Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

Eriri quickly dashed into the girls' restroom.

In her haste, she shoved open a stall door, set down the toilet seat, and bent over to sit.

As she settled in, her thoughts wandered aloud, "Where on earth is that guy?"

"He's supposed to come to my house this weekend, and we've barely talked all week. Ugh..."

Frustrated, she tugged at her hair, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a voice rang out from the neighboring stall.

"Huh? Is that... Sawamura-san?"

"?!"

Eriri froze mid-rant, almost losing control of herself. Thankfully, she quickly recovered and replied in surprise, "It's... it's you?!"

"Hehe, it's me."

"What? You're still in the restroom? How long have you been in here?"

"Hehe, don't tell me you've never taken a long time in the restroom before?" Kasumigaoka countered before smoothly changing the topic.

"Anyway... Sawamura, you like Air-kun, don't you?"

"!!"

Eriri's mind flashed back to her earlier mutterings. Realizing Kasumigaoka must have overheard, her composed face immediately flushed crimson. She stammered a denial, "What I said earlier... it wasn't about Hikigaya! Don't get the wrong idea!"

"Oh?"

Kasumigaoka chuckled lightly from her stall.

"Look, Sawamura, I know you're in a hurry, but don't be so quick to deny it."

"I..."

Feeling cornered, Eriri bit her lip, opting for silence.

Kasumigaoka continued, her voice tinged with mischief.

"After all, Air-kun is... indeed quite amazing. It's completely normal for a girl to like him, you know."

"'Amazing'?!"

Eriri scoffed, her tone defensive.

"What's so amazing about him? He's just an ordinary guy! Ordinary looks, ordinary grades, and no presence whatsoever! Oh, and he's a total otaku! I'd never—absolutely never—have any feelings for him!"

She quickly added, "If anything, it's you, Kasumigaoka. What's with your tone? Do you... like Hikigaya or something?"

To Eriri's shock, Kasumigaoka openly admitted, "Why wouldn't I? Why else would I treat him so well all the time? Of course I have feelings for Air-kun."

"You..."

Eriri was at a loss for words, thrown off by Kasumigaoka's forthrightness.

Kasumigaoka pressed on, her tone playful.

"Air-kun... he's truly exceptional. I really like him..."

"Huh???"

Eriri's mind raced, and her voice grew incredulous.

"What do you mean by that? Kasumigaoka, you're not saying that you and Hikigaya already..."

Kasumigaoka giggled softly.

"Maybe we've shared a little... fun together~"

"???"

Eriri's jaw dropped. Her legs instinctively clamped together as a sour, inexplicable feeling surged in her chest.

"'Fun'? What kind of fun? Wait... wait a second! Have you two... kissed? You kissed him!!"

"Fufu~ Guess~"

"What?!"

Eriri's pupils contracted.

"But Hikigaya has a girlfriend!"

"I know."

Kasumigaoka laughed, her tone teasing.

"That's exactly what makes it exciting."

"You're insane! Kissing and all that... He's someone else's boyfriend!"

"Hehe, oh, Sawamura, whether it's kissing or not, and whether he's taken or not, it doesn't really matter, does it? All I'll say is... Air-kun is very talented in certain ways. It's no wonder girls find him irresistible."

Her voice carried a deliberate sultriness.

"He has this... ability to make women feel an indescribable kind of pleasure."

"Huh? It's just kissing! How much 'pleasure' could that possibly bring?"

"Sawamura, I bet you'll never understand how... satisfying Air-kun can be in your whole life~"

"You...!"

Eriri bit down on her lip, practically fuming.

"Don't lump me in with you! I'm not like you! I'd never kiss a guy who has a girlfriend, let alone do anything disgusting!"

"Hehe, let me tell you this—when a guy you like has already been... tainted by another girl, it only makes the experience even more delicious."

"???"

What kind of trashy logic is that?!

Eriri was completely stunned.

No, Kasumigaoka was way too deranged! Talking to someone like her was an insult to her own dignity!

Furious, Eriri grabbed a few tissues.

"You're... leaving?"

"Hmph! Unlike you, I use the restroom like a normal person."

But midway through her snarky retort, Eriri froze.

First of all, Kasumigaoka had been in the restroom for an unreasonably long time.

And secondly...

"Kasumigaoka, why is your voice so strange today? Are you sure you're just using the restroom?"

"Of course... I am. Tch..."

"???"

Eriri's suspicions grew as she replayed the situation in her mind.

Being a well-known manga artist, she was no stranger to certain... scenarios.

Given Kasumigaoka's outrageous personality, could it be that—

A shocking realization popped into her head.

After all, women, like men, have their needs.

Speaking of which, she herself had her own habits—though she always handled things discreetly under the covers or in the shower.

But to imagine a woman like Kasumigaoka...

Her eyes widened, and her jaw slackened in disbelief.

"Kasumigaoka, don't tell me you're... doing that in the restroom."

"D-don't be ridiculous. I'm not..."

"Ugh! You're impossible!"

Eriri refused to entertain the thought any longer. She flushed the toilet and stormed out of the restroom.

Kasumigaoka was utterly revolting!

She needed to find Hikigaya as soon as possible and warn him to stay away from that lunatic!

---

[Ding! Host has eavesdropped on Hikigaya Hachiman and... Bonus: 100 Points.]

Meanwhile, hidden in the furthest stall, Yukinoshita desperately covered her mouth.

She had simply wanted to use the restroom, but now she couldn't leave!

Neither Hikigaya nor Kasumigaoka had noticed her presence in the restroom.

Ugh! How could they be so careless?!

Thankfully, it was her overhearing them. What if it had been someone else?

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