The afternoon sun streamed softly through the large windows of the school library, casting a warm, studious glow over the quiet space. For third-year students like them, who had largely completed the standard high school curriculum, regular classes were fewer, replaced mostly by self-study periods. It was common to see seniors seeking out tranquil spots like the library to focus on their university entrance exam preparations.
It was in this serene atmosphere that Hikigaya Hachiman, along with Katou Megumi, Sawamura Spencer Eriri, and Kasumigaoka Utaha, claimed a spacious table by the window on the second floor.
As the undisputed academic leader of their little group, Kasumigaoka took charge immediately. She arranged her materials with practiced efficiency and addressed the others with a confident smile. "If any of you run into problems with your studies, feel free to ask me anything."
Hikigaya and Katou offered polite, non-committal nods in response. Eriri Spencer Sawamura, however, who had long viewed Kasumigaoka as her artistic rival, showed no such deference. She merely let out a dismissive "Hmph!", turning her head away with a proud flourish.
Kasumigaoka, in turn, didn't bother wasting a pleasant look on Eriri. Instead, her smile sweetened as she focused her attention squarely on Hikigaya. "Hikigaya-kun, you'll sit right here next to me. Your math deficiencies are... quite significant, after all. It seems I'll have to take personal responsibility for your tutoring."
"...Huh? Me?" Hikigaya stammered, pointing to himself in confusion.
"Stop with the 'huhs' and 'ahs', just sit down," Kasumigaoka commanded, not giving him a chance to refuse. She directly grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the chair beside her, leaving Eriri and Katou to sit together on the opposite side of the table.
Seeing the seating arrangement was a lost cause, Hikigaya sighed in resignation and reluctantly pulled his dreaded math worksheet from his bag.
Fine, whatever.
It was true—his math grades were a disaster zone. But it wasn't just about his own academic survival anymore. There was a new, powerful motivator: obtaining Hiratsuka-sensei's contact information!
Even though he still viscerally disliked math, ever since Kirisu-sensei had dangled that particular carrot, he felt a sudden, strange surge of motivation. For the chance to see Hiratsuka-sensei again... I'll do it! I'll conquer this stupid subject!
And so, the study session began. For a while, everyone was quietly focused on their own work.
However, Kasumigaoka Utaha was not what one would call a "well-behaved" tutor. Her elegant legs, sheathed in their signature black stockings, would occasionally "accidentally" brush against Hikigaya's thigh under the table. Sometimes, she would lean over to look at his worksheet, squeezing her body closer to his in the process. This not only created prolonged physical contact but also offered him subtle, tantalizing glimpses of the fair skin and delicate curves of her chest.
H-hey! The weather isn't even hot! She's definitely doing this on purpose, isn't she?!
Sigh... Kasumigaoka-senpai, could you please stop tempting poor, defenseless Hachiman?
Hikigaya felt like he was sitting on a bed of nails, his concentration fraying at the edges. Calm down, Hachiman. For Hiratsuka-sensei. Focus. Study, study... he chanted internally, forcing his eyes back to the incomprehensible numbers and symbols.
A little over an hour later, a welcome respite arrived.
"I'm going to the restroom," Katou announced softly, standing up.
"Okay," Kasumigaoka replied with a nod.
"I need to go, too," Eriri declared, also getting to her feet.
"Heh~?" Kasumigaoka couldn't resist a teasing jab, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Didn't you just go when we got here? Could it be... that time of the month?"
"Shut up! That's none of your business!" Eriri's face flushed a brilliant red as she shot a fiery glare across the table.
You're really a piece of work, Kasumigaoka-senpai, Hikigaya thought, feeling a wave of sympathy for the blonde artist. Sawamura is kind of pitiful, constantly being targeted like this. But you have to admire her spirit—she always manages to fire back with her pride intact.
With both Katou and Eriri gone to the restroom, the table was suddenly occupied by only Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka. The atmosphere shifted instantly, becoming charged with a subtle, palpable tension.
"Hikigaya-kun," Kasumigaoka began, actively leaning into his personal space once more. A sweet, enticing scent of strawberries and ice cream wafted from her, enveloping him. Combined with her alluring proximity, it was practically broadcasting dangerous, high-voltage signals! "Have you encountered any problems you can't solve?"
"Y-yes... a few..." Hikigaya stammered, his voice cracking slightly as he pointed a trembling finger at a trigonometry problem on his worksheet.
"Oh? This is first-year material, you know. Hikigaya-kun is really hopeless, isn't he?" she cooed, her voice a mix of mock-scolding and affection. "Fine, I'll be merciful and show you how it's done."
She leaned even closer, her shoulder pressing against his as she began to "patiently" guide him through the problem. The process involved a generous amount of scolding, belittling, and teasing, but it was accompanied by even more frequent and deliberate physical contact.
Even through the layers of their school uniforms, Hikigaya felt like he had accidentally brushed against nearly every part of Kasumigaoka-senpai that was appropriate... and several that probably weren't.
Kasumigaoka-senpai! Please, I'm begging you, stop harassing me! Little Hachiman really can't take much more of this!
Feeling his resolve and sanity crumbling under her relentless, teasing assault, Hikigaya finally reached his breaking point. He swallowed hard, steeling himself for the confrontation. "Kasumigaoka-senpai! Your... your feelings... I-I understand them! But... but...!"
"Hmm?"
The pleasant, teasing atmosphere around Kasumigaoka instantly stilled. A slight tremor went through her heart at his serious tone, and she immediately raised her face, her expression shifting to one of sharp attention. "What is it you're trying to say, Hikigaya-kun?" she asked, her voice losing its playful lilt.
Hikigaya took a deep, fortifying breath and just blurted out his grand, delusional theory. "Kasumigaoka-senpai, I know the truth! You like Yukinoshita, don't you? You want to be with her! And to achieve that, you're deliberately trying to seduce me! You're planning to secretly take some... some intimate photos of us to make Yukinoshita break up with me! But this kind of behavior is just too low-class! Please, Kasumigaoka-senpai, have some self-respect!"
"???"
Kasumigaoka's previously serious face immediately fell. A network of metaphorical black lines seemed to materialize across her forehead, her eye twitching slightly. "I... like Yukinoshita?" she repeated, her voice dangerously calm. "And I'm tempting you for that? Hehehe~ Hikigaya-kun, your imagination is truly something to behold. Have you been reading too many of your own chuunibyou novels, perhaps?"
Feeling the temperature around her drop several degrees, Hikigaya looked up in surprise. When he saw her utterly unamused, gloomy expression, his heart involuntarily skipped a beat. "Uh... I-is it not...? Mph—!"
"I," she interrupted him coldly, her voice leaving no room for argument, "am a perfectly normal woman." She leaned in closer, her gaze intense. "My preference is for men. Not women. Is that clear enough for you?"
"Eh?!" Hikigaya's mouth fell open, his face a perfect canvas of dawning realization and profound awkwardness. I... I completely misread the situation?!
Watching his utterly flustered expression, a faint, victorious smile finally returned to Kasumigaoka's lips. She subtly moved her hand under the table, using a single finger to slowly, deliberately trace circles on Hikigaya's thigh. "Hikigaya-kun," she purred, her voice dropping to a intimate whisper near his ear, "I want you to think very carefully about why I might... dote on you so much."
"!!"
Hearing such an ambiguously charged statement whispered directly into his ear, every alarm bell in Hikigaya's mind began ringing at a deafening volume. He shot up from his chair as if electrocuted.
"I... I really have to go to the restroom! Right now!" he stammered, before practically fleeing from the table.
"…"
After Hikigaya had beat a hasty retreat, Kasumigaoka let out a deep, shuddering breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She subconsciously clenched her thighs together, a faint blush dusting her cheeks as she looked thoughtfully at the boy's hastily retreating back. "Last night..." she mumbled to herself under her breath, "...how could it have felt so... intense..."
At the same time.
Near a bookshelf not far away, Yukinoshita Yukino pretended to be deeply engrossed in a literary classic, while her sharp, blue eyes were secretly observing the entire scene from between the pages.
Hmm, she thought, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. Although last night's dream simulation was... terribly embarrassing to watch, I have to admit, the after-effects are remarkably effective. Kasumigaoka-senpai is being so proactive today!
To be honest, Yukinoshita vastly preferred this scenario—where the other girl was the one actively pursuing and getting close to Hikigaya, rather than the other way around. The nature of these two situations was completely different. If it were Hikigaya proactively getting close to other women, Yukinoshita was certain she would feel a truly verdant, pasture-like sensation growing on top of her head.
Time flew by.
The school day concluded without further incident. The Service Club had been quiet today; no requests had come in. However, Yukinoshita was far from disappointed. On the contrary, she was quite content.
After all, she had gained a substantial haul of system points from Kasumigaoka-senpai's endeavors today. Over five hundred, in fact! Even after purchasing another Forced Closeness Card and a Dream Simulation Card, her total still stood at a very comfortable 940 points!
In the evening, before bed, Yukinoshita went through her new nightly ritual. She activated the system interface.
"Please enter the designated target for dream simulation—"
"Hmm," she mused, tapping a finger to her chin. "Let's continue with Kasumigaoka-senpai."
After a moment's thought, she decided to double down on the same target. After all, she believed the senior's potential was far from fully tapped. Simulating a few more dreams would undoubtedly make her even more proactive in the future. And the more proactive she was, the more points would flow in effortlessly. Then, she, Yukinoshita, could just sit back and reap the rewards.
"Host, do you wish to watch the dream simulation plot?"
"Uh..." Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow, hesitation clear on her face. She struggled internally for a few seconds, a faint blush creeping onto her own cheeks as she recalled the... vividness of the previous simulation. But finally, after much deliberation, she rationalized that it wasn't real anyway. It was just strategic research.
"Sigh," she conceded with a soft sigh. "Just one last time."