The Hikigaya Couple’s Youth Romantic Comedy Is Just as Expected

By the time Hachiman and Yukino stepped into the hotel lobby, Yui and Komachi were already waiting to receive their room keys.

Once they had them in hand, Yui eagerly dragged Komachi toward the elevator.

Halfway up the stairs, Komachi seemed to remember something and turned back to call out, "Onii-chan! Yui-nee and I will wait for you two at the restaurant, okay?"

Hachiman didn't respond, only watching silently as Yukino, still wobbling slightly, walked up to the counter to check in.

With the keycard in hand, she let Hachiman guide her to their room.

Once inside, Hachiman gave the room a quick glance and nodded in approval. It wasn't overly extravagant, but it was cozy and lived up to the hotel's four-star rating.

Together, they collapsed onto the soft bed, sighing in unison.

"Didn't Komachi say she's waiting for us at the restaurant? Shouldn't we get going?" Hachiman asked, glancing at Yukino lying blissfully beside him.

"Just five more minutes. I swam all afternoon. I'm exhausted."

Yukino sank deeper into the mattress, clearly unwilling to budge.

Five minutes passed, and Hachiman nudged her. "Time's up. Let's go eat. Otherwise, Yui and Komachi are going to get impatient."

"Ugh… I don't feel like eating. You go. I'm just going to nap for a bit."

She grabbed a pillow and covered her head.

Hachiman said nothing. He silently picked up the pair of stockings Yukino had tossed aside, gently helped her put them back on, then hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Hey! What are you doing?! Put me down! I said I want to sleep!"

She pounded her fists against his back in protest.

Hachiman, unfazed, held her firmly by the hips and carried her all the way to the table Yui and Komachi had saved for them, ignoring the stares from other diners.

Although it was a seafood buffet, neither Hachiman nor Yukino ate much. Yukino was drowning in embarrassment, while Hachiman was too busy suffering. Under the table, someone's dainty little foot had been grinding mercilessly against his own for the entire meal.

By the time dinner was over and Yui was happily patting her full belly, claiming she was about to burst, Hachiman could no longer feel his right foot.

"Okay! I'm stuffed! I'll head back first, okay, Hikki, Yukino?"

"Ah… yeah," Hachiman replied, wincing.

"I'm full too, Onii-chan, Yukino-nee. I'm going to hang out with Yui-nee!" Komachi said, dabbing the sauce from the corner of her mouth before running off after Yui.

The moment they were gone, Hachiman bent down and grabbed the foot that had been tormenting him.

"Enough already. I didn't say a word when you stomped on me for this long, but don't push it."

He looked down at his foot, now stamped with the clear outline of a shoe.

"Push it?" Yukino snapped. "I'm not disabled. I can walk on my own, you know. Did I ask you to carry me? And you your hand was clearly grabbing my butt!"

As Hachiman gripped her left foot, Yukino defiantly stretched out her right.

He grabbed both and wedged them tightly between his thighs.

"Can you stop fidgeting for five seconds? Let me eat, please," he said, sighing in defeat.

Yukino tried to pull her feet free but found them firmly locked in place.

Grumbling under her breath, she gave up and turned her focus to the sashimi in front of her. Judging by the way she bit into it, she might as well have been imagining it was Hachiman's face.

Eventually, when Hachiman had eaten his fill, he glanced over at Yukino and caught her letting out a small, satisfied burp.

She instantly blushed, realizing she'd been caught.

"You full?" he asked. "Want to head back?"

"No. I ate too much. I'll feel sick lying down right now."

Without a word, Hachiman gently released her feet, helped her stand, and laced their fingers together as he led her out.

"Wait, where are we going?"

"You said you're too full to lie down, so I'm walking you around to help you digest."

Hearing that, Yukino didn't argue. She let him lead her into the hotel's garden courtyard.

The sea breeze at dusk carried the salty scent of the ocean and fluttered through Yukino's black hair and the hem of her dress.

Her face, flushed with post-meal contentment, looked more relaxed than ever. Seeing this more natural side of her, Hachiman couldn't help but smile.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? You're making a creepy face again."

She shot him a look of disgust.

"Nothing," he replied. "Just realized your expressions have changed a lot since we first met. They're more… real now."

"R-really?"

Yukino looked a little embarrassed.

Without warning, Hachiman pulled her into a tight embrace.

"You idiot! What are you doing?!"

She flailed against him in protest.

Ignoring her protests, he lifted her up by the armpits and spun her around before holding her tightly again.

Yukino gave a soft grunt of discomfort but didn't struggle. Instead, she rested her chin on his shoulder.

Feeling the warmth of her against him, Hachiman gently stroked her back.

"Yukino… let's get married after we graduate."

"W-what? Why would you bring that up now? It's still so early…"

"Not that early. We've got a little over a year left. I want to start preparing."

His voice was firm.

"…Fine. Whatever. I'm tired. Let's go back," she muttered.

Back in the room, Hachiman immediately flopped onto the bed.

"Hey! No bed for you unless you shower first!" Yukino scolded, tugging on his ear.

"You go first. I'll rest a bit."

He sat down on the sofa with a yawn.

"Okay, but don't fall asleep."

A few minutes later, Yukino called from the bathroom.

"Hachiman! I forgot to bring my change of clothes. Can you grab them from my bag?"

He stood up, rummaged through her luggage, and pulled out a set of underwear. Knocking gently on the frosted glass door of the bathroom, he passed the clothes through.

When Yukino emerged, wrapped in a towel and drying her hair, Hachiman was already dozing off on the couch.

"Hachiman! Wake up! Your turn to shower!"

"…Right, I'm going."

After he came out, towel wrapped around his waist, Yukino glanced at him in surprise.

"That was fast."

"I'm a guy. If I take too long, people assume I'm doing something shady."

He waved off her suspicions and reached for the hairdryer in her hand.

Checking the temperature, he began drying her hair with practiced ease.

Once her hair was fully dry and the floral scent of her shampoo filled the room, Hachiman's own hair had also dried naturally.

"You know," he said, teasingly flicking the cowlick on top of her head, "I've always wondered… are our families related or something?"

"There is a connection," Yukino said with unexpected seriousness, turning to face him.

His hand paused.

"What… what kind of connection?"

She burst into laughter.

"We're future in-laws, obviously."

Hachiman blinked, caught completely off guard.

"Look at that face! You look so dumb right now!"

"Oh, that's it. You're getting spanked."

Rolling up his sleeves, he lunged.

Yukino squealed and bolted to the bed, the two of them playfully chasing each other around.

Eventually, Hachiman caught her, yanked off her towel, and exposed her rear clad in only a pair of black lace panties.

The sound of rhythmic slaps echoed softly through the room.

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