"Strange… I could've sworn I heard Hikigaya and Kawasaki's voices?"
Miura, drenched in sweat after her run, wiped the perspiration from her forehead as she made her way toward the public restroom. As she did, she instinctively glanced at the rows of trees lining the path.
"Was that… my imagination?"
She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, murmuring to herself:
"No, it had to be my imagination. There's no way…"
"Sigh, the competition's just around the corner, and I'm still like this…"
She massaged her temples and let out a sigh. But no matter how she tried to shake it, Hikigaya's face kept flashing through her mind.
"Tch!"
Instinctively squeezing her thighs together, Miura pursed her lips, conflicted.
"W-With the tournament so close… I should just wait until it's over… Yui, I'm counting on you. If you still don't do something about Hikigaya… then I swear I'll… sigh…"
Her thighs still tense, Miura let out several more sighs before quickly heading into the restroom.
At the same time.
Behind the nearby trees, Hikigaya and Kawasaki both let out a breath of relief.
"Phew… That was close. We almost got caught by Miura."
Kawasaki clutched her chest, still a little shaken.
Hiding behind trees like this… was definitely risky business.
"We should get out of here."
Hikigaya sighed, ready to slip away while Miura was inside.
"Eh?"
Seeing him about to leave, Kawasaki panicked and quickly grabbed his arm.
"Hikigaya, y-you're leaving already?"
"It's too risky here. And besides… you nearly—"
"Ugh! You're the one who kept nibbling on my ear while— cough cough— a-anyway, don't go yet! Let me… help you train a bit more."
"Huh?"
Hikigaya turned to her, hesitant.
"I… I think we should stop."
"But you haven't even gotten the hang of… techniques for girls yet. You can't just bail now! Hikigaya, please… let's keep going, okay? Just a little longer…"
Kawasaki clung tightly to his arm, refusing to let go.
"Kawasaki…"
Seeing her so stubborn, Hikigaya gave a helpless smile.
"You're being way too kind to me."
"You… mmph?!"
Just as Kawasaki blushed and tried to retort with a tsundere comeback, Hikigaya suddenly pulled her into an embrace and pressed her against the tree trunk.
"H-Hikigaya?!"
Her heart thumped like crazy. She swallowed nervously, flustered.
"D-Don't be so hasty…"
"Shh. Miura's coming out."
"Eh?!"
Kawasaki froze, then quickly shut her mouth.
The two were pressed close—face to face.
Hikigaya kept his eyes on the path beyond the trees.
Kawasaki, meanwhile, couldn't take her eyes off him.
A moment later.
Miura finally jogged away, continuing her run.
"Okay, we should be in the clear now."
Hikigaya let out a relieved sigh, only to realize that Kawasaki was still pinned beneath his arm.
And when he looked—
He hadn't noticed before, but Kawasaki's face was flushed a deep, apple-red. Her expression practically radiated heat and… a strangely enticing scent.
"K-Kawasaki?"
"Hikigaya… don't say anything. Let's keep going, please…"
Before he could react, Kawasaki suddenly leaned up and kissed him, arms wrapping around him with surprising strength.
"!!"
Hikigaya was stunned.
It took everything he had to push her away.
"Kawasaki…"
She looked up at him, her eyes full of emotion.
"Please… just say yes."
"Kawasaki… my heart belongs to Yukinoshita."
"I know. I've known all along. I'm doing this willingly. You're both my friends, and I'd never try to come between you. I just… want to be the spice in your love story. I want to make it more exciting. Hikigaya…"
"Kawasaki, you—"
Looking into her eyes, Hikigaya felt a chill.
Oh no.
Why did it feel like Kawasaki had… lost her grip on reality a little?
"Hikigaya…"
Just as she leaned in for another kiss, Hikigaya quickly spoke up:
"Kawasaki, calm down. We can't do this here!"
"Mm… you're right. Behind a tree really is too inconvenient. O-Okay then, let's head to the public restroom!"
"Wait, what?!"
And so—
Before Hikigaya could say anything else, Kawasaki grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the restroom.
They slipped into the last stall in the women's bathroom.
Click.
The door locked.
Kawasaki turned to him with a tenderness in her gaze, her eyes glittering with determination unlike anything he'd seen before.
Hikigaya averted his eyes.
"You've been standing this whole time. You should sit and rest for a bit."
She gestured gently to the toilet seat, encouraging him to sit.
"Eh?"
Hikigaya hesitated, scrambling for an excuse.
"Kawasaki, we didn't… bring any protection. I think we should—"
"It's okay. I'm safe today."
"Uh… what?"
"Hikigaya…"
She gently hugged his arm again, trying to guide him down onto the toilet.
"Come on, just sit and relax."
"I…"
In the end.
Hikigaya sat.
Feeling like he was on pins and needles, he stared at the floor.
Kawasaki bit her lip, then leaned down and kissed him again.
He recoiled in shock, quickly pulling away.
"This is for Yukinoshita. To help you beat her, Hikigaya…"
She moved in again, lips pressing firmly against his.
"You—"
His pupils shrank.
For Yukinoshita…?
If it was really for her—if this was all to make their future happier…
Trembling, Hikigaya raised his hands. With hesitation, with resistance, he wrapped them around Kawasaki's waist.
Yukinoshita, my heart will always belong to you.
Everything I'm doing… is to surpass you.
To make our future brighter.
So please…
Their lips parted.
Their gazes locked, the tension between them drawn tight like a string.
"Kawasaki…"
"C-Call me Saki."
"Saki…"
At that moment.
Unnoticed by the two of them, a set of light, careful footsteps echoed into the women's bathroom.
They crept into the stall next to theirs.
Sat on the toilet quietly.
Ear pressed against the wall.
It was Sayuri.
"Heh… those two kids just can't seem to settle down, can they…"