Inside the Service Club room, Yukinoshita and Yui were seated together, chatting and laughing. Their laughter, crisp and clear like silver bells, echoed pleasantly through the classroom. Their smiles, like a scenic painting, breathed life into the otherwise dull and colorless room.
A moment later—
Komachi, now the current president of the Service Club, arrived and joined them. With her addition, the room became even more cheerful, the three girls laughing together as if nothing in the world could go wrong.
But—
After they had chatted for a bit about their daily lives, Komachi blinked curiously.
"Huh? Why hasn't my idiot brother shown up yet?"
"Yeah, it's already this late. Why isn't Hikki here?" Yui checked her watch, puzzled as well.
Then both girls turned their eyes to Yukinoshita, the one who held the title of girlfriend.
Adjusting her crimson-framed glasses, Yukinoshita smiled calmly. "I'll give him a call."
With that—
She took out her phone and dialed Hikigaya's number.
It took a full three minutes before he finally picked up.
"What is my idiot brother even doing?" Komachi's small, gleaming fang peeked out as she pouted in frustration.
"He's probably caught up with something," Yui offered with a sheepish smile, coming to his defense. "Yuki, go ahead and ask him."
Yukinoshita nodded and spoke into the phone, "Where are you? You're still not here?"
"Ahem, sorry. I'm not coming today. I, uh—hiss—I'm still cleaning up the classroom."
"Cleaning the classroom? Alone?"
Yukinoshita's beautiful eyes widened, and she blinked, as if seeing something suspicious.
"No, not just me. There's, uh… Kawasaki and senpai."
"Oh? If you're short on people, we can come help."
"No, no, it's fine! We've got enough people!" Hikigaya responded quickly, clearly anxious about her changing her mind.
"Alright then. But how long do you think it'll take?"
"Well… probably a while. Sorry."
He sounded genuinely awkward.
"I see. Then I'll just go home on my own later."
"Eh? Wait, hold on…"
"Huh?"
Before Komachi could react, Yui panicked. "Yuki, going back by yourself is just—aren't you two usually together?"
"Yeah! That useless brother of mine is so slow! I'm going to check on him!"
Komachi sprang to her feet, determined to march straight to Hikigaya's class.
"Wait!"
Yukinoshita jumped, alarmed, and quickly intervened.
"I'll ask again. Too many people might not be good."
"…Alright."
Being the obedient little sister-in-law, Komachi nodded reluctantly.
And so—
Yukinoshita took a deep breath and asked once more, "Hikigaya-kun, will you be done before the club meeting ends?"
"Um… I think I can make it."
This time, Hikigaya changed his tune.
"Okay, then I'll come find you after the club ends."
"No, no problem! I should be just about finished by then."
"Alright. I'm hanging up now."
"R-right. Got it."
Yukinoshita ended the call. On the outside, she seemed calm and collected—but internally, her heart was practically skipping beats.
Just now… did someone else's voice sneak in during the call!?
[Ding. Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level +1]
[Ding. Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level +2]
Ughhh, Hikigaya-kun… don't fall to the dark side! Talking on the phone while also… doing that—is that even… ahem!
She felt numb inside.
But points were points. So Yukinoshita gathered her composure, smiled at Komachi and Yui, and said, "No problem. I'll be heading home with Hikigaya-kun afterward."
"That's a relief."
Yui visibly relaxed and smiled as well.
That smile… it pained Yukinoshita a little.
If only they could be sisters, that wouldn't be so bad. But soon, she'd have to get Yui's mother and Hikigaya-kun to, uh… get closer. That was just—sigh.
"Yuki, what's wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Oh, nothing. I was just wondering… Yui, would you mind if I asked something a bit personal?"
"Of course not. Ask away."
"Yeah! Yukino-nee, what are you going to ask Yui-nee?" Komachi's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Feeling their gaze, Yukinoshita hesitated for a few seconds, then asked awkwardly—
"Um… cough… Yui, is your mother still single?"
"Eh? My mom?"
"Yes."
"She is. But why bring up my mom?"
Yui looked puzzled.
"It's like this: my father passed away a long time ago, and my mother's been single ever since. She gets approached by a lot of suitors, which is… troublesome. Yui's mom is very beautiful too, so I'm sure she gets a lot of attention. I was just wondering how she usually handles those kinds of people. My mother finds them quite a headache."
Yukinoshita smiled gently, subtly steering the conversation where she wanted.
Sorry, Mom. I'm borrowing you for a bit.
"Huh? I'm not sure. Does my mom have a lot of suitors?" Yui tilted her head. "She's never mentioned it to me."
"Aunt Yui is so pretty and charming—of course she has admirers!" Komachi laughed.
"I don't know about suitors, but I don't think my mom has anyone she likes right now. She's been alone all these years… it's kind of lonely."
Yui looked genuinely concerned. A woman without a man misses out on a lot in life—it felt like something vital was missing. She couldn't imagine how her mom had endured it.
"Yeah… it's good to have someone, after all."
Yukinoshita nodded, her voice soft. But in her eyes was a flicker of excitement—and relief.
Thank goodness. No one in the way. No complications.
What she feared most was Yui's mom already having someone. That would be very inconvenient.
But a single, uncommitted Yui-mama? That was a green light.
Now, about Yui herself...
Yukinoshita was almost willing to share the same bed with her—if they could be "sisters" in that way. But alas, society wouldn't allow it.
Still, if it were possible, Yukinoshita honestly wouldn't mind if both Yui and her mom ended up with Hikigaya-kun… ahem, no no no, bad thoughts! Unacceptable!
---
Meanwhile, on the other side—
"Ughhh~ Evening air is like a nuclear bomb! Kawasaki, did you see it? Kawasaki, doesn't it make your heart race? Kawasaki, why are you hiding in the corner, sneaking around?"
Kawasaki's slender body trembled. She squatted in the corner, her legs shaking. "I—I'm cleaning! I spilled some water just now!"
"Oh? You spilled it, or…?"
"I-It was an accident!!"
Kawasaki bowed her head in embarrassment, her trembling voice so cute it could kill.
Not good—not good at all!
What is wrong with Hikigaya today? How can he be this… this manly!? He's like a wild, heartless beast! It's insane!