March 31st.
In the early morning, after eating breakfast.
Hikigaya sat on the floor leaning against the bed, while Ichinose sat between his legs, leaning against him.
These past few days.
Except for the occasional time Ichinose went out to buy supplies, the two had stayed in the dormitory, coveting each other's bodies.
If they weren't cleaning.
They were on the way to prepare for cleaning.
"Ah~"
Ichinose's lips parted slightly.
She picked up a piece of sliced apple from the low table, turned her head, and brought it to Hikigaya's mouth to watch him eat it. A smile broke out on Ichinose's face.
For some reason.
Seeing Hikigaya smile because of something she did made Ichinose feel even happier. She really wanted to make Hikigaya smile more.
"Um..."
"You've been here at my place these past few days. Won't the others have an issue with that?"
Hikigaya asked softly.
He hugged Ichinose's soft waist from behind.
He had to admit.
Even though Ichinose was the voluptuous type, her waist was slender enough to be held in one hand. She was truly plump in the right places and thin where she should be.
Holding her was too comfortable.
"Hmm?"
Ichinose picked up another piece of apple and brought it to his mouth, asking with some confusion:
"It's fine. I said I had a little something to take care of, and they understood."
"I see..."
Hikigaya nodded and took the apple with his mouth.
As expected of Ichinose.
As long as she said she had something to do, there definitely was something, and the other party wouldn't ask further.
Unlike him.
Even when he said he had something to do, he would be chased with a question about what it was.
Coming up with a reason would take him a long time to think.
Facing another small piece of apple.
Hikigaya said somewhat unnaturally:
"Don't just keep feeding me, you eat too."
"Then... can Hikigaya-kun feed me?"
"Oh..."
Hikigaya's face turned red. He reached his right hand under Ichinose's armpit, picked up an apple, and brought it to her mouth.
He saw Ichinose's cherry-colored lips open slightly to bite off a small piece, her pink tongue curling the apple into her mouth.
Oh.
So this was the feeling.
This was way too cute.
No wonder Ichinose always liked feeding him.
It felt a bit addictive.
Hikigaya once again brought the remaining apple to her mouth.
Seeing that Hikigaya seemed a bit excited, Ichinose glanced back.
Suddenly.
Ichinose held a corner of the apple in her mouth, turned around, and delivered it into Hikigaya's mouth, causing his eyes to widen instantly.
A long time passed.
Only after Hikigaya swallowed the sweet fruit did Ichinose tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Her face was shy as she asked:
"How did it feel?"
"You... how do you know so much..."
Hikigaya nodded, his face burning.
What was this?
This was way too stimulating.
Why did it feel like Ichinose was so experienced at playing around?
"I just wanted to try and see if Hikigaya-kun would like it..."
Ichinose turned over to straddle Hikigaya's lap, a hint of coquettishness in her beautiful eyes.
For some reason.
After experiencing it.
She wanted to try all sorts of things with Hikigaya.
"Oh, oh..."
Hikigaya was truly a bit shocked.
He hadn't expected that the bright and sunny Ichinose would have this side to her.
"Do you want more apples?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'll feed you!"
She placed the fruit plate on the bed.
Ichinose used her mouth to deliver the apple into Hikigaya's.
Hikigaya held her, savoring the sweetness of the apple.
It wasn't until a while later.
That the two finally finished the plate of apples.
Approaching noon, after they finished lunch.
"Um..."
Hikigaya said with some reluctance: "I have something to do at noon, so I need to go out for a bit."
"I know!"
Ichinose quickly got up to leave, picked up a windbreaker, and stood behind Hikigaya to drape it over him. She then said with some helplessness:
"Hikigaya-kun... put your hands in."
"Um..."
Hikigaya put on the windbreaker, feeling a bit awkward:
"Isn't this a bit too considerate? Honami, you really don't have to do this..."
"Don't worry about it, don't worry about it. This is a wife's duty~"
Ichinose patted his shoulder before circling to the front to straighten Hikigaya's clothes, a happy smile always on her face.
"I'll go buy some things later. When you come back, I'll make you something delicious for dinner."
"Oh... okay."
Hikigaya nodded and was seen off to the entrance by Ichinose.
Why did it feel like Ichinose was a perfect wife while he was an underachieving husband?
Muah~
Ichinose kissed Hikigaya on the cheek and said shyly:
"So this is what it feels like."
"What feeling?"
"The feeling of a wife seeing her husband off like on TV~"
Ichinose waved her small hand, her smile truly reassuring. "Have a safe trip."
"I'm heading out..."
Hikigaya nodded awkwardly before leaving the dormitory.
How could he have the illusion of being in a newlywed life before even officially dating? Ichinose was just too cute.
It's over.
He felt that if he married a wife like Ichinose, he would definitely become even more of a loser.
He really didn't want to go out.
If only he could never go to work.
He wanted to stay in the room with Ichinose forever and never leave.
Unfortunately.
There was no way around it.
He had promised to see Horikita Manabu off today, so he had to leave.
After Hikigaya left.
Ichinose returned to the room to tidy up the dishes and then went to the bathroom to apply light makeup before getting ready to head out.
These past few days.
She had already found time to buy some daily necessities and put them here.
In front of the sink.
Two toothbrushes leaned quietly together.
Just seeing this scene.
A smile involuntarily appeared on the corner of Ichinose's mouth.
So.
Just being with the person you like.
Was this happy.
She really wanted to just keep cooking and cleaning for Hikigaya, and stay in the dormitory with him forever.
On the other side.
Hikigaya had just arrived at the school gate.
From a distance.
He noticed Horikita Manabu standing with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka; the two seemed to be chatting about something.
Forget it.
Since it was that Ayanokouji.
It wouldn't be strange no matter where he appeared.
Watching the two figures.
Perhaps the two had something they wanted to say, so Hikigaya stopped his pace from far away.
He felt that getting involved with Ayanokouji and Horikita.
Would definitely be a troublesome matter.
Better not disturb them. Anyway, he wasn't late, and the other party could definitely see him from this position.
If there was a need.
Horikita Manabu would surely wave. Just as he thought that, he saw Manabu waving toward him.
"...Oh..."
Only then did Hikigaya step forward to greet them.
"Sorry."
Horikita Manabu nodded and said, "There's one more person. We might need to wait a moment."
"Oh, then I'll wait to the side for you guys."
Hikigaya turned and left without hesitation, not even sparing Ayanokouji a glance.
Who is this person? Don't know him!
"Hmm?"
Horikita Manabu was suddenly stunned.
Even though Hikigaya used to be a loner, it shouldn't be to this extent.
The problem definitely lay with Ayanokouji.
"Is the relationship between the two of you bad, or is there some misunderstanding?"
Horikita Manabu looked at Ayanokouji before him, feeling confused.
Logically speaking.
Neither Ayanokouji nor Hikigaya were the type to cause trouble; even if they didn't know each other, it shouldn't be like this.
"No."
"We aren't even acquaintances, let alone have any kind of relationship," Ayanokouji explained expressionlessly. "He probably just thought the two of us had something to talk about."
"I see."
Horikita Manabu nodded, finding this explanation more agreeable.
And in front of them.
Ayanokouji glanced imperceptibly at Hikigaya, who was sitting on a nearby bench.
Hikigaya was clearly afraid of him.
To be precise.
It wasn't Ayanokouji he was afraid of, but the power group standing behind him!
At this rate, forget about defeating him—Hikigaya would even proactively walk around him upon seeing him.
Actually.
It was completely unnecessary.
Ayanokouji even hesitated for a moment.
Should he find a time to just tell Hikigaya about his background?
Being this cowardly.
It was truly a bit of a headache.