Chapter 274 — Mrs. Yuigahama’s Water Is Delicious

"Hikigaya-kun, Mama suggests you go with the traditional kind of pregnancy test. It's simple and clear—you just check for the two lines to see if it's positive."

Taking a pregnancy test from the shelf, Mrs. Yuigahama handed it to Hikigaya, then said gently:

"This type is fine. I used this exact model over a decade ago. It works fast, is affordable, and the price has stayed the same all these years."

"Thank you, Auntie."

Hikigaya nodded, took the test, and after examining it for a few seconds, turned back to the shelf—and grabbed an entire box of them.

"You're buying that many?"

Seeing this, Mrs. Yuigahama was visibly surprised.

A slight change flickered across Hikigaya's expression, but he remained composed. "Just to be safe… figured I'd get more."

"Eh? But isn't a whole box a bit much? There are over twenty in there…" Mrs. Yuigahama's jaw slightly dropped in disbelief. Are kids these days really this… open? Do they need one every time? Back in her day, things were definitely more reserved.

"It's fine."

Hikigaya could feel her gaze shift ever so slightly. He was mortified inside, but honestly, one wouldn't be enough. Given how unpredictable senpai could be, he had a feeling they might need one practically every day… Better safe than sorry.

"Well, if you say so, then buy more," Mrs. Yuigahama said kindly, not pressing further. "Since you've never used one before, let Mama teach you how. You need the girl to go to the bathroom first thing in the morning, and then, um…"

Her face started to turn red as she spoke.

She couldn't bring herself to say the next few… delicate keywords.

"Auntie Yuigahama, I know already," Hikigaya said, inhaling deeply and keeping a straight face.

"Eh? You do?"

"After she goes to the bathroom, she needs to… um…" Hikigaya's face turned red too as he explained the usage method—awkwardly, and with hesitation. Mrs. Yuigahama's face flushed as well.

A teenage boy and a kind, mature woman standing side by side—needless to say, the atmosphere was oddly intimate.

"Well, as long as you know, I won't worry," Mrs. Yuigahama said, still blushing. "Why don't you give the tests to me? I'll pay for them."

"Huh? Auntie helping me buy these… Isn't that kind of inappropriate?" Hikigaya snapped back to reality and quickly shook his head.

"You're just a high school student. Buying something like this might get you weird looks. Let Mama handle it. I'm an adult woman—it's perfectly normal for me."

"But…"

Even if she was an adult, this was still kind of embarrassing to buy.

Still, Mrs. Yuigahama calmly took the box from him and placed it in her cart. She smiled again, emphasizing gently:

"It's fine."

Sigh… Compared to the mischievous Aunt Sawamura, Auntie Yuigahama really is incredibly gentle. If only I could just fall into her gentle embrace…

Cough, cough! What am I thinking?! This is Yuigahama's mom! I can't let yesterday's experience with Aunt Sawamura mess with my head!

"Thank you, Auntie Yuigahama."

"No need to thank me."

A few minutes later—

Mrs. Yuigahama finished checking out. The two left the supermarket together.

After Hikigaya handed her the money, he noticed that she had again bought quite a lot. He offered to help carry her bags. Though she refused a few times out of politeness, she eventually agreed under his insistence.

They arrived at the house where Mrs. Yuigahama lived with Yui.

"Where did that girl run off to again?"

Mrs. Yuigahama sighed after calling into the house and receiving no reply. Then she turned to Hikigaya with a warm smile.

"Come in and have a seat, Hikigaya-kun. I'll get you a glass of water."

"Well… alright then. Sorry for the trouble."

With her gentle, welcoming demeanor, it was hard to say no. Hikigaya followed her into the house, still carrying her shopping bags.

After putting the bags down, he sat obediently on the couch.

Soon after, Mrs. Yuigahama came out of the kitchen with a glass of brown sugar water and some cake.

"This is homemade brown sugar water. Try it—see how it tastes." She watched him with hopeful eyes.

"Mm." Hikigaya took the drink and sipped it.

"How is it?" she asked, half expectant, half nervous.

"Mm… as expected of Auntie Yuigahama's water. It's really good." Hikigaya nodded and even offered a little commentary on the taste.

Mrs. Yuigahama's face flushed slightly—especially when she heard that one particular line. Her mind, shamefully, drifted back to that moment in the public restroom yesterday… He had said the exact same thing back then.

"Auntie? Auntie Yuigahama?"

"Eh?"

Startled by his voice, she quickly snapped out of her thoughts and apologized:

"Sorry, I was just really happy hearing your compliment, Hikigaya-kun. Hehe… Here, why don't you take some cake home later?"

Hikigaya always ended up taking some cake whenever he visited, and he was honestly starting to feel guilty—especially since he never brought anything with him.

After glancing at the shopping bags for a moment, Hikigaya hesitated before speaking up.

"Auntie, about the pregnancy test I bought earlier… I did get a lot, now that I think about it. Would you like a few?"

"Eh? You want to give those to me?" Mrs. Yuigahama looked completely dumbfounded.

"Well, didn't you mention you were planning to start dating again…?"

"Dating?! When did I say that?" she quickly shook her head in denial.

"But Auntie, back at the supermarket… didn't you buy some, um… contracept—"

"Ah! That…" Mrs. Yuigahama's face turned scarlet. In a flustered panic, she blurted out, "I-I wasn't buying those for anyone else! I only bought them just in case something ever happened between me and you—ah!"

The very next second, she snapped back to her senses and immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.

"???"

Hikigaya sat there stunned, staring at her flushed face in complete silence.

---

Meanwhile...

[Ding! Yuigahama Hachiman's affection with Yuigahama Asuna +1]

[Host, your boyfriend and Yuigahama Asuna are currently enjoying a very steamy atmosphere. Would you like to use the "Forced Intimate" card to push them closer together?]

Sitting on the toilet, dealing with her period, Yukinoshita's eye twitched at the system prompt.

You damned system… You just want me to suffer even more, don't you?!