Hikigaya wiped his mouth.
As for Yukinoshita, she clumsily pulled on her coat, looking disheveled.
The atmosphere in the restroom was… tense in a very particular way.
There was a distinct scent lingering in the air—something intimate and stirring.
After slipping on her coat, Yukinoshita hesitantly asked:
"How... was it?"
"A little sweet..."
"Huh?"
At his words, Yukinoshita's slender frame trembled. She couldn't help but lightly pound on Hikigaya's chest with her fists.
"W-What are you saying?! T-That's ridiculous..."
"Or maybe," Hikigaya continued seriously, completely unbothered by her soft punches, "your whole body just smells like dessert. You're like freshly baked bread... sweet and warm."
"Y-You're such a degenerate!"
Yukinoshita scolded him, landing a few more playful hits on his chest—but deep down, her heart fluttered with joy.
[Hikigaya Hachiman Corruption Level: 15/100]
Huh, his corruption level actually went down?
During lunch break, after a "study session" with Kasumigaoka-senpai, his corruption level had jumped to 18/100. But after what just happened, it dropped by three points.
"I… I was being serious," Hikigaya said with a straight face after a light cough.
"I-I haven't even showered yet. Without a bath, I must still smell kind of weird… If you said that after I cleaned up, maybe I'd believe you..."
"Actually, girls smell more charming before a bath."
"??"
Yukinoshita blinked in surprise.
"Where did you even hear something like that?!"
"Ahem… I learned it from you, of course," Hikigaya replied, turning his face away, a strange look on his face.
"You… mmph!"
A blush crept over Yukinoshita's face too.
This won't do.
Yes, her boyfriend was a complete perv.
But—
She was too happy about it!
She loved this kind of degenerate boyfriend~!
"H-Hikigaya-kun… Since you said I smell sweet everywhere... does that mean..." Yukinoshita trailed off, her pale thighs tensing nervously.
"What is it?" Hikigaya asked calmly.
"Then… do you want to do something to me… right now...?"
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman Corruption Level -1]
Nani?!
What's going on here?!
His corruption level went down again?
Could it be that Hikigaya-kun is really looking forward to doing that kind of thing with me?
But...
That's so embarrassing!
"Yukinoshita?" Hikigaya asked gently when she remained silent.
"Huh? N-No, it's nothing!"
Her face flushed bright red as she shook her head in a panic and scolded him:
"What are you expecting?!"
"Uh, I thought you were about to say... something..."
He glanced downward, intentionally or not.
"N-No way!"
Seeing his gaze, Yukinoshita's face turned beet red.
"I-I just went to the bathroom! I smell like a toilet! There's no way I can... I mean, I can't right now...!"
"...I don't mind," Hikigaya said quietly.
"?!"
Yukinoshita stiffened.
He… really likes me that much?
He doesn't even care that I just used the toilet?
I'm so happy!
I can't take it anymore!
I want to marry Hikigaya-kun right now!
I want to have his baby, right this second!!
I can't wait until college to do that kind of thing—this is an emergency!!
"Of course, if you're not comfortable with it, then forget it."
Hikigaya let out a long breath and turned to leave. After all his efforts, he had to admit defeat: Yukinoshita's weak spot wasn't her armpits. Pity. Back to square one.
But.
There's always next time.
He'd just use the process of elimination—eventually, he'd find her weakness.
"Eh?"
Seeing him about to leave, Yukinoshita instinctively grabbed his arm.
"W-Wait!"
"We've been here long enough. Let's go," Hikigaya said as he gently tried to pry her off.
"H-Hubby! Don't go! I-I agree, okay? Isn't that enough?"
Startled by her rare use of "hubby," Hikigaya froze for a moment, then took a deep breath.
"You call me degenerate, but sounds like you're just as bad. I'm not even in the mood anymore."
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman Corruption Level -1]
Huh? Now she's playing hard to get?
"That's right, I'm totally degenerate right now. So hubby~ will you help me out? Hubby~ hubby~ pretty please~"
Her soft, cutesy tone was totally out of character.
Hikigaya stared at her, stunned. He never imagined Yukinoshita could act this unfairly adorable.
"Zetsu-kun? You're drooling, you know. So down bad~" she teased.
"I… am not."
He coughed into his hand and said seriously:
"Sit down properly. On the toilet."
"...Y-You really don't mind?" Yukinoshita asked again, heart racing.
"Sit."
"Jeez, o-okay…"
Rolling her eyes, she nodded and flipped the toilet lid down, then obediently sat on it. Inside, she was bursting with joy.
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman Corruption Level -1]
Geez, is he really that into it?
Tch, men~
---
Meanwhile—
Neither Hikigaya nor Yukinoshita noticed that in the stall next to them, a figure was quietly hiding, listening in on their every word.
Inhale... exhale...
Sitting on the toilet, Kawasaki cautiously regulated her breathing, swallowing hard several times.
She had actually been the first person in the next stall earlier. After finishing her business, she pretended to leave—but in reality, she'd stayed hidden the whole time.
She couldn't help it.
She wanted to leave.
But her legs just wouldn't move. It was like they were glued to the floor.
Ugh!
I'm so sorry, Yukinoshita.
I'm the worst.
I can't believe I wanted to eavesdrop on you guys...
I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
"Yukinoshita, keep your voice down. Someone might hear us."
"There's no one here. What are you so scared of? And this is your fault anyway, you degenerate hubby~"
"Eh?"
"..."
Their back-and-forth drifted through the thin wall, and Kawasaki's expression twisted slightly as she squeezed her thighs together.
So jealous...
I want to be with Hikigaya too... Ahem!
Focus, Saki, focus!
Why are my thoughts getting more indecent by the day?!
She stared down at her own thighs in distress.
But the truth was… if she didn't see Hikigaya for a day, her whole body just felt off.
This is bad. Really bad.