Chapter 267 — Kasumigaoka: So You Want Me to Have a Daughter, Huh? Fine, I’ll Do It~

Noon, rooftop.

As usual, Hikigaya was having lunch with Kasumigaoka and Kawasaki.

Once they finished eating—

While cleaning up the lunch containers, Kawasaki cast a glance—half shy, half deliberate—at the boy on her left and muttered, "Hikigaya, um... that thing, I'll go buy it myself."

"What are you buying?" Hikigaya asked, confused, while fending off the clingy Kasumigaoka beside him.

"Ugh... t-the thing we talked about this morning..." Kawasaki's face flushed a deep red.

Hikigaya: "?"

Crossing her legs elegantly, Kasumigaoka smirked, "Hehe, Air-kun, she's talking about a pregnancy test."

"Oh, that... right..." Hikigaya's expression immediately turned awkward and red.

"I-I'll buy it myself," Kawasaki emphasized, her face burning.

"That's..."

Hikigaya hesitated.

He had already taken responsibility for this earlier in the morning. The plan was to swing by the store after school to get a pregnancy test—for Kawasaki. And, well, maybe grab one for Kasumigaoka too while he was at it.

"Kawasaki, why should you go? Just let Air-kun do it. If a girl buys that kind of thing, people might start talking," Kasumigaoka said smoothly.

"She's right," Hikigaya nodded, sighing. "I'll go buy it."

Yeah, he'd need to hit up a supermarket a bit farther away... Maybe wear a mask to avoid being recognized?

"But... is it really okay to make Hikigaya do that?" Kawasaki said with concern. "What if Yukinoshita finds out?"

You really are as kind as ever, Saki.

"It's fine. Worst-case scenario, I'll tell her it's for her," Hikigaya said.

"Eh? Yukinoshita's getting tested too? Hikigaya... don't tell me you two don't use protection?" Kawasaki asked.

Hey, hey, hey! Don't ask me something that embarrassing!

Hikigaya turned even redder. "We usually do... most of the time... anyway, if I get found out, I'll just brush it off with that excuse."

Kawasaki opened her mouth, wanting to say more—

But Kasumigaoka cut in with a playful smile, "Kawasaki, let the boys handle these kinds of things. All we girls need to do... is be well taken care of."

"I-I just wanted to say, that thing this morning probably wasn't morning sickness. I was probably just nauseous... Maybe we shouldn't—" Kawasaki stammered.

"Better safe than sorry. We should still buy one."

Hikigaya sighed.

"Kawasaki, if you really are... I'll take responsibility."

"Y-You..."

A warmth bloomed in her heart as Kawasaki gazed at the boy, eyes full of emotion. But in the next moment, the image of that girl surfaced in her mind, and she quickly protested:

"Take... take responsibility? Your girlfriend is Yukinoshita! Are you planning to betray her? Abandon her? She's such a good girl..."

"I won't abandon her. But I won't abandon you or the baby either," Hikigaya said earnestly.

"Hikigaya... so what are you going to do?" Kawasaki asked, moved.

"If it comes to it... I'll secretly support both of you, mother and daughter," Hikigaya said, blushing.

Wouldn't that be too unfair to Yukinoshita?

Yukinoshita, I'm sorry... I'm sorry... But no matter what, you're the one I love the most.

As Hikigaya was apologizing in his heart, Kasumigaoka let out a giggle:

"Hehe, 'mother and daughter'? Kawasaki hasn't even had the baby yet, and here you are, already dreaming about a mother-daughter scenario? You really are something, Air-kun. So, you want her to have a daughter, huh?"

"Eh-eh-eh?!"

Kawasaki's mind was in turmoil as she looked at Hikigaya in shame and disbelief.

"N-No! I just used the term 'mother and daughter' offhand. I needed some phrase, right? Could've been 'mother and son' too!" Hikigaya tried to explain.

"But you said 'mother and daughter' instinctively," Kasumigaoka teased with a glint in her eye. "Which means... deep down, you're hoping for a daughter, aren't you?"

"I..." Hikigaya twitched slightly and took a deep breath. "Boy or girl, it doesn't matter. But if it's a daughter..."

"Uuuu, enough already, both of you!" Kawasaki interrupted in a panic, her face bright red. "Why does it feel like I'm really pregnant? I'm definitely not!"

Their casual chat continued, faces flushed and emotions stirred.

"Are you coming over today?" Kasumigaoka asked.

"!"

Kawasaki's face turned red. She remembered the arrangement: she and Kasumigaoka were taking turns—one day each—to "help improve" Hikigaya's learning ability.

"Not today. I'm not feeling well," Kawasaki shook her head.

"All right, I'll take today then." Kasumigaoka grinned like a hungry wolf, eyes locked on the trembling Hikigaya.

"Haah?!"

Kawasaki hurriedly protested:

"No! That's not allowed!"

"Why not?"

"You can't do it every day! He needs rest. Do you want to wear Hikigaya out?"

"This is all for making him stronger."

"No way. Absolutely not. I won't allow it. He needs to rest today. Even oxen need a break from plowing fields!" Kawasaki said, half angry, half flustered.

"Sigh, you really do love him a lot... Fine, fine," Kasumigaoka shrugged. "No 'studying' today, then. But..."

She slid closer to Hikigaya, who was seated between them, tilted her head up, pursed her lips—

And kissed him.

"You—!"

Kawasaki's face turned bright red. She hadn't expected Kasumigaoka to just go for it like that.

Still.

It was just a kiss. As uncomfortable as it made her, Kawasaki didn't go so far as to stop them. She could only stare as the kiss deepened, becoming more and more tender.

A few minutes passed before they finally parted lips.

Kasumigaoka's eyes sparkled as she stared at Hikigaya.

"Oho? Air-kun, what's going on with you today? You're a completely different person from yesterday!"

"What do you mean?" Kawasaki asked, curious.

"Hehe, it's like he's on a whole new level—so much better than before! I couldn't help myself!"

Kasumigaoka, positively glowing, leaned in and kissed Hikigaya again.

"Haah?"

Kawasaki was stunned.

"Way better than before?"

"Yup! It used to be kind of rough, but now... he's gotten so good. What's up with that, huh? Air-kun, have you been secretly practicing kissing?"

Still clinging to Hikigaya, Kasumigaoka turned to Kawasaki and invited brightly:

"Kawasaki, wanna try? Air-kun's kissing technique is amazing now!"

"Eh?!"

Seeing the joy on Kasumigaoka's face, Kawasaki felt a strange flutter in her heart—just the tiniest bit tempted.