The reason why this genius little girl who doesn't get along with anyone, wants to be only spoiled by me - Episode 28

Episode 28: The Age of Craving Affection

Sei-san looked down, with her expression pained.

…But it only lasted a moment.

“—Ah! Somehow, I am S-Sorry! Yohei, you’re so easy to talk to that, I might’ve said something weird! It’s okay to just forget it, okay? Actually, please forget it!”

As if snapping back to her reality, she forced a smile and shook her head.

However, after seeing her serious expression from earlier, I couldn’t just pretend it had never happened.

“…I don’t think Hime is all about just worried for you, Sei-san.”

My relationship with the Hoshimiya sisters was still fairly new.

But even so, as an outsider, there were things I could notice.

“T-That’s fine already! It’s really okay, even if I don’t have your comforting. I’m totally fine! See, being cheerful is a really good quality of an idiot, you know?”

“Yeah. And maybe— Hime really likes that side of her elder sister, who would always stays cheerful no matter what?”

I wasn’t trying to comfort her.

I just didn’t want her to misunderstand. I wanted her to know what I honestly thought.

“It’s true that she also worries about you, but that’s not all. I also think that another reason is, because she wants to be with her kind, caring big sister who dotes on her so much.”

For an eight-year-old, Hime seemed remarkably mature.

Not in a precocious or showy way, but in a way that made her seem truly “grown-up.”

But even so, that maturity was only on the surface. Deep down, she was still just a child.

“She probably didn’t want to go all the way overseas and be apart from the big sister she loves so much.”

I was sure of it.

Listening to Sei-san, it was clear that the Hoshimiya sisters’ parents were strict.

That’s why the sisters had all the way forward supporting each other all this time.

Sei-san must have always tried to stay upbeat to cheer Hime up.

As an older sister, she likely did her best to protect and shield her little sister.

And Hime, in turn, looking at that side of her elder sister, loved and adored her more than anything.

She’s still only eight, after all—an age when it’s natural to crave affection from those closest to her.

Thinking about it that way…

“I don’t think you’re a burden to her at all. If anything, Sei-san, I think you’re an existence that Hime absolutely needs in her life, no matter what.”

It was hard not to feel that Sei-san’s guilt was misplaced.

Also, I simply wanted the Hoshimiya sisters to stay close and get along.

That’s why I shared my thoughts.  But…

“…”

Sei-san remained quiet.

She just stayed silent, staring at Hime’s desk for a while… and then, all of a sudden, she slumped forward onto it.

“—I’m not crying ~mon.”

“Even though I didn’t say anything.”

“I-I’m not crying at all… *sniff.”

Probably, it managed to resonate with her that deeply?

If it did, then I am happy—no, probably, relieved.

(*Maybe, deep down, she already knew?*)

If she didn’t understand Hime’s love for her on some level, my words wouldn’t have hit her like this.

When someone is overwhelmed by negative feelings, they usually can’t accept even the kindest of words thrown at them.

In other words, the Hoshimiya sisters had only been slightly out of sync.

Or rather, Hime had probably been expressing her feelings honestly all along, and Sei-san had just been too anxious to fully grasp them.

If that’s the case, I’m sure the two of them will continue to get along just fine.

For now, I’m just glad there’s no real friction born between them—-.