Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

[Host, please calm down. Hikigaya Hachiman only kissed Kasumigaoka Utaha once. Is it really worth getting this angry over?]

"Just one kiss, and that's it?"

Hearing the system's indifferent words, Yukinoshita gritted her teeth. Even she, usually so composed, felt her anger rising.

"Hikigaya-kun is my boyfriend! Before this, he had never kissed any other girl but me! Ugh~ I'm such a terrible girlfriend. I've tainted my boyfriend's mouth..."

Originally, Yukinoshita had planned to enjoy watching the drama unfold, but now, a vague sense of guilt and betrayal rose within her heart.

[Host, please don't shut yourself off. At least in this instance, you earned 500 points from the kiss. That's about as much as you earned in an entire day before.]

[You shouldn't be upset, Host. In fact, you should be happy. As the points increase each day, the hope of saving Hikigaya Hachiman grows too.]

[Host, I'm sure you want to live happily with Hikigaya Hachiman forever, right?]

"I..."

The system's calm persuasion made Yukinoshita's heart ache.

The logic was sound.

But being happy about it? That was out of the question.

Still, to say there was no surprise at all would be a lie.

"500 points... Hikigaya-kun's first kiss with the senpai gave 500 points..."

Looking at the system's point total, which had surpassed 1400, Yukinoshita's mood became quite complicated.

Indeed, the more intimate the "closeness," the more points the system granted.

If Kasumigaoka-senpai and Hikigaya-kun kissed two or three times a day, wouldn't that easily add up to 500 or 600 points?

A thousand points in a single day didn't seem impossible at this rate.

Ugh!

No, no!

Yukinoshita shook her head, pushing down these troubling thoughts.

There could be no second time where Hikigaya-kun kisses another woman!

Even if the points were coming in quickly, even if the goal was to save Hikigaya, she couldn't keep relying on such morally questionable "closeness" to get points!

This had to be the last time!!

"Yukinoshita-san, are you...?"

Just as Yukinoshita was making this firm resolution, a voice suddenly came from behind her, startling her into quickly turning around.

A blue-haired girl with a high ponytail was staring at her curiously.

Yukinoshita quickly sorted her thoughts and, after calming herself, smiled at the girl. "Oh, it's you, Kawasaki-san. Sorry, I was thinking about a math problem and got a little distracted outside the restroom."

She remembered Kawasaki was in the same class as Hikigaya-kun, both in Class B.

"A math problem?" Kawasaki said, sounding impressed. "As expected of the top student, Yukinoshita-san. Always focused on studying."

"Not really." Yukinoshita smiled politely and then asked, "Are you heading to the restroom as well, Kawasaki-san?"

"Mm, let's go together," Kawasaki suggested, inviting her to join her to the women's restroom.

"Eh? Uh... okay."

Yukinoshita reluctantly nodded and followed Kawasaki into the restroom, a growing sense of unease settling in her mind.

After all, Hikigaya-kun and Kasumigaoka-senpai were still inside, and they hadn't come out yet. She had no idea what they were doing in there!

Once inside the restroom, Yukinoshita discreetly scanned for which stall Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka might be in.

"Still thinking about the math problem?" Kawasaki asked again, "It must be a tough one if it's bothering you so much."

No, I'm thinking about what those two might be doing in the restroom.

"Mm, you're right, Kawasaki-san, it is a tough problem."

Yukinoshita gave a dry smile, trying to avoid suspicion, and simply picked a random stall and entered.

"Oh."

Kawasaki followed her and entered a neighboring stall.

It was much like when guys use the restroom together—sometimes, girls would chat while doing their business.

Just like now.

"Yukinoshita-san, can I ask, how are things with you and Hikigaya-kun lately?"

Kawasaki suddenly asked, curious.

Eh!

Wait!

Kawasaki-san, you don't think it's just the two of us in here, right?

Hikigaya-kun and Kasumigaoka-senpai are also in the restroom!

Yukinoshita felt embarrassed but didn't know how to respond. Saying nothing was worse.

"Mm, it's... it's okay," Yukinoshita finally responded hesitantly. "Our relationship is good, just a normal boyfriend-girlfriend development."

"Is that so..."

"Mm?"

Yukinoshita, ever perceptive, could hear the odd tone in Kawasaki's voice.

She continued, "What's wrong, Kawasaki-san? It sounds like you have something to say."

Kawasaki hesitated for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "It might cause a misunderstanding, but I still want to remind you. Hikigaya-kun has been getting pretty close to Kasumigaoka-san from our class lately."

"Eh?"

Yukinoshita hadn't expected Kawasaki to be the one to kindly remind her about the relationship between Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka.

Ugh!

I love her, Kawasaki, you're such a good person!

You're even warning me, worried my boyfriend might cheat.

"Mm, I know," Yukinoshita replied softly. "I asked Kasumigaoka-senpai to tutor Hikigaya-kun, so that's why they've been getting closer."

Kawasaki looked surprised. "You're the one who encouraged them to get so close? Ah..."

Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow. "Is there a problem with that?"

Kawasaki shook her head. "Tutoring's no problem, but... I feel like Kasumigaoka-san might be a little too forward. I'm worried that something inappropriate might happen between them."

"Cough, cough! Of course, I'm just worried, just worried!" Kawasaki quickly emphasized, trying to clarify, "So far, nothing serious has happened."

Well, something did happen already.

And I was the one who caused it.

"Heh, thanks for the reminder, Kawasaki-san. But I trust Hikigaya-kun, and I trust Kasumigaoka-senpai. They're not the kind of people to do something like that," Yukinoshita said calmly, though inwardly she sighed.

Since Yukinoshita didn't say more, Kawasaki didn't press further, instead saying, "...Well, if you trust them, then that's all that matters."

"Mm, anyway, thank you again, Kawasaki-san. I'm really glad to have a friend like you."

"Yukinoshita-san, you're too kind. I just... I just don't want Hikigaya-kun to do anything that might hurt you."

"Mm."

As Yukinoshita nodded in response, she suddenly sensed something wasn't quite right.

Why does it feel like Kawasaki cares a little too much about Hikigaya?

Otherwise, why would she even be paying attention to Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka's relationship?

Could Kawasaki...

Just as Yukinoshita was deep in thought, the system suddenly beeped with a prompt.

[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's corruption level has changed.]

[Current corruption level: 10/100]

"??"

Yukinoshita, who had been thinking about Kawasaki and Hikigaya's relationship, was stunned when she heard the system's notification. Her expression shifted as her legs, still squatting on the toilet, tensed.

Hikigaya-kun, whose willpower was as strong as iron, had actually had his corruption level rise!

Wait a minute!

Did I say something wrong to Kawasaki just now?

Hikigaya-kun, please don't fall into corruption!

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