I, Hikigaya Hachiman, am a warrior of pure love!
Sure, my girlfriend Yukinoshita can be a sadistic, controlling Ice Queen, and I absolutely loathe that part of her. But my love for her is unwavering! I will be loyal to her until the very end!
I secretly swore an oath—in this lifetime, I would only ever touch Yukinoshita. I would only ever kiss her lips.
However... just a few minutes ago, I broke that sacred vow. I kissed a girl who wasn't Yukinoshita.
Hikigaya wailed internally. Even though he hadn't initiated it, even though he'd been caught completely off guard, the undeniable truth remained: his body had betrayed Yukinoshita. His lips had touched another woman's.
His entire worldview and moral compass were subjected to an unprecedented, earth-shattering shock. A deep, gnawing sense of remorse settled heavily in his chest.
After Yukinoshita and Kawasaki's voices finally faded, confirming they had left the women's restroom, an oppressive silence descended upon the stall. Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka remained frozen in place, the air between them thick with unspoken tension and a heavy, awkward ambiguity.
Hikigaya stood rigidly, his back still turned to Kasumigaoka. He knew he couldn't just slink away without addressing the elephant in the room—or more accurately, the kiss in the stall. He had to understand what had just happened. Why had it happened? Was this all part of some elaborate, cruel conspiracy orchestrated by the scheming novelist?
Finally, Hikigaya pursed his lips and took a deep, steadying breath. "Senpai," he began, his voice tight. "Why... why did you do that to me just now?"
"I..." Kasumigaoka herself was struggling to comprehend her own impulsive, crazy actions. But then, the memory of the intensely vivid, recurring dreams she'd been having every night for the past week flashed in her mind, and a strange sense of clarity and justification washed over her. She opened her mouth, but after a few seconds of loaded silence, she deftly sidestepped his question entirely. "Hikigaya-kun," she purred, her voice a low, velvety murmur. "How did it feel?"
"Eh?!" Hikigaya's entire body jolted as if electrocuted. He hadn't expected such a blunt, dangerous question. "F-felt? What... what are you talking about?" he stammered, his face heating up.
Then, a soft, knowing laugh came from behind him. "Oh, don't play dumb, Hikigaya-kun. When I kissed you... compared to when your beloved girlfriend Yukinoshita kisses you... whose did you feel more?"
Hikigaya: "???"
Who feels more for whom?! What kind of question is that?! There's no comparison to be made!
"O-of course it's Yu-Yuki—" he started to declare defiantly, but as he spoke, the sensory memory of their kiss—Kasumigaoka's surprising initiative, the soft pressure of her lips—unbiddenly replayed in his mind with startling clarity. His heart rate involuntarily spiked, and the rest of Yukinoshita's name got caught in his throat.
Wait! Hachiman, you absolute scum! What are you doing?! Are you actually, seriously comparing your girlfriend's kissing technique to another girl's?!
"It's d-definitely Yukinoshita...!" he finally forced out, his voice trembling with self-directed disgust.
Kasumigaoka's teasing laughter floated toward him again. "Hehe~ You say Yukinoshita, but I think deep down, Hikigaya-kun must feel that I was better, right? It's only natural. After all, you were actively responding to me just now."
"!!" Hikigaya's body trembled violently. A wave of self-loathing and righteous indignation surged within him. "P-please... stop teasing me, Senpai!" he pleaded, his voice cracking. "In a situation like that, anyone would have an instinctive, physical reaction! It doesn't mean anything!"
Having said his piece, Hikigaya finally mustered the courage to turn around and face her, his expression a mask of desperate questioning. He was ready to demand a real answer. But the moment his eyes landed on the girl behind him, all his accusatory resolve instantly evaporated, and he froze on the spot.
There, sitting primly on the closed toilet lid, was Kasumigaoka Utaha. And her face—the face of the usually composed and teasing senior—was flushed a brilliant, unmistakable shade of crimson.
At the same time, Kasumigaoka, seeing Hikigaya finally turn to look at her, hurriedly averted her gaze, trying to hide her flustered expression.
For a moment, in the cramped, confined space, the atmosphere became unbearably thick and charged. They could both hear each other's hurried, slightly ragged breathing, a testament to the turmoil raging inside them.
Wait a minute... What's going on? Why is Senpai's face so red? She's the one who ambushed me! Shouldn't she be the picture of cool, collected triumph?
"Hikigaya-kun, your face is so red," Kasumigaoka spoke first, seizing the initiative as always, though her voice lacked its usual full confidence. "Could it be... you've started to develop feelings for me after that kiss?"
Hikigaya gritted his teeth, a defensive retort springing to his lips. "Y-you... aren't you the same? Could it be that Senpai has also developed feelings for me?"
He fully expected the proud, high-and-mighty Kasumigaoka-senpai to immediately deny it, to laugh in his face or deflect with another clever, cutting remark. But what he never, ever expected was for Kasumigaoka to softly, but clearly, let out a single, hesitant syllable.
"...Un."
" ? "
Hikigaya instinctively licked his dry lips, the air in the cramped stall feeling dangerously thin. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to retreat, his body tensing to make a break for the door.
However... Kasumigaoka's hand shot out, her fingers gently but firmly closing around his wrist, anchoring him in place. Her head was still bowed, but she managed to stammer out, her voice barely a whisper, "It's... that meaning."
"...Huh?"
Hikigaya's breath hitched in his throat, his heart hammering against his ribs.
That meaning?!
Senpai... you... are you confessing to me?
Senpai likes me?!
No, no, no!
How is this even possible?! This is too ridiculous!
I've only known Senpai for a few days! And she already... likes me? There has to be some kind of conspiracy behind this! This is a trap!
"Senpai," Hikigaya's mouth trembled as he spoke, "you're joking, right? Please, I'm begging you, stop teasing me like this."
Kasumigaoka took a deep, steadying breath, finally raising her eyes to meet his. Her gaze was uncharacteristically serious. "Hikigaya-kun," she said, her voice quiet but firm, "do you truly believe a girl would treat her first kiss as a joke?"
First kiss?!
No wonder there was that hint of genuine shyness mixed in with her usual boldness earlier... Ahem! Wait a minute!
What?! You gave your first kiss... to a dead-fish, loner guy like me?!
Hikigaya couldn't bear to hold her intense gaze and looked away, stammering, "B-but I... I'm clearly a good-for-nothing guy. How could I possibly make someone as amazing as you, Senpai, like me? This... this doesn't make any sense..."
Kasumigaoka paused for a moment, then pursed her lips thoughtfully. "I... have a preference for gentle boys. And Hikigaya-kun... you really do suit my taste perfectly."
No way?! Senpai, are you secretly a sadist too?! Is that your type?!
Hikigaya took a deep, fortifying breath, preparing to deploy his ultimate defense. "But... but I already have a girlfriend. I'm sorry, Senpai, but I'm afraid I can't accept your feelings."
A flicker of amusement crossed Kasumigaoka's face, her expression remaining indifferent. "Who says a boy with a girlfriend can't be confessed to by another girl?" she countered smoothly. "What if... you end up liking me more in the future?"
As she spoke, she subtly shifted her posture, one hand coming up to subtly emphasize the curve of her ample bosom while she crossed her legs, making the sleek black stockings gleam under the harsh restroom lights.
So big... so plump...—SMACK!
Hachiman! What the hell are you thinking?! Your girlfriend is Yukinoshita! Get a grip!!
While Hikigaya was desperately trying to wrestle his own treacherous thoughts under control, he realized he had no choice but to play his final, nuclear card. It was a desperate move, one that went against his every instinct, but he saw no other way out.
Hikigaya let out a long, suffering sigh, adopting a look of helpless resignation. "Senpai, I... I've actually already done... everything with Yukinoshita. You know... that. And, well, most girls would mind if a guy wasn't... um... pure anymore, right? So..." He let the implication hang in the air, watching her carefully for a reaction, hoping to see disgust or disappointment.
Heh! That should do it! There's no way a high-spec, perfect woman like you, Senpai, would be interested in a 'used' man like me! You must be utterly repulsed now! Just tell me to get lost!
Just as Hikigaya was congratulating himself on his brilliant, if self-deprecating, strategy, Kasumigaoka's expression didn't even flicker. She responded with unnerving calm. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I, Kasumigaoka Utaha, like that kind of thing." A faint, almost predatory smile touched her lips. "A man who has already been... nourished by love... I'm sure he will be quite... delicious to taste in the future."
As she finished speaking, she raised her eyes and stared directly into his soul, her gaze seeming to add, 'I don't mind at all. In fact, I'm even a little excited.'
" ? "
Hikigaya's mind short-circuited. He was completely and utterly bewildered by Kasumigaoka's unshakable, continuous counter-attacks.
No way?!
This is acceptable too?! This... this is...!
Frantically, he recalled the conversation between Yukinoshita and Kawasaki he'd overheard just minutes before—the absolute, unwavering trust Yukinoshita had expressed in him. A fresh wave of guilt and self-loathing washed over him as he tried to suppress his traitorously racing heartbeat.
No. No.
It doesn't matter how sincere you seem, Senpai. I, Hikigaya Hachiman, am a warrior of pure love! My heart belongs to Yukinoshita!