Inside the restroom,
The atmosphere was… awkward, to say the least.
"Ugh, are you crazy?! I-I just finished using the toilet!"
"S-Sorry…"
Hikigaya pursed his lips, equally stunned as he looked at Horikita, who was sitting on the toilet seat lid, her face flushed crimson, glaring at him with a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
What just happened?
He had come in just to hand her a few tissues, but the moment he saw her in that state, an impulsive thought struck him… and then he… kissed her.
"You… do you have any idea how inappropriate that was?!"
Horikita grit her teeth, her tone sharp. "You didn't even ask for my permission!"
"I'm sorry…"
Hikigaya turned around, ready to flee the scene.
"W-Wait!"
Horikita called after him in a hurry.
"Is there something else?"
He asked, not turning around.
"You think just saying sorry is enough to walk away from this?"
Horikita said coldly.
"Er…"
"Let me ask you this—just now, did you mistake me for your girlfriend?"
Her voice was calm, but her question pierced like a blade.
"Huh?"
"Answer me. Did you?"
She raised her voice slightly.
To be honest, Hikigaya himself wasn't sure how things escalated that quickly. Maybe for a second, he really did think of her as Yukinoshita?
But something didn't sit right. Even if it were Yukinoshita in that situation, would he really lose control like that?
Still… making up another excuse wouldn't help. He couldn't very well say he just wanted to kiss her, right?
So…
"…Maybe," he muttered with effort.
"Ugh, you—"
"I really am sorry…"
His voice got smaller and smaller.
"D-Do you usually kiss your girlfriend like that?"
Horikita asked, her face still red.
"Sometimes, yeah…"
"You two are unbelievable!"
She huffed. "Isn't that… unhygienic?"
"I mean… it's not that bad."
Hikigaya mumbled, "I personally don't really mind."
"You do know I had just used the toilet, right?!"
"So what? It's not a big deal. Honestly… I thought it was kind of cute."
"…What?"
Horikita stared at him.
"Are you serious? Did you just say that was… cute? Is your sense of smell broken?! You need to see a doctor!"
"No, I'm perfectly fine."
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya said calmly:
"For example, with you, Horikita… I mean, for me, you… cough… smell nice. It's different from how you perceive yourself. Men and women experience scent differently—it's subconscious. A woman's natural scent can be… kind of enchanting to a man—"
"Shut up shut up shut up! What are you even talking about?!"
Horikita's ears were now completely red. "You're seriously disgusting!!"
"Well, I don't feel disgusted at all."
At this point, Hikigaya didn't even want to pretend anymore.
"I… I can't even talk to you right now…"
She was flustered beyond words.
The two stood there in silence, tension still thick between them.
Finally, after several minutes—
Horikita, still red-faced, glanced over her shoulder and asked, "Do you… really enjoy kissing girls that much?"
"Eh?"
"Do you?"
"…No guy would say he doesn't like it."
"So that's a yes."
"…Yeah."
Hearing that, Horikita bit her lip, her legs stiffened nervously, and she murmured, "Then… would you… want to do it again?"
"…What?"
"I asked—do you want to?"
Horikita asked in a small, embarrassed voice.
Wait, what? Did Horikita just say that?
This wasn't like her at all!
Horikita, why are you suddenly the one being forward??
"M-Maybe we shouldn't," Hikigaya said hastily. "I mean… I do have a girlfriend."
"You have a girlfriend, and yet you still kissed me earlier?!"
"That was a mistake on my part, which is why I can't keep crossing that line. Otherwise, I…"
"Otherwise what?"
Horikita huffed, "You think I'd actually let you go that far or something?"
"Um…"
"Turn around. Look at me."
Horikita ordered firmly.
"…So scary."
Reluctantly, Hikigaya turned and faced the girl sitting on the toilet lid.
Her posture, the subtle glint in her eyes, and that long black hair… she looked so much like Yukinoshita. If it were dark out, he might honestly mistake them for each other.
"Hah. You say you're not thinking about it, but your eyes have been glued to my…"
Horikita flushed again and muttered, "You're staring."
"No, I… I mean, when I turn around, my eyes are going to look in your direction, right? And well… your legs are pretty nice-looking, so it's only natural to glance—"
"My… my legs?"
Horikita blinked in surprise, then asked:
"Compared to your girlfriend's… who has better legs?"
Oh come on, why the comparison now?
"My girlfriend's…"
"What was that?!"
"I mean, my girlfriend's legs aren't as nice as yours!"
Hikigaya quickly backtracked.
Sorry, Yukinoshita. Horikita's being really scary right now… but deep down, your legs are the best in my heart.
Upon hearing that, Horikita seemed a little less tense.
"All right… let's begin. Just… get closer, okay?"
"Eh?"
Hikigaya looked at the blushing Horikita. After a moment's hesitation, he asked:
"Horikita-san… do you… maybe want to?"
"W-What?!"
Horikita's expression shifted instantly.
"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I'm desperate? That I need you of all people? Hah! As if! I didn't dream about you or anything last night, and I definitely didn't hope you'd… do anything with me, not one bit!"
She huffed again:
"I only offered because you looked like you wanted it. That's all! Otherwise, I'd never even think about it! Hmph!"
"…"
Hikigaya.
Oi, oi…
That's some world-class tsundere behavior right there!
Meanwhile—
Sneaking in the neighboring stall, Yukinoshita tried her best to stifle her excitement.
Perfect… Horikita's finally starting to make her move.