"Senpai, thank you for your help this time."
"It was no trouble. After all, Hikigaya is your boyfriend."
"Thank you, Senpai. I'll have to trouble you to take care of him a little more in the future as well."
"Of course."
As they stepped out of the bookstore, Yukinoshita waved at Kasumigaoka, watching alongside Hikigaya as she walked away.
Since Kasumigaoka was facing away from them, the curve of her hips was perfectly outlined in their line of sight.
Yukinoshita couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy as her gaze lingered on Kasumigaoka's silhouette. Taking a deep breath, she reassured herself before turning to speak to her boyfriend—only to find that Hikigaya was doing the exact same thing.
His eyes were also locked onto Kasumigaoka's back.
Pressing her lips together, Yukinoshita spoke in a quiet, eerie tone:
"Senpai's figure is really nice, isn't it?"
"Eh?!"
Hikigaya snapped back to reality, his expression composed.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm asking if you were just staring at Senpai's butt."
"...No."
"You don't sound very convincing."
Yukinoshita leaned in closer, studying him intently.
"Are you really saying you didn't take even a single glance? Be honest with me."
"Senpai was walking ahead of us, so of course, her back was in view."
Hikigaya maintained his calm demeanor and quickly changed the subject.
"Alright, let's drop this. I'll walk you to the station."
Without waiting for a response, he strode forward, clearly trying to escape the conversation.
"Ugh..."
Yukinoshita subconsciously touched her own hips and sighed.
Alright.
There was really no comparison, was there?
With a helpless expression, she followed after Hikigaya.
On the way, their conversation drifted to Kawasaki.
"You had another one of Kawasaki's bento for lunch today?"
"She insisted on giving it to me. I couldn't refuse."
"Hmm... Kawasaki is too kind. This can't go on. Her family's financial situation isn't great, and she's still making you lunch... She's really putting herself out for you."
"Yeah, the ingredients she uses are expensive. That's why you should tell her to stop making them."
"Hehe, stop making them? That won't do."
Yukinoshita gave a bright, knowing smile.
"I actually have a solution that benefits everyone."
"What kind of solution?" Hikigaya asked offhandedly.
Yukinoshita's smile deepened.
"Just pay Kawasaki for them. Each time she makes you a bento, you pay her."
"Huh??"
Hikigaya paused, feeling that something about her wording was... off.
After a brief thought, he shook his head.
"Kawasaki won't agree to that."
Yukinoshita, still smiling, replied sweetly:
"With your persuasion skills, I believe you can make her accept the money."
"Don't give me so much credit..."
"Hehe, I'm leaving it to you then. Make sure she agrees."
Her smile was radiant, but to Hikigaya, she looked more like a devil.
With a sigh, he muttered,
"Even if I pay her, the ingredients she uses are too extravagant. I can't afford it with my allowance."
"Hmm..."
Yukinoshita blinked, then pulled out her wallet.
"You don't have to worry about that. I'll pay for it."
"...You?" Hikigaya was taken aback.
"Is there a problem?"
She shot him a look.
"I am your girlfriend, after all."
"But..."
"Don't start with that macho nonsense. I have way more money than you."
Yukinoshita said this casually as she prepared to pull out some cash.
Seeing her reach into her wallet, Hikigaya quickly stopped her.
"Hold on a second!"
"Eh? What's wrong?"
"Don't just take out that much cash in the middle of the street."
After saying that, he pulled her toward a more secluded area—a little hideaway they had found before.
Once they were alone, he let out a relieved sigh and warned her:
"Even though we live in a civilized society, there are still criminals out there. Flashing that much cash in public is way too risky."
"...Okay."
Feeling warm inside, Yukinoshita sincerely took his advice to heart.
"You're right. I was careless. Well, now that we're here, it should be fine, right?"
"Yeah."
Seeing her looking uncharacteristically docile, Hikigaya nodded slightly.
Then, Yukinoshita pulled a thick stack of yen from her wallet and handed it to him.
"Here, take this."
"That's a lot..."
Hikigaya frowned as he took the cash.
Yukinoshita spoke nonchalantly:
"About 50,000 yen, I think."
Fifty thousand?!
"Fifty thousand yen?!"
Hikigaya was dumbfounded. He knew his girlfriend was rich, but he hadn't expected her to casually pull out that much money.
Taking a deep breath, he protested,
"This is way too much. I don't need this much."
"I'm worried it's not enough."
Yukinoshita replied seriously.
"Kawasaki puts a lot of effort into making those bentos. Think of it as extra compensation for her hard work. She deserves it."
"But this..."
"Just take it. I'd actually love for Kawasaki to keep making you lunch. I want you to stay healthy."
"...Why not just make them yourself?"
"Uh—cough, cough—I've been really busy lately, otherwise I would."
"Busy?"
"Obviously with studying."
Yukinoshita smiled smoothly.
"Anyway, let's leave it to Kawasaki. Hmm... I don't think 50,000 yen will last long. I'll give you money every week so you can pass it to her."
"Every week?" Hikigaya's eye twitched.
Yukinoshita chuckled.
"Don't underestimate me. Ever since we started dating, my mother has been giving me a generous allowance."
"Wow... My girlfriend's actually a rich girl. I should just give up and be a kept man."
Hikigaya sighed, acknowledging her privileged background. He didn't bother asking how much she actually had—he could already guess it was a lot.
"Hehe."
Yukinoshita giggled.
"You can slack off all you want, but whether my mother and my sister will let you... well, that's another story."
At the mention of those two, Hikigaya visibly shuddered.
"Ugh..."
Seeing his horrified reaction, Yukinoshita laughed in delight.
But even as she laughed, deep down, she sighed.
Sigh.
Why does this feel like I'm using my own money to fund Kawasaki taking care of my boyfriend?
[Since you're already "sponsoring" Kawasaki Saki, the system strongly recommends that you take the next logical step—serving Hikigaya alongside her. This will help you prepare for including Kasumigaoka in the future, completing your system quest.]
Me and Saki... taking care of Hikigaya together?!
Shut up, system!!
This is insane!
No way!!!
Forcing the thought out of her mind, Yukinoshita cleared her throat and glanced at Hikigaya.
"By the way... Since we're already here in our little hideout... um... do you have any thoughts on what we should do?"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but recall the bookstore scene earlier—when Hikigaya had smacked Kasumigaoka's butt.
Her heart thumped strangely at the memory.
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