"I'm not trying to betray Yukinoshita. I—I just wanted to help Hikigaya stay healthy. I can't let him keep feeling miserable in the mornings..."
Face flushed, Kawasaki stammered as she tried to explain herself to Kasumigaoka.
"Alright, alright, if that's your reason, then I won't interrupt you two. Carry on." Kasumigaoka waved her hand lazily, clearly done teasing Kawasaki.
"I—"
Kawasaki faltered, glancing awkwardly at Hikigaya, who was sitting on the toilet lid. The mood that had built up between them quickly faded the moment Kasumigaoka entered the picture.
"Maybe… maybe we should just forget it," Hikigaya suggested after taking a deep breath, sensing Kawasaki's hesitation.
"Huh?" Kawasaki blinked.
"If you can't take care of our airhead friend properly, I'll do it," Kasumigaoka's voice chimed in from the other side of the door. "I've been ready for a while now. My body is practically calling out to him~"
Kawasaki tensed immediately. "N-No way!"
"Then hurry up."
"Why are you still here?" Kawasaki shot back, visibly annoyed that Kasumigaoka hadn't left yet. The presence of another person made everything ten times more embarrassing.
"I'm here to keep watch, of course. If someone shows up, I can cover for you," Kasumigaoka replied matter-of-factly.
"That's not necessary. Just go. I… I'll take care of Hikigaya."
"Now that's not very fair, Kawasaki. You can't hog him all to yourself," she chuckled darkly.
Suddenly, a slender hand slid under the bathroom partition—holding a phone.
Both Hikigaya and Kawasaki jumped.
"W-Why are you passing a phone under the door?!" Kawasaki cried out.
"To watch, obviously."
"Watch me and Hikigaya?!"
Her face turned crimson as realization dawned. "Take that back right now!"
"Nope, I wanna see~"
"You… you're such a creep!" Kawasaki yelled in mortification.
"Hehe, I like it that way~" Kasumigaoka said with a mischievous grin.
"You—!"
"Geez, you're really dragging this out, Kawasaki," Kasumigaoka sighed. "Hurry up already. Don't leave my dear Hikigaya waiting. He looks so lonely."
"Hikigaya?" Kawasaki turned quickly to the boy. "Sorry..."
"I'm fine," Hikigaya replied. "Isn't there that saying? Something like, 'When women talk, men should stay quiet.' No need to apologize."
"...You're too kind, Hikigaya."
"I should be saying that to you—you're the kind one," he countered, turning away slightly.
"I... If that's how it is, then… let me show you that kindness now."
Leaning in, Kawasaki gently bent forward, her face slowly approaching his.
"Huh?"
Even Hikigaya, who was usually calm, felt his heartbeat quicken.
Stay cool... Yukinoshita is my girlfriend... Yukinoshita...
"I'm doing this for her sake—not for myself," Kawasaki reminded him, cheeks flushed.
"Mm." Hikigaya nodded quietly, his face burning.
Their eyes met and softened, tension melting into something tender. Then, finally, they leaned in and shared a gentle kiss.
The moment lingered sweetly—until a voice chirped from the other side:
"Go, Kawasaki~! You're doing great—haaah, I mean… Go team!"
Then came a strange, ambiguous noise from the other side of the wall.
They quickly pulled apart, faces flushed.
"Senpai… what was that sound?" Hikigaya asked in disbelief.
"Kasumigaoka! What are you doing over there?!" Kawasaki demanded, her voice shrill.
"Hehe, don't look so shocked. I was just using the restroom. What, did you think I was doing something else?"
The teens blushed furiously.
"Alright, alright, I won't kill the mood anymore," she said with a laugh. "You two are probably ready to go all in now, right? Kawasaki, remember to be gentle with our dear Hikigaya~"
"W-We don't need your reminders!"
"Hehe, do your best. Who knows? Maybe this time you'll end up with a little airhead of your own~"
"What the heck does that mean?!" Kawasaki squeezed her legs together and felt her heart race.
"Oh, come on. You were pretty disappointed when your last test came back negative, weren't you? But don't worry—us girls always get more chances. Just try again~"
"I wasn't disappointed!" she snapped, red-faced. She quickly turned to Hikigaya to clarify, "Hikigaya! I—I'm not trying to, like, have your kid or anything, okay? I'm not! Really!"
"It's fine. I brought protection," he said, pulling something from his pocket.
Kawasaki's eyes widened at the sight, then quickly averted her gaze.
"What's wrong?" Hikigaya asked.
"N-Nothing. It's good. You're prepared... that's good..." she forced a smile, but a trace of disappointment lingered in her eyes.
"I'll help you with it."
"It's okay, I can handle it."
"Don't be shy. It's not the first time I've helped you."
"Uh… well..."
---
Meanwhile, in the next room—
Watching the scene unfold on her phone screen, Kasumigaoka smirked.
"Kawasaki, you'd better hurry up. When you're done, it's my turn~ Just don't wear him out completely, alright?"
"W-What are you saying?!"
"We share the good things in life, don't we? We're sisters, after all. Now be quick."
Kawasaki, Kasumigaoka thought with a glint in her eye, you've already fallen this far. Just accept it—let the three of us be together.
As for her—she could hardly wait any longer.