Today Hime and I are at the library together.
In fact, we had made a promise a long time ago. Hime had invited me to go to the library.
"Yohei-kun, can I sit down for a bit? Eating and drinking are prohibited inside the building, so I'd like to have a drink while I can."
"Yeah, that's fine."
Saying this, Hime sat down on the bench where I had been sitting until a moment ago.
She was taking out a water bottle from the tote bag she was carrying on her shoulder. I stared blankly at her and had this thought.
(...It's so summery and cute.)
She was wearing a white dress. It was sleeveless, meaning it had no sleeves. Perhaps that's why she looked cool.
She usually wears a uniform, so seeing her in casual clothes was very refreshing. I couldn't help but stare.
It really suits her. Actually, it seems like this girl looks good no matter what she wears. I thought Hime was a really beautiful girl.
She's still eight years old, so she gives off a strong impression of being young, but I have a feeling that in the future, it will become natural for her to be described as beautiful. If I were to be next to her, she'd become a woman who would make me feel inferior.
With that thought in mind, I watched Hime drink her drink and put her water bottle away.
"...Yohei-kun, what's wrong?"
Maybe because I was spacing out, Hime tilted her head. She seemed to be wondering, "Why are you looking at me?"
Well, it wasn't an impression worth hiding, so I decided to answer honestly.
"I was just admiring your outfit today because it suits you."
"picture"
...I guess it's embarrassing after all. Hime blushed.
To be honest, I expected that reaction. I had the option of not saying anything.
"Does it suit me? I'm happy... hehe."
Hime laughed, clearly pleased.
So I felt like it was okay to express these thoughts. Up until now, I had thought that if I said something like that, people would think I was "fawning" or "having an ulterior motive," but I was able to say it out loud because I believed that Hime wouldn't harbor any negative feelings.
In fact, I was glad I said it because I got to see Hime's cute reaction.
"My sister picked out the clothes for me. Despite how it looks, I can trust her fashion sense."
"Wow. Hijiri-san is so fashionable."
"Surprisingly, she has a good sense of aesthetics. Although she's a sloth, she's still a high school girl. She sometimes goes clothes shopping with her friends."
Hijiri gives off a strong impression of being lazy in front of me and Hime.
But when we're not around, she acts like a modern high school girl.
Hijiri has many friends. She is kind and friendly, so she can get along with anyone. She has a tendency to be lazy, which gives the impression of being a homebody, but she probably goes out with her friends regularly. She doesn't just pretend to be a high school girl... she seems to be able to lead a normal school life as a real high school girl.
Well, his weak side is often visible in front of Hime. But he probably doesn't show that kind of weakness to anyone. Perhaps that's why everyone loves him.
Looking at it this way, I think Hijiri is a very dual-faceted person.
"Youhei, you're acting more like a big brother than usual today, it's wonderful."
Is it because I praised him?
Hime replied as if to return the favor.
"Really? I don't think there's anything special about it."
Navy blue slacks and a black shirt...if you change the colors it's the exact uniform.
It's not weird by any means. But it's not fashionable either. To put it in a positive way, it's simple. To put it in a negative way, it's plain. However, I think it suits me, an ordinary person, best, so I like to dress like this.
Hime seems to appreciate that.
"It's so Yohei-like and calming. It really suits you."
"Ahaha. Thank you, I'm glad to hear that."
"Yes."
I nodded with a smile, and Hime nodded in unison.
Of course, I have never thought of myself as cool in my life, and I don't think this outfit is something I'd be complimented on.
But he said that Hime looked good on me.
That alone made me very happy.