"I'm sorry, Hikigaya-kun, I'm really sorry. Did... did Mom accidentally dirty you just now? Did I..."
"That didn't happen."
Inside the kitchen, Hikigaya shook his head at Mrs. Yuigahama, whose face was flushed with embarrassment. He took a deep breath.
"I should be the one apologizing. I... didn't realize you were using the bathroom, Auntie. That's on me."
"U-Using the bathroom?"
Mrs. Yuigahama blinked, then slowly lowered her head as her cheeks reddened even more.
"H-Hikigaya-kun... Do you think I was using the toilet just now?"
Ahem!
Hikigaya's expression also twitched awkwardly as he gave a dry cough, then replied in a composed tone:
"Anyway, my sincerest apologies."
"Hikigaya-kun..."
But at that moment, the beautiful and gentle housewife suddenly bit her lip, her cheeks still tinged with embarrassment as she glanced at him and asked cautiously:
"Do you... need an Okamoto?"
"...Huh?"
Hikigaya was stunned on the spot. But the very next second, he quickly snapped back to reality and played dumb:
"An... oak motor?"
"Huh? Uh... i-it's nothing. Just... a piece of cake! Yes, that's right! The cake is done baking! Hikigaya-kun, come try some!"
Fumbling toward the oven in a panic, Mrs. Yuigahama hurriedly changed the subject.
"Thanks."
After grabbing some cake and sampling a few pieces—
Hikigaya didn't dare linger much longer. With a few slices in hand, he quickly made his escape from the Yuigahama residence.
Whew...
Thinking back to that suggestive moment by the bathroom, and the way Mrs. Yuigahama had looked at him with those seductive, bashful eyes...
Hikigaya nearly lost it.
Okay, maybe he had underestimated things.
Yuigahama was dangerous.
And Yuigahama's mom? She was on a whole other level of danger.
There's just no way he could handle this mother-daughter combo.
Sigh.
Ever since he got into a relationship with Yukinoshita, the women around him had started acting... completely out of pocket.
So much so that even walking alone at night, he felt the need to stay alert, just in case some other weird woman tried to latch onto him.
Just as Hikigaya was silently lamenting—
Ring ring!
His phone buzzed suddenly in his pocket.
Hikigaya quickly pulled it out, and when he saw the caller ID—Sayuri—his first instinct was to hang up immediately.
But...
He remembered she had some dirt on him.
So with a helpless sigh, Hikigaya resignedly picked up the call.
"Hello, Mrs. Sawamura..."
"Heeey~ Hikigaya-kun! Heehee, are you home yet?"
"Just about to be."
"Eh? You're not home yet?! Wait a sec—did Yuigahama's mom make a move on you?! Did you two... do something naughty?!"
"No! I just went to her place to grab some cake. Mrs. Sawamura, please don't misunderstand."
"Hehe, so no lewd stuff?"
"H-How could I?!"
"Heehee~ fine, I'll believe you this once," Sayuri replied teasingly.
"Is there... something you needed, Auntie?" Hikigaya asked, flustered.
"Heehee~ Hikigaya-kun, back at the open lot earlier, Auntie was being completely serious, you know. Your technique? Totally lacking. Sloppy. Let me teach you properly, how about that?"
"N-No thank you!"
"Don't be so shy~ Tomorrow night, I'll show you what it means to be a real woman. Then you'll see what level those little girls around you are really playing at~"
"W-Wait! Tomorrow night?! Mrs. Sawamura, are you saying—"
"Heehee~ See you tomorrow night! Make sure to rest up tonight, or else you won't have any stamina for me."
"Mrs. Sawamura, this isn't okay! I—"
Beep...
Just as Hikigaya was about to protest, he realized she had already hung up.
"What the..."
Rubbing his temples, Hikigaya was beyond exasperated.
How the hell was he supposed to deal with Mrs. Sawamura?
Was he really supposed to go along with her... and do it?
Sayuri Sawamura. Alluring, charming, warm like the sun. A mature, gorgeous married woman.
Though... her husband had passed away, so from a legal standpoint, there was nothing wrong with it.
"Wait! What the hell am I thinking?! I've got Yukinoshita as my girlfriend! I can't betray her! Dammit..."
---
The Next Day.
Soubu High.
Hikigaya arrived early to Class 3-B.
The classroom was mostly empty, only four or five students scattered about.
What caught Hikigaya's attention, though, was that Kasumigaoka and Kawasaki were once again huddled at his desk, deep in discussion.
And when they noticed him walk in, both girls quickly stood up and rushed over.
Kasumigaoka crossed her arms under her chest and looked at him with a sly smile.
"Hikigaya-kun~ I was just discussing it with Kawasaki-san. Today, I'll be the one keeping you company~"
"...Eh?"
Hikigaya froze.
Kawasaki, meanwhile, turned red and gave Kasumigaoka a flustered glare.
"Keep your voice down! What if other classmates hear?!"
"They're too far away to hear anything," Kasumigaoka replied breezily, before smiling back at Hikigaya. "Well? Aren't you excited? Today's the day I help you... train~"
At this point, both Kasumigaoka and Kawasaki were well aware of each other's relationship with Hikigaya. With the veil lifted, the two had begun a silent battle over their "right to use" Hikigaya.
In the end...
After a fierce back-and-forth, Kasumigaoka came out on top.
"You two..."
Hikigaya avoided Kasumigaoka's gaze and sighed.
"...I'm not looking forward to it."
Seriously?
They didn't even bother to ask for his opinion?
"Not looking forward to it?" Kasumigaoka chuckled, running her fingers along the black stockings on her thighs with a teasing smile.
"Well then, I'll make an exception today, Hikigaya-kun. I'll let you rip these off~"
"...Eh?"
"And I'm wearing your favorite—purple~ That one's fine too~ as long as... it makes you happy~"
She threw him a flirtatious wink, while seductively crossing her shapely legs in front of him.
"Ah..."
Faced with the visual assault of her legs, Hikigaya quickly averted his eyes.
"Y-You...?!"
Kawasaki's face burned as she stepped forward nervously.
"Hikigaya, don't let Kasumigaoka lead you astray! You have Yukinoshita!"
"I know."
Hikigaya gave a small cough and nodded calmly.
Kasumigaoka, unimpressed by the interruption, gave a playful hum.
"Kawasaki-san, when I'm helping Hikigaya-kun study during lunch, do you mind keeping watch for us? Thanks in advance~"
"You want me to stand watch?" Kawasaki's eye twitched.
"Otherwise, if someone catches us together, I'm not taking the fall~"
"You—!"
Seeing Kasumigaoka's infuriating smirk, Kawasaki was at a loss for words, cheeks puffed in frustration.