Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

Class 3-J, after school.

Hachiman Hikigaya was numb—mentally, emotionally, and physically.

The ordeal started with Kasumigaoka's relentless leg-jiggling during class, her black stockings drawing all of his frustrated attention. The rhythmic motion was so distracting that a peculiar idea struck him: What if I just reach out and… stop her?

Of course, the noble justification was to remind her to stop shaking her leg, but there was another, less honorable reason—the sheer visual allure of her smooth, shapely legs wrapped in those stockings. A part of him, the one he'd rather not admit existed, even fantasized about—he couldn't believe he was thinking this—licking them.

But Hachiman, being Hachiman, would never act on such delusions. He prided himself on his self-control, his aversion to social suicide, and his sheer fear of rejection. Even if the world were ending, he wouldn't dare touch a girl's leg, let alone a senior like Kasumigaoka.

Yet, reality shattered his expectations.

Somehow, during the course of the lesson, he had reached out and touched her black-stocking-clad foot.

Yes, touched.

Hachiman Hikigaya had actually done it.

His only explanation? A sinister, malevolent force had seized control of his body. That had to be it. There was no other way to explain this betrayal of his willpower.

It's the evil energy inside me, he thought grimly. There's no other explanation.

By sheer luck, neither the teacher nor Kasumigaoka screamed during his blunder. But the mortifying encounter left him a mess of guilt, self-loathing, and utter panic.

Kasumigaoka-senpai, I'm sorry! he wailed internally. If groveling could make this better, I'd do it!

After class ended, Kasumigaoka cornered him and unleashed her wrath. Her arsenal included sharp mockery, biting insults, and every demeaning remark she could summon. Hachiman had no defense. He shriveled under her verbal assault like a criminal receiving a tongue-lashing from a sharp-tongued judge.

To make matters worse, during the ordeal, he caught Megumi Kato's curious gaze. She didn't intervene but stared at him with a perplexed expression, as if she couldn't fathom why Hachiman Hikigaya would touch a girl's foot. That look alone sent chills down his spine. What if she uses this against me? He could already imagine her leveraging this incident to coerce him into God-knows-what evil schemes.

---

The morning crawled by painfully.

"Another wretched day…" Hachiman muttered, sighing as he trudged toward the cafeteria. The prospect of lunch was his only solace.

But as soon as he entered the bustling hall, his sharp eyes caught sight of a familiar figure.

Oh no.

Why is she here?

Standing near the bakery counter, Yukinoshita Yukino surveyed the crowd with her usual calm demeanor. Hachiman froze. His fight-or-flight instinct screamed at him to flee before she noticed him.

Too late.

"Good afternoon, Hikigaya-kun," she called out softly, her clear voice cutting through the noise.

Caught like a deer in headlights, Hachiman sighed inwardly and resigned himself to his fate.

"Good… afternoon," he replied hesitantly, trying not to meet her eyes. "Are you here to buy bread?"

"Yes, I overslept this morning and didn't have time to prepare a lunch," Yukinoshita replied with a gentle smile, the dimples on her cheeks adding a pure, captivating charm to her expression.

Hachiman's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly averted his gaze. Part of him feared blushing under her radiant smile, but guilt also gnawed at him. After all, it hadn't been long since he'd done something he couldn't even confess to her: touching another girl's leg.

"Could you do me a favor, Hikigaya-kun?" Yukinoshita asked sweetly. "Please get me a melon bread from the counter."

"...Melon bread?" Hachiman blinked, his tone wary.

"Is there a problem?" Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly, her expression curious.

"N-no problem…" Reluctantly, Hachiman squeezed through the crowd, braving the chaos at the bakery counter. Minutes later, he emerged clutching three pieces of bread, visibly exhausted.

"Here." He handed one melon bread to Yukinoshita.

"How much was it? I'll pay you back," she offered.

"We're dating, aren't we? No need."

"Fair point." Yukinoshita smiled faintly, clearly pleased, though her sharp eyes noticed something unusual: two other pieces of bread in Hachiman's hands—one of which was also melon bread.

"With your appetite, Hikigaya-kun, I doubt you can finish two pieces," she remarked, her smile deepening mischievously.

"Uh…" Hachiman stiffened, panic flashing across his face.

"Unless…" Yukinoshita leaned in slightly, her tone teasing, "you bought it for someone else? Have you made a friend, perhaps?"

"That's…" Hachiman stammered, his eyes darting around nervously. "It's… for a classmate."

"Oh?" Yukinoshita's expression turned even more amused. "Last I checked, you didn't have many acquaintances in your new class. Could it be you've already befriended someone? That's quite the miracle."

How does she know that? Hachiman's internal alarm blared. Are you monitoring me, Yukinoshita?

"I-it's nothing serious!" he protested weakly, visibly sweating under her scrutinizing gaze.

"You don't need to look so guilty, Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita said, her tone softening. "In fact, I encourage you to make new friends. I'd be happy if you could connect with more people in your class."

"Friends?" Hachiman blinked, unsure if he'd heard her right.

"Yes." Yukinoshita nodded firmly. "It pains me to think of you sitting alone like a hermit. That's why I'm giving you a task: within one week, make friends with at least three girls. No objections allowed."

"Wait, three girls? In a week?" Hachiman's face turned pale.

"Correct." Yukinoshita's tone was non-negotiable. "It's for your own good. You don't want to stay as isolated as you were before, do you?"

"But why girls specifically?" Hachiman asked, his voice trembling.

"To make it more challenging," Yukinoshita replied with a sly smile. "I trust you, Hikigaya-kun. You wouldn't dare do anything to betray me, would you?"

Her saccharine tone and perfectly crafted smile sent shivers down Hachiman's spine.

"Of… of course not!" he stammered, his voice trembling as he nodded obediently.

"Good." Yukinoshita's expression brightened. "I'll check on your progress in a week. Don't disappoint me, Hikigaya-kun."

As she left, Hachiman slumped in defeat.

A week to befriend three girls? he groaned internally. Where am I supposed to find them? Yukinoshita, you're crueler than I thought!

With no time to wallow, Hachiman sighed and dragged himself toward the rooftop, where Kasumigaoka awaited him for their lunch.

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