CH 60

With a Ramune Cigarette given to me by Kashiwagi-san in my mouth, I thought about the next 3 months.

The next three months would just be an observation period, and I’m sure I’ll have more free time now too.

Of course, I’m not going to slack off on my studies even though I’m not going to school at the moment…

(… come to think of it)

Suddenly, the little girl in the hospital room next to me whom I bumped into last night came to my mind.

I can’t live scaring my neighbors, so I wondered if I could get close enough to say hello and chat when I see her again in the hallway.

With this in mind, I first asked Kashiwagi-san to gather information.

“Kashiwagi-san, do you know the little girl in the hospital room next to mine? She’s very cute.”

Kashiwagi-san quickly replied.

“Yeah, Lilia Bryer. What, you care?”

“Yeah, we’re neighbors.”

Kashiwagi-san pondered seriously.

“Yamamoto… even though she’s a beautiful girl, that girl is only 12 years old. That kind of thing is strictly prohibited in this country. If you want to mess with her, talk to me first. I’ll do something to keep it from leaking out—.”

“No, that’s not it! Or rather, don’t try to make me commit a crime!”

I avoided Kashiwagi-san’s unflattering American jokes.

Most of her jokes are dark, seriously.

“… Ah, I see. This is a serious issue for Yamamoto.”

Kashiwagi-san blushed a little and continued talking.

“Unfortunately, Yamamoto, there is no cure for a lolicon. Modern medicine can’t handle it yet. I will absolutely develop a cure, so for now, just try to endure with me being dressed in children’s clothes…”

“That’s not it! I met her in the hallway yesterday and I accidentally scared her. Since, now that I think about it, I’ve always been outside during the day, but I’ve never seen her once. So I just asked you about it.”

In the end, I had to explain everything.

Kashiwagi-san finally understood and leaned back in her chair with a sigh, arms crossed.

“… Well, that girl always stays in her room. She even rejects visits from her own family.”

“What! I-is she mentally ill? Did I make it worse, what should I do…”

“I can’t tell you about her disease without her permission. There’s privacy… but, well… umm…”

Saying this, she suddenly began to have a look of worry.

I was just casually wondering about the girl next room…

… After having a worried expression for a while, and finishing her 8th Ramune Cigarette.

She seemed to be struggling a lot, did she make some kind of decision?

She looked at me with serious eyes, facing me directly.

“Yamamoto, I hope you will be good friends with Lilia in the next room.”

After considerable consideration, Kashiwagi-san said something very normal.

No, I’m sure it was a huge decision to tell me that I was suspected of being a lolicon.

“I’d like to be friends with her, but if I approach her… won’t I scare her off even more instead?”

“Rather, I think only Yamamoto can do it. Look, you have a sister, right? Treat her the same way.”

“It’s difficult to do so without a proper reason. Moreover, for a guy to suddenly approach a girl is suspicious… Ah, how about I teach her a Japanese nursery rhyme like —Mr. Bear in the Woods?”

“Mr. Bear in the woods— originated in America. And she’s not good at making vocal sounds either.”

“Well… how about giving her a big teddy bear as a gift?”

“You’re going to catch the fish with baits? Indeed that’s a good idea. Make sure you get one for me, too.”

“And when we get to know each other, maybe we can go to the zoo! To witness the might of bears, I’m sure she’ll be amused.”

“ —Yamamoto. Why’ve you been talking about bears all this time?”

“… Eh?”

It was unconscious, but I realized it when I was told.

That’s right, I really “saw” it earlier and it made an impression on me…

“I-I wonder why… haha!”

I rushed to cover up my mistake.

I had no idea that the always cool and collected Kashiwagi- acutally wears bear pants.

“A-anyway! I’ll try my best to get along with her in some way! If I can get close to her, I’m sure I can understand why she’s rejecting even her own family!”

“Please do. Yamamoto, it is up to you whether Lilia will open up to somebody.”

“Well, don’t get your hopes up so high… because I’m at my worst likability level right now.”

I said that, and left the room and closed the door―

“Really, sorry…”

I thought I heard Kashiwagi-san muttering something like that.