Chapter 98: Yukinoshita: My Mom is Lonely, Please Take Care of Her, Hikigaya-kun

[Hikigaya Hachiman's Favorability Towards Yukinoshita Setsuna: 10/100 (Fear, Dislike)]

Huh?

Seeing the system prompt, Yukinoshita Yukino was stunned. Fear, sure—that was understandable. Her mother was indeed terrifying.

But... dislike?

Why would Hikigaya-kun dislike her mother?

Ah, this...

Regret suddenly washed over her. Maybe she shouldn't have said what she did earlier.

When she glanced at Hikigaya, she saw her boyfriend's expression twist like he'd bitten into a bitter melon. His face was full of grievance—or rather, an almost pitiful kind of charm.

Wait a minute.

Suddenly, Yukino didn't feel so regretful anymore.

Meanwhile, her mother, Setsuna, blinked a few times before recovering, her gentle smile fixed on Hikigaya.

"Is that so?"

"This, I..."

Faced with the seemingly kind smile, Hikigaya felt his soul leave his body.

There was no way—no way—he wanted to hug the ultimate boss-level existence that was Yukinoshita Setsuna. He'd rather stay a hundred feet away from her, not even exchanging a word if possible.

What had gotten into Yukino to suggest something as insane as this?

But, despite his internal resistance, Hikigaya ultimately gritted his teeth and nodded, unwilling to embarrass Yukino further.

"Um, I just feel like... Ber-uh, Mrs. Yukinoshita gives off a very motherly vibe."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Mrs. Yukinoshita chuckled, placing a hand over her cheek, her voice as tender as silk.

"If that's the case, Hikigaya-kun, you can call me 'Mom' anytime. After all, aren't we practically family already?"

"Eh? M-Mom..."

Hikigaya's lips moved soundlessly before he finally stammered out:

"M-Mo... Mrs. Yukinoshita..."

"Ah, still sticking with 'Mrs,' huh?"

Mrs. yukinoshita sighed in mock disappointment but didn't push him further. Instead, her voice softened even more.

"That's fine. Take your time. For now, why don't I give you a hug?"

Her arms opened wide in a gesture of invitation, her demeanor so warm and serene that refusing seemed impossible.

Hikigaya's scalp prickled with terror.

"G-go on," Yukino urged, giving him a little push.

"Ugh!"

Hikigaya's lips twitched as he fought the urge to cry.

The beautiful, elegant woman before him radiated an aura of warmth and grace, but to him, she was nothing short of a final boss.

Still, with no way to back out, Hikigaya clenched his jaw and stepped forward.

Mrs. Yukinoshita wrapped her arms around him in a gentle, motherly embrace.

A soft, milky fragrance enveloped him, along with a unique warmth and tenderness.

For a brief moment, Hikigaya found the sensation... pleasant.

But then reality hit him like a truck: this was Mrs. Yukinoshita.

This wasn't some ordinary embrace. This was an initiation ritual into servitude under the Yukinoshita family—a binding contract he wasn't ready to sign.

His shoulders stiffened, and he felt like a prisoner awaiting execution.

As Yukino watched her boyfriend's pain, a hint of guilt pricked her heart.

While she often enjoyed teasing him, she didn't actually want him to suffer.

Hikigaya-kun, you could've said no.

But for her sake—for her whims—he'd forced himself to go along with it.

Her heart ached.

Hikigaya-kun, you spoil me too much.

She resolved not to trouble him like this in the future—or at least not as often.

But then, just as she was feeling remorseful, a notification from her system rang out.

[Ding! Favorability Points Increased: +500]

Wait, what?!

Yukino's eyes widened in disbelief.

A simple hug—just a hug—had earned her mother 500 favorability points with Hikigaya-kun?

That was... absurd!

Even the most intense interactions with her rivals barely broke 100 points. Her older sister, Haruno, or even her nemesis, Megumi Katou, had never achieved such results from a mere embrace!

Yet her mother...

The implications made her head spin.

A kiss would probably break the system.

And if her mother went further than that...

Stop! Stop!

She shook her head furiously, forcing herself to calm down.

This is my mother we're talking about!

At most, there would only be hugs. Nothing more.

Besides, her mother was always busy with work and rarely around. She couldn't exactly rely on her to farm favorability points.

"Uh... t-that should be enough, Aunt Yukinoshita," Hikigaya stammered, squirming in Mrs. Yukinoshita's embrace.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's been so long since I hugged a boy. I guess I got carried away," she replied with a soft laugh, finally letting him go.

"But really, Hikigaya-kun, you're so adorable. No wonder Yukino likes you so much."

Hikigaya looked utterly embarrassed, while Yukino turned red as a tomato.

Suddenly, a thought struck Yukino.

Since her father's passing, had her mother ever hugged another man?

Hikigaya-kun might very well be the first.

---

Several minutes later, Mrs. Yukinoshita finally left, leaving the young couple alone.

"So, how did it feel?" Yukino asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"A complete disaster!" Hikigaya snapped, glaring at her.

"Next time, don't make me do something so humiliating!"

"B-but my mom's a beautiful woman, isn't she?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Hikigaya threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Your mom is terrifying! Would you just randomly hug her?"

"Of course not!" Yukino shivered at the thought.

"Exactly! So why'd you push me into it? You just enjoy watching me suffer, don't you?"

"Hehe~ Hikigaya-kun, don't make me sound so bad! I was only trying to improve your relationship with my mom."

"You..."

Hikigaya sighed, clearly at his wit's end.

Seeing his frustration, Yukino smiled softly.

Her mom and Hikigaya-kun needed to get along.

It was clear her mother already liked him—she'd even suggested they marry after graduation. That kind of approval spoke volumes about her feelings.

The real issue was Hikigaya-kun.

He'd need a little more convincing to warm up to her mom.

"I'll tell you this, Hikigaya-kun," Yukino said with a sly grin.

"My mom has been single for many years. She's very lonely, you know. If you spend more time with her, I'm sure it would make her very happy~!"

"...What?!"

****************************************

Read advanced chapters ahead of everyone else on my Patreon.

p@treon/GodDragcell