Girls' Restroom.
"Hikigaya, is… is that enough?"
"!!"
Hearing the gentle voice from behind, Hikigaya's body stiffened.
His hand…
Suddenly, it was grasped by the girl behind him.
Kawasaki lightly bit her lip.
"If you still need to…"
"I don't have any academic pressure right now!"
Before Kawasaki could finish, Hikigaya quickly shook his head.
"Are… are you sure? But just now you—"
Sitting on the toilet, Kawasaki slowly stood up, preparing to step closer to Hikigaya.
However—
Perhaps because the floor was wet,
Just as Kawasaki tried to stand,
Her foot twisted.
Her expression instantly turned to one of shock.
Hikigaya, who had been keeping an eye on her, naturally noticed the moment it happened.
Almost at the exact instant she lost her balance, he caught her in his arms.
"Careful!"
"Ugh…"
Kawasaki leaned into Hikigaya's chest.
"Are… are you okay?"
Hikigaya turned his head, a concerned look on his face.
Kawasaki, on the other hand, gazed at him with deep affection.
"I'm fine. Don't underestimate me. Actually, I…"
As if unable to hold back any longer—
"Hikigaya!"
Lifting her head suddenly, Kawasaki once again pressed her lips against his.
Hikigaya: "!!"
A few seconds later—
"Calm down!"
Hikigaya firmly pushed her away.
"S-Sorry, my brain just kind of… stopped working for a moment." Kawasaki looked down, full of guilt.
"Just for a moment, huh…"
"Ugh!"
Her face turned bright red as she stammered—
"I'm really sorry, it's just that I… I like you so much, Hikigaya. I love you. I really love you. Just seeing you makes me…"
"K-Kawasaki?!"
Hikigaya was dumbfounded.
"What are you even saying?"
"!!!"
Kawasaki jolted in shock, quickly covering her mouth with both hands.
She had actually confessed!
Sure, a few minutes ago—heck, even on the rooftop and at the park—she had shouted "I love you, I love you, I love you" at him. But back then, she had practically lost her mind! This was completely different—she was somewhat clear-headed now!
"I, uh… ahem! I meant… your body! That's right, n-not you as a person! What I meant to say was, I love your body right now!!"
Kawasaki scrambled to cover her tracks.
"Don't get the wrong idea! I—I wasn't confessing to you just now! I would never confess to you!!"
"Huh??"
Hikigaya looked utterly confused.
"You… love my body?"
"Ugh…"
Kawasaki fidgeted, poking his arm in embarrassment.
"Well… Hikigaya, you really are amazing. I think you're… ahem, definitely the most… the most incredible guy in the world, so…"
"Wait, stop right there."
Hikigaya was starting to feel embarrassed from all the praise.
"I was just speaking the truth…"
Kawasaki hung her head, her mind flashing with images that made her instinctively cover her face.
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya gathered his composure.
"Let's leave it at that. If we don't head back soon, the others in the study group are going to get suspicious."
"Alright then…"
Kawasaki wanted to say more, but seeing Hikigaya insist so much, she had no choice but to give up.
"You're leaving now?"
Hikigaya reached for the restroom door.
"You go first."
Kawasaki looked away, fidgeting.
"I… I still need to use the toilet."
"Huh? The toilet?"
Hikigaya turned, looking in surprise at the awkwardly shifting girl.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Wait! Don't tell me you're… you're planning to watch a girl use the toilet?!"
Kawasaki's face was a mix of shock and embarrassment.
"No way in hell!"
Hikigaya's face flushed red as he retorted in exasperation.
"I just wanted to apologize, that's all."
"Apologize?"
"For making you hold it in for so long because of me."
"…That's what you're apologizing for?"
Feeling a warmth inside, Kawasaki hesitated before murmuring—
"Hikigaya, you're too kind."
"No, Kawasaki, you're the kind one."
"Hikigaya, you're even kinder…"
"…"
The two of them bickered back and forth, until eventually, they couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I'll head out first. You… do your thing."
"…If you need me, just call."
Kawasaki couldn't help but remind him.
"!!"
Hearing that, Hikigaya fled the scene instantly.
"Phew… Thank goodness, I got to spend time with Hikigaya again…"
Sitting down cautiously on the toilet, Kawasaki covered her face, her cheeks burning.
These past few days, she had been dreaming—constantly dreaming—about Hikigaya. Just seeing him every day was enough to make her feel like she was going to lose her mind.
Luckily…
Today, she had finally let some of that pressure out!
"Hikigaya is just too amazing. Too bad… if only I could have…"
Mid-sentence, Kawasaki squeezed her legs together.
Crap!
Why am I still getting carried away?!
Calm down! Calm down!
Hikigaya is Yukinoshita's boyfriend!
He's my friend's boyfriend!
"Ughhh, Yukinoshita, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I swear, I won't betray you. I… I was just helping you relieve your boyfriend's stress! Believe me, I… I would never betray you in spirit!"
She reaffirmed her convictions.
After finishing, Kawasaki grabbed a few tissues.
Once she was done—
She pushed open the restroom door, ready to leave.
But just as she stepped out—
An unexpected figure suddenly entered the bathroom.
"You?!"
Her pupils shrank as she locked eyes with the uninvited guest.
—It was Kasumigaoka.
Feigning indifference, Kawasaki glanced at her before attempting to walk past without acknowledging her.
But—
Kasumigaoka's eyes lingered on Kawasaki's legs.
For several seconds.
Just as Kawasaki was about to step out of the restroom, Kasumigaoka suddenly smirked.
"Heh… Kawasaki, was Hikigaya fun?"
"?!"
Kawasaki stumbled, nearly tripping over herself.
"I knew it…"
Kasumigaoka's lips curled into a smirk, but her voice carried a sharp edge.
"You and my dear Air-kun… you two have something going on, don't you?"
"No!"
Kawasaki shot back immediately, refusing to give Kasumigaoka any satisfaction.
"Hikigaya and I are completely innocent. Unlike you, you sneaky little cheater, always seducing guys in the woods!"
"Hah! And you expect me to believe you weren't just seducing my dear Air-kun in the restroom?"
"I already said—nothing happened!!"
The tension between them grew thicker.
Meanwhile—
Inside one of the bathroom stalls.
Yukinoshita was silently hoping neither of them would notice her.
At the same time, she was also fretting over their argument.
Senpai… Saki…
Why are you two even fighting?
Wouldn't it be easier if you both just worked together to take care of my dear husband?
After all, you're both mistresses—what's the point of arguing over it?