Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

Inside the women's restroom—

Mrs. Yukinoshita sat on the toilet, a rare flush of pink on her mature and elegant face.

Today had been... too embarrassing.

She'd gone to the restroom twice in front of Hikigaya.

"Sigh... Could I be sick? That doesn't make sense…"

She rubbed her temple, perplexed. Normally—even after drinking a lot of coffee—you wouldn't need to go again after just ten minutes. It should be at least an hour between trips.

She knew her own body well. It definitely wasn't an illness.

If it wasn't a physical issue, then… was it something else?

Mrs. Yukinoshita carefully recalled the events of the day. The image of that teenage boy flashed across her mind—and just remembering his youthful presence and scent made her instinctively press her thighs together while still seated on the toilet.

"Could it be... because of Hikigaya-kun?"

She placed one hand against her cheek.

She didn't know why, but today, Hikigaya smelled especially... nice. That scent—mm, it was intoxicating. She wanted to... cough, cough!

Ugh. Calm down. What on earth are you thinking?

Hikigaya-kun is Yukino's boyfriend. How could she entertain such improper thoughts toward her daughter's partner? Absolutely not!

Taking a deep breath, she tried to settle herself and banish the boy's image from her mind.

"Alright, that's enough. I'd better hurry out before Hikigaya-kun has to wait too long..."

She reached for the tissue to finish up—

But then—

When she instinctively looked toward the tissue dispenser...

It was completely empty.

Mrs. Yukinoshita: "...?"

Where were the tissues!?

Her expression shifted.

This was different from boys—girls needed tissue after using the toilet. Otherwise, how could she put her underwear and pants back on?

"What is this? How could I be so careless with something like this?"

Irritation flickered across her face. Without a doubt, this café was now on her blacklist.

But now what? What could she do?

She'd have to wait for someone else to come in and awkwardly ask them for help. But that would be so humiliating.

And who knew when someone would even show up?

"Hikigaya-kun is still waiting for me out there... sigh..."

She let out a helpless breath. All she could do now was wait.

A few minutes passed.

No one came.

This only made things worse.

At this rate, forget tissues—if she waited any longer, it would become a disaster.

For someone as composed as Mrs. Yukinoshita, this kind of situation was truly maddening.

And once she did get out, she'd still have to face Hikigaya-kun's inevitable questions. Ugh… humiliating. So humiliating.

If she'd known it would end up like this, she would've held it in earlier.

"What am I supposed to do now…"

She pressed her fingers to her temple, thoroughly distressed.

Just then—

A voice called from outside the stall:

"Auntie? Are you in there?"

"!!!"

That familiar voice made her entire body jolt.

It was Hikigaya-kun!

Wait—why was he here? And judging from his voice… had he entered the women's restroom?!

What!?

Was this boy seriously bold enough to barge into the ladies' room?!

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Mrs. Yukinoshita took a deep breath and composed herself.

"I'm here, Hikigaya-kun. Sorry to keep you waiting. I was just—cough…"

"You ran out of toilet paper, didn't you?"

He asked calmly.

"Eh?"

Her heart skipped a beat, and a look of surprise spread across her refined features.

"Hikigaya-kun, how... how did you know?"

"Because you said earlier that you just needed a normal bathroom break, right? But you've been in here way too long. So I figured something must've gone wrong."

Hikigaya replied.

"I see…"

A faint blush spread across her face.

What a clever boy.

He really was the perfect future son-in-law for the Yukinoshita family!

"Ahem. Actually… Yukino ran into the same issue once before."

He added.

"What? Even little Yukino had this happen?"

Wow. Mother and daughter really are linked by fate. Even this kind of thing?

And… both times, it was Hikigaya-kun who ended up delivering tissue. Sigh.

Hikigaya gave a small grunt of affirmation, then added, "I grabbed some tissues from the stall next door. Auntie, can you crack the door open so I can pass them to you?"

This restroom was designed to prevent any form of peeping or hidden cameras, so the stalls were fully enclosed—there was no gap underneath. The only way to hand over the tissue was through the door.

"Alright."

Mrs. Yukinoshita responded with practiced calm and moved to unlock the door.

But just as she did—

She heard voices.

The sharp hearing she'd honed over the years picked up faint conversation just outside the restroom.

"Someone's coming into the women's bathroom!"

She warned quickly.

"Eh? Y-Yeah, I think you're right..."

Hikigaya had noticed it too. His face instantly went pale.

"Hikigaya-kun, what are you going to do?"

"I..."

He froze.

He couldn't just walk out. But staying here wasn't an option either!

And worst of all—

They were about to come in!

"...I guess I'll just have to accept being branded a pervert."

He slumped in defeat.

"No way!"

Mrs. Yukinoshita scolded with an annoyed huff.

As the future son-in-law of the Yukinoshita family, how could he let himself be mistaken for a pervert?

She absolutely wouldn't allow it.

"But—!"

He faltered.

"In that case… y-you'll just have to come into my stall."

Her mind racing, Mrs. Yukinoshita finally made the offer.

"Eh?"

"No more 'eh'—quick! There's no time!"

She reached out, managed to grab his arm, and pulled him in.

Auntie, you're seriously strong.

"B-But Auntie, y-you..."

"Shh. Don't say a word. And—turn around."

"Y-Yessir…"

He obediently turned his back as Mrs. Yukinoshita covered her burning cheeks.

Oh no… why did she suddenly feel the urge to go again?

No way.

She just went!

How could a single glance at Hikigaya-kun… set her off like this again?!