Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno walked ahead side by side.
Hikigaya followed behind silently, carrying their shopping bags.
"Mother dearest, it's rare to see you looking so interested," Haruno said teasingly.
"Hehe, this child never ceases to surprise me," Mrs. Yukinoshita chuckled, glancing back at Hikigaya out of the corner of her eye, as if intentionally, as if not.
The moment Hikigaya caught the gaze she sent his way, his body stiffened instinctively. He quickly lowered his head, no longer daring to look at the thorny rose ahead.
"Heehee, there's something that'll surprise you even more," Haruno added, her tone light and mischievous.
"Oh? What is it?" Mrs. Yukinoshita blinked curiously.
"Actually, Hikigaya-kun's..." Haruno leaned close, whispering into her mother's ear.
"Eh? Oh my, really? That impressive?" Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Heehee, Mother, would you like to take a look later?" Haruno suggested sweetly.
"That... maybe we should let it go," Mrs. Yukinoshita said, instinctively glancing at Hikigaya. Feeling the gaze, Hikigaya froze, as if awaiting judgment.
"It's fine! We're all family, aren't we? Sooner or later, we'll be... you know, together anyway~ Might as well do it sooner rather than later," Haruno lured temptingly. "Mother, you're not even the least bit curious?"
"Well, I suppose... there's no harm in a little inspection..." After a few seconds of hesitation, Mrs. Yukinoshita reluctantly nodded.
"Leave it to me! I promise you'll be satisfied, Mother!" Haruno said with a dazzling smile.
Meanwhile, behind them, Hikigaya could only sigh inwardly at the conspiratorial whispers between the mother and daughter.
These two weren't planning to mess with him again, were they?
Ah, Yukinoshita... you threw two Demon Kings at me. I really can't take this burden!
Sighing bitterly, Hikigaya trudged on behind the pair.
A few minutes later, they arrived at where Haruno had parked.
Hikigaya dutifully loaded all the items into Haruno's trunk.
"Thank you for your hard work, Hikigaya-kun," Mrs. Yukinoshita said gently.
"We're already family, after all, Mother~" Haruno chimed in with a grin.
Hikigaya cleared his throat lightly and said, "If there's nothing else, Ma'am, Haruno-san, I'll be taking my leave."
Without a trace of reluctance, he turned to leave.
"Wait a second, Hikigaya-kun~"
Before he could escape, Haruno moved like lightning, latching onto his arm.
"Is there... something else, Haruno-san?" Hikigaya asked, glancing helplessly at the rather prominent curves pressing against him.
"Let onee-san give you a ride home," Haruno said, still smiling.
"No need to trouble yourself. I can get home on my own," Hikigaya tried to decline.
"We're family! No need to be so formal. Besides..." Haruno tightened her grip with a dangerous sweetness. "Mother still wants to have a chat with you~"
"Ah, uh..."
Seeing Mrs. Yukinoshita smiling warmly, Hikigaya felt a shiver run down his spine. He wanted to refuse, but in the end, he could only nod in reluctant surrender.
"Hikigaya-kun, we're all family. Though in the future we'll be living together often, Mother is actually quite busy with work. So, you know, there might not be much time to chat later," Haruno said as she dragged Hikigaya toward the car.
Living together in the future?
Haruno-san, you're basically spelling it out for me now!
Hikigaya sighed internally. There was no doubt anymore—his role as the "live-in son-in-law" was pretty much confirmed.
Soon after, Hikigaya and Mrs. Yukinoshita both got into the back seat.
However—
What Hikigaya didn't expect at all was...
Haruno also hopped into the back seat.
"...Why are you getting in too?"
Hikigaya stared at her, speechless. "Who's going to drive?"
"Before we head out, heehee, there's something I'd like to ask Hikigaya-kun to help with. Just a little something I've been curious about~" Haruno replied with a mischievous giggle.
"W-what is it?!" Hikigaya instantly grew wary.
"Hikigaya-kun, could you... take off your shirt?" Haruno said, giving him an innocent smile as her eyes fixated on his upper body.
"...???"
Hikigaya's eyes widened in shock. He turned to look at Yukinoshita's mother, who was smiling calmly and kindly.
Of course.
He'd walked right into the Devil's Den.
Yukinoshita, save me!!
"Don't give us that look like you're about to be sacrificed!" Haruno teased, inching even closer. "Big sis is just curious about how well you've been keeping in shape. Oh, and Mother would probably like to see how strong her future son-in-law is~"
With Haruno on his left and Mrs. Yukinoshita on his right, Hikigaya found himself completely boxed in.
"Hikigaya-kun~ onee-san is gonna help you take your shirt off now~"
"W-wait a minute!"
Hikigaya's face changed dramatically.
But trapped in the cramped space of the sports car, there was nowhere to run.
In the end, Haruno forcibly removed his upper garments.
In an instant, Hikigaya's well-toned physique was exposed to the two women.
Defined chest muscles, a firm eight-pack...
His entire presence radiated a strong, masculine energy.
"Ooooh~ You've gotten way more buff! What a fantastic body!" Haruno's eyes sparkled as she unabashedly ran her hand over Hikigaya's abs.
Hikigaya, red-faced, had no way of stopping her.
"Mother, what do you think? How are Hikigaya-kun's muscles?" Haruno turned to Mrs. Yukinoshita.
She found her mother already staring, utterly mesmerized.
Blinking a few times, Haruno smiled even wider.
"Mother, do you want to touch too?"
"Th-that might be a bit..." Mrs. Yukinoshita hesitated, glancing shyly at Hikigaya.
"We're all family~ I'm sure Hikigaya-kun won't mind, right, Hikigaya-kun~~" Haruno beamed at him.
"Uh, if it's... if it's Ma'am..." Hikigaya stammered.
Before he could finish, Haruno took Mrs. Yukinoshita hand and pressed it directly onto Hikigaya's chest.
"Hiss—w-wait..."
"Mother, what do you think? Hikigaya-kun's muscles?" Haruno asked brightly, completely ignoring Hikigaya's protest.
"They're... very impressive," Mrs. Yukinoshita nodded approvingly, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"Uhh..."
Seeing the slight bashfulness on her face, Hikigaya hurriedly turned away, trying to calm his racing heart.
At that moment, he realized—
Mrs. Yukinoshita... was adorable.
She was like a mature version of Yukino herself.