Inside Haruno's car.
There was a subtle, pleasant fragrance lingering in the air.
Perhaps it was from the scented diffuser.
Or perhaps... it was simply the presence of the beautiful mother and daughter, Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno.
Hikigaya's heart was racing uncontrollably, and he was already drenched in sweat.
"Hey, Hikigaya-kun, what do you think of my mom... isn't she beautiful?"
Haruno suddenly leaned in close to Hikigaya's ear and whispered.
"!!!"
Startled, Hikigaya quickly averted his gaze from Mrs. Yukinoshita.
"You silly girl, what nonsense are you saying?"
Beside them, Mrs. Yukinoshita gave her elder daughter an exasperated look.
"I'm way past the age for those kinds of compliments."
Nearly forty, with two children already — she hardly thought she could compare to young girls anymore.
"Come on, Mother. You shouldn't sell yourself short. In my eyes, you're the most beautiful woman in the world."
Haruno smiled warmly, then turned to Hikigaya, urging him with a teasing tone:
"Right, Hikigaya-kun~~?"
"Mrs. Yukinoshita..."
Hikigaya's heart kept hammering in his chest as he struggled for words. Even though she was modestly dressed in a formal kimono, Mrs. Yukinoshita's figure — elegant and graceful — was impossible to hide. Her curves were so naturally alluring it made it difficult to look away.
And it wasn't just her appearance.
Mrs. Yukinoshita also carried a rich, soothing scent, different from a young girl's — warmer, more intoxicating, like sweet, mellow milk.
There was a kind of mature charm about her that was even more captivating than youthful innocence.
Especially for someone like Mrs. Yukinoshita — truly a rare beauty.
Hikigaya took a deep breath, then another.
Honestly, she was no less stunning than Aunt Yuigahama.
Mrs. Yukinoshita... was still breathtaking.
"Mrs. Yukinoshita... you're very beautiful."
Lowering his head, Hikigaya shyly murmured:
"Standing next to Haruno-san, you don't even look like mother and daughter. You seem more like... sisters."
"Eh?"
Mrs. Yukinoshita froze for a moment, instinctively placing her hand over her chest.
"Hehe, you hear that, Mother? No wonder Hikigaya-kun kept staring at you just now," Haruno said, her eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Eh? Ah—?"
Hikigaya hurriedly tried to explain:
"No, no, that's not it, Mrs. Yukinoshita, please listen—"
"Haruno, Hikigaya-kun is practically family to us," Mrs. Yukinoshita said, shooting Haruno a gentle glare. "There's no harm in looking a little, right, Hikigaya-kun?"
Then, she smiled at him — her mature, graceful expression practically making his heart skip a beat.
"Y-yes, ma'am..."
Hikigaya nodded meekly, still keeping his head low.
"Hehe, Mother, look, Hikigaya-kun's too shy to even look at you now," Haruno giggled.
Embarrassed, Hikigaya lowered his head even further.
"Don't mind Haruno," Mrs. Yukinoshita said with a soft laugh, inching a little closer to Hikigaya and speaking gently, "Auntie doesn't mind at all."
"Ma'am..."
Hikigaya cautiously lifted his eyes to meet hers.
Their gazes locked.
And honestly...
The longer Hikigaya looked at her, the more he realized how much Mrs. Yukinoshita resembled Yukino. Their facial features were almost identical — so much so that, unconsciously, he felt like he was looking at a more mature version of his girlfriend.
At the same time, Mrs. Yukinoshita was staring back at Hikigaya with an unfamiliar warmth. Ever since her husband's passing, it had been years since she'd had this much interaction with a young man — and Hikigaya, her future son-in-law, was probably the one she'd spent the most time with.
"Mother, do you want to continue... feeling Hikigaya-kun's muscles?"
Just as their strange atmosphere built up, Haruno blinked innocently and chimed in with a playful smile.
"Eh? Um..."
Hikigaya immediately looked away.
Mrs. Yukinoshita gave a small cough, her gaze lowering unconsciously to Hikigaya's broad chest. His toned muscles, his masculine build — it all made her hand twitch slightly in temptation.
"Hikigaya-kun, would it be alright if Auntie... touched your chest?"
Earlier, she had only briefly touched his abs, but now, looking at his solid chest muscles, she found herself a little curious again.
"If it's you, ma'am... I don't mind."
Though he desperately wanted to refuse, the atmosphere had already gotten this far. Hikigaya could only force himself to nod stiffly.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're such a sweet boy."
Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled kindly, gently placing her hand against Hikigaya's chest. The moment she touched him, her fingers trembled just slightly — but she quickly masked her reaction before anyone could notice.
"Hikigaya-kun's body is amazing. Yukino is really lucky," Haruno said with a teasing laugh, casually poking Hikigaya's bicep as well.
Mrs. Yukinoshita agreed, nodding thoughtfully:
"Yukino truly is blessed. To have met such a wonderful young man must be the result of good fortune from her past life."
"Mrs. Yukinoshita, Haruno-san, please don't say things like that..." Hikigaya mumbled, utterly embarrassed by their praise.
"By the way, with such a fit boyfriend, how does my little sister usually treat you?" Haruno pressed, still teasing. "She must not be able to keep her hands off you, right?"
"She... does," Hikigaya answered awkwardly, not denying it.
Privately, Yukino could be surprisingly forward. She really was a woman full of hidden sides...
"Does she ever, you know, lick your muscles?" Haruno asked with a mischievous grin.
"Huh?? T-that's—what kind of question is that?!" Hikigaya's face flushed as he refused to answer.
"Hehe~"
Haruno chuckled softly, then looked over at Mrs. Yukinoshita with a teasing glance:
"Mother, you've been staring for a while... why don't you give Hikigaya-kun's muscles a little lick too? We're family after all — touching is fine, right?"
"Huh?!"
Hikigaya stared wide-eyed, unable to believe Haruno would say something like that. His eyes instinctively shot toward Mrs. Yukinoshita — who, surprisingly, hesitated, covering her face shyly.
"T-that might be... a bit too much."
Mrs. Yukinoshita bit her lip lightly, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at Hikigaya's sturdy frame, her hand once again resting lightly against his abs.
"!!"
If it's not appropriate, then why are you still touching my abs, ma'am?!
Hikigaya's heart skipped a beat.
He could faintly sense an indescribable danger.
Yukino, help me...
Your mom and sister are way too scary.