Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

"Ah, no wonder Air-kun looks so drained today. Turns out yesterday Yukinoshita…"

Kasumigaoka looked Hachiman up and down, her gaze full of meaning as she pieced things together.

Then, with a playful chuckle, she pressed on, curiosity brimming. "How long did she keep you occupied?"

"Uh…"

Hachiman's expression grew increasingly awkward.

"Come on, tell me. I won't make fun of your girlfriend."

"…Three hours."

"Hmm, just three hou—WHAT?!"

Kasumigaoka's composure shattered, her eyes widening in disbelief as she almost choked.

"How… how long?"

"Three hours," Hachiman confirmed with a sigh.

Kasumigaoka probed cautiously, "Was it… nonstop? That kind of thing?"

"Pretty much…"

"This is impossible!"

Kasumigaoka instinctively grabbed her head, utterly floored.

"Is it really that shocking?" Hachiman sighed again. "Snow… Yukinoshita may seem frail on the surface, but in certain aspects, she's surprisingly… assertive."

He added with a resigned tone, "That's why I said Yukinoshita is better… than you, senpai."

"…"

Kasumigaoka was left speechless.

She couldn't help but imagine herself in the same scenario…

…Nope, just thinking about it made her scalp tingle.

"But it seems like you're not entirely happy with your girlfriend's, uh… rough treatment," Kasumigaoka ventured, her curiosity piqued again.

"Who said I wasn't happy?!"

"Judging by your worn-out face and slumped demeanor, hehe, I'd say Yukinoshita might be a bit much for poor Air-kun to handle."

"I…"

"See? I was right. Air-kun is just a pitiful little weakling~," Kasumigaoka teased with a mischievous grin.

Hachiman took a deep breath, discarding any remnants of masculine pride. "Fine, yes, I'm weak. Please, Kasumigaoka-senpai, have mercy on this feeble man!"

Kasumigaoka giggled and shook her head, her tone softening. "Actually, you know, a guy being a little… lacking in that department might make girls feel more protective. Air-kun doesn't need to be so down about it."

"Hah? As if! Don't you girls hate guys who can't… perform?"

"Well, it depends on the girl. I can't speak for Yukinoshita, but as for me…"

Kasumigaoka's voice dropped to a tender, almost sultry tone.

"If it were me, I'd just want to protect Air-kun even more. I'd want to take care of you, Hachiman~."

"You…"

Hearing her call him by his first name for the first time, Hachiman couldn't help but blush.

Kasumigaoka chuckled. "Aw, are you touched?"

"Not… at all!"

Damn it! Kasumigaoka-senpai really knows how to hit a guy where it hurts!

Hachiman had to admit, her words just now… did make him feel a tiny bit moved.

"Actually, spending time with me might help you build confidence. I can… train you, Air-kun."

"Train me?" Hachiman froze.

"That's right. Don't you want to… satisfy your girlfriend? Or are you content to let her keep, ahem, overpowering you? Surely, as a man, you wouldn't want that, right? So, just leave it to me! I'll help you learn. This way, I relieve my study stress, and you gain some… skills. Win-win, don't you think?"

"Stop trying to make something so indecent sound so noble!!"

Watching Hachiman's face turn crimson, Kasumigaoka laughed again. "Alright, alright. Let's call it a day for now. Tomorrow, I'll give Air-kun another lesson."

Relieved, Hachiman sighed, only for his face to freeze at her next words.

"Tomorrow?"

"What, you need two days to recover? Air-kun, that's pathetic."

"No, no, it's not that!" Hachiman stammered, his face reddening further. "I just think doing this at school during the day is… too much. And going out at night would affect my studies the next day. So, maybe… let's wait until the weekend."

He hoped to buy some time and figure out a way to deal with her.

"Hmm? So five days?" Kasumigaoka's tone turned icy. "Five days without release? Do you know how much stress that builds up for me? Listen, Air-kun. Tomorrow. At school. You're helping me relieve this stress. No excuses!"

"But school is a sacred place for studying! We can't—"

"Yes, exactly! School is for studying."

Before Hachiman could argue further, Kasumigaoka interrupted with a giggle.

"Tomorrow, I'll give Air-kun a proper lesson. Don't worry, it'll be very educational~."

"But… there's no time!" Hachiman tried to resist.

"Lunch break."

"Lunch break? The rooftop? No way! What if Kawasumi catches us like today?"

"Who said anything about the rooftop?"

"Then… where?"

"You'll see. I've picked a special spot just for you, Air-kun. A holy site, if you will."

"A… holy site?"

Seeing Kasumigaoka's unsettling smile, Hachiman felt a chill run down his spine.

Kasumigaoka grinned. "I'll keep it a secret for now. But tomorrow, I promise you an experience unlike any other."

"You…"

Realizing he had no way out, Hachiman groaned inwardly.

What do I do?! Yukinoshita, help me!

"Oh, by the way," Kasumigaoka added casually, "you haven't gone to the bathroom yet, have you?"

"???"

---

Meanwhile, outside, Kawasumi sighed in exasperation.

"So, you still haven't taken a liking to any boys yet?"

"My personal life is none of your business, Yukinoshita!"

"We're friends, aren't we?"

Yukinoshita smiled gently. "I really do hope you find someone special."

"Well, I'm going to college soon, and I have a bunch of younger siblings to look after. Dating… can wait."

"Ah, I see. In the future, then… Alright."

"Mhm. Now, if you'll excuse me, I really need to use the bathroom!"

After chatting with Yukinoshita for a while, Kawasumi finally hurried off, clearly at her limit.

And just as she reached the restroom, she saw two figures—Kasumigaoka and Hachiman—walking out together.

Kawasumi froze for a moment, her pupils shrinking.

But her urgency left her no time to process the scene further as she dashed into the restroom.

Meanwhile, Yukinoshita, hiding behind a bookshelf, was fuming.

Damn it!

I went through all that trouble to stall Kawasumi for you two…

And THIS is how you repay me?!

"Ugh, what a waste. The Husband-care Task failed again…"

As she lamented, a sudden tap on her shoulder made her jump.

"?!"

Whirling around, she found herself face-to-face with a calm-looking girl.

"Excuse me, you're blocking the shelf. I need to grab a book."

"Oh, right, sorry…" Yukinoshita quickly stepped aside, maintaining her composure.

But inside, she was in turmoil.

Why is Katou here?!

And… did she overhear me talking about the Husband-care Task?!

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