maybe that's why I feel comfortable being with Hime...?)
She respects the feelings of others.
Even if it's excessive, they still see the essence of it.
Maybe it's that tolerance that makes me feel comfortable.