Chapter 209: Shared Dream: Hikigaya-Kushida!
After finally managing to send away the "erratic" Kushida Kikyo, Hikigaya took a shower and went to bed.
"I hope tonight is dreamless and I sleep until dawn."
However, things often go against one's wishes. He opened his eyes to see a long-haired, large-chested housewife reclining on the sofa.
"..."
Hikigaya's mouth twitched, but he soon felt a sense of relief.
He thought he would dream of the Karuizawa trio; it seemed Kushida Kikyo's visit tonight had influenced his "thoughts during the day."
Compared to a one-versus-three battle that would exhaust his back and bones, dealing with just Kikyo was clearly much easier.
"Mngh~"
Kikyo's brow furrowed as if she were having a bad dream, her body curled into a ball.
"This girl looks quite lady-like when she's not talking."
Hikigaya gave a small smile and picked up a blanket to cover her. As his fingers brushed against her feet, he noticed they were icy cold. He hesitated for a moment before making a decision: "Well, in this setting, I'm her husband."
He reached out carefully, gently cupping Kikyo's feet, then lifted his own shirt and placed her jade-like feet against his stomach.
"Brrr~"
The freezing touch made Hikigaya shudder. However, his blood circulation was robust; this level of cold was nothing to him. Under Hikigaya's warmth, her feet soon became toasty. The sleeping Kikyo's brow smoothed out, and a faint, trace of a smile appeared on her lips.
With nothing to do, Hikigaya flipped through his phone.
About twenty minutes later, Kikyo gradually woke from her slumber.
"Nn~So comfortable."
Kikyo had a cold constitution and often woke up with freezing feet. Today she felt an unprecedented warmth. Her feet instinctively pushed against it; it felt soft yet firm.
"What is this?" Kikyo opened her eyes, looking dazed.
"Those are my abs." Hikigaya puffed out his chest and tensed his core, perfectly displaying his eight-pack.
"...?!"
Kikyo was stunned at first, then her eyes widened violently.
What—what was the situation? This mature man is... Hikigaya? And why were both her feet pressed against his stomach??
Her brain stalled; she had absolutely no idea what had happened!!
"If you're awake, get up. At this hour, you should be making me dinner, dear wife."
At first, Hikigaya felt a bit embarrassed, but the prospect of bossing her around to cook made the embarrassment vanish!
"W-Wife... 'Dear wife'?!"
Kikyo felt like she'd been struck by lightning, and a crimson flush instantly surged up her cheeks.
"You-you-you-you... do you even know what you're saying?!"
"Uh, wasn't this your request?" Hikigaya looked at her strangely.
"Huh?" Kikyo was confused once again. No, wait, brother? If she remembered correctly, she had only just let Hikigaya call her by her first name today.
How did it suddenly skip several steps and become an explosively embarrassing title like "dear wife"?
"I'm hungry, go cook." Hikigaya was truly hungry. Even though it was a dream, why was the feeling of hunger so realistic?
"If you're hungry, do it yourself!" Kikyo's eyebrows shot up.
"Sigh~ I really can't do anything with you..." Hikigaya reached out, picked up the glasses from the table, and put them on his head.
"Kikyo, go cook."
"Yes~" (๑•ㅂ̀•)́ و✧
"..." This prop was way too effective!
Kikyo happily ran to the kitchen and finished three dishes and a soup before she finally had a delayed realization.
"Wait! Something's wrong!!" Kikyo grabbed Hikigaya's cheeks with both hands and pulled hard.
"Ow, that hurts! What are you doing?"
"There's actually a sensation of pain..."
"Duh! Why don't you pinch yourself instead?"
Hikigaya decisively counterattacked. However, he didn't pinch her face—he pinched Kikyo's "front-mounted armor."
"!!!" Kikyo's body stiffened. She felt a surge of heat rushing downward, causing her to instinctively press her legs together. She stared at Hikigaya with a scarlet face.
"You... how could you..."
"It's just an 'imprint' (grab), is there a need for such a big reaction?" Hikigaya looked perfectly calm. His manner was as natural as if he were doing morning exercises every day!
"...?" Kikyo's mouth hung open. At this point, she didn't even know what expression to make.
"Alright, as for the next step, let's continue after we've eaten." Hikigaya let go and sat down at the dining table. Seeing Kikyo still standing there dazed, he asked curiously, "Aren't you eating?"
"..." Kikyo followed his instructions blankly and sat at the table. Since things had come to this, she might as well eat first.
"I'm full." Hikigaya picked his teeth with a satisfied look.
After eating and drinking his fill, Kikyo's clouded brain finally figured out the situation.
She was dreaming... and it was a beautiful dream at that!
"I am... Hikigaya Kikyo?" Kikyo pointed at herself, disbelief still etched on her face.
"Yeah. It's not like I'm going to take your surname." Hikigaya teased.
"...That's good then.
Hikigaya Kikyo... Hikigaya Kikyo... Ehehehe!"
Kikyo was ecstatic in her heart: "By the way! How is that bitch Horikita doing?"
"Why are you bringing her up all of a sudden?" Hikigaya was a bit speechless.
This woman's obsession with Horikita was the real deal!
"Her? She went abroad for further studies last month. I think she's pursuing a PhD in MBA at Stanford University?" Hikigaya had learned this from checking the chat logs on his phone. Incidentally, before going abroad, Horikita Suzune had asked to meet him one last time.
He decided not to mention that...
"Haha! Horikita the loser dog!" Kikyo instantly burst into hearty laughter.
"She went to get a doctorate; she doesn't seem like a life loser no matter how you look at it, does she?" Hikigaya roasted.
"Who cares about that?" Kikyo didn't care in the slightest. Then her tone shifted, and she stared at him with burning eyes: "Ha-Hachiman~ Since we're husband and wife, then doing... 'that'... is okay, right?"
Hikigaya glanced up at the wall clock: 7:10 PM.
"It's only this time, are you that impatient?"
"I am... I am NOT impatient!!" Kikyo's face turned red as she spoke stubbornly.
'This person seems a bit off too!'
Hikigaya shook his head, then stood up and slowly began to clear the dishes.
"Wait, let me do it~" Kikyo took the dishes on her own initiative.
"Uh, isn't the rule that you cook and I wash?"
"I just feel bad for you, dear~" (◕‿◕✿)
Hikigaya didn't feel happy; instead, he felt a chill down his spine. He had a premonition that he might have to fight a "hard battle" tonight!
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