"Mom, what's going on?"
From the living room came Yui's puzzled voice.
After all, her mother was usually calm and composed. Seeing her so shaken was rare, which made Yui worry something serious had happened.
"N-no, nothing. Mom just slipped a little. Don't worry about me, Yui," Mrs. Yuigahama quickly called back while instinctively sinking back into the bathtub.
"Okay... be careful, Mom." Yui responded, a bit unsure.
Mrs. Yuigahama gave a vague reply, then irritably grabbed her phone.
"Hehe, I just heard Yui-chan's voice~" teased Sayuri on the other end of the call. "Do you think she's missing Hikki right now? Too bad, he's with me right now. That boy and I were just..."
"Sayuri! Did you really... did you really do something with Hikigaya-kun?!" Mrs. Yuigahama tried to control her volume, but her voice still trembled, practically grinding through her teeth.
"You think I'm kidding?" Sayuri giggled. "Wanna see? I'll video call you right now, hehe~"
"Wha—?! You... you crazy woman, don't you dare—wait, stop—!"
Before she could finish, the video call request popped up on her screen. Without thinking, Mrs. Yuigahama hung up immediately.
But Sayuri, of course, didn't give up. She called again—and even sent a message in the meantime.
[Sayuri: Asuna~ If you don't answer, I might just have to devour every last bit of your sweet Hikigaya-kun. Just imagine that poor boy's helpless face~ Hehe~]
"This woman!!!"
Mrs. Yuigahama trembled with fury.
In the end...
Her fingers shaking, she accepted the call.
The video was dark at first—hard to make anything out.
But faint sounds of a scuffle could be heard from the other end, and based on the dim surroundings...
"This place..."
Mrs. Yuigahama's pupils constricted. She suddenly recognized the environment in the video—it was the public women's restroom at the park. The very one where she and Hikigaya once... secretly... No way—it couldn't be that much of a coincidence!
"Oh~ you picked up! Hehe, Asuna, good evening~"
Sayuri's face appeared in the video, smiling playfully.
"W-where's Hikigaya-kun?" Mrs. Yuigahama asked.
The screen was filled almost entirely with Sayuri's face—no sign of the boy at all. That only made her heart climb into her throat.
"Oh, we were just having a little disagreement. I wanted him to show his face, but... hehe, he's still really shy. Such a sweet little thing~ Adorable~ I'm completely smitten~" Sayuri said with a teasing look. Then she glanced at her friend curiously. "Hmm? Asuna, what are you doing?"
"I'm in the bath!" Mrs. Yuigahama blurted, then quickly demanded, "Let Hikigaya-kun go!"
"He can't leave me now~"
"Have you lost your mind?! What if... if Eriri finds out? Could you live with yourself?"
"She already knows~" Sayuri replied with a carefree tone. "And she even said she supports her mom. Wants to fight side by side with me~"
"WHAT?!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's jaw dropped. She looked like she had just been turned to stone.
"Hahaha~ You should've seen your face! Come on, Asuna, do you really think I'd tell my daughter? If Eriri found out, she'd probably cut ties with me! I'm just messing with you~" Sayuri burst out laughing, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Mrs. Yuigahama flushed red with anger.
"Sayuri! You—you selfish old hag! Can't you think about your daughter at all?!"
"Of course I do. But what can I do when my darling daughter's so hopelessly passive? Just like your daughter. She's so hesitant—what's the point? Might as well take the initiative ourselves~ Tsk tsk, Hikigaya-kun's just... precious. Eriri may never know just how delightful her beloved really is~ Nene, maybe in the future we should just—"
"Stop trying to tempt me! No way! I... I'd rather turn into a dog than lay a finger on Hikigaya-kun ever again!"
"Really? Are you sure about that?"
"I..."
Mrs. Yuigahama hesitated. A flash of the boy's image passed through her mind—her heartbeat quickened, and a dangerous thought crept in.
But—
She quickly forced it down.
Then she looked back at her best friend.
Seeing Sayuri's expression suddenly change, Mrs. Yuigahama felt a pang of unease.
"What's wrong with your face? You look... weird."
"Ahem. Asuna, I—I suddenly feel like... I might be pregnant with Hikigaya-kun's baby~ Hehe. Just imagine—a little Hikki~ Should I keep it or not?"
"?!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's expression froze.
"Pregnant? With Hikigaya-kun's baby?! Wait, you didn't... you didn't use protection, did you?!"
"Hehehe~"
"Stop this madness!!"
"Aww~ Jealous, Asuna?"
"You pervert! No! He's just a kid! How could you possibly—!"
"He's my man now. Not a kid anymore~ Ahem... Asuna, I know you're jealous. Hehe. How about we raise him together? I wouldn't mind sharing~"
"N-no! Let him go! Let that boy go right now!"
Face burning, Mrs. Yuigahama shouted while instinctively clamping her thighs together, her curled-up body trembling in the bath.
This is bad. Very bad.
Even as her mouth voiced protest, her heart... couldn't hide its envy.
No no no! I can't be like Sayuri—I mustn't fall like this... not over Hikigaya-kun...