A teasing smile played in her eyes, practically radiating provocation.
Yukinoshita giggled softly.
"Not convinced?"
"You…"
What a damn troublesome bug she is!
"Hikigaya-kun, in that case—"
Just as Yukinoshita was about to let loose another round of taunts, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside the public restroom.
Their expressions shifted slightly.
Someone was entering the bathroom!
In an instant, both of them held their breath, not daring to make a single sound.
And as luck would have it—
The girl who came in chose the stall right next to theirs.
Immediately, the air tensed up even more between them.
Then came the unmistakable sounds.
Yukinoshita was still composed.
After all, she was a girl—this kind of situation wasn't exactly rare in the women's restroom.
But—
Hikigaya's face turned a faint shade of red, his breathing a little heavier.
Yukinoshita shot him a glare, then reached over and pinched his waist with clear annoyance.
"Hiss—!"
Hikigaya twitched, shaking his head furiously at her.
Yukinoshita just let out a smug little hum.
A few minutes later, the girl next door finally finished and left.
"Why the hell did you pinch me?" Hikigaya muttered, exasperated.
"Who told you to eavesdrop on a girl in the bathroom?"
"Huh? Like I had a choice? What was I supposed to do, plug my ears?" he sighed.
"I just didn't like it, okay?" Yukinoshita pouted.
Ah, women… Truly incomprehensible creatures.
Not wanting to drag this ridiculous topic out any longer, Hikigaya took a deep breath and looked at her seriously.
"Yukinoshita."
"What is it? Why the serious face all of a sudden?"
Her cheeks flushed a little, a flicker of anticipation in her eyes.
"I want to try again."
"Huh?"
Before she could react, Hikigaya stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and leaned in toward her ear—
—gently nibbling it.
"W-Wait! H-Hikigaya-kun, you're biting my ear again?!"
"Your ears are really soft."
If it were Kawasaki, her ears would probably be stiff as hell by now.
"Ugh, I told you, ears are dirty!" Yukinoshita scolded, face red as a cherry.
"Ahem, they're not dirty at all."
"Wha—?"
Yukinoshita grew even more flustered, but the next moment, her expression shifted again.
"Hey—don't kiss my neck!"
"…Not the neck either?"
"Hikigaya-kun, what's gotten into you today? Why are you—"
"In that case…"
Hikigaya inhaled deeply and eyed another part of his girlfriend.
No matter what, today he had to find her weakness.
A few minutes later—
"Hikigaya-kun! I demand an explanation!"
Sitting atop the toilet lid, Yukinoshita looked down like a queen descending judgment, cheeks burning as she stared at Hikigaya—who, with his head hung low, looked like a guilty criminal.
Ears, neck, hands, arms, even her lower stomach…
Her boyfriend today was acting seriously weird.
"Sorry."
Hikigaya sighed and could only apologize.
"Really now… Did you drag me all the way here just to do that?" she huffed, arms crossed.
"Uh…"
Under her annoyed gaze, Hikigaya opened his mouth, only to hesitate—his eyes drifting subconsciously to her arm.
No—
More precisely, just below her arm.
"W-Why are you staring at my arm? Y-You're not thinking something pervy, are you?"
Hugging her right arm with her left, Yukinoshita looked embarrassed.
"Yukinoshita."
Hikigaya spoke softly, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her again.
"Ugh… Hikigaya-kun, what now?"
"Could you lift your arm?"
"Eh? L-Lift my arm? W-Wait a second, you're not actually thinking of doing something to my—"
Her already blushing face turned even redder as her voice started to tremble.
She'd been researching that kind of relationship lately and had learned quite a bit. Could it be—was he planning to do something… there?!
But—
When she saw him lean toward her armpit, that absurd assumption was quickly dismissed. Instead, she looked completely baffled.
"Hikigaya-kun, what are you—"
"Can I smell it?" Hikigaya asked boldly.
"…Huh? Smell…"
Her face paled, eyes going wide in disbelief.
"M-My armpit? Right now?!"
"Yeah."
"Why my armpit and not, like, my—"
"Your what?"
"N-Nothing!"
"Can I?"
"Eh?"
Her face turned beet red. She glared at him and snapped:
"N-No way!! That part—you're not allowed to smell!"
"Why not? You let me before, didn't you?"
"That was different!"
Yukinoshita shot him a glare.
"I haven't showered yet. You can't just sniff wherever you want… That part's… r-really smelly…"
"Not true at all."
Hikigaya shook his head and leaned in before she could stop him—slowly lowering his face to her underarm.
"H-Hikigaya-kun!"
"…It doesn't smell bad at all. Actually, it smells pretty good."
"Ugh… Y-You're just saying that."
Despite her words, Yukinoshita was clearly pleased inside.
"Yukinoshita, can I kiss it?"
"WHAT?!"
Her expression changed dramatically.
Hikigaya countered, "What? You scared?"
"W-Who's scared?!"
She glared at him and explained in a flustered voice:
"Ears are one thing, but armpits are seriously gross. I'm not letting you do that. They're all sweaty and smelly and—"
"Yukinoshita doesn't have any weird smell at all." Hikigaya said with conviction, gently blowing a puff of air at her underarm.
Even through the fabric—
That gentle breath made Yukinoshita's expression twitch.
"Uuugh… S-Stop that! That tickles! A-Are you seriously going to kiss me there?!"
"Can I?" Hikigaya asked, dead serious.
"You, you…"
Her body trembled, and she quickly pushed him away.
Hikigaya blinked. "Yukinoshita?"
She lowered her head, voice almost a whisper. "C-Crap… I need to go to the bathroom…"
"…Huh?"
"Turn around!"
"…Huh?"
He turned to see her red-faced, flustered.
"What? You wanna watch me pee now?"
"N-No!"
"Though… if it's you, Hikigaya-kun, I might be okay with it~"
Squeezing her thighs together, she gave him a teasing look, voice sultry.
"S-Stop messing with me!"
Unable to look at her thighs, Hikigaya let out a dry cough and quickly turned around.
One breath and she's desperate to pee?
Could it be… my girlfriend's weak spot is actually… her armpits?