Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

[Hikigaya Hachiman's favorability rating with Miura Yumiko: 69/100]

"??"

Yukinoshita, leisurely soaking in the bath while playing with a rubber duck, froze in shock.

She had just been checking her data panel and suddenly noticed that Hikigaya had developed a favorability rating with Miura!

It was important to note that the favorability metric only appeared when two people had interacted meaningfully.

Just last week, despite being in the same class, Miura and Hikigaya had no interaction whatsoever—not even a single exchange of words. Hence, there had been no data recorded.

But now, a favorability rating had surfaced!

This could only mean that these two had encountered each other tonight… and even had a conversation!

"69? Hikigaya-kun's favorability rating with her is this high?!"

Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow.

She clearly remembered Miura holding no favorable impression of Hikigaya. If anything, she'd frequently mocked him during their second year of high school.

Yet Hikigaya-kun, surprisingly, held such a high opinion of her? Truly incomprehensible!

"So, Miura-san is also a potential romantic target? But doesn't she have feelings for Hayama?"

Yukinoshita pondered.

Her relationship with Miura was far from friendly—one could even say it was downright hostile. The two had clashed multiple times in the past.

And now, this girl, who was practically an adversary, had become a potential romantic rival for her beloved?

"Heh, how amusing!"

Instead of feeling upset, a sly smile tugged at the corners of Yukinoshita's lips. A "wicked" idea suddenly popped into her mind.

By the way… she had yet to use her forced intimate card today.

---

Frankly speaking, if any girl approached Hikigaya and said, "Please help me, Hikigaya-kun~," he'd probably get goosebumps and run for the hills.

But if a girl snapped at him with, "Get lost! Stay as far away as possible! Who needs your help anyway?!" Hikigaya would feel strangely reassured, convinced that such a girl posed no threat to him.

Just like now.

Looking at the angry Miura before him, who seemed to want nothing more than to curse him out, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel an inexplicable urge to help her.

After a few moments of deliberation, he squatted down in front of her.

Seeing this, Miura's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"Climb on. I'll take you home."

"Huh??"

"Don't be stubborn. You're in no condition to get home on your own."

"I told you already!"

Miura gritted her teeth.

"Watch out, or I might just curse you out!"

"That's fine. Curse me all you want."

"You—!"

"Before I change my mind, hurry up. It's already late."

"…"

Miura fell silent, staring at the boy's back.

She glanced at her injured leg.

Finally, she took a deep breath, hesitated, and reluctantly climbed onto Hikigaya's back.

"Thank…"

"You're heavy!"

Before she could finish speaking, Hikigaya complained aloud.

Miura's expression darkened immediately, and she snapped, "What did you just say?! How am I heavy?! I'm only ni—"

But she quickly cut herself off, realizing she was about to reveal a critical piece of a girl's secret. With a cold snort, she retorted, "If you can't handle it, put me down!"

"Ahem! It's my first time carrying someone, so I'm not used to it."

"Your first time?"

Hearing this, Miura's heart skipped a beat.

Now that she thought about it, this was her first time being carried by a boy too.

Not even Hayama had…

As memories of the blond boy surfaced, her emotions grew chaotic and conflicted.

If only the one carrying her now were Hayama…

"What were you about to say earlier, Miura-san? I didn't catch it."

"Huh?"

Snapping back to reality, Miura's face flushed.

"N-nothing! Just hurry up. My house is nearby!"

"Oh, okay."

Hikigaya nodded and quickened his pace toward the park's exit.

A few minutes later, Miura couldn't hold back any longer. "Could you stop bouncing so much?! You're making my whole body jiggle…"

"Sorry, Miura-san's legs are, um, a bit slippery."

"??"

Her legs? Slippery?

Miura looked down at her thighs.

Now that she thought about it, her legs were naturally smooth and soft. Coupled with all the sweat from running earlier, they were indeed a bit slippery.

"Ugh!"

Miura's cheeks turned crimson again as she stammered, "Y-you… just be more careful!"

Hikigaya grunted in acknowledgment.

While he seemed calm, Miura was anything but.

Only now did she realize she was wearing a tight-fitting sports top and a miniskirt.

Her bare thighs pressed against a boy's back.

Her upper body pressed close to him.

This was the first time she had ever been in such close contact with a boy.

And the boy wasn't Hayama.

Her emotions became increasingly tangled.

---

Meanwhile, Hikigaya adjusted her position again.

Miura flushed and hissed, "Idiot! Are you trying to drop me?!"

"I'm just making sure you don't fall. Don't worry—I won't let go."

As he spoke, Hikigaya tightened his grip on her legs.

"You…"

Miura gritted her teeth, her face a deep shade of red.

She wanted to yell at him but stopped herself when she saw how exhausted he looked, sweat dripping from his forehead.

She sighed, quietly resting her head against his shoulder.

To lighten his load, she even wrapped her arms around his neck.

Such a considerate girl, Miura-san… Hikigaya thought to himself. Without dwelling on it, he continued walking toward her house.

Miura, however, was far less composed.

Her cheek brushed against his neck as her thoughts swirled chaotically.

His scent filled her senses.

She couldn't help but glance up at him.

Sweaty, yes, but… strangely attractive.

In fact, his features weren't much different from Hayama's.

No—he almost felt like Hayama himself.

Before she knew it, her heart began to race.

Unconsciously, she leaned forward.

Her lips drew closer to his.

"Thank you… Hayama-kun…"

The next moment, she kissed him.

"??"

Hikigaya, entirely unprepared, froze.

His grip almost slipped as his mind short-circuited.

"Thank you, Hayama??"

Miura-san, are you blind?!

I'm Hikigaya Hachiman!!

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