Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

"What kind of scene will unfold between the two of them?"

Hidden in a discreet corner outside the restroom, Yukinoshita Yukino waited with a mix of anticipation and curiosity. As she pondered, her mind wandered to the potential scenarios inside the men's restroom between Hikigaya and Eriri.

Hmm, judging by the system's usual antics, this forced "Intimate Card" will probably lead to a kiss, right?

A kiss between Eriri and her Hikigaya-kun.

The thought made Yukinoshita pause, involuntarily recalling the scene from the library yesterday.

Given Eriri's flustered and inexperienced reactions toward Hikigaya-kun yesterday, it seemed likely that, like Kasumigaoka-senpai, this would also be her first kiss.

"First kisses… They're one of the most precious things to a girl, aren't they?" Yukinoshita mused, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.

Heh heh, sorry, Eriri, but your most cherished first kiss is about to be taken by my Hikigaya-kun!

The thought of Eriri's probable embarrassed and mortified expression filled Yukinoshita with delight.

After all, hadn't Eriri just yesterday declared she didn't like Hikigaya-kun, didn't find him appealing, and even spoke ill of him? Yet today… she was barging into the men's restroom, about to force a kiss on him.

There was no doubt this would thoroughly humiliate Eriri and turn her into a laughingstock!

"Ah, I can't wait to see it happen!" Yukinoshita's excitement was palpable.

However—

Amidst her glee, she subconsciously touched her chest, where her heart was racing.

"Strange… My boyfriend is about to kiss another girl, and I'm feeling happy? Ugh, ever since I got this system, I've been acting less and less like myself."

Calm down. Calm down!

This isn't something I want!

I'm only doing this to slap Eriri in the face and rack up system points!

System points that I can use to save Hikigaya-kun!

When Hikigaya-kun is saved, our future together will be happy and bright.

Yes, everything I'm doing is for Hikigaya-kun and the future happiness of us both!

"Besides, Hikigaya-kun's first kiss was already mine. So was his first… everything else…" Yukinoshita muttered smugly to herself.

"The second kiss, the third… Even if they're with other women, it doesn't really matter. Hmph~ After all, all his 'firsts' have already been claimed by me!"

With that thought, she turned her gaze back toward the restroom, ready to savor the spectacle.

But just then—

A shadow suddenly darted past her and hurried toward the restroom.

It was…

Kawasaki Saki?

Yukinoshita froze.

Why is she heading to the restroom?!

Coincidence? Is she here to use the restroom, too?

Stay calm! Stay calm!

Kawasaki should be heading to the women's restroom. She shouldn't witness anything unusual.

As long as she doesn't enter the men's restroom, nothing will go wrong.

Yukinoshita reassured herself, praying silently that no mishaps would occur.

But then—

"Wait… Wait! Kawasaki-san, why… why are you…?"

Yukinoshita's voice trembled as she watched Kawasaki stride straight toward the men's restroom.

Why are you heading into the men's restroom?!

The women's restroom is on the other side!!

Kawasaki, stop—!

Watching Kawasaki enter the men's restroom, Yukinoshita felt her heart pounding wildly, her mind spinning in chaos.

Could it be… that I accidentally used the Forced Stick-together Card on Kawasaki instead?!

No, that's impossible!

The system only allows one card per day, and I've already used it on Eriri!

So why is Kawasaki entering the men's restroom?!

…

Kawasaki didn't consider herself a saint.

But if she happened to witness someone in trouble—like an elderly lady struggling to cross the road or a child needing help retrieving a balloon from a tree—she'd lend a hand without hesitation.

And now, as she stood at the entrance of the restroom, she clenched her fists, conflicted yet resolute.

Eriri clearly had feelings for Hikigaya.

As Yukinoshita's friend, how could she just stand by and watch someone else entangle themselves with her friend's boyfriend? She had to step in.

Yes, this was simply an act of friendship. Nothing more!

Reassuring herself, Kawasaki took a deep breath and strode into the men's restroom.

And then—

She froze, her pupils dilating in shock.

Inside, she saw a blonde-haired girl standing on her tiptoes, her hands gripping Hikigaya's face as she leaned in with puckered lips.

Hikigaya looked flustered beyond belief, while Eriri seemed both determined and bashful.

When Hikigaya noticed Kawasaki, his expression grew even more panicked.

"Kawasaki-san, why are you…?"

"I—"

Kawasaki's mind blanked for a moment.

As she processed what she was witnessing, the sight of Eriri continuing her "assault" on Hikigaya ignited an indescribable feeling within her.

"St… Stop it! What are you two doing?!"

Kawasaki bolted forward, intending to separate them.

Hikigaya is Yukinoshita's boyfriend!

He can't just be kissed by another girl like this!

This had to be stopped—for the sake of her friend!

And… also for Eriri!

Wait, what?

As these chaotic thoughts swirled, Kawasaki suddenly felt the slippery restroom floor beneath her feet.

Her eyes widened in alarm.

Meanwhile, outside the restroom—

Yukinoshita was growing increasingly anxious.

"What should I do? Why did Kawasaki enter the men's restroom?"

"What if she sees Hikigaya-kun and Eriri kissing? What then?"

"And if Kawasaki-san brings it up later, how should I explain myself…?"

As Yukinoshita fretted, the system's notification chime echoed in her mind.

[Ding! Saki Kawasaki accidentally pushed Hachiman Hikigaya to the ground, resulting in a kiss. System points +180.]

"??"

Yukinoshita blinked, utterly dumbfounded.

"A kiss… with Kawasaki-san? What??"

What's going on?!

What happened?!

Eriri didn't end up kissing Hikigaya-kun, but Kawasaki did?!

Her thoughts scrambled as she struggled to process the absurdity.

Meanwhile, in the men's restroom—

Hikigaya lay sprawled on the ground, Kawasaki hovering over him, propping herself up with her hands and knees.

And yet—

Their lips were locked.

Both of their faces flushed bright red, filled with embarrassment and awkwardness.

As for Eriri, who had been poised to kiss Hikigaya just moments earlier, she now stood frozen to the side, utterly dumbfounded by the unexpected scene.

The atmosphere in the men's restroom was beyond awkward.

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