Afternoon.
Yukinoshita stood restlessly outside the shopping mall, waiting for her boyfriend.
He wouldn't ditch me, would he?
Could he be... doing something indecent with Hiratsuka-sensei in the car right now?
After all, Hikigaya-kun's affection for Hiratsuka-sensei is way too high.
And Hiratsuka-sensei basically threw herself into his arms!
A mature beauty like her seducing Hikigaya-kun… my poor Hikigaya-kun... sob sob sob Hikigaya-kun, Hikigaya-kun, Hikigaya-kun...
"Sorry, I'm late."
A familiar voice suddenly entered Yukinoshita's ears.
She turned to look.
It was Hikigaya, drenched in sweat.
"Hikigaya-kun!"
Her face lit up. A wave of indescribable relief surged in her chest. She rushed to his side and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"You're finally here. I was worried you... got snatched away by another woman."
"How could that happen?"
Hikigaya gave a sheepish smile and explained,
"I ran into Hiratsuka-sensei and chatted with her for a bit."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, huh?"
"Yeah."
Hikigaya briefly explained what had happened with Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Huh? He actually didn't hide it from me.
Feigning playfulness, Yukinoshita teased,
"You're still as fond of Hiratsuka-sensei as ever. I wonder... if you were a few years older, would you have chosen her instead?"
"Huh?"
That sharp question caught Hikigaya off guard.
"Sigh, I knew it—"
"Right now, I only see you, Yukinoshita."
Just as Yukinoshita was sighing, Hikigaya grabbed her right hand earnestly.
"Hikigaya-kun..."
Yukinoshita stared at him, stunned.
"This is our date today. Let's not talk about other women. Come on, let's go watch that movie." Interlacing their fingers, Hikigaya smiled gently.
"...Mm."
Yukinoshita blushed and gripped his hand tightly.
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level -1]
Hehe, I knew it. The woman Hikigaya-kun loves most is me.
The two of them walked toward the mall's theater.
They bought some snacks and two tickets to a romance film.
Then they entered the screening room.
As expected of a romance film—it was heavy on the sentiment.
But for Hikigaya and Yukinoshita, the melodrama didn't really land.
Instead, some of the... spicier scenes—like the bedroom sequences—left them both blushing furiously.
Honestly?
If she didn't have to pretend to be modest in front of her boyfriend, she probably would've blurted out, "Let's just go get a room already," right there in the theater.
"Hikigaya-kun, I—I need to go to the restroom."
Clearly overstimulated by the movie, Yukinoshita whispered softly, and truth be told, she really did need to go.
"I'll go with you," Hikigaya replied quietly as well.
"Eh? Together?"
"Something wrong?"
"N-no, let's go together then?"
Yukinoshita's cheeks flushed as she whispered back.
Wait a second!
Is Hikigaya-kun hinting at something?
Could he actually be planning to... do it with me in the public restroom?
Oh my... what a naughty boy.
He really can't hold it in, huh?
Heart racing with embarrassment, Yukinoshita tiptoed out of the theater alongside him.
But then—
After just one comment, Hikigaya headed straight into the men's restroom.
Yukinoshita stood there stunned, feeling a strange sense of disappointment.
"Just like that?"
"Ugh... what am I even thinking?"
Face red, she gave herself a firm pat on the cheek.
Calm down! Doing it in a theater restroom is way too outrageous!
Sigh... I'll just wait until we get a hotel room.
In any case, she had to seriously lower Hikigaya's corruption level today—no matter what.
---
After the movie ended—
The two walked out of the theater, both with crimson faces.
"There were way too many 'those' kinds of scenes. Stuff like that shouldn't even be allowed in normal theaters," Hikigaya grumbled.
"Sorry... I was the one who picked the movie," Yukinoshita murmured apologetically.
"It's not your fault. The cover and summary were way too misleading," Hikigaya shook his head. "So, where to next?"
"Emmm..."
Yukinoshita hesitated.
Ugh, can I just say—let's hurry up and get a hotel room?
But of course—
For someone as reserved as her, saying something like that out loud was next to impossible.
So, with no better option, she gave the default answer: the aquarium.
After the aquarium, they went to the amusement park.
After that, they had dinner. Then they wandered through the mall again.
On the surface, Yukinoshita remained composed.
But inside?
She was panicking.
It was already dark!
This was an emergency!!
Sigh.
Looks like I'll have to make the first move after all.
Taking a deep breath, Yukinoshita turned to Hikigaya with a gentle smile.
"Hikigaya-kun... you're not scared, are you?"
"Scared of you? Please."
Hikigaya rolled his eyes.
And just like that, they bantered their way right into a hotel.
And wouldn't you know it—
They ended up at the hotel where Kawasaki worked part-time. And she just so happened to be the one at the front desk.
Hikigaya and Kawasaki exchanged secret glances.
Of course, Yukinoshita, fully aware of the situation, pretended not to notice a thing and clung to Hikigaya's arm as they headed upstairs.
At that moment, her mind was occupied with one single goal—
Lower Hikigaya's corruption level and vent all the frustration I've been bottling up this week!
Once they reached the room—
"Well then, since Hikigaya-kun is so eager to prove himself, why don't you go ahead and do it~"
Yukinoshita gently locked the door, then smiled sweetly at him.
"Eh? Aren't we going to shower first?"
"What, are you scared? Need time to prepare?" Yukinoshita giggled, continuing to tease him.
"No, it's just... I'm sweaty..." Hikigaya looked away, truthfully because there was still a trace of another woman's scent on him.
"I don't mind how my Hikigaya-kun smells," Yukinoshita smiled slyly. "If you're scared, just say so. I'll go easy on you, my dear huuu"
"H-husband?!"
Hikigaya's face turned bright red.
"What did you just call me... did you just...?"
"Ahem~ Let's make things a little more romantic."
With cheeks just as red, Yukinoshita stammered,
"And you... stop calling me Yukinoshita. Call me... baby."
With that, she gently stepped closer to him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Hubby~"
"Yukinoshita!"
"Hmm?"
"Uhh, b-baby...?"
"Mm~ Hubby, hubby, hubby~"
Yukinoshita today is absolutely unfair!
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level -1]
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level -2]
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's Corruption Level...]