Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

"Yui, that fool! What timing to start her period now... Ugh..."

After handing her daughter some toilet paper, Mrs. Yuigahama came out of the restroom with a tired sigh.

"What's wrong?" Hikigaya asked.

"Nothing."

Upon seeing the boy, Mrs. Yuigahama smiled warmly. "That silly Yui. Her period just started, and now she's not feeling well."

"Huh?" Hikigaya was startled and immediately stood up.

"Yuigahama-san started her period? Oh no, I just made her run for half an hour earlier... This is bad. I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, it's not your fault, Hachiman-kun," Mrs. Yuigahama shook her head with a gentle smile. "If you want to blame someone, blame that silly girl. She didn't even mention it... Ah, this child..."

"..."

Hikigaya fell silent, his face reflecting guilt.

Having someone exercise during their period wasn't ideal—it could be harmful to their body. Internally, he sighed. He resolved to pay closer attention to Yuigahama in the future.

She's too kind. She should've just declined Miura and stayed home.

"...Mrs. Yuigahama, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

"Wait, wait, Hachiman-kun!"

"Is there something else?"

"Uh..." Mrs. Yuigahama hesitated, glancing back toward the restroom. With a bit of reluctance, she smiled at the boy and said, "Why don't you take some cake home for your sister? Let her try my baking."

"This... Well, okay."

"Mm-hmm, just wait a moment. It won't take long."

Noticing Hikigaya's eagerness to leave, Mrs. Yuigahama hurried to the kitchen. She carefully packed the cake into a transparent bag, tied it neatly, and rushed back out.

"Here you go, Hachiman-kun... Whoa!"

"Mrs. Yuigahama, be careful. There's no need to rush," Hikigaya said, steadying her with his hands.

So soft. And the scent...

"Ah, thank you, Hachiman-kun..."

Mrs. Yuigahama's face flushed slightly as she leaned against the boy.

Hachiman smells... amazing!

The faint scent of his cologne mixed with the salty tang of sweat from his earlier workout was intoxicating—a dangerously enticing aroma for a woman her age.

"It's nothing," Hikigaya replied, his own face turning red as he quickly stepped back.

"Here's the cake..."

"Thank you."

"Make sure to visit again sometime, okay, Hachiman-kun~?"

"Sure."

After bidding her goodbye, Hikigaya left. Mrs. Yuigahama stood by the door, holding her flushed face in her hands as she watched him walk away.

For some reason, she felt a strange emptiness in her heart after he left.

"Sigh... Could I really be craving the forbidden fruit?" she muttered, shaking her head as she returned to her room.

---

"Wait, Hikigaya kissed Yuigahama's mom?"

"Hikigaya really has a thing for married women?!"

"Did Hikigaya actually want to be with Yuigahama's mother...?"

"This is so scandalous!!"

"..."

Yukinoshita lay lazily on her bed, but her face betrayed her astonishment.

Thanks to her unique system, she knew everything about her beloved Hikigaya's kiss with the mature Mrs. Yuigahama. She could only describe it as mind-blowing.

"Unbelievable. Just like with Sawamura's sister, a single kiss is worth 350 points..."

Calming herself, Yukinoshita touched her chin thoughtfully. "Not bad, though. If it gets points, it's acceptable, I suppose."

"When Hikigaya is with older women, he's far less resistant than he is with Yui. It might actually be easier to accumulate points this way... And honestly, Mrs. Yuigahama has a certain charm Yui doesn't..."

"Hmm, but still, isn't this too taboo? She's Yui's mother, and she's been married before... This is probably a bit too much, even for the sake of points..."

Sighing, Yukinoshita decided to temporarily shelve the idea of involving Mrs. Yuigahama further.

For now, she needed to decide whom Hikigaya should "connect with" next week.

To prevent him from becoming overly attached to Kasumigaoka, she had to make a difficult choice.

"Yui? Iroha? Sawamura...?"

As she cycled through potential candidates, an image of Miura Yumiko's haughty expression surfaced in her mind.

"Why am I thinking about Miura?" Yukinoshita frowned.

She and Miura had never gotten along since the start of their second year. Whenever they met, sparks would fly. Miura often mocked her and Hikigaya.

Frankly, Yukinoshita was not someone who forgave easily.

"Maybe... hehe..." Yukinoshita's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Simply kissing her won't be enough of a punishment, will it?"

"Let my Hikigaya teach you a lesson, Miura~"

---

Late at night, Miura jolted awake.

"No!!!"

Breathing heavily, her body drenched in sweat, she clutched her chest in panic.

She had just experienced a nightmare.

In the dream, 25-year-old Miura attended a high school reunion. Still single at the time, she considered confessing to her long-time crush, Hayama.

However, after drinking too much, she ended up needing help to the restroom.

For some reason, she drunkenly asked Hikigaya—also intoxicated—to accompany her.

One thing led to another...

And they ended up... together...

Without any protection.

"What kind of dream was that?" Miura muttered, pressing her hands to her flushed face.

The most infuriating part?

Even while they were tangled up, drunk Hikigaya kept whispering, "Yukinoshita, you're amazing! Yukinoshita, I love you!"

"Argh! This is unacceptable!"

"Even in my dreams, I'm being mistaken for Yukinoshita?! That bastard Hikigaya!!"

"Ugh! Even if I were reduced to being a dog, I'd never like Hikigaya!"

"Such a ridiculous dream will never, ever happen!!"

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