Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

The next day, Hachiman Hikigaya went to Sobu High as usual.

Surprisingly, Kasumigaoka-senpai was unusually well-behaved today—she hadn't teased him even once. Instead, it was Eriri who kept throwing him strange glances from time to time.

Still, the morning passed uneventfully. Everything was normal.

---

After the last class of the morning.

"Air-kun, could you buy me a pineapple bun?"

"Uh... sure."

Hachiman wanted to decline at first, but since Kasumigaoka had been so uncharacteristically quiet all morning, he decided to humor her.

Cough—consider it a reward for her good behavior. Besides, hearing her actually use the word "please" was a rarity worth celebrating.

Lunch Break.

Hachiman went up to the rooftop of the school building.

He preemptively unwrapped the bread and inserted a straw into the milk carton before handing them both to Kasumigaoka.

"Here. Your pineapple bun and milk."

"Mm."

Kasumigaoka accepted them nonchalantly.

As Hachiman turned to leave, she called out, "Why so eager to run off? Sit with me for a bit."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Hachiman sighed and sat down.

The distance between them was about a forearm's length.

Kasumigaoka finished her bun and licked her fingers with practiced elegance.

As expected of senpai, every movement exuded a subtle allure.

Sitting next to such a beautiful woman was naturally nerve-wracking for any normal guy.

However, Hachiman was an exception.

For him, the temptations of a beauty like Kasumigaoka were nothing but fleeting clouds. His heart already belonged to Yukinoshita.

No other girl could ever take her place.

"Air-kun, you and Yukinoshita really seem deeply in love," Kasumigaoka remarked as she gazed at the blue sky.

"We're... alright, I guess. Just normal feelings between a boyfriend and girlfriend. Nothing particularly extraordinary," Hachiman replied.

"Nothing extraordinary?" Kasumigaoka chuckled softly. "Hearing that, I can't help but feel Air-kun might accidentally betray Yukinoshita someday."

"Huh?" Hachiman coughed awkwardly. "You don't need to worry about that. It won't happen."

"Accidents do happen, you know. What if, one day, Air-kun unintentionally sleeps with another girl and physically betrays Yukinoshita?"

"That's impossible!"

"Oh? Imagine you're at work in the future, you get drunk, and, whoops, you wake up next to another woman. Isn't that a plausible 'accident'?"

"That kind of thing won't happen. I know myself well enough to say that with confidence," Hachiman retorted, coughing again. "Besides... even if it did happen, Yukinoshita would still be the only one I love."

"What if that other girl happens to be better than Yukinoshita in... certain areas?"

Kasumigaoka smirked mischievously, her eyes dropping subtle hints.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Hachiman waved off the implications, standing firm.

"What matters to me is Yukinoshita herself. Stuff like that doesn't even register, okay?"

"I see... so, even if Yukinoshita became a vegetable, you'd still only love her?"

"Exactly."

"Wow, Air-kun, that level of devotion is... impressive."

Hachiman sighed. "What can I say? Our fates are intertwined. It's not like I can just walk away now."

Kasumigaoka smiled bitterly.

"Entwined fates, huh? That's the kind of relationship people envy. Why don't I have one like that?"

"You're an amazing person, Kasumigaoka-senpai. You'll definitely meet the right guy someday!" Hachiman said earnestly.

"The future, huh? But who knows when that will happen?"

Hachiman hesitated, unsure how to comfort her.

Kasumigaoka sighed.

"To be honest... I was considering confessing to you again, holding onto a sliver of hope that you might say yes this time."

Hachiman remained silent.

"But I suppose, no matter how many times I confess, it's futile. Air-kun's heart belongs to Yukinoshita."

She reached out a trembling hand, as if wanting to touch Hachiman's face.

"You two... your love really is something else."

Her expression radiated bittersweet affection, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. It was a sight that tugged at the heartstrings.

Hachiman stayed quiet.

The scene reminded him of Yui Yuigahama from before—her expression at that time had been just as heart-wrenching.

Kasumigaoka bit her lip and spoke again:

"If that's the case, Air-kun, I... I—"

Bang!

The rooftop door suddenly swung open.

It was a blue-haired girl. Kawasaki Saki had stepped in.

"Uh... Am I interrupting something? Sorry, I just came up here for some fresh air," she said awkwardly.

Kasumigaoka: "..."

Hachiman: "..."

Kasumigaoka quickly composed herself.

"It's fine. Air-kun and I were just discussing some schoolwork. We're done now."

Kawasaki nodded and moved to the railing, putting about eight meters of distance between them.

Kasumigaoka stood, brushing off her skirt.

"Air-kun, I know there's no hope for me. But before I give up completely, let me tell you my final thoughts. Consider it my official farewell to you."

She pulled out her phone and sent Hachiman a video.

His phone vibrated.

"Watch it later. And don't forget to mute it," she said flatly before turning toward the exit.

Pausing briefly, she glanced back at Kawasaki, her face momentarily twisting into a chilling smirk.

Then she left.

Watching her retreating figure, Hachiman couldn't help but feel that Kasumigaoka had truly let go.

Maybe this is for the best. Hopefully, we can just be friends from now on.

Out of respect, he decided to view the "farewell" video.

He opened it after muting his phone.

"...Huh? What's this?"

The video didn't just feature Kasumigaoka. It was a man and a woman—

Hachiman's face turned red as the explicit scene unfolded.

Wait, what kind of weird video is this?!

Just as he was about to close it, the man's face came into focus.

His hand froze.

Then the woman's face appeared.

"No... no way!"

Hachiman's pupils shrank as his heart pounded furiously.

The people in the video, locked in an intimate embrace, were none other than him and Kasumigaoka.

---

Elsewhere.

In Class 3-J, Yukinoshita Yukino was peacefully enjoying her lunch.

Suddenly, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in her head.

[Ding! Hachiman Hikigaya's Corruption Points +1.]

[Ding! Hachiman Hikigaya's Corruption Points +2.]

[Ding! Hachiman Hikigaya's Corruption Points +1.]

"???"

Yukino froze, standing abruptly and startling her classmates.

Her face paled as she covered her mouth, trembling.

"Stop... stop it! No more! Nooooooooo—!!"

---

Minutes later, as the Corruption Points stopped at 21/100, Yukino stared blankly into the void.

19 points in one go?!

What on earth just happened?!

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