The reason why this genius little girl who doesn't get along with anyone, wants to be only spoiled by me - Episode 29

Episode 29: *She Knew All Along…!?*

As per the clock, it had been about ten minutes.

Finally, Sei-san, who had been slumped forward with her face buried, sat back up.

“I-I let my guard down… I never even thought that *Yohei* could make me cry~”

She was back to being the usual Sei-san.

I didn’t dislike the serious atmosphere from earlier, but comparing to her cheerful tone and soft demeanor; with no doubt, I think this definitely suited her more.

“—Ah! N-Not that I was crying or anything, okay?”

“…Isn’t it fine even if you were. Why are you trying so hard to deny it?”

“B-Because… big sisters don’t cry! It would just make their little sisters worry, right?”

Ah, so it’s a matter of pride as an elder sister.

She must really not want to show her weakness to little sister, Hime.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep it a secret from Hime.”

When I said that, Sei-san relaxed up, with her expression softening.

“Really…?”

“Of course. It’ll remain a secret.”

“…Then maybe I’ll cry as much as I want in front of *you*, Yohei~.”

“That might be a bit tough by its own right. But hey, you don’t have to force yourself to smile continuously, either.”

“Un. I understand, I’ll just be my natural self around you~.”

With that, she stared dead straight at me.

…It somehow felt a little awkward. Knowing that she was looking at me more intently than usual, made me uneasy.

“…………”

A short moment of silence passed between us.

What was she thinking?

As I couldn’t tell and was starting to feel a bit confused, she finally broke the silence from her end.

“…I see. No wonder Hime-chan fancies you.”

Just exactly what was she looking at, to come to that conclusion?

Curious, I stayed quiet and listened, as Sei-san slowly, carefully explained her thoughts.

“Yohei, you’re the kind of person who doesn’t make others feel tense, huh~?”

“Well, I’m aware that I don’t exactly radiate authority.”

“Ahaha, that is definitely true~. But I don’t mean it in a bad way. I think being around you made Hime-chan feel really calm. That’s why she’s felt so comfortable to be around you.”

Hearing that made me a little happy.

It’s not that I have some special quality that puts people at ease—I’m probably just not the kind of person anyone feels the need to be on edge around. But if that’s why I was able to get along with Hime and Sei-san, then it wasn’t a bad thing after all.

“Yep, yep. I already knew you couldn’t be a bad person since Hime-chan likes you, but knowing that you’re even better than I expected, it’s even better~.”

“Really? Well, if I’m better than expected, that’s good to hear.”

“Yeah~. I’m glad I feel like, even I can get along with you, too.”

With that, Sei-san stood up from her seat and took a single step closer to me.

Maybe because it was already evening, the rays from the setting sun was streaming through the window, bathing the classroom in warm, amber light. So, the faint red glow on her face might just be from the light… maybe.

In that after-school classroom, with her cheeks looking a little redder than usual, Sei-san softly said such.

“B-But—don’t worry too much about what Hime-chan said to you, okay? Without overthinking, I am fine with just starting off as normal friends—. Alright, bye-bye!”

Leaving those words behind, she quickly left the classroom.

“…J-Just about what?”

At first, I had no idea what she meant.

Not worrying about what Hime said?

Start off as normal friends?

Just what could she possibly mean? As I thought it over and over, the realization hit me.

“—Is she’s talking about *marriage*!?”

There was only one thing Hime had said about, that hit my mind.

I remembered her saying, *“Please marry my Oneechan!”*

Today all day, seeing Sei-san’s behavior all too normal, so I assumed Hime hadn’t mentioned it to her.

But apparently, I was in the wrong.

In reality, Sei-san knew about that marriage talk thing all along—.