"Asuna, you've been kissing Hikigaya-kun for nearly five whole minutes now. You're going to suffocate the poor boy."
"!!"
Hearing that voice at her ear, Mrs. Yuigahama's slender body jolted with a start. When she looked up and saw the blushing, red-faced boy in front of her, she immediately broke apart from Hikigaya.
"S-sorry, Hikigaya-kun! I'm so sorry, I just… just now, I… I got a little too carried away…"
Mrs. Yuigahama's face was full of guilt as she trembled and apologized.
"It's okay, Mrs. Yuigahama. It's not your fault."
Hikigaya shook his head gently. "You were just trying to help me. If anything, I should be thanking you."
"T-thanking me? Uu… I'm just an old lady…"
"Mrs. Yuigahama, you're not old at all — you're more like… an older sister."
"Hikigaya-kun…"
Tears shimmered in her eyes as Mrs. Yuigahama gazed at him tenderly, her heartbeat fluttering uncontrollably.
"Heehee~ Asuna, you're smitten, aren't you~?"
Just then, Sayuri's teasing voice slipped casually into her ear.
"Ugh!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's face instantly turned as red as a ripe peach. She hurriedly retorted,
"I'm not like you, you beast! I — I don't have any improper thoughts about Hikigaya-kun!"
"Heehee, no improper thoughts? But you were so into that kiss just now, weren't you? You even took the lead and—"
"I did not!"
Mrs. Yuigahama puffed her cheeks, stamping her foot in frustration.
"I only did that because you — because you forced me to!"
"Sigh, Asuna, you're such a liar — your mouth says no, but your body is so honest."
"Ugh! A-anyway, I did everything you asked me to, Sayuri! So you better keep your word — you promised not to trouble Hikigaya-kun tomorrow!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's voice was firm.
"Well, hmm… Ahh, tomorrow there'll be no men around, huh? How lonely. Without Hikigaya-kun, it feels like ants crawling all over my body — so itchy~"
"Sayuri!!"
Hearing such shameless words, Mrs. Yuigahama's face paled, looking nervous.
"Heehee, I'm just kidding! I'm a woman of my word. Tomorrow, I won't come by. Hikigaya-kun, you can have a proper rest~"
Sayuri smiled sweetly at Hikigaya.
Both Hikigaya and Mrs. Yuigahama let out a sigh of relief.
Their hard work just now hadn't been in vain.
"But, while I won't come tomorrow… the day after, and after that… heehee~"
Sayuri's lips curled into a sly grin as she licked them lightly.
"!!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's eyes widened in alarm, then she burst out angrily,
"Are you planning to cling to Hikigaya-kun forever?!"
"I just want to be Hikigaya-kun's lover, that's all. I'm not trying to be his wife. Heehee, what's wrong with a boy having a little secret lover on the side?"
"Y-you… you shameless scoundrel! How… how did I ever end up being friends with someone like you?!"
Not just friends — they were close, like sisters. Thinking about it now, Mrs. Yuigahama felt like coughing up blood.
"It's perfectly normal for women to be a little lewd, you know. Aren't you the same, Asuna?"
"I told you, I'm not like you!!!"
She glanced instinctively at Hikigaya, her cheeks flushing as she kept emphasizing it.
"Anyway, you want me not to touch Hikigaya-kun? Sure, no problem — as long as… heehee, Asuna, you're the one who touches him instead~"
Sayuri's smile turned wicked, devilish.
"Ugh! A-again?!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's pretty face turned a deep shade of red.
"Yep~ If you can kiss Hikigaya-kun a few times in front of me every day from now on, or maybe even… hehehe, take it further, then I'll let him go. I won't torment our precious little national treasure anymore~"
Sayuri beamed mischievously.
"You—!"
Mrs. Yuigahama clenched her teeth in fury.
"You pervert! What's wrong with you, getting off on… on watching that kind of thing? Don't you feel miserable?!"
"Miserable? Hmm… you mean in that way? Well, yeah, maybe a little. But…"
Sayuri chuckled.
"More than that, I just feel… so delighted. Watching you kiss Hikigaya-kun, Asuna, I don't know why, but it makes me feel a little thrill inside. Ahh, I really can't wait to see you two officially…"
"Pervert! You scoundrel! You filthy, depraved animal!"
"Asuna, either you come tonight, or I come tonight — heehee, one of us has to be the bad guy. You can decide for yourself. Anyway, I'm off to take a shower, so let's wrap this up~"
"Wait! Hold on, Sayuri! Explain this properly, we—"
Mrs. Yuigahama was just about to speak when, in the next second, Sayuri had already hung up.
"That damned woman!"
Mrs. Yuigahama clenched her fists, trembling with rage. But when she turned her gaze back to Hikigaya, all the anger drained from her face, replaced by soft warmth.
"Hikigaya-kun, don't worry. You'll be safe tomorrow. As for what comes after… well, Mama will definitely figure something out for you. Mama will save you."
"Thank you, Mrs. Yuigahama. But I can handle what comes next on my own — I wouldn't want to trouble you."
"Sayuri is Mama's friend, and Mama is your elder. There's no way I'm just going to stand by and do nothing. Please believe in Mama — I'll help free you from Sayuri's clutches."
Mrs. Yuigahama's voice was gentle and reassuring.
"Um…"
Hikigaya hesitated, then glanced at the wall clock.
"Mrs. Yuigahama, it's getting late, so I should head home now."
"Eh? You're leaving already? Shouldn't I give you a little more massage before you go?"
"No, no, it's fine. My body's already pretty much recovered."
"Eh? Already recovered? But just now you were still…"
"Really, I feel a lot better."
Hikigaya smiled, stood up, and flexed his arms, showing off his biceps.
"Mrs. Yuigahama, thanks to your soup and massage, I feel like I could hold you in my arms and do a hundred squats without breaking a sweat~"
"Huh? Are your legs really up for that?"
Mrs. Yuigahama covered her mouth with a hand, surprised.
"If you don't believe me, I can show you right now!"
To ease her worries, Hikigaya immediately did a few squats on the spot.
"A-amazing…"
Mrs. Yuigahama watched, utterly mesmerized, her eyes locked onto Hikigaya's thighs like a love-struck schoolgirl.
For some reason…
In that moment, she couldn't help but feel a wave of envy, jealousy, and resentment toward Sayuri.
To think that Sayuri had managed to get her hands on Hikigaya…
She couldn't even imagine just how far Sayuri had already gone…