--To cut straight to the point, Hime's injuries were minor.
"Mei-chan said, 'If you put a compress on it and rest, it will get better.' It seems like she's taking the day off just to be safe, but don't worry."
The next morning, Kiyoshi-san came all the way to our classroom to let us know that Hime would be absent.
That's good for now. I was worried, so I'm relieved to hear that he's in good condition.
"I see. Thank you for letting me know... Ah, what about today's study session?"
"Hmm. I'm worried about Hime-chan, so I think I'll go home early."
"Got it. Well then, see you tomorrow."
"Yes. That's it. See you later."
The conversation ended briefly.
This is what it's usually like when Hime isn't around.
It's not that I don't get along with Kiyoshi. In fact, I think we trust each other, but our conversations don't last long.
Surprisingly, I think Hime likes chatting more than Hijiri.
Although Kiyoshi has a bright and gentle personality, he may also be lazy, which is why his conversations are short.
Although he would talk to me if I spoke to him, he rarely expanded the conversation. I'm not particularly good at small talk either, so when we were alone it was pretty refreshing.
(Well, this is easier though.)
Hime often says that Hijiri and I get along well.
At first I felt a bit intimidated and awkward, but now that I've gotten used to it, I find it surprisingly easy to approach him.
It's still the same today.
I was actually nervous about being alone with her, but I was being considerate and didn't bring myself to say that we should go home, but Kiyoshi was the one who brought it up.
She doesn't hold back with me and tells me exactly what she thinks.
On the other hand, although I am reserved, I don't like being treated with consideration or being reserved, so I like Hijiri's straightforward personality.
What if I could become her lover?
Maybe it will work out surprisingly well - I feel like I'm thinking something strange.
Maybe it's because I was thinking so much about Hime yesterday.
My thoughts are going in a strange direction.
(...This kind of delusion is not good.)
There's no point in thinking too deeply about it.
It's true that I'm currently worried about my relationship with the Hoshimiya sisters, but it's not a problem that I can come to a conclusion about right away, so I'll put it aside for now.
For now, let's talk about the problems we need to face right now.
(I need to study too)
I was always teaching Kiyoshi and was a little worried about my own studies.
Well, no matter how hard I tried, my grades would generally converge to the average, so I didn't want to improve them... but I absolutely wanted to avoid them getting worse.
(Hime would probably feel responsible and be depressed.)
My grades dropped because I was tutoring Hijiri.
In other words, she thinks that it is Hime's responsibility for asking Kiyoshi for guidance.
That's why I want to do my best.
In fact, I hope my grades will be better than usual.
Hime would be happy if you did that.
He's not a particularly cool person, but he wants to act a little more resilient in front of Hime.
(Okay, let's do our best.)
Thinking that, I immediately opened my textbook.
Free time in the morning. Normally, I would be chatting with Hime, but today she's not here, so I have no choice but to spend the time alone.
I was able to study more efficiently than usual.
Because Hime wasn't there, I was able to concentrate on my studies during breaks, lunch breaks, and after school.
...Come to think of it, I feel like this is how I lived my daily life until I met that girl.
I was always alone. I didn't feel anything special about it. This was just a normal part of my daily life.
However, when I met that girl...I found myself feeling these emotions.
(I guess it's a little lonely after all...)
I wonder when was the last time I felt lonely being alone.
I've never had many friends, so I don't remember feeling particularly uncomfortable spending time alone.
Before, I thought it was fun just getting through school and playing games at home.
But today, I felt nothing when I played the game. In fact, I quickly got bored and turned it off.
"...Huh."
I sigh and throw myself onto the bed.
A day without Hime somehow felt like time was passing slowly.
A world without her would somehow be very boring.