No two ways about it—having little Komachi sit on your back really did feel the most comfortable.
It gave him all the motivation he needed for his workout.
"Onii-chan, what did you think of Shōko-onee-san today?"
Komachi looked down at her brother, who was doing push-ups beneath her.
"She was gentle," Hikigaya answered offhandedly.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but there was something about her—a calm, composed air that reminded him of Yukinoshita. That poised and unattainable aura, like a flower on a lofty peak.
"Hee hee~ Does Onii-chan have any thoughts about her?"
Komachi grinned mischievously.
"Nope."
Hikigaya didn't even hesitate.
"She's pretty and gentle. And most importantly… I think she might be a little interested in you~"
Komachi spoke with rising enthusiasm.
"What's that got to do with me? I already have a girlfriend. You have a sister-in-law, remember?"
Hikigaya rolled his eyes.
"Aaah, Onii-chan, Yukino-nee is really amazing, but precisely because she's so amazing, shouldn't we prepare for all possibilities, just in case?"
Komachi replied with a solemn expression.
"If you can, try getting closer with Shōko-onee-san too, okay~?"
"I'm not planning on that."
"Well then, if not Shōko-onee-san, what about Ai-chan~?"
"That's even less likely."
As he kept doing his push-ups, Hikigaya looked at his sister in disbelief.
"I honestly don't get it. Why are you trying to set me up with so many women? Are you just worried I won't be happy with Yukinoshita? That we might break up someday? Let me tell you—your big brother would rather be a servant in the Yukinoshita household than ever leave her."
Of course, that was a bit of an exaggeration. Yukinoshita's mom actually cared a lot about him—she wouldn't really treat him like some kind of male house slave.
"Onii-chan, you're such a hopeless romantic. It's awful, really... sigh…"
"Your brother is a soldier of true love!"
Hikigaya declared with complete sincerity.
"Soldier of true love, huh~? We'll see how long that lasts before your ideals crumble~"
Komachi giggled, her eyes gleaming strangely.
"You're overthinking it. My beliefs will never betray Yukinoshita. I'll always and only ever… love her."
"Oh? Onii-chan, that cringey line just now? I recorded it~ Should I play it back for Yukino-nee?"
Komachi beamed, flashing her shiny little fang.
"Wha—! Don't you dare!—"
Hikigaya's face changed color as he scrambled to stop her.
No denying it—his sister was adorable, but she was also a total little devil.
Still… he loved her anyway~
The two siblings teased each other back and forth in the living room.
Their parents were almost always away on business trips, so the house was usually just the two of them, and their bond had grown especially strong over the years.
"You're stopping already? Weak~ That's ten minutes less than last time."
Komachi sighed in disappointment.
"…Why does that sound so weird coming from you?"
"I have to get up early tomorrow, so I'm calling it for tonight. Push-ups, squats, and all that—I'll pick it up again tomorrow."
Hikigaya said, standing up.
"Got a date with Yukino-nee?"
Komachi asked curiously.
"Kids shouldn't meddle in grown-up business."
"Aww~ Onii-chan, now that you have Yukino-nee, are you abandoning poor little Komachi?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya froze at the uncharacteristically dejected tone in his sister's voice.
"Hee hee~ Just kidding!"
Komachi suddenly burst out laughing.
"Have fun tomorrow with Yukino-nee! I'll look after the house. Mmm… it's getting late, I'm heading up now. You should take your shower and sleep too, Onii-chan."
"Y-Yeah…"
Hikigaya watched Komachi disappear upstairs.
She seemed a little… off today.
"Come to think of it, ever since I started dating Yukinoshita, I haven't really spent much of my weekends with Komachi…"
He mumbled.
If he ended up marrying into the Yukinoshita family… he might not even see Komachi once a month.
Just the thought made him anxious.
Life without his adorable little sister?
Unthinkable.
"I have to win some control in the Yukinoshita household… sigh…"
Muttering to himself, Hikigaya shuffled toward the bathroom.
By the time he finished his bath, it was nearly 10 p.m.
He turned off the lights, headed upstairs, and went to bed.
By 11:30 p.m., Hikigaya was fast asleep—deep in dreamland, cozy and relaxed.
However—
At that moment, someone quietly opened the front door to the Hikigaya household.
A graceful figure slipped inside.
Step by careful step, she crept up the stairs… and silently pushed open Hikigaya's bedroom door.
She stood in place, watching him sleep.
And then—
She slipped under his covers.
Quiet as a cat.
---
The Next Morning
Hikigaya got up at his usual time.
But as soon as he stirred, he noticed something… off.
His arm was sore, oddly sore. And there were long strands of hair all over him??
He didn't think much of it—probably just Komachi's hair from when she made the bed.
After a quick breakfast, Hikigaya called upstairs, "Komachi, I'm heading out now~"
A sleepy, cat-like "Mmm-hmm…" came in reply from the bedroom.
That's my Komachi. So cute~
Before leaving, he locked the front door carefully. As a responsible big brother, he couldn't leave his sister home alone with the door unlocked—not in this day and age. She had a key anyway, so it was no trouble.
Once outside, Hikigaya hopped a train bound for downtown Chiba, ready for his date with his girlfriend.
Roughly thirty minutes later—
He arrived at the mall where they had agreed to meet.
"You're looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed~ Must've had a great night's sleep."
Yukinoshita smiled. Today, she wore a blue-and-white blouse and skirt combo, with her hair in twin tails. She looked vibrant, youthful—positively radiant.
"It was fine. Not that great."
Hikigaya paused for a second before shaking his head.
"Oh? Not comfortable?"
"Yeah, I don't know. I had this weird feeling all night… like something heavy was pressing down on me. I could hardly breathe…"
He rubbed his shoulder absentmindedly.
"Really? You didn't notice anything…?"
Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly, as if thinking.
"Notice what?"
"Oh, nothing~"
She smiled mysteriously, and said:
"I bet you were just dreaming. Maybe you dreamed of being in someone's arms?"
"Uh… yeah, totally. It was you, of course. You were the one smothering me."
Hikigaya improvised quickly.
"Eh? Me?"
"Who else could it be?"
"Hee hee, that's more like it."
Satisfied, Yukinoshita wrapped herself around his arm.
"C'mon, time for our date~"
"Movie first? Or—"
"Let's go to the zoo!"
Yukinoshita pulled him along with a bright grin.
Neither of them noticed the expressionless girl wearing a beret, watching them from a distance.