Early the next morning.
As soon as he woke up, Hikigaya heard his sister Komachi's dejected complaints.
"Huh? No way, this can't be happening! Ai has a boyfriend?!"
"Ughhh, my dear Ai-chan…"
"Which damn bastard managed to win Ai-chan over? Unforgivable!!"
"…"
Hearing his sister's grumbling, Hikigaya yawned a few times and walked into the living room, confused.
"What's wrong?"
"Ugh, it's like this, Onii-chan. The idol I follow just announced that she has a boyfriend."
Komachi held a sandwich in one hand and her phone in the other, looking at Hikigaya with a pained expression.
"…Huh?"
Hikigaya yawned again, feeling utterly speechless.
"Since when did you start following idols?"
"Well, Ai-chan is just too cute."
"Oh…"
Waving his hand dismissively, Hikigaya decided he didn't care and started heading to the bathroom to freshen up.
Behind him, Komachi's complaints continued.
"…Ai?"
Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, Hikigaya hesitated for a moment and asked,
"Komachi, what's this idol's full name?"
"Hoshino Ai."
"?"
Hikigaya stumbled, nearly tripping over himself.
"Onii-chan, what's wrong?"
Noticing his reaction, Komachi immediately grew suspicious.
Steadying himself quickly, Hikigaya muttered a casual "Nothing" and swiftly disappeared into the bathroom under his sister's puzzled gaze.
Hoshino Ai?
The idol my sister follows is actually Hoshino Ai?!
Pressing his fingers to his temple in frustration, Hikigaya pulled out his phone and started typing.
Click. Input. Search.
As expected—
Hoshino Ai had officially announced she had a boyfriend.
An idol getting a boyfriend?
That's a recipe for disaster.
Her male fans were probably losing their minds right now.
Hikigaya couldn't help but pity Ai's so-called boyfriend.
"…Wait, hold on a second!"
Frowning, Hikigaya muttered to himself,
"Where the hell did she get a boyfriend from?"
A bad feeling crept into his chest.
After finishing his morning routine, Hikigaya stepped out of the bathroom.
Komachi had already finished breakfast.
"Onii-chan, I'm heading to school now! I made breakfast for you, so eat up!" Komachi chirped with a bright smile.
"…Weren't you just devastated a moment ago?"
Her mood changed way too fast. As expected of my adorable little sister.
"Well… At first, I was super upset, but after a few minutes, I actually got really curious. Who is this guy that managed to win Ai over?" Komachi mused excitedly.
"…Probably some ridiculously handsome guy," Hikigaya replied awkwardly.
"Most likely. I wonder how good-looking he is to make Ai fall for him…"
"Who knows…"
Hikigaya laughed stiffly.
---
Soubu High.
After arriving at Class 3-B, Hikigaya immediately sensed two distinct gazes directed at him.
Kasumigaoka and Kawasaki.
Pretending not to notice, he calmly made his way to his seat.
The morning classes went by without incident.
To his pleasant surprise, Kasumigaoka didn't pester him at all today. It was an unusual but welcome change.
Lunchtime.
As planned, Hikigaya headed up to the rooftop.
Kawasaki had arrived early and was already sitting on a bench. Seeing him, she waved him over.
Keeping his expression neutral, Hikigaya walked over and sat beside her.
Without a word, Kawasaki handed him a bento.
"…Thanks."
The two ate their meals in silence.
"…Hikigaya, do you… do you remember what I said to you last night?" Kawasaki suddenly asked.
"Cough—"
Caught off guard, Hikigaya choked on his food, coughing violently.
"Be careful! Don't choke," Kawasaki said, immediately patting his back with gentle concern.
"…Better now?"
"…Yeah."
Feeling Kawasaki's gaze on him, Hikigaya quickly averted his eyes.
Likewise, Kawasaki, noticing the unusual atmosphere, shifted her gaze away as well.
The air between them…
Had grown a little warm.
After a moment's hesitation, Kawasaki spoke again, stumbling over her words.
"Hikigaya, you're, uh… you're a teenage boy at the peak of puberty. Having those kinds of thoughts is totally normal. Plus, with all the stress from studying for college entrance exams… It'd probably be good if Yukinoshita could spend more time with you. But, well, you guys can only meet up on weekends…"
"…Don't worry. I won't betray Yukinoshita."
Hikigaya replied with complete certainty.
"I know. I believe you, Hikigaya."
Kawasaki nodded, but at the same time, her face turned an odd shade of red.
"I just… I'm just worried about you, you know? So, um… if, if you really can't hold it in, I…"
"I'm done eating. I'm heading back to nap."
Before she could finish, Hikigaya shot up from his seat and made a hasty escape.
"Eh? Wait—"
Watching his retreating figure, Kawasaki hesitated.
Pressing a hand to her flushed face, she sighed.
"What the hell was I even saying just now? How could I say something so shameless? That's practically betraying Yukinoshita again! But the thing is…"
Subconsciously squeezing her thighs together, Kawasaki bit her lip in frustration.
"…I swear, if I have another one of those dreams, I'm gonna lose my mind…"
At the same time.
Hikigaya rushed down the stairs.
Kawasaki had come on a little too strong just now. He could feel it—if he stayed any longer, something dangerous might have happened.
Deciding to retreat to the classroom, he continued walking.
But then—
A hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
"…Kawasaki?"
No—wait.
"…Senpai?"
It was Kasumigaoka.
"Come with me."
Kasumigaoka's tone was calm, yet she firmly pulled Hikigaya along.
"Eh? Wait, hold on, Senpai, I was gonna nap—"
However.
No matter how much he resisted, Hikigaya found himself being dragged downstairs by Kasumigaoka.
Eventually, they stopped behind a large tree near the school grounds.
Wait—
This tree looked familiar.
Wasn't this the same tree he and Kasumigaoka had hidden behind last time?
Back then, he had accidentally…
"…Air-kun."
Standing in front of him, Kasumigaoka suddenly blushed and fixed her eyes on him with an intense gaze.
"Just like last time… please, do whatever you want to me here. This time… you can go even further if you want."
"???"
Hikigaya's brain stalled.
"Senpai… what are you even saying?"
"I've made up my mind. You can hit me, insult me, whatever you want… just don't lose interest in me, Air-kun."
"Wait, Senpai, you're not thinking straight—"