After mentally cursing the system with every fiber of her being, Yukinoshita Yukino took a series of deep, measured breaths, forcibly wresting her composure back from the brink of chaos. As a woman renowned for her intellect and icy calm, she knew that what she needed now, more than anything, was to think rationally and devise a counter-strategy.
The facts were brutally simple: if Hikigaya did not sleep with Kasumigaoka, the system would deduct a crippling 10,000 points from her. The mere thought made her feel faint. Her entire savings, painstakingly accumulated over days of meticulous scheming, amounted to just over 2000 points. A fine of that magnitude would instantly plunge her into a devastating negative balance—a catastrophic blow from which she might never recover.
Therefore, allowing her points to fall into the negatives was an absolute, non-negotiable impossibility.
But the real, heart-wrenching question remained... should she truly allow Kasumigaoka-senpai to share a bed with her Hikigaya-kun?
Hikigaya was her boyfriend! The person she loved most in this world. The mental image of her beloved boyfriend getting tangled in the sheets with another woman made her feel physically ill. A wave of profound bitterness washed over her, and she instinctively leaned against the cool library wall for support, the sour taste of helplessness filling her mouth.
For a fleeting moment, she subconsciously wished she could seek Hikigaya's own counsel. Hikigaya-kun, if you were in my position, what would you do?
[Host, there is no need for such pretentious hesitation. Hikigaya Hachiman has already kissed Kasumigaoka Utaha. Since their lips have already met, why cling to such puritanical concerns over them sharing a bed?]
"Shut up!" Yukinoshita fired back internally, her heart boiling with a fresh wave of fury at the system's cold logic.
[Host, you must consider the positive aspects. Hikigaya Hachiman just rejected Kasumigaoka Utaha's confession. This clearly demonstrates that he currently holds no romantic feelings for her whatsoever. Even if you facilitate them sharing a bed later, as long as his heart remains yours, your position as the primary love interest will not be threatened.]
As if to prove its point, the system promptly displayed a new status window before her mind's eye.
[Hikigaya Hachiman's Favorability towards Kasumigaoka Utaha: 58 / 100]
"It's already 58?!" Yukinoshita's eye twitched. It was only 35 before! A single kiss and a confession had caused his favorability towards the senior to skyrocket.
However, when she compared it to her own unwavering 99 / 100 favorability rating, a small, possessive part of her felt marginally more at ease.
[Furthermore, Host, you must understand that true love will inevitably lead to intimacy, but intimacy does not necessarily signify true love.]
The system's voice was now persuasive, almost gentle, like a whispering angel (or a devil in disguise) gently guiding her thoughts.
Hearing this, Yukinoshita murmured the words back to herself, as if trying them on for size. "Intimacy... doesn't necessarily mean true love... It doesn't automatically mean he will fall for her..."
[Precisely.]
[Host, you must also consider the Depravity Value. As long as it does not reach 100, he will not become addicted to Kasumigaoka Utaha.]
[Current Depravity Value: 15 / 100]
"The Depravity Value! I almost forgot about that!" she exclaimed internally. "But it's already at 15..." she pursed her lips, genuine concern lacing her thoughts. The fact that Hikigaya, whose will was once as solid as a rock, had begun to falter after just one kiss was deeply unsettling.
[Host, there is no need for excessive worry. The Depravity Value is a fluid statistic; it can both rise and fall.]
[After the act is completed, the Host can personally 'comfort' Hikigaya Hachiman. This will effectively lower his Depravity Value. In this manner, you can ensure he does not become fully immersed in the experience with the other woman.]
"Eh? Comforting Hikigaya-kun can lower the Depravity Value?" Yukinoshita asked, a spark of surprised hope igniting within her.
[Yes. To summarize, the current Depravity Value of 15 is within a very safe and manageable range. Host, you do not need to be so anxious.]
[Think of it as... maintenance for your relationship.]
I have to say, perhaps Yukinoshita herself didn't fully realize the subtle shift happening within her. Under the system's step-by-step, insidious guidance, she was slowly beginning to desensitize herself to the previously unthinkable notion of her Hikigaya-kun being intimate with Kasumigaoka-senpai. It was becoming less of an absolute taboo and more of a... distasteful but manageable strategic variable.
As this horrifying rationalization took root, her sharp eyes caught movement. A graceful, familiar figure emerged from the women's restroom.
It's Kasumigaoka-senpai.
Huff. She stayed in there for so long. She's finally willing to come out.
Secretly observing Kasumigaoka's face—flushed with lingering emotion yet set in an unusually cold, stern mask—Yukinoshita instantly knew the truth. The other party's confession had failed, and she was now in an extremely foul mood. Yukinoshita's own mood was complex; a pang of guilt stabbed at her. If it weren't for my interference, a normal, aloof Kasumigaoka-senpai wouldn't have been reduced to this state... She sighed inwardly.
Her gaze then drifted back to the restroom entrance.
"Huh? Where's Hikigaya-kun? Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Seeing that Hikigaya was still missing in action, Yukinoshita raised a delicate eyebrow.
He wouldn't have fallen into the toilet, would he?
After a moment's consideration, she decided to step out from her hiding spot and approach the restroom. As she arrived at the doorway, she spotted him. Hikigaya was just standing there, frozen in front of the row of sinks, staring blankly at his own reflection as if he'd seen a ghost.
What's going on with him?
He looks so withdrawn... lost in his own world.
But... he looks really cute like this, all confused and vulnerable.
"Hikigaya-kun."
Yukinoshita took the initiative, speaking softly as she reached out and gently patted his shoulder.
"Uwah!" Hikigaya's entire body jolted as if electrocuted. When he spun around and saw it was Yukinoshita, his expression was one of pure, unadulterated shock, mixed with a heavy dose of guilt. "Yu-Yuki... Yukinoshita?!"
Crap! I almost forgot! She was here in the restroom a few minutes ago too! I can't let her become suspicious!
Thinking this, Yukinoshita calmly moved to the sink next to him, turned on the faucet, and began washing her hands with an air of nonchalance. "I just came to wash my hands. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Uh, oh... yeah... what a coincidence..." Hikigaya's eyes darted around nervously, unable to meet her gaze directly.
Looking at Hikigaya's utterly terrified expression—clearly terrified that she might discover his recent... interaction with Kasumigaoka-senpai—Yukinoshita felt an inexplicable sense of happiness for some reason. A subtle, knowing smile graced her lips as she said gently, "Hikigaya-kun, I heard from Kawasaki-kun that you've been getting very close to Kasumigaoka-senpai recently. It seems you've managed to become friends with her. You're doing a great job."
"Eh? Th-this... we're still just..." Hikigaya stammered, ready to refute the 'friends' label, but before he could finish, Yukinoshita suddenly leaned in, closing the distance between them in an instant.
She brought her face close to his and suddenly pressed her lips against his in a firm, possessive kiss.
"?!" Caught completely off guard by the sudden affection, Hikigaya's face turned a brilliant scarlet. His body instinctively took a hurried step back, and he stared at Yukinoshita with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Y-Yukinoshita, you...!"
In that moment, her intention was clear to herself: She was fiercely wiping away the lingering scent of that 'fox spirit' from Hikigaya's lips! Marking her territory once more!
Yukinoshita's own face was slightly flushed, but her smile remained, sweet yet charged with meaning. "Hehe," she giggled softly. "This... this is just a small reward for you, Hikigaya-kun. When you successfully make three friends in the future... I... I'll give you a big reward!"
Hikigaya was utterly shocked, his face burning even hotter. "Ah? B-big... big reward?!"
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's Depravity Value has changed.]
[Depravity Value: -1]
[Current Depravity Value: 14 / 100]
Eh?! Just one kiss, and Hikigaya-kun's Depravity Value actually decreased!
Could it be... he truly felt the depth of my love for him in that moment?
It seemed the system was right. Afterwards, I absolutely must comfort Hikigaya-kun properly. I have to let him know just how much I love and cherish him, ensuring that his heart remains focused on me, instead of letting his attention wander towards other fox-like temptresses...