[Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level: 8/100]
After a determined afternoon of effort, Yukinoshita finally managed to bring her boyfriend Hikigaya's corruption level down to a healthy single digit.
After School.
Following the usual Service Club activities, Hikigaya and Yukinoshita headed home together.
On the way—
Yukinoshita blushed and murmured, "Hikigaya-kun, l-later, if you're free, m-maybe we could continue?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya stiffened, staring in surprise at his girlfriend. His previously calm expression started to flush red.
"Ahem. Are you… seducing me?"
"Hehe, I'm just indulging my boyfriend's little kinks," Yukinoshita giggled shyly.
"…"
Hikigaya fell silent.
"You… you're not into it?" Yukinoshita asked cautiously.
"Well, since you're so eager…"
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya instinctively reached out and held her soft hand.
"I-I'm not the one who's eager!" Yukinoshita turned beet red and pouted, "It's all for you, okay? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be doing those embarrassing things at all…"
The more she spoke, the softer her voice became.
Hikigaya stayed silent.
For a moment, the atmosphere between them turned subtly awkward.
"L-let's just head home," Hikigaya said, breaking the tension.
"…Mm."
Yukinoshita nodded shyly.
They didn't bring up anything ahem intimate again, instead shifting to more casual topics as they walked side by side out of the school gate.
But just after stepping outside the campus—
With his keen perception, Hikigaya suddenly spotted a familiar figure standing on the right side of the gate: a purple-haired girl wearing a mask and holding a baseball bat, dressed in a light jacket and ultra-short denim shorts, like she was waiting for someone.
His pupils shrank.
A sense of dread welled up inside him.
Without hesitation, Hikigaya grabbed Yukinoshita's hand and started walking in the opposite direction.
"Eh?"
Yukinoshita blinked in confusion.
"Hikigaya-kun, this is the wrong way. We're not headed home."
"I know."
"Then why are we—?"
She tilted her head in puzzlement. This path led toward the city shopping center… Was her boyfriend planning to buy something?
Just as Yukinoshita was trying to figure it out, a clear, sweet voice called from behind them—
"Wait up, Hikigaya-kun~"
The voice was soft and charming.
"!!!"
Hikigaya flinched, gripping Yukinoshita's hand tighter and quickening his pace.
"Hikigaya-kun, w-wait a sec, someone's calling us from behind…" Yukinoshita tried to stop him.
But Hikigaya pretended not to hear and kept walking.
Unfortunately, the girl chasing them wasn't about to give up—she ran straight up and blocked their path.
"Ugh~ Hikigaya-kun, why are you in such a rush?" The purple-haired girl panted slightly, her tone faintly teasing. "I called you just now, didn't you hear?"
"Oh, it's Miss Hoshino," Hikigaya feigned surprise. "Sorry, my hearing isn't the best. Didn't catch that. Is something the matter? My girlfriend and I were just heading out to do some shopping, so if there's nothing urgent, we'll be on our way."
With that, he turned, intending to flee from this walking hazard named Ai Hoshino.
But what he never expected—
Was for Yukinoshita, his own girlfriend, to firmly grip his hand and stop him in place.
S-she's strong!
"Hoshino-san?" Yukinoshita looked curiously at the girl. "And you are…?"
"I'm Ai Hoshino—just call me Ai. You must be Yukinoshita, the girlfriend Hikigaya-kun mentioned?" Hoshino pulled down her mask and introduced herself sweetly and politely.
So she's Ai Hoshino... Wow, she's beautiful. And that body… that chest, that butt... Yukinoshita's eyelids twitched, but she smiled gracefully in return. "Hello, I'm Yukinoshita Yukino—Hikigaya's girlfriend."
The two girls exchanged warm greetings.
One sentence after another.
Both of them wore polite, radiant smiles.
Most of the conversation revolved around Hoshino profusely thanking Hikigaya for helping her earlier, singing his praises non-stop. Yukinoshita, overwhelmed by the flattery, modestly waved it off.
The harmony of this scene sent chills down Hikigaya's spine.
"Hikigaya-kun, I didn't know you were on such good terms with an idol. And not just any idol—but someone as gorgeous as Hoshino-san! Shouldn't you at least greet her properly?" Yukinoshita nudged him with a playful pout.
"Uh, yeah."
Hikigaya barely mumbled a greeting, clearly not in the mood to chat. All he wanted now was to get away ASAP.
Noticing his lukewarm response, Yukinoshita sighed and gave him a disapproving look. "Eh? Hikigaya-kun, you…"
"It's alright, Yukino-chan, don't blame him," Ai said with a wink. "I already knew your boyfriend's a shy guy."
Hikigaya quickly looked away from her teasing gaze.
"Oh? Hoshino-san seems to know my Hikigaya-kun quite well," Yukinoshita said with a soft chuckle. "He really is on the introverted side."
"Introverted boys are actually super charming, though! That's not a flaw at all," Ai said cheerily, still gazing at Hikigaya.
"True. Thank you, Hoshino-san." Yukinoshita nodded politely.
"Ugh, Yukino-chan…"
Suddenly, Ai wrapped herself around Yukinoshita's arm, snuggling close.
"Don't call me 'Hoshino-san'—that's way too formal! I'm calling you Yukino-chan, so you should call me Ai-chan too~"
Glancing down at Ai's—ahem—generous slimeballs, Yukinoshita averted her gaze and hesitated. "Then I'll call you… Ai-chan."
"Hehe, Yukino-chan~"
"Ai-chan…"
The two girls exchanged smiles, instantly clicking like old friends.
"You two…"
Hikigaya stared, dumbfounded.
Wait, what?
You just met like five minutes ago, didn't you?
Why are you already acting like lifelong besties—like how Yukino is with Yui?
"Sigh… Yukino-chan, I'm honestly so jealous that you get to date a guy as amazing as Hikigaya-kun. If only he weren't already yours, I'd seriously want to have kids with someone like him. Our babies would be so smart and cute~" Ai said teasingly, smiling sweetly.
"You're overpraising my Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita replied with a dry laugh, then added with a sly smile toward her boyfriend:
"But, you know, given the bond we share… If you're really interested in Hikigaya-kun, you could always try going after him. If you can win him over, well… hehe~"
"E-Eh???"
"Wha—??"
Hikigaya's jaw dropped.
What the hell are you saying?!
Are you really my girlfriend?!