159 Yumeko × Kirari
At the Station.
Hikigaya glanced at his watch. Today, Yumeko was especially late.
"Did something happen?"
Just as worry sprouted in Hikigaya Hachiman's heart and he was about to call Yumeko to check—
Screech—
The sound of brakes echoed beside him. A luxury car with a family crest mounted on its hood slowly came to a stop before him.
A female bodyguard, dressed in a black suit, stepped down from the front seat and opened the rear door for the VIP inside.
First appeared a delicate foot, wrapped in white socks, stepping out wearing wooden clogs. Then a slender calf extended out of the car—straight, snow-white, dazzling.
Momobami Kirari was dressed in an elegant, light-gray traditional outfit, with a red-and-blue sash tied around her waist, looking extraordinarily regal.
Her perfect body curves, goddess-like delicate features, and the deep blue embellishments on her attire did not seem out of place at all. Instead, they accentuated her noble, elegant, and aloof temperament perfectly.
The moment she stepped out of the car, even the sunlight in the sky seemed to dim slightly.
Her whole being seemed enveloped in an invisible divine light.
After a momentary daze, Hikigaya regained his senses and calmly greeted Momobami Kirari with proper respect, without arrogance or obsequiousness.
The back door of the car remained open.
The Yumeko he had been worrying about also stepped out from the rear door, wearing a soft, warm smile full of tenderness and serenity.
Yumeko was dressed in a deep red traditional outfit, with a red-and-white sash around her waist. Standing beside Momobami Kirari, the two looked like twin blooming roses, dazzling and beautiful.
"Yumeko."
Hikigaya was a little surprised—he hadn't expected Yumeko to arrive at school today together with Momobami Kirari.
"Sorry, Hachiman. Because today is the Great Bloom, I went back to the family estate to change into the formal attire representing the Jabami family. It took a bit more time and made you worry," Yumeko said, walking forward shyly, slightly tugging at the hem of her traditional outfit.
"What's wrong?" Hikigaya Hachiman noticed her unusual behavior.
Yumeko glanced around, making sure no one else besides Hikigaya Hachiman and Momobami Kirari could see her. Then, blushing, she pulled aside the hem of her outfit.
"This is an apology~ Hachiman."
Hikigaya Hachiman's pupils instantly dilated.
He hadn't expected Yumeko's formal attire to be two-piece. The moment she pulled it open, it was as if divine light descended from the heavens, blocking his view, and the once fresh air was immediately filled with Yumeko's rich sweet fragrance.
The high slit of the outfit ran straight upward, giving Yumeko a feeling reminiscent of Mai Shiranui (a famous video game character known for her revealing outfit).
Her fair, jade-like arms slightly spread apart. Perhaps due to the combination of weather and clothing, Hikigaya vaguely caught sight of the glistening sweat beads between her arms and side body.
A hazy mist seemed to permeate the air.
Yumeko's gaze was full of shyness, and her pupils shimmered with syrupy affection.
"Hachiman, do you like it?"
Hikigaya Hachiman didn't reply with words. His body instinctively answered. His throat moved unconsciously, forcefully pressing down the rising heat within him.
With a quick step forward, he shielded Yumeko with his body and hurriedly grabbed the hem of her outfit, fastening it back properly.
"I love everything about you."
"But you must not do something like this in public again," Hikigaya Hachiman said sternly.
Thankfully, there were very few people around—only Momobami Kirari was present.
This kind of behavior absolutely could not be encouraged. If Yumeko sought even greater pleasure next time... he dared not imagine it.
"Hehe, of course~" Yumeko replied happily after getting Hikigaya's affirmation, throwing herself into his arms, clinging to his arm, and following behind Momobami Kirari.
With the student council president leading the way, the surrounding students all hurriedly made way.
They lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the earthly flower of riches before them.
Such a being—just one more glance felt like blasphemy, making people feel ashamed of their own inferiority.
At this moment, the large athletic field of Hyakkaou Private Academy was already set up with a grand stage. The seating below was strictly divided according to class hierarchy.
Momobami Kirari paused her steps, turned around, and flashed a beautiful smile at the clinging couple of Jabami and Hikigaya:
"Hikigaya-kun, be sure to perform well at the Great Bloom~"
Hikigaya Hachiman straightened up and replied seriously:
"I will."
Suddenly, he remembered his agreement with the vice-president and, after a moment of thought, decided to remind her:
"President, be careful of Mibuomi Aoi."
"Don't worry. He wouldn't dare do anything irrational on such an occasion," Kirari said confidently.
If Mibuomi Aoi dared cause trouble here, he wouldn't have enough relatives left to clean up the mess.
"I mean... during the gambling afterward."
"Isn't that what Hikigaya-kun is here for—to protect me~" Kirari flicked her hair lightly with her jade-like fingers, chuckled, and waved her hand:
"I have work to do. You two should head to your class's gathering area~"
Saying that, she swayed her proud figure away.
Yumeko stared blankly at Kirari's back, murmuring in admiration:
"Momobami-nee... is amazing."
Hikigaya Hachiman tightly held Yumeko's hand.
.
.
.
The Great Bloom's opening ceremony officially began.
The once noisy athletic field suddenly quieted.
Excited and joyful conversations filled the air as eighteen-year-old students eagerly exchanged family resources and shared anecdotes from their various small circles. Meanwhile, Hikigaya Hachiman and the others from ordinary families, completely forgotten by the world, sat silently in a corner of their class's seating area.
Yumeko nestled in Hikigaya Hachiman's arms like a well-behaved Persian cat, allowing him to gently stroke her silky black hair.
She understood the wild ambitions inside Hikigaya Hachiman's heart. At this moment of imbalance between reality and dreams, Yumeko became his solace.
This quietness continued until Momobami Kirari stepped onto the grand platform.
The entire athletic field fell silent.
Students gazed at the platform with reverent, god-like awe at the stunning figure standing there.
Special guests from other schools seated in the VIP areas exchanged glances, astonished at the sudden shift in the atmosphere.
At the Shuchiin Academy Seating Area—
A blond-haired boy covered his mouth and turned to ask the girl next to him:
"Shinomiya, who's that on stage?"
"Momobami Kirari," replied the cold beauty addressed as Shinomiya. Her expression remained unchanged, but her eyes watching Kirari were filled with deep caution.
At the Advanced Nurturing High School seating area.
A brown-haired, golden-eyed boy with messy hair looked at Kirari with growing interest in his eyes:
"So she's the head of the Momobami clan? How nice."
At the Minegahara High School seating area.
The girl wearing a rabbit hair clip seemed, at this moment, to have lost her dazzling starlight.
On the high platform, Momobami Kirari stood with a calm expression, showing no trace of nervousness. Everything was completely natural, as if she were an emperor overlooking her ministers below with absolute authority.
"Welcome, everyone, to Hyakkaou Private Academy's annual Great Bloom Festival."
"I am the student council president, Momobami Kirari."
"..."
"I hope everyone will create wonderful memories here."
"That is all."