Mrs. Yuigahama returned to the open space after using the restroom.
Upon seeing the noticeably flushed faces of Hikigaya and Sayuri, the sharp-eyed Mrs. Yuigahama immediately sensed an unusual atmosphere in the air.
"Sayuri! What did you just do to Hikigaya-kun?"
"Nothing at all~ Just doing a normal workout with him."
"A normal workout?"
Eyeing Sayuri's energized, blushing face, Mrs. Yuigahama raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Why is your breathing a little uneven? And why is Hikigaya-kun's face so red?"
She turned to look at Hikigaya, who quickly averted his gaze.
"Isn't it normal to get red in the face after a workout?"
Sayuri replied with a calm smile.
"Well..."
Mrs. Yuigahama looked back and forth between the two, mouth slightly open, seemingly about to say something but holding back. She recalled that her trip to the restroom took seven or eight minutes. Could they have really done anything in such a short time?
Probably not.
In the end, Mrs. Yuigahama let it go.
The night deepened.
Hikigaya and the others were getting ready to head home.
"Sigh, I wish I could go home with Hikigaya-kun too." As they left the park, Sayuri glanced enviously at Mrs. Yuigahama, who was walking side by side with Hikigaya.
"Your house isn't even nearby."
Mrs. Yuigahama rolled her eyes at her.
"Well... how about I give you guys a ride home?"
Sayuri blinked and suggested, "I drove here, you know. That's my car over there."
She pointed to a shiny sedan parked not far away.
"Our house is just around the corner. It's only a few minutes' walk, no need for a ride," Mrs. Yuigahama said, gently nudging Sayuri. "It's getting late, you should head home yourself."
"Geez, what's the rush? In a hurry to go on a date with Hikigaya-kun?" Sayuri said, exasperated.
"Stop talking nonsense! W-why would I go on a date with Hikigaya-kun this late at night!" Mrs. Yuigahama shot her a glare, her face taking on a faint shade of red.
"No sneaking snacks from Hikigaya-kun, okay~"
"I'm a grown woman, you know..."
The two women traded playful jabs back and forth.
"Sorry, Hikigaya-kun. That took a bit longer than expected."
After shooing Sayuri away, Mrs. Yuigahama walked over to Hikigaya with a hint of embarrassment.
"It's fine," Hikigaya replied with a shake of his head.
"Okay then, let's go home together."
She smiled softly, her gaze subconsciously drifting to Hikigaya's arm—as if tempted to hold onto it—but in the end, she restrained herself.
After walking a short distance—
Mrs. Yuigahama suddenly remembered something important and turned to Hikigaya apologetically.
"Hikigaya-kun, I just remembered I need to stop by the supermarket to buy a bag of rice. Let's part ways here."
"Rice?"
Hikigaya stopped in his tracks.
"Mm, what's the matter?"
"How much are you buying?" he asked.
"Just a regular bag." She thought for a moment.
"I'll help you then," Hikigaya offered.
"Huh?"
Mrs. Yuigahama looked flustered. "I... thank you, Hikigaya-kun. Sorry to trouble you again."
"No need to be so polite. My sister Komachi is always snacking at your place. It's only fair I help out a bit."
Hikigaya shook his head.
When he got home today, he noticed a pile of pastries on the table—clearly Komachi had made a stop at Mrs. Yuigahama's place.
Ah, well. As the saying goes, one must repay kindness with responsibility. Since his sister had taken the snacks, he had to do his part too.
"Komachi really loves the sweets I make." Mrs. Yuigahama chuckled. "Hikigaya-kun, take some cake home for her later, okay?"
Hikigaya could only smile wryly and nod.
A few minutes later—
They arrived at the supermarket.
Hikigaya decided to grab a bottle of Max Coffee.
"Auntie, I'm going over there to grab a drink."
"Okay. I'll grab a few things over there—let's meet up in the grains section," Mrs. Yuigahama replied.
They split up.
Hikigaya quickly picked out his Max Coffee.
However—
He didn't head straight for the grain section.
Because—
He suddenly remembered something important: they couldn't always rely on the so-called "safe days." If they weren't careful, things could get very bad.
Hikigaya walked over to a certain special section.
"Yukinoshita used to get the Okamoto brand..." he muttered, scanning the shelf.
Oh!
There it was. Okamoto.
Just as he reached out—cautiously—a delicate hand appeared out of nowhere and touched the same box at the same time.
"?!"
Startled, Hikigaya turned his head—and was even more shocked.
"A-Auntie Yuigahama?!"
"Eh?! H-Hikigaya-kun?!"
Their eyes met.
An awkward silence followed as they both quickly pulled their hands back.
A faint, indescribable blush appeared on both their faces.
Finally—
Hikigaya cleared his throat and broke the silence.
"Auntie, you can take it."
"Eh—eh—eh?!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's face flushed scarlet as she quickly stammered,
"I—I don't need that. I just—grabbed the wrong thing by mistake!"
"Uh..."
Hikigaya, also red in the face, hesitated a moment before finally picking up the box.
"Alright... if you say so."
Seeing this, Mrs. Yuigahama gave a complicated look and sighed,
"Looks like you and Yukino have already... ah well."
"Ahem. Yukinoshita and I are dating after all," Hikigaya explained. "So... I'm really sorry, Auntie."
"Sigh... My daughter just isn't that lucky." She sighed again, then perked up and smiled gently. "Hikigaya-kun, let me pay for those."
"Eh? That's too much—"
"No need to be polite. If it weren't for you, I would've been in a car accident the other day. Just take it as thanks, okay?"
With that, Mrs. Yuigahama snatched both the Max Coffee and the box labeled "Okamoto" from his hands.
At this point, Hikigaya could only accept.
Afterward, he helped carry the bag of rice, and the two walked to the register.
Holding the box of Okamoto condoms, Mrs. Yuigahama was completely lost in thought. Why did I even go to that section in the first place?!
Her husband was gone. What would she even use that for?
She glanced at the boy beside her, carrying the rice.
Mrs. Yuigahama subconsciously tightened her thighs, her heart suddenly in disarray. For some reason, she had an irrational urge...
To help him put it on.
No way. I mustn't be that ridiculous!