"Kawasaki's walking posture is clearly off, and you're still telling me there's nothing going on between you two?"
In the afternoon, on the way to the library, Kasumigaoka stared directly at Kawasaki, who was walking a short distance ahead, and made this remark to Hachiman, who was walking beside her.
Hachiman also took a quick glance at Kawasaki, and his eyelids twitched slightly.
Kawasaki was heading to the library for self-study as well, but she was walking ahead of them, with her back facing them.
From Hachiman's perspective, Kawasaki's swaying figure was particularly eye-catching. Her curvy silhouette looked rather... enticing, and her legs appeared unsteady, as if she were walking with some effort. Her posture did seem a bit off.
"...She just had a leg cramp earlier," Hachiman took a deep breath and firmly denied any implications.
"A cramp?"
Kasumigaoka turned to him with a sly smile.
"More like you worked her legs into a cramp, am I right, Air-kun?"
"I'm not."
Hachiman maintained his composure, deliberately avoiding eye contact with her.
"Heh, still not admitting it? In that case..."
Kasumigaoka licked her lips and grabbed Hachiman's wrist, pulling him toward a nearby large tree.
His expression changed slightly.
"S-Senpai, what are you doing?!"
"Hehe, let me take a whiff~"
"A whiff??"
They reached the tree.
It was a massive, decades-old tree.
Thanks to its thick trunk, as long as they stayed behind it, passing students wouldn't easily notice them.
Ignoring Hachiman's protests, Kasumigaoka leaned in and took a few deep sniffs around his neck.
"Senpai, someone might see us..."
Standing in such a risky spot, Hachiman was already sweating bullets.
"There really is a distinct scent..."
Murmuring to herself, Kasumigaoka then slowly bent down.
"Wait, hold on, Senpai, you—"
"Don't move. Let me check something~"
"Wait—"
Hachiman resisted as much as he could.
Unfortunately, Kasumigaoka was particularly assertive this time. No matter how much he struggled, she was determined to carry out her "inspection."
"Hsss... This, this, this..."
She took a few deep breaths, looking somewhat intoxicated.
Thankfully, after a few seconds, she regained her composure.
Then, with an amused smirk, she turned to Hachiman.
"Heh, there's definitely a lingering scent of another girl. Judging from the distribution of the scent on your upper body... Air-kun, you and Kawasaki..."
"…Nothing happened."
"Still trying to deny it?"
Kasumigaoka leaned in closer until her lips were right by his ear—and then, she lightly nibbled his earlobe.
"!!!"
Hachiman's body tensed, and he instinctively pushed her away.
"Stop it! Don't mess around!"
"Hehe~ Air-kun, you belong to me. For this year, aside from Yukinoshita, I won't allow you to be with any other woman except me."
Licking her lips, Kasumigaoka gazed at him with an intense, possessive look—like a predator watching its freshly captured prey.
"I already told you—"
"Keep making excuses if you want. Heh, but whether you admit it or not, I can always do a more thorough inspection to find out."
"Inspection?"
Hachiman's expression stiffened.
"Are you crazy? We're surrounded by students!"
"Hehe, Air-kun, the more dangerous a place is, the safer it actually is~"
Seeing the fear in his eyes, Kasumigaoka's expression became even more mischievous.
"Now, let me check properly. Don't resist, okay?"
"No way!"
Hachiman was firm in his refusal. To stop her from going any further, he subconsciously reached out—
And smacked her on the butt.
"Quit messing around, Senpai!!"
"???"
The moment his palm landed, Kasumigaoka was completely stunned.
Hachiman's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly tried to apologize.
"Uh, sorry, Senpai, I—"
"Ugh! Air-kun, you just smacked my butt!!"
For once, the usually composed Kasumigaoka turned red in the face and shot him a glare.
"A woman's butt isn't something you can just hit whenever you want, you know?"
"…My bad."
"'My bad'? You think a simple apology is enough?" She huffed.
"Then... what do you want?"
"Hmph! Use your body to apologize!"
With that, Kasumigaoka hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
"Not here, Senpai—"
"Like I care!"
"If you keep this up, I'll smack your butt again!"
"What?!"
Kasumigaoka flinched, immediately stepping back and shielding her rear with both hands, looking defensive.
"Air-kun, y-you wouldn't dare!"
"I already did it once. What makes you think I won't do it again? I mean what I say!" Hachiman shot back.
"Ugh, since when did you start enjoying hitting girls? You weren't like this before!"
"This is all because of you, Senpai."
"I…"
Kasumigaoka hesitated. She wanted to retaliate but was wary that he might actually follow through with his threat.
So, the two of them stood there, locked in a silent standoff.
After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and regained her usual calm demeanor.
"Fine, fine! I'll let you off the hook for now. But after school, you're mine! Now, let's head to the library."
"Uh… sigh."
Hachiman let out a long, helpless sigh.
At this moment, he was seriously fighting the urge to make Kasumigaoka his personal servant.
…
Meanwhile, on her way to the library, Yukinoshita suddenly shivered, instinctively glancing at an old tree by the roadside.
"That bold, huh?"
Just as she was musing over this—
[Ding! New Husband Task detected! High probability that Kasumigaoka Utaha has discovered Hachiman Hikigaya and Saki Kawasaki's secret relationship. Task initiated]
Eh?
Nani?!
My dear husband's relationship with Kawasaki got exposed by senpai?!
[Husband Task (Multiple Choice): The host must choose one of the following tasks]
Oh ho? A multiple-choice task this time?
Yukinoshita's expression turned startled.
[Option 1: Kasumigaoka Utaha and Saki Kawasaki serve Hachiman Hikigaya together (18+ version)]
…What the hell kind of option is this?
A duo pampering my dear husband??
Get lost!
[Option 2: Find a third conquest target to serve Hachiman Hikigaya (Must be done in front of the host)]
Wait… This "in front of me" isn't implying what I think it is, right?
No way!
And already finding a third lover so soon—am I even still playing this game?!
[Option 3: Hachiman Hikigaya and Megumi Kato must kiss (Host must personally witness it up close)]
W-What?! A kiss with that ultimate boss already?!
They haven't even held hands yet!
And I have to watch them do it with my own eyes?!
"???"
Yukinoshita was utterly dumbfounded.
No, seriously?
These options just get more and more absurd!
Screw this!
For once, the usually composed Yukinoshita was so infuriated she even let out a rare curse.
****************************
Read advanced chapters ahead of everyone else on my P@treon.
p@treon/GodDragcell