At the entrance of Class 3-B.
Kato: "Yukinoshita-san, are you sure about this? Hikigaya-kun is your boyfriend."
Yukinoshita smiled and shook her head. "It's fine, it's fine. If it's you, Kato-san, I don't mind. After all, we're friends, right?"
Kato: "Even if we're friends, this sort of thing is just too…"
Grasping Kato's hands firmly, Yukinoshita looked serious. "First, it's so you can understand what a boy is like. Second… it's also part of my treatment. So, Kato, I'm counting on you."
Kato hesitated. "But I don't think Hikigaya-kun would go along with this."
Yukinoshita smiled gently. "Then just make sure he doesn't find out."
Kato: "But—he's coming!"
As she spoke, Kato turned her head and saw Hikigaya standing not far away.
"Huh?"
Yukinoshita quickly looked up. Seeing her boyfriend just five or six meters away, her heart jumped. She hurriedly let go of Kato's hands.
Noticing the two girls looking his way, Hikigaya walked over to them, curious.
"What were you two talking about?"
"Girls have their little secrets. You boys shouldn't pry~"
Seeing that Hikigaya hadn't picked up on anything, Yukinoshita calmed down instantly, flashing a sweet smile.
"Well, okay then…"
Hikigaya opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but ended up just sighing. He didn't ask further and simply walked into the classroom.
Yukinoshita let out a quiet breath of relief.
Turning back to Kato, she spoke in a hopeful tone.
"Kato, so…"
"I understand. I'll do it," Kato nodded.
"Really?!"
Yukinoshita's face lit up.
"Then I'll leave it to you. I'll make some preparations… Let's try it tomorrow. How's that?"
"Tomorrow? Alright."
"Thank you, Kato."
Yukinoshita gave her a quick hug, unable to hide the upward curve of her lips.
She had gone through so much trouble just to make sure Kato's first kiss would be given to her husband.
Finally.
She could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
After a bit more small talk, the two girls parted ways.
Yukinoshita, in high spirits, made her way back to the classroom.
But then—
She noticed Kasumigaoka and Kawasaki nearby.
"Let's go together, Kawasaki."
"No way, no way! Hikigaya can't handle that!"
"How do you know? Maybe he won't even be satisfied~"
"You…"
The two girls were bickering.
"Kasumigaoka-senpai, Kawasaki—what interesting things are you two talking about?" Yukinoshita approached with a smile.
"!!"
The two looked up, clearly startled.
But they composed themselves quickly. Kasumigaoka smiled.
"We're planning to tutor your boyfriend. Kawasaki and I want to help Hikigaya with his studies."
"Oh, I see."
Yukinoshita responded with a warm smile.
"Kawasaki, I'll be counting on you to help out with Hikigaya-kun alongside Senpai~"
"Eh? I-I'm not even that good at studying," Kawasaki stammered, eyes darting nervously.
"That's why I'm here, isn't it?" Kasumigaoka said, smiling sweetly.
"You—" Kawasaki clenched her teeth.
"Still, I'll leave it to you two."
Yukinoshita gave a graceful nod.
"Yukinoshita, I…"
Kawasaki sighed and finally nodded with some hesitation.
"I get it. I'll do what I can."
"Mm."
Seeing Kawasaki's wavering resolve, Yukinoshita nodded again, pleased.
It was working.
Maybe next time, Kawasaki and Senpai would end up sharing a bed with her beloved husband.
Looked like she was about to complete all three of her missions.
…
Afternoon.
Library – self-study.
After Hikigaya finished his worksheets, Kasumigaoka beside him started acting all seductive.
Who could resist that?
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya stood up.
"I'm going to the bathroom."
Without waiting for a reply, he quickly left his seat, ignoring Kasumigaoka's pouty, playful expression behind him.
He headed for the library's public restrooms.
And wouldn't you know it—
He ran into his girlfriend.
"What a coincidence," Yukinoshita greeted him with a smile.
"Yeah… coincidence…"
Greeting her awkwardly, Hikigaya looked at her uncertainly. After scanning their surroundings, he took her hand gently.
"Wait."
"What's wrong?" Yukinoshita tilted her head, puzzled.
"Well…" Hikigaya blushed, avoiding her gaze, voice low. "Do you… have a minute?"
"Eh?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Yukinoshita blinked, then smiled faintly and teased:
"Are you hoping I'm free, or hoping I'm not free? You silly little bottom-feeder~"
"!!"
That flirty grin ignited something in Hikigaya. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the girls' restroom.
It wouldn't be his first time in there anyway.
No one else around? Then in he goes, no shame!
Just like before, they snuck into the farthest stall.
"Finished your homework already? So impatient."
Blushing, Yukinoshita gave Hikigaya a side-eye.
"Of course I finished."
Hikigaya, also red-faced, nodded.
"Yukinoshita, I—I want to try something…"
"Ugh…"
Lowering her head, Yukinoshita muttered shyly:
"N-not letting you."
"Eh? Seriously?"
"Hehe, idiot. Just messing with you. Look how disappointed you look," she chuckled.
"I-I wasn't disappointed!"
She giggled at his tsundere reaction.
Hikigaya sighed, flustered.
Then—
Yukinoshita gently closed her eyes and whispered, "Okay, enough teasing. Go ahead. I… I'm ready."
"This…"
Hikigaya hesitated for a moment, then slowly stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her slender waist—and leaned in toward her ear.
"!!"
Suddenly, Yukinoshita's eyes flew open. She pushed him away.
"Don't—don't bite my ear!"
"Uh… didn't you feel anything?"
"No," she said flatly, glaring at him. "Jeez, why would you bite my ear? That's such a gross spot…"
"…"
Hikigaya opened his mouth but stopped.
He was just trying to find her weak spot, wasn't he?
Judging by her reaction, it was clear—unlike Kawasaki, Yukinoshita's ears weren't sensitive at all.
"Ugh, what are you standing there for?" she pouted. "Could you be any more useless?!"
Hey now—who are you calling useless!?