Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

"What a coincidence, Hikigaya-kun! We're in Class 3-B together."

"Yeah, lucky to be in the same class as you, Katou-san."

As they walked toward the Class 3-B classroom, Hikigaya couldn't help but wear an expression that screamed utter despair.

"Looking forward to working with you, Hikigaya-kun."

"Uh, yeah... likewise."

Internally, Hikigaya let out a long sigh. Ever since he entered the school gates, he'd been silently praying not to end up in the same class as Katou. Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and now the two of them were indeed in the same class.

What kind of luck is this?!

To spend my entire senior year with a creature like Katou?

Yukinoshita, help! I need backup! Is there any way you can swap Katou into a different class?

His instincts screamed that this woman was dangerously unpredictable.

After spending only a short amount of time with her, Hikigaya had already mentally categorized Katou Megumi as a terrifying, dragon-level monster.

Oh, and just to clarify—Hikigaya also considered Haruno Yukinoshita a dragon-level monster. This gave a good sense of just how wary he was of Katou.

The two of them arrived at Class 3-B.

Thankfully, the back door was open. Hikigaya and Katou carefully slipped inside. Since it was the first day of school, and seating wasn't assigned yet, they randomly chose seats.

Hikigaya made sure to pick a spot as far from Katou as possible.

Once seated, he slumped over his desk and discreetly surveyed his new classmates.

Most of them were unfamiliar faces.

There were no familiar names like Yuigahama, Hayama, or Totsuka.

The only recognizable ones seemed to be...

Miura's mom?!

Oh, right. Kawasaki was also here.

Wait, is Kawasaki... sneaking glances at me?

No, it had to be his imagination.

Life's illusions... She's definitely not looking at me.

Shaking off the thought, Hikigaya stopped scanning the classroom. He had already gotten a rough sense of things: this new class seemed decent enough, as long as Katou wasn't part of the equation. In fact, without her, he might have rated this class quite highly.

His natural instinct was to hope for anonymity—no one knowing who he was would be ideal. That way, he could quietly blend into the background, study in peace, and avoid unnecessary disruptions.

Why was Hikigaya so motivated to study and not slack off? There were a few reasons. First, it was senior year, and university entrance exams loomed large. Secondly, Yukinoshita wanted them to aim for the same university, so they wouldn't end up in a long-distance relationship.

But beyond those reasons, there was an even greater force driving Hikigaya to excel:

The ultimate boss monster he needed to overcome—far surpassing Katou or even Haruno—a deity-tier opponent: Yukinoshita's mother.

Yes.

That polite yet terrifyingly sharp woman was his true nemesis.

Their last meeting at the hotel had made her intentions clear: she wanted to control him, to mold him into nothing more than a servant for the Yukinoshita family.

Sounds great, doesn't it?

But...

I, Hikigaya Hachiman, am a man with dignity!

As the only male heir of the Hikigaya family, he had a responsibility to uphold. No matter what, at least one of his future children had to carry the Hikigaya surname. Otherwise, how could he face his old-fashioned parents?

Of course, Hikigaya knew that even attending the same university as Yukinoshita wouldn't necessarily change her mother's mind. But it might at least prove to her that he was Yukinoshita's equal—not someone destined to be beneath her.

In short, good grades were essential.

Lost in thought, Hikigaya was jolted back to reality by the sound of the school bell.

Huh, time to meet the homeroom teacher?

Sigh... I really wish Hiratsuka-sensei were still here.

But Hiratsuka-sensei had moved on.

Maybe it was for the best. If she had stayed on as his teacher, Hikigaya feared he might have done something to betray Yukinoshita.

While he was deep in thought, a young woman in a dark professional suit and pencil skirt, her eyes cold and serious, walked into the classroom, holding a lesson plan.

The moment this pink-haired teacher stepped in, the already noisy classroom erupted further.

A professional outfit. Pencil skirt.

Wait... black stockings?!

Whoa!

She was practically dancing on the collective heartstrings of every male otaku in the room.

Hikigaya blinked, taking a few extra glances.

It wasn't just her outfit. Her delicate features and curvaceous figure made her undeniably stunning. She was, without a doubt, an incredibly beautiful teacher.

Even Hikigaya couldn't help but sneak a few more glances, let alone the other students. Some bold ones even asked if she had a boyfriend.

The lively atmosphere didn't last long, though.

The moment the pink-haired teacher swept the room with her piercing gaze, the energy shifted dramatically. It was as if a top predator had entered the room, silencing its prey.

In an instant, the previously lively classroom fell deathly quiet.

A suffocating pressure blanketed the room.

Her icy stare alone made students break out in a cold sweat. Some of the weaker ones couldn't even lift their heads.

Seriously?! She's not actually going to kill anyone!

Bunch of cowards... Huh?!

Hikigaya's internal rant was abruptly interrupted when he realized the teacher's gaze had locked onto him, like a hunter eyeing its prey.

"!"

Danger alarms blared in his head. Under her unrelenting glare, Hikigaya's body froze. The slouched "dead fish" posture he'd adopted vanished as he straightened up like a model student, barely daring to breathe until she finally looked away.

Phew! That was close!

I almost stopped breathing!

Could this pink-haired teacher have actually... killed someone before?!

As Hikigaya shivered at the thought, the teacher walked to the blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and began to write her name.

"My name is Mafuyu Kirisu. Starting today, I will be your Class 3-B homeroom teacher and world history instructor. If you have any academic or campus-related issues, feel free to come to me."

She finished her introduction with another cold scan of the room, making everyone jump to attention and shout, "Yes, ma'am!"

Sigh, first Katou, and now Kirisu-sensei. Why are all these terrifying women flocking to my life?

As Hikigaya lamented his fate, he felt his phone vibrate in his desk.

Huh?

After hesitating for a few seconds, he quickly checked the screen while Kirisu-sensei wasn't looking.

Wait, a text from Yukinoshita?

Could she have developed some kind of sixth sense? Is she here to save me?

Shocked, Hikigaya opened the message.

[Yukinoshita: Hikigaya-kun, who was that girl you were walking with this morning? You two seemed quite cozy at the school gate. Are you planning to cheat on me?]

What?!

Why does this sound like an interrogation?

Katou?

Cheating?

What kind of joke is this?!

We've only just met!