Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

"Now, let me check if you and Miura had any close contact."

"Huh?"

"Close contact? Kawasaki, you're not planning to..."

"Don't—don't move! Let me smell you."

"??"

Under Hikigaya's astonished gaze, Kawasaki leaned in and started sniffing him from top to bottom.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Kawasaki, are you a puppy or something?

Who just goes around sniffing people like this??

"Ugh, there's Miura's scent on your back! And there's also the smell of another woman in your arms... Cough, cough!"

As she spoke, Kawasaki's face suddenly changed color. The strong masculine scent overwhelmed her, making her cough a few times.

"Sorry, I'm drenched in sweat right now."

Hikigaya quickly took a step back from her.

"Sweat? It's... it's not that bad. Doesn't smell awful or anything."

Kawasaki hesitated for a moment, then pressed in closer.

"Huh?"

After sniffing his upper body, she moved lower.

A few seconds later—

"Phew..."

Kawasaki let out a breath of relief.

"As long as the important areas don't smell weird..."

"??"

Hikigaya's face flushed slightly.

"Kawasaki, you... you really don't need to do this for Yukinoshita's sake... You're a girl, after all. This kind of thing is just..."

"Eh? Uh..."

Hearing that, Kawasaki's face instantly turned bright red.

Only now did she realize—

What the hell was she doing?!

What kind of girl sniffs a guy like a dog??

Kawasaki had no idea how things escalated like this.

She just found Hikigaya's scent... really nice.

And then she got carried away.

Maybe... maybe guys smell more attractive after a workout?

"S-Sorry... I'll be more careful next time."

Kawasaki lowered her head, her face still flushed.

"But... Yukinoshita is my friend, and since you're her boyfriend, I have a duty to help keep an eye on you..."

"Keeping an eye on me, huh..."

Hikigaya sighed.

Kawasaki was just too kind.

For someone like Yukinoshita, who usually kept her distance from others, having a friend like this was truly a rare blessing.

"Oh, by the way, I'm heading to the convenience store now. Guess I'll see you later."

Even though their houses were in the same direction, Kawasaki—having confirmed that Hikigaya was "clean"—decided to put some distance between them.

Mainly because...

Hikigaya was way too masculine today.

She was afraid she'd do something weird again.

But then—

"Actually, I was planning to stop by the convenience store too."

"Huh?"

Kawasaki, who had been planning to go alone, opened her mouth slightly.

A part of her really didn't want to walk with him any longer.

But deep down, another part of her... was looking forward to it.

In the end—

With her head lowered and her face still faintly red, Kawasaki gave a small "Mm."

---

At the convenience store.

Hikigaya grabbed a chilled MAX Coffee.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki was still debating in the fresh food section.

Hikigaya walked over.

"Kawasaki?"

"Ahhh!"

Kawasaki jumped, startled.

Whoa, she was that focused?

Hikigaya glanced at the refrigerated section.

It was all pre-sliced beef.

The prices varied depending on the quality—

Some cuts even cost tens of thousands of yen.

Given Kawasaki's family situation, this section was probably off-limits for her.

"You done shopping?" Kawasaki asked casually, grabbing a premium pack of Wagyu beef.

"Yeah."

Hikigaya nodded, then glanced at the price tag—

His eye twitched.

"Wait!"

"Eh?"

Kawasaki flinched again, giving him an annoyed look.

"What's your problem?"

"Just... wait a minute."

"Huh?"

Kawasaki frowned, about to ask again when—

A female store clerk walked in with a special machine and started putting discount stickers on the items.

"Convenience stores usually start marking things down after 8 PM," Hikigaya explained.

"Phew, so that's how it works."

Kawasaki let out a small sigh of relief and curiously watched the clerk.

Her reaction didn't escape Hikigaya's notice.

One minute later—

The clerk reached the fresh food section and started applying discounts.

And because the expensive Wagyu beef had barely sold—

It got a 40% off sticker.

Kawasaki's eyes sparkled like she had just discovered a hidden treasure.

A moment later—

Looking absolutely thrilled, she clutched the discounted Wagyu and eagerly scanned the rest of the store.

Seeing her about to go on a shopping spree, Hikigaya sighed deeply and finally spoke:

"Kawasaki... Let me pay for this."

"??"

Kawasaki, whose eyes had been practically glowing, suddenly froze.

Hikigaya continued,

"Otherwise, I'd feel guilty."

"You..."

Kawasaki's expression turned complicated as she averted her gaze.

"This all happened because of me, so I have to take responsibility."

In response, Hikigaya lifted his arm and flexed slightly, showing off a bit of muscle.

"It's fine. Thanks to you, I'm in great shape. Even after working out for over an hour, I still feel full of energy."

Kawasaki sneaked a glance at his arm.

Seeing the strength in his muscles, her face reddened again, and she quickly looked away.

"It's not enough... You need to keep going..."

Hikigaya lowered his arm and tried again,

"But what about your future? University—"

"I've already saved up for tuition."

Kawasaki avoided his gaze and muttered,

"And besides... just let me handle it. I'll take responsibility. I'll... I'll make you even more of a man!"

She stammered, then quickly turned and rushed toward the vegetable section, searching for more discounted goods.

"..."

Hikigaya silently watched the stubborn girl.

If Yukinoshita weren't in the picture, he probably would've fallen for her without hesitation.

But unfortunately—

His heart already belonged to Yukinoshita.

There was no room for anyone else.

---

Meanwhile—

Yukinoshita had just purchased a bottle of aphrodisiac from the system shop.

The moment someone drank it, they would temporarily lose all reason, consumed by desire.

She held up the pink liquid and coughed lightly.

Tomorrow, Kawasaki would definitely be making Hikigaya's lunch again.

And they would be alone together for a long time.

So—

Before that...

All she needed to do was slip the potion into Kawasaki's lunch... Hehehe.

As she imagined the scene, the corners of Yukinoshita's lips curled upward.

This "Beloved Husband" mission was going to be way easier than she expected.

Of course—

To make sure Kawasaki acted on impulse and helped her poor suffering husband,

Tonight, she'd also use the Dream Simulation Card to... tempt her.

If neither of them took the first step, well—

She'd just push them along.

She couldn't let her husband be completely obsessed with Kasumigaoka!

"Sigh... I'm working so hard," Yukinoshita murmured to herself.

****************************

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