The small grove near the school field.
Blushing, her face radiating warmth and a faint floral scent, Kawasaki asked carefully,
"Hikigaya… you're not… thirsty anymore, right?"
"I'm… I'm feeling much better now,"
Hikigaya's cheeks turned red as he avoided her gaze.
"Hehe, Air-kun~ If you had to choose between me and Saki's cooking, not just the food but… everything, who do you prefer?"
Kasukigaoka teased, chuckling beside him.
"Eh?"
Hikigaya blinked, glancing between Kawasaki and Kasukigaoka.
"Come on, Air-kun, give us an honest review~"
"Um… I think you're both… pretty even?"
"Oh? We're even? Hmm… What about compared to your girlfriend, Yukinoshita?"
Kasukigaoka suddenly leaned in, eyes gleaming.
"?!"
Hikigaya's face stiffened.
"D-Don't bring up Yukinoshita right now!"
"Oh my~ feeling guilty?"
Kasukigaoka giggled, "Sneaking off to the woods with your girlfriend's besties… if she found out—"
"N-No! That's not what this is!"
"Relax~ We'd never let Yukinoshita find out… But Air-kun, since we're already here…"
She gave a mischievous, suggestive smile.
"You're still not satisfied from earlier?"
Hikigaya said awkwardly.
"I-I'm good!"
Kawasaki quickly cut in, cheeks flushed, as she looked down.
"Tch. Girls always say that, but they never mean it,"
Kasukigaoka stretched lazily, giving Hikigaya a wink. "Air-kun, come on, let's make the most of this lunch break."
"?!"
Hikigaya's heart pounded.
"No way—I don't agree to this. Kawasaki, you too—"
He turned to look at her and saw her lowering her head shyly.
Oh no.
Wait a minute! Didn't Kawasaki just say she… agreed earlier?!
"Kawasaki, don't let her fool you! That whole 'pregnancy' thing Kasukigaoka keeps joking about—she's bluffing!"
"Eh?"
Kawasaki flinched and looked nervously at Kasukigaoka.
"Heh, bluffing?"
Kasukigaoka grinned, "If you don't believe me, Air-kun, then let's test it out. No precautions. Let's see if I say yes or no."
"You—!"
"I really, really want to have your child, Air-kun~ Wouldn't that be just… wonderful?"
"You're a high school student!"
"In Japan, teen pregnancies aren't even that rare. My mom had my sister when she was in high school."
"…That's not the point!"
"Kasukigaoka!"
Kawasaki interrupted, flustered. "You promised! You said you wouldn't actually try to do anything like that for real."
"Of course, of course. I won't initiate anything, but it depends on you, Kawasaki."
Kasukigaoka winked slyly.
Kawasaki trembled.
She hesitantly turned her gaze toward Hikigaya.
"!!"
A chill went down Hikigaya's spine as he instinctively tried to back away—only to bump into the tree behind him.
"Hi-Hikigaya, we're just going to… you know… help you a little,"
Kawasaki's voice was barely a whisper. "If it's too much, just tell us… we'll be gentle."
"Exactly,"
Kasukigaoka licked her lips playfully. "We'll treat you reaaally well~"
"You two…"
Hikigaya's heart sank. He knew there was no escaping this.
He took a deep breath.
"Look, I may be outnumbered, but… I won't go down without a fight. Let me go now and I might show mercy. Otherwise…"
"Oh my, is that a threat?"
Kasukigaoka laughed. "Alright, Saki—go get him."
"Wha—again?! Me first?"
"Unless you want me to take the lead."
"Ugh, fine, fine, I'll do it,"
Kawasaki sighed, clearly flustered but stepping forward anyway.
"Kawasaki, stop! Don't come any closer—"
Hikigaya backed up helplessly, pressed against the tree.
"Hikigaya… me and Kasukigaoka just want to help you become stronger. That way, you can make Yukinoshita even happier in the future. We're… doing this for your sake."
Kawasaki said this with utmost sincerity as she leaned in, gently placing her hands on his shoulders.
Classic Kawasaki—always earnest, even now.
But—
"Kawasaki… what about you? This is too big a sacrifice! It's your body we're talking about…"
"I don't mind anymore. If it helps you and Yukinoshita, I'm okay with it."
Saying this, she rose slightly on her toes and looped her arms around his neck. Her red face glowed with a tenderness that caught Hikigaya completely off guard.
"Hikigaya… kiss me."
"!!!"
He shuddered inside.
He had to admit.
When Saki took the initiative… it was dangerously tempting.
Too tempting.
He fought it. He clenched his fists, steeled his nerves, and tried not to give in.
"Go on, kiss already!"
Kasukigaoka smirked, then gave Kawasaki a light push.
And just like that, their lips met.
Hikigaya: "!!!"
Kawasaki: "!!"
And off to the side, Kasukigaoka was watching with sparkling eyes, practically bouncing with excitement, ready to join in at any moment.
"Hehe… Just for today, let's all forget everything else…"