Strolling through the shopping mall plaza, Hikigaya earnestly asked Horikita about the upcoming training camp.
Horikita responded as usual, her eyes never once meeting his.
Come on, seriously?
This kind of thing should be brought to Iroha, the student council president—not me. Why am I always the messenger?
With a resigned sigh, Hikigaya could only nod and go along with it.
But as the conversation continued, Horikita suddenly shifted the topic and, without warning, asked,
"Y-Your sister told me something last night. D-Do you know what it was?"
"My sister told you something?" Hikigaya blinked. "What else did she say to you?"
"You don't know?" Horikita looked surprised.
Hikigaya's heart skipped a beat. "Wait—what did she say to you?"
"Uhh…" Horikita hesitated, her expression shifting slightly. "She didn't say anything? Forget it then… A-Anyway, you probably know already."
"??"
Hikigaya was utterly confused. "What exactly did she say?"
"You… ugh, do I really have to say it?" Horikita mumbled, her head lowered so her face couldn't be seen.
"She said… that every night, you… you dream about me. A-And that sometimes, you even…"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter.
"Ah?!"
Hikigaya's eyes widened in disbelief.
That damn Komachi! What nonsense did she tell Horikita?!
"W-Wasn't she telling the truth?" Horikita asked seriously, lifting her blushing face.
In that moment, with her shy expression, she looked exactly like Yukinoshita. Hikigaya couldn't help it—just for a second, he mistook Horikita for his girlfriend.
"W-Well… maybe a little…"
Get it together, Hikigaya!
Horikita is Horikita. Yukinoshita is Yukinoshita! Don't mix them up!
"R-Really?"
Her normally cold and composed face lit up ever so slightly, a glimmer of joy appearing in her eyes—but when their gazes met, she quickly looked away and added with a huff,
"Hikigaya… don't you have a girlfriend already? So w-why are you dreaming about me? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I, uh…"
Faced with her questioning, Hikigaya was at a loss for words.
Thinking carefully, he had dreamt about Horikita once or twice before… especially that time in the bathroom…
Wait, no! Hikigaya, snap out of it!
Yukinoshita, I'm sorry—I truly am!
Just then, Horikita pressed further.
"D-Don't tell me, Hikigaya… you actually…"
"Horikita-san, are you thirsty? Want me to grab you a drink?"
"Huh?"
Horikita stopped mid-sentence, flustered.
"Juice? Milk? Coffee maybe?" he asked.
"…Coffee, I guess," she replied, going along with the sudden topic change.
"Got it. I'll be right back."
Hikigaya quickly made his escape toward a nearby vending machine.
That was close—way too close.
Horikita might actually… ugh.
This isn't good. Even if she does look a lot like Yukinoshita, my heart only has room for one person. No one else.
A few minutes later…
Hikigaya returned with two bottles of Max Coffee.
"Thanks. Let me pay you," Horikita said as she took one.
"No need. You came all the way to Chiba—this one's on me."
"…Alright then."
Horikita nodded seriously. "Then next time you come to Tokyo, it's my treat."
"Uh…"
Drinking his Max Coffee, Hikigaya almost choked.
Something about the way she said that… felt a little off.
"Ahem. Horikita-san, what's your plan for the rest of the day?" he quickly asked to change the subject. "Planning to hang around Chiba for a while, or…?"
"Wait… just a sec," Horikita said, her expression suddenly shifting.
"What's wrong?"
"I drank too much. I—I need to find a restroom."
"Huh? It's just one Max Coffee, that's not much."
"I mean… I already needed to go on the train…"
Her cheeks flushed red.
Wait, you mean you held it all the way from Tokyo to Chiba?!
"Well, I kinda need to go too. Want to head there together?"
"…Sure. I'm not too familiar with this mall anyway, so… lead the way."
"No problem."
So, Hikigaya and Horikita walked off toward the public restrooms together.
Neither of them noticed the graceful silhouette quietly tailing them—someone was following close behind.
Splash, splash…
The sound of running water.
Hikigaya washed his hands and glanced at the women's restroom. After a few minutes, Horikita still hadn't come out.
Just as he began to wonder, his phone rang.
He took it out and saw Horikita's name on the screen.
"Uh-oh…"
He answered quickly. "Hey, what's up?"
"…There's no toilet paper in here."
"Huh?"
Right. Unlike guys, girls need toilet paper no matter what.
"Is there anyone nearby? Maybe ask for help?"
"No one… I'm the only one here…"
It was still early, and the mall wasn't very crowded—especially not the restrooms.
"Well, that's… awkward."
Hikigaya sighed. "Should I go find a staff member?"
"You—ugh, that'd take too long!" Horikita sounded embarrassed. "By the time they show up, it'd already be pointless…"
"Then what else can I do?"
"There's still you, isn't there?"
"Eh?"
"Come in and help me. No one's around anyway."
"…Wha…"
Hikigaya's eyelid twitched.
Why did this feel so familiar?
He had this strange déjà vu, like he'd already handed tissues to girls in the bathroom… more than once.
"Hikigaya… I can't wait much longer…"
"…Alright, I got it."
Sighing, he glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, he reluctantly stepped into the women's restroom.
At that exact moment…
Watching her boyfriend sneak into the ladies' room, Yukinoshita smirked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
Opportunity had arrived.
Without hesitation, she activated a Force Intimate Card.
"Heehee… Hikigaya-kun, make sure you and Horikita Suzune get very close in there. Best case scenario—you end up kissing her most important spot."
The Affection Mission involving her beloved and Horikita Suzune—no matter what, she was going to make sure it succeeded today.