"Hime has a slightly cold air about her, doesn't she? That's definitely my influence... It's a shame she's such a lovely girl that it would be strange if she wasn't loved more."
...It's true that Hime's unapproachable aura may have been inherited from Setsu.
I've gotten used to it now, but when I first met him there was this unique atmosphere and I was nervous about speaking.
"On top of that, she's a girl who doesn't want to get close to others, probably due to past trauma... It's no wonder she's lonely.
"But Hijiri and Mei were there, right?"
So I guess I wasn't alone.
I'm sure the two of them won't let Hime feel lonely...or so I thought.
"That's true when I'm at home. But on the other hand, it made me a child who doesn't go out that much... and as a result, I've become bad at opening up."
I'm afraid of communicating with others.
When you think about it, it's easy to understand why a mother would be worried, as they can only communicate well with their family.
"This may be fine when she's still young, but what about when she becomes an adult? No matter how great her abilities are, no matter how great a feat she achieves with them, that child will never be satisfied."
This is not just a current issue.
It seemed that Setsu was worried about Hime, thinking about the future.
"I was hoping that if I went to school, it would clear up eventually, but I ended up graduating from university before I even got close to anyone. It's a problem when you're too good."
"...Huh? But I think Hime said before that she still keeps in contact with researchers overseas."
I don't know what he's researching, but he sometimes comes home early after school, and he says that on those days he usually has a remote meeting about his research.
Doesn't that mean that communication is going well?
"I wonder if it's okay to describe a business-like exchange as being friendly."
"Just business, huh?"
"She's an excellent girl. She's mastered the art of interacting only on the surface... she's like me in that way, and it's troubling."
I see. Now that I think about it, Hime doesn't try to get close to others, but she's not shy at all.
Even when spoken to, he responds politely, but the content is impersonal, so the conversation doesn't expand.
That may have been Hime's way of communicating.
It's probably a form of self-defense to prevent others from hurting you.
"Once there was no longer any need for Hime to go to school overseas, I was a little unsure about what to do with her. I could have continued living abroad as a researcher... but when Satoru said he wanted to return to Japan, I couldn't let him be separated from Hime. So we both came to Japan."
"And we went to the same school..."
"Hime is also very attached to Sei, so I was relieved in that respect. She won't be alone until Sei becomes an adult... but the future hasn't been resolved yet. I was just putting the problem off, and while I was worrying about it - one day, all my worries were resolved."
This is an unexpected and sudden development.
Something had happened and Setsuyu's worries had disappeared.
"It's all thanks to a certain person. When I heard his story, I felt saved... I wasn't able to do what a mother should do for her. But that child grew into an incredibly adorable young girl. I can't thank that person enough."
To say this much must have been a very special encounter.
Who on earth could that be?
As I listened with bated breath, she pointed at me and said:
"Yohei solved everything."
"Eh? Oh, is it me?"
"Yeah. It's you."
Surprisingly, it was me.
... H-how should I react?
I didn't think they were talking about me, so I was confused for a moment.