"Sweetheart, you were wonderful tonight~"
Next to the public restroom sink, Sayuri stretched lazily. Her figure—slender in all the right places, aside from her ample chest—carried a kind of graceful sensuality. With her mature and flirtatious charm, she was the kind of woman who could effortlessly draw others in, making it hard not to want to hold her close.
Hikigaya stood silently beside the sink, washing his hands with a gloomy expression. His face looked a bit pale.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? Was Auntie too forceful just now?" Sayuri asked gently, nudging him playfully. The boy nearly stumbled, as if he might collapse any second.
"Ah! Hikigaya-kun, are you okay?"
Startled, Sayuri quickly reached out and steadied him, concern flashing in her eyes.
"You're not seriously about to faint, are you? Should we go to the hospital? Auntie will take you~"
A faint blush rose on Hikigaya's face. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'm fine. Physically. But… Sayuri-san, why did you tell Yui's mom about us just now?"
"Oh, you're worried about that?" Sayuri smiled. "Don't worry. I know her well. Your Yukinoshita-Auntie isn't the type to spread things around."
"No… that's not the point."
Hikigaya took a deep breath, conflicted.
"How am I supposed to face her after this? You two are close friends."
"Fufu, just act normal~" Sayuri said casually, wrapping her arm around his and resting her head close. "Didn't I already admit it to her openly and honestly?"
"I…" Hikigaya hesitated, unable to meet her flirtatious gaze. "That was you, Sayuri-san. I… I can't handle it like you do."
"Hehe, Hikigaya-kun, you're still just a kid—so shy and sweet. But it's okay. Auntie's here to help you grow~" Still clinging to his arm, Sayuri added softly, "And maybe someday… I'll even help you get closer with your Yuigahama-Auntie too. Wouldn't that be fun? Hehe~"
"No way!"
Hearing that, Hikigaya's expression changed dramatically as he pulled away in a panic.
"Sayuri-san, please don't joke like that! Yuigahama-Auntie is…!"
She's Yui's mom!
Unlike Sayuri, his relationship with Yui was deep, personal. The thought of dragging her mother into this mess—Hikigaya couldn't even begin to imagine how he'd ever face Yui again.
"Hikigaya-kun, are you really going to tell me you haven't even thought about it?" Sayuri purred. "Yuigahama-Auntie's figure is quite something, you know~"
"I—I'm not interested!" Hikigaya turned his face away, voice stiff, as Sayuri leaned closer.
"She's nothing like a teenage girl. That elegance, those curves… You must have noticed her before, right? Auntie's not bad herself, but compared to her, I still fall short."
Sayuri's gaze flickered with a hint of envy.
Hikigaya didn't respond. He clenched his fists and tried to stay calm.
But Sayuri didn't stop talking. Her voice kept drifting into his ear, gently nudging at his thoughts. No matter how hard he tried to push it away, the image of Yui's mother kept flashing in his mind.
That refined and mature silhouette…
Hikigaya sucked in a sharp breath, bit his lip, and shook his head hard.
"Fufu, what's this? Tempted, aren't you?" Sayuri teased, eyes sparkling. "Why don't you try making a move on her? Don't be fooled by how gentle she acts… in private, she might just surprise you~"
"Yuigahama-Auntie is Yui's mom! I—I would never… Sayuri-san, please, stop joking around. This isn't funny!"
"Oh?"
Sayuri raised an eyebrow at the way Hikigaya was barely keeping himself together. The way his voice trembled… Of course, she noticed his hesitation—his inner struggle.
Heh… just a kid. Too easy.
Right as she was about to tease him further, a voice suddenly called out in surprise.
"Hikigaya? Sayuri-san?"
"!"
Both of them froze and turned.
Seeing Miura standing there, Hikigaya's heart sank. He tried to pull away from Sayuri's arms in a panic, but her grip was too firm. No matter how he struggled, she didn't let go.
Left with no choice, he forced himself to speak. "We just finished running. Miura… are you feeling better?"
"Eh?" The normally composed Miura's cheeks turned red. She frowned slightly, embarrassed. "You don't have to worry about me. I'm perfectly fine."
"Good, that's good." Hikigaya nodded, glancing at her glistening with sweat after the run. Miura felt his gaze and instinctively shifted her legs closer together.
"Yumiko-chan, Hikigaya-kun and I are heading home now. You should head back soon too," Sayuri chimed in with a smile, giving Hikigaya a subtle pinch at his waist. He nearly winced.
"Okay. You two be careful. I'll leave after I use the restroom."
"Mhm~ You too, be safe on your way home~"
With that, Sayuri took Hikigaya by the arm and walked with him toward the park exit.
Miura stood watching their backs, a faint frown on her face.
She couldn't quite put her finger on it.
But something about the way Hikigaya and Sayuri acted around each other… felt off.
"Must be… my imagination." Miura shook her head and exhaled, mumbling to herself. "Still, what was that earlier? Why was he being so… weirdly caring? And what was with him staring at my legs…"
---
Later, after a lot of coaxing, Hikigaya found himself back in Sayuri's car.
"If Auntie hadn't shown up, would you and Yumiko-chan have rolled around in the bushes, doing who knows what~?"
Sayuri started teasing again as soon as they got in.
"That's not possible. Miura and I are just normal friends."
"Hehe, just friends? But you were staring at Yumiko-chan's legs so hard your eyes were practically glued~ Well, to be fair, they were looking quite good after that workout~"
"I wasn't!"
"Fufu~ denying it just makes it cuter. Look at that blush!" Sayuri grinned. "Auntie's jealous now. I'm really not happy. I think I need to thoroughly make Hikigaya-kun mine again~"
"S-Sayuri-san?! What are you—?!"
"Don't be scared, Hikigaya-kun. Just give Auntie a few minutes," Sayuri licked her lips playfully. "I'm just joking… kind of. I just want to help you get cleaned up properly~"
"Cleaned up?! No—No thanks, I can shower when I get home!"
Seeing Sayuri lean over from the driver's seat, Hikigaya's heart pounded.
If this kept up… he genuinely feared that someday, something truly irreversible might happen in her car.