Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

After leaving the crosswalk, Hikigaya carried Mrs. Yuigahama to the side of the street.

At that moment, the beautiful woman clung tightly to Hikigaya, her expression filled with lingering fear, unable to let go.

"It's okay now, Auntie," Hikigaya reassured her while gently setting her down.

"Uuuh! Hikigaya-kun—"

Before he could react, Mrs. Yuigahama suddenly pulled him into another embrace.

"I was scared to death just now! I thought… I really thought I was going to die… Hikigaya-kun, thank you… Thank you for saving me…"

Having just escaped death, she held onto him even tighter.

"Mrs. Yuigahama… it was nothing," Hikigaya said, his expression somewhat stiff. Even with his composure, he couldn't help but notice her… overwhelming figure, causing him to take a sharp breath.

But in the end, Hikigaya's willpower remained firm. He merely patted her back comfortingly and kept his composure.

As for Mrs. Yuigahama, her gratitude gradually turned into something else—her heart began to race uncontrollably.

The boy's physique was solid.

She could feel the faint outline of his muscles.

Strong, firm, and reassuring.

Coupled with his rich, masculine scent…

He was practically a walking feast.

Shameful as it was to admit, Mrs. Yuigahama felt her heart skip a beat.

An uncontrollable impulse surged within her!

"Uuuh, I must properly thank Hikigaya-kun. I want to—"

"Sorry, Auntie, but it's getting late. I have to head to school."

Before she could finish, Hikigaya took a deep breath and firmly pushed the beautiful woman away.

"Hikigaya-kun…"

The moment he stepped back, a strange sense of loss crept into her heart. She stared at him with longing eyes.

"You don't need to thank me," Hikigaya shook his head.

"We're acquaintances, after all. You're my elder. There's no need to be so formal… Besides, I've already eaten plenty of your cakes."

"Eh? But this time is different… Hikigaya-kun~"

Mrs. Yuigahama tried to say more, but Hikigaya didn't give her the chance.

With a casual wave, he quickly ran off toward Sōbu High.

"Haah…"

Watching his retreating figure, Mrs. Yuigahama let out a long sigh, though she didn't try to stop him.

After all, he had school to attend. She couldn't exactly invite him to her house right now, could she?

"Just… an elder, huh? Hikigaya-kun only sees me as an elder… Well, of course. I'm Yui's mother. I…"

She bit her lip bitterly, sighing to herself.

But deep down…

A part of her wished that Hikigaya didn't see her as just an elder.

If he didn't mind, she might have even…

"Uuuuh! What am I thinking?! He's Yui's crush! I should be trying to match them together! As her mother…"

The thought of her daughter snapped her back to reality. She quickly patted her cheeks, trying to clear her head.

And yet…

A whisper crept back into her mind—something her friend Sayuri once said:

"He's not even your daughter's boyfriend yet. A crush? So what?"

"Uuuuh, no, no, no! That's way too much! What about Yui…? What about my daughter? And besides… No, I can't be this depraved. Hikigaya-kun is just a kid. I'm way too old for—"

Her stomach grumbled.

Feeling utterly exhausted, Mrs. Yuigahama sighed in frustration and absentmindedly walked toward her cake shop.

---

Sobu High

Hikigaya arrived at his classroom just in time.

After morning self-study, during the break—

Kasumigaoka was bouncing her leg, staring at Hikigaya with a strange look.

"Air-kun, what's going on with you today?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You smell amazing today! Your masculine scent is crazy strong!"

"…Hah?"

Hikigaya gave her a deadpan look. "Did your nose break or something?"

"Like hell it did!"

Kasumigaoka's leg bounced even faster—she was clearly struggling to hold back.

"Air-kun, let's skip class!"

She wasn't some kind of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

She was genuinely losing it.

Such a delicious treat was right in front of her—how could she not want to gobble him up?

"??"

Hikigaya gave her a side-eye before changing the subject.

"By the way, did you buy my math practice sheets?"

"Math sheets?"

"You didn't buy them?!"

Hikigaya frowned.

Kasumigaoka cleared her throat and said calmly, "The bookstore didn't have stock yesterday. I asked the shopkeeper to restock, so they should have them today."

Hikigaya remained silent.

Seeing his skepticism, Kasumigaoka continued, "Don't believe me? Fine. Let's go check after school together."

"Uh…"

Hikigaya hesitated.

Kasumigaoka was a top student, so her recommended practice sheets were bound to be helpful.

If his math scores improved, he'd have a better chance of getting into the same university as Yukinoshita.

For Yukinoshita's sake, for her mother's request—

To make sure Kasumigaoka wouldn't try anything funny, Hikigaya took a deep breath and nodded.

"Fine. But we're just going to buy the sheets. That's it."

"Eh? We can't stop by a hotel on the way?"

"Absolutely not! We have school tomorrow."

"Oh? So if we didn't have school, it'd be fine?" Kasumigaoka's eyes gleamed.

"??"

Hikigaya ignored her.

Kasumigaoka, of course, had no intention of giving up.

She kept pestering him.

After the first class ended, Hikigaya stood up to go to the restroom.

Kasumigaoka got up as well and followed.

"The girls' restroom is on the other side," Hikigaya reminded her.

"Air-kun, I feel like I'm about to—"

"You've lost your mind!!"

"Ten minutes should be enough, right~?"

"Like hell it is!"

Hikigaya sighed in exasperation.

"And I already told you—we can't do this every day."

"But…"

Kasumigaoka gave him a pitiful look.

Hikigaya ignored her and walked straight into the boys' restroom.

Kasumigaoka sighed in frustration and sulked her way toward the girls' restroom.

---

The final class of the morning ended.

Kasumigaoka perked up again.

"Lunchtime should be fine, right? Just a little bit of help, Air-kun~? You don't even have to do much…"

"Uh…"

Hikigaya hesitated, then shook his head.

"Sorry, I have plans."

"Hah?! What could possibly be more important than me?"

"Yukinoshita," Hikigaya answered without hesitation.

"Her…??"

Kasumigaoka's expression twitched.

She was his official girlfriend, after all. Kasumigaoka couldn't exactly argue.

"Some other time, then."

Hikigaya stood up, completely ignoring her pitiful gaze, and left the classroom.

He was headed for the rooftop—to find Kawasaki.

Sorry, Senpai, but I had to lie to you.

****************************

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