Dormitory Building.
Hachiman quietly returned to his room and opened the door.
"Hikki?"
Following a flurry of footsteps.
Ichinose, wearing a white apron, poked her small head out of the bedroom joyfully.
Just as she was about to say something.
She noticed Hachiman's eyes were a bit red. Ichinose immediately panicked and ran to Hachiman.
"Hikki, what happened? Why are your eyes so red?"
Ichinose was at a loss, and her own eyes began to redden as well.
Although Hachiman said he had things to do, she wouldn't ask too much, but she never expected it to be like this.
He clearly cried, right?
"No."
Hachiman's face flushed as he explained sheepishly: "When I went to see off Senior Horikita just now, some sand accidentally got in my eyes."
A grown man.
Becoming so teary-eyed over such a small thing.
It was really pathetic.
More importantly.
To be discovered by Ichinose was incredibly embarrassing.
If he had known.
He should have stayed outside a bit longer before returning to the room.
"Eh?"
Ichinose froze for a moment, then a smile uncontrollably appeared on her lips: "As expected, Hikki is truly too kind."
"I'm not, it was just the wind."
Hachiman closed the room door and walked further into the dormitory.
"No way~"
Ichinose stretched out her hands to block him, her gaze slightly resentful:
"Hikki, did you forget something?"
"What?"
Hachiman was a bit dazed.
It didn't seem like Ichinose asked him to bring anything back?
Or did he really forget?
No, no, no, even if his memory wasn't great, he couldn't have forgotten that quickly, right?
Hachiman couldn't help but feel nervous.
"Honestly."
Ichinose felt a bit helpless: "You haven't said 'I'm home' yet."
"That's not necessary, right?"
Hachiman felt genuinely embarrassed:
"The point of saying 'I'm home' is to notify someone, but you're already standing right in front of me, so it's meaningless to say it now, isn't it?"
"No, you have to say it!"
Ichinose was persistent, her beautiful eyes shimmering with anticipation.
Seeing this.
Hachiman helplessly muttered in a voice as soft as a mosquito.
"I'm home."
"Hikki, welcome home!"
"Oh..."
Hachiman's face turned red.
He originally thought such words were meaningless; there was no difference to him between the dormitory and the school.
Because of that, he didn't mind killing time in the club.
Now, for some reason.
Hachiman felt a sense of belonging to the room. The feeling of someone saying "welcome home" was actually quite nice.
As expected, Ichinose is simply too wonderful.
As she spoke.
Ichinose's small face also turned red.
This was the feeling of waiting for a loved one to return home; it was so fulfilling.
While she didn't hate standing in front of people.
She still preferred this feeling of providing support from behind.
Seeing Hachiman about to change his shoes, Ichinose quickly crouched down and reached out her hands.
"Let me do it."
"No need..."
Looking at the crouching Ichinose, with the cleavage in her chest coming into view, Hachiman's face turned crimson with embarrassment as he said:
"I can do it myself. No matter how you look at it, you don't need to go this far."
"No, this is a wife's duty!"
Ichinose insisted on helping him put on his slippers, and then Hachiman, with Ichinose's help, took off his trench coat.
It's over.
Hachiman's face stiffened.
Ichinose seemed to be a traditional Yamato Nadeshiko; her "wife-potential" was off the charts, simply too perfect.
Matching her with someone like him was a waste.
If that's the case.
To be worthy of Ichinose.
Besides working hard.
He seemed to have no other choice.
Even if Ichinose's family situation wasn't great and she seemed used to a hard life, at the very least, bread should be served with jam, right?
Returning to the bedroom.
Hachiman saw several full plastic bags in the kitchen; they must be ingredients Ichinose just bought for dinner.
It seemed he had returned a bit early.
"Speaking of which."
Ichinose clearly noticed this as well, looking at Hachiman with curiosity: "Hikki,what do you usually do in the dormitory?"
Over these past few days.
The two were either eating, cleaning, or being intimately entwined.
Reading.
Only then did Ichinose realize.
She didn't know much about Hachiman's daily routine, although at school, Hachiman was mostly listening to music or reading books.
However.
Hearing her words.
Hachiman's face stiffened.
Usually, he was playing games, watching anime, or reading books recommended by Shiina Hiyori.
His diet mostly consisted of simple foods like cup noodles, or he just went out to eat better.
It seemed...
He did nothing at all in the dormitory...
Hachiman felt like a piece of trash.
For some reason.
He didn't want Ichinose to find out he was a piece of trash.
He only had one presentable hobby; Hachiman felt really embarrassed:
"Reading books..."
"As expected?"
Ichinose said as she anticipated: "Hikki, you've always liked reading at school too."
"That's not quite it."
Being misunderstood as some kind of amazing person was also embarrassing. Hachiman stammered again:
"Sometimes I play games... occasionally."
"I see."
Ichinose nodded indifferently: "Then Hikki, go ahead and read or play games for a bit. I'll prepare the ingredients first and cook later, how about that?"
"Oh."
Hachiman didn't dare have any objections.
Once Ichinose went into the kitchen, he randomly picked up a book borrowed from Shiina Hiyori from his desk.
An hour later.
Ichinose, having taken off her apron, walked out of the kitchen.
"Hikki"
Ichinose sat down beside Hachiman, leaning on his shoulder with curiosity:
"Why didn't you play games for a while?"
"That's boring."
Hachiman shook his head seriously.
He would never play those trashy games again.
"Eh?"
Ichinose couldn't help but lean against him, wrapping her arm around Hachiman's waist:
"Just play a bit. I haven't played a game before, is that okay?"
"It's not that it's not okay..."
Hachiman said in a muffled voice: "It's just that it might really be boring."
Ichinose was the top student in the entrance exam.
He felt a good student like her wouldn't like things like games.
"It's fine. I just want to understand what Hiki-kun usually likes."
Ichinose's small face gently rubbed against Hachiman's shoulder.
It wasn't that she wanted to play.
She just wanted to get to know the things Hachiman liked.
"I see."
Seeing Hachiman pull out a handheld console from under the bed, Ichinose was confused.
"Why do you keep it under the bed...?"
"Because this belongs to the club, usually it's not allow... uh..."
As he spoke.
Hachiman's face stiffened.
Wait a minute, Ichinose is a member of the Student Council; wasn't he just caught red-handed?
"Honestly..."
Ichinose rolled her eyes beautifully and said with some helplessness: "I'm fine with it, but it would be bad if someone else found it."
"True..."
Since it seemed she was letting it slide, Hachiman said awkwardly: "I won't play it next semester."
"Eh? You don't have to go that far."
"No."
Hachiman shook his head and explained: "It's just that I'm in the second year now, and I want to go to university. It's about time to start considering higher education."
Good.
Playing a bit in the first year was one thing.
But if he wanted to go to university.
He had to start considering things related to higher education in the second year.
Otherwise.
In the event he was left far behind by Ichinose.
That would be bad.
"I see."
Ichinose bit her lip.
Unlike most students who didn't consider anything.
Even though Hachiman thought he would likely become a corporate drone, he had a clear plan for his life.
He would definitely not move if he could slack off.
But when it was time to study, he would have to work hard.
It seemed.
She also had to work hard to be worthy of Hachiman!
"Then let's begin."
As she spoke.
Ichinose crawled between Hachiman's legs, leaning against him, staring seriously at the dark screen in front of her.
She often heard people talk about game-related topics.
But there was no way for her to experience them at home.
After entering this school.
Learning the importance of private points, Ichinose didn't feel games were a necessity; they could only be a pastime like they were for Hachiman.
"Oh."
Hachiman rested his head on Ichinose's shoulder, about to start with the handheld in his hands, when his face suddenly stiffened.
Wait a minute.
What games did he download again?
"Um... it seems like the battery is dead. How about next time?"
"Can't it be charged?"
"It can..."
"Then why wait until next time?"
"Yeah, why..."
"Hmm?"
Ichinose looked back in confusion. Seeing Hachiman's guilty look, she tilted her head.
"Is there something bad you don't want me to see? It's okay, I just want to know what Hikki usually likes."
"Haha, then let's try it."
Seeing Ichinose nod, Hachiman guiltily nodded and turned on the power.
As it powered on.
His finger moved like a blur, clicking directly on Steam.
"Wait!"
Ichinose quickly spoke up, pointing at several girl avatars on the screen:
"School Days? Is this a game too?"
"I gue-gue-guess so..."
Hachiman stammered, feeling his palms sweating. After all, he was a guy, so it couldn't be helped, right?
Seriously, how was Ichinose's dynamic vision so incredible?
"Then let's play this one!"
"Let's not. This is a trashy game, not very interesting."
"Really, does Hikki take me for a fool? If it were a trashy game, how could you still have it?"
"..."
Hachiman was speechless. Under Ichinose's pressuring gaze, he opened School Days and helplessly began to play.
Honestly.
Playing a galgame under the pressure of one's girlfriend.
What kind of punishment game was this?
Ichinose didn't say much, she just stared intently at the screen, and then her small face flushed slightly.
"Let's change to another one; there are also very good fighting games."
"Continue..."
Ichinose's small hand pressed on Hachiman's thigh to make him continue, immediately making Hachiman even more uncomfortable.
After a long time.
Listening to the moaning sounds coming from the handheld console.
"Hiki-kun, I want it again."
Ichinose turned her head with a flushed face: "Is my desire a bit too strong? Would this be a bit strange?"
"How is that possible? Same here."
Hachiman shook his head like a rattle, his gaze toward Ichinose becoming heated.
"Then let me serve you."
Ichinose immediately let out a sigh of relief, wrapping her arms around Hachiman's neck and kissing his chin.
For several days in a row.
They were in the room tirelessly doing such things.
She originally thought this would make Hachiman dislike her, but she didn't expect him to like such games.
If that's the case.
She wouldn't have to be polite anymore.