After school.
Student Council Office.
"I'll be counting on you to help out during the school's cultural festival, senpai~"
Iroha Iroha clung to Hikigaya's arm with a radiant smile and added playfully:
"I already checked with Yukino-senpai, and she gave her approval! So from now on, after school, you're mine~ Hehe~"
"..."
Hikigaya sighed.
As much as this was a headache, an assignment from his girlfriend was non-negotiable.
"But… what about the rest of your student council members?"
Hikigaya asked, clearly unconvinced.
"Ah, them? Sigh… no good. I've assigned them to other tasks already. If only you were the vice president…"
"Not happening."
Sensing the look in Iroha's eyes, Hikigaya immediately pulled away and leaned back.
"I'm in my final year. I don't have time to waste on student council stuff—I need to focus on studying."
"Studying? Hehe, you mean those cozy study sessions with Yukino-senpai between classes~?"
Iroha teased with a wink.
"Studying is… studying. Nothing more."
Hikigaya coughed awkwardly and straightened up. "Alright, what exactly needs to be done for this year's Sōbu High cultural festival? Let's just get started and wrap it up quickly."
"Got it~ Then let's begin right away."
Iroha nodded and began assigning tasks.
Since he already had prior experience helping with a school festival, Hikigaya was pretty familiar with the process—student performance lists, event selection, scheduling, and so on. Tedious, but manageable.
While going through the documents, his eyes twitched at a familiar-looking section.
"…A joint band performance with Yuyou Girls' Academy and Tsukinomori Girls' Academy?!"
The names sounded very familiar.
Wait a second—aren't those the schools from…
As Hikigaya muttered to himself, Iroha stretched lazily and leaned toward him with a playful pout.
"Senpai~ I'm so tired. Can we take a quick break?"
"Huh?"
Hikigaya glanced up at her, seated comfortably at the student council desk.
"It's barely been half an hour. You're tired already?"
"Ugh, senpai, you're built different. I've been working all afternoon, and I'm totally wiped. My body feels all weak and tired. I need rest~"
"Then rest."
Hikigaya returned to reviewing the documents.
"But I need your help to rest~"
"Aren't I already helping?"
He didn't even look up as Iroha began inching closer.
"That's not the kind of help I meant~"
She suddenly stood up, took a few steps, and then plopped herself right onto his lap.
"…?!"
Startled, Hikigaya quickly gave her a light swat on the back.
"Get up. Now."
"Senpai~ I'm so tired~ Help your poor, helpless underclassman, won't you~?"
"You—!"
"Senpai~ Senpai~ I know you're always so sweet to me~"
This girl…!
Honestly, when it came to someone like Iroha and her sneaky charm, it was hard not to waver a little.
"…Fine. But after I help you, I'm leaving. It's getting late."
Hikigaya gave in with a sigh.
"Yay~"
Iroha beamed, clearly delighted.
"Once you're done with my massage, you can go. Today's work ends here. We'll handle the rest tomorrow~"
Hikigaya nodded. Fair enough.
Thus began Hikigaya's special wellness treatment for Iroha—a.k.a. a massage.
He started with her shoulders.
Lounging on the sofa, Iroha let out a relaxed sigh and murmured, "S-Senpai, you're actually pretty good at this. Do you massage Yukino-senpai often?"
"Now and then…"
He paused, then added sharply, "Don't mention Yukinoshita right now."
"Hehe, why not~?"
Iroha looked over her shoulder at him, eyes glinting. "Is it because you feel guilty? Like you're cheating on her?"
"..."
"Senpai, hehe~ You're so cute when you look all flustered like this—ow ow ow! H-Hey! You don't have to press that hard! It hurts, it hurts—!"
Suddenly, her expression changed as Hikigaya applied a little more pressure.
A few minutes later—
Iroha flopped limply on the couch, pouting as she glared at him.
"Senpai, are you trying to kill me? That seriously hurt!"
Whoa, whoa… That line could easily be misunderstood!
"Ahem…"
Hikigaya cleared his throat. "That's how massages work. They're meant to get deep into the muscles. A little pain helps release tension."
"Well that was too much pain!"
Iroha puffed her cheeks. "Ugh, how does Yukino-senpai survive this?"
"She's handled worse. Much worse. So…"
"…Huh?"
Iroha's face turned scarlet.
"Senpai, what are you implying?!"
"Obviously, I'm talking about massages."
"Are you sure it's just massages? Not, y'know… something else?"
"Do you want another massage or not?"
Before she could say anything else, Hikigaya smoothly changed the topic.
"Ugh!"
Iroha pouted.
"O-Of course I do! You've already done my shoulders, now you have to do my legs. Come on, senpai, massage my legs next~ But this time, be gentle! If you press too hard, I really can't handle it…"
She sounded almost sing-songy—enough to make even someone like Nagasawa jealous.
Hikigaya nodded, sat beside her, and lifted her leg.
…Soft?
And… fragrant?
Wait a second.
Was she sweating?!
"S-Senpai… you've been staring for a while. You're not planning something weird with my legs, are you? Hmph~ You talk all big about being loyal to your girlfriend, but here you are—o-oh my gosh! Senpai, d-did you just kiss my leg?!"
Just as she was teasing him, she hadn't expected Hikigaya to actually plant a quick kiss.
Iroha's face turned a deep red in an instant.
Wait, seriously? He actually went for it?!
Waaahh! She wasn't mentally prepared for this!!