Chapter 275 — The Yukinoshita Descent: "Darling, Become A Man Worthy of Ai Hoshino!"

The young man and the young widow sat on the couch, quite close to each other.

Hikigaya could faintly smell the pleasant scent wafting from Mrs. Yuigahama—an alluring fragrance unique to mature women. Unlike Sayuri, whose scent was reminiscent of sweet fruit, Mrs. Yuigahama's carried a softer, milkier undertone.

At that moment, the atmosphere was unbearably awkward.

The two sat in a mutually silent agreement, neither daring to speak.

Eventually, Hikigaya broke the silence:

"Ahem, Mrs. Yuigahama, about that... why would you be the one giving me condoms? That's not something to joke about. Surely they're meant for your future boyfriend, right?"

Hikigaya quickly tried to steer the conversation away. He didn't want to entertain any further implications.

"Huh? I—uh..."

Grateful for the excuse, Mrs. Yuigahama lowered her head bashfully and mumbled:

"I really don't plan on getting married again."

"Huh?"

"I told you, I'm an old woman now. My husband passed away, and I have a kid... In Japan, what kind of man would want someone like me?" Her voice trembled as she clutched the hem of her skirt. She sighed several times, her self-esteem clearly worn thin.

"No, Mrs. Yuigahama. I honestly think you will need them one day. I believe you'll meet the right man. You're amazing—you're great at housework, incredibly considerate, and very, very gentle." Hikigaya tried his best to reassure her.

Just like that, the conversation slowly drifted away from its awkward beginnings.

"Hikigaya-kun…"

Mrs. Yuigahama lifted her distraught face and gazed at the boy's earnest expression. She stared, momentarily dazed.

"Honestly, if I were the same age as you, I wouldn't hesitate. I'd seriously consider someone like you first. I want to marry someone as gentle as you, to come home from work and be greeted with your warmth. Mrs. Yuigahama, you're truly exceptional. To be your husband would be an incredibly lucky thing." Hikigaya continued, comforting the insecure woman.

"Hikigaya-kun, you… ugh… Do you really think someone like me, a woman with a child, is... that good?"

"As long as two people care about each other, things like children don't matter at all. I mean it, Mrs. Yuigahama." Without thinking, Hikigaya reached out and held her trembling hand.

"!!"

In that instant, Mrs. Yuigahama's mind went blank. Her full, shapely legs instinctively pressed tightly together.

This boy… was too good!!

She was on the verge of losing control!

"Ahem! So anyway, yeah... those condoms... You'll definitely use them one day. And, well... maybe even this pregnancy test too." Hikigaya quickly let go of her hand and addressed her seriously.

"A pregnancy test too...?"

Mrs. Yuigahama's cheeks flushed bright red. She stammered:

"But... a woman like me, already in her thirties… Can I really still have children?"

"Of course you can. If you want to, you absolutely can. Yuigahama even told me before—she said she'd really love to have a little brother or sister."

"Yui said that...? Ugh…"

Just as Mrs. Yuigahama murmured to herself, the sound of the front door opening rang out.

Moments later, a bright, energetic girl's voice echoed into the room:

"Mom, I'm home!"

"Ah! Y—Yui!!"

Mrs. Yuigahama jumped to her feet in panic.

"Huh? Hikki, you're here too?"

"Uh, yeah..."

When Yuigahama appeared, Hikigaya immediately stiffened. It wasn't that he disliked her—he just felt totally out of place. The atmosphere with Mrs. Yuigahama was entirely different from being around her daughter.

"So, what were you two just talking about? I thought I heard something about a little brother or sister…" As she spoke, Yuigahama took off her jacket, revealing the curves beneath her shirt in full detail. She looked at the two of them curiously.

Mrs. Yuigahama bashfully lowered her gaze.

As for Hikigaya, he cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly. "Your mom was saying... maybe you'll get a little sibling in the future. Possibly."

"Huh?" Yuigahama's eyes went wide as she turned to her mother. "Mom, you have a boyfriend?!"

"N-No! I don't!"

"It's okay, Mom. If you really like someone, then go for it! I'd love to have a sibling, honestly." Yuigahama smiled warmly as she encouraged her mother.

After all, it had been years since her father passed away, and her mother had remained single ever since. As a woman herself, Yuigahama understood just how lonely that must have been.

"You silly girl... What nonsense! I... I'm way too old to have kids." Mrs. Yuigahama blushed.

"Come on, Mom! You're still young, and you've got a great figure. You'd have no trouble at all having a baby." Yuigahama sized her mother up seriously—the classic pear shape, full curves, graceful lines, and undeniable allure.

"Ugh, you—If anything, you should be the one having kids, not me! I'm not doing it, Yui, you do it." Mrs. Yuigahama muttered quietly.

"Wha—?!" At those words, Yuigahama's face flushed scarlet. She stole a quick glance at Hikigaya and stammered, "M-Me? No, no, no… I'm still way too young! You should do it, Mom!"

"I—" Mrs. Yuigahama also glanced toward Hikigaya and quickly rebutted, "No, you do it. I'm done."

The mother and daughter began a heated back-and-forth.

Hikigaya, meanwhile, could feel something was very wrong with the way both of them were looking at him. A chill ran down his spine.

He instinctively took a step back. Every fiber of his being was screaming: run.

And then, to his horror, both mother and daughter turned toward him in unison.

"Hikigaya-kun, what do you think? Who's more suited to having a baby—me or Yui?"

"Hikki~?"

"!!"

Hikigaya jolted and gave a nervous laugh.

"How about… you both have one?"

"Eh?"

Both mother and daughter blushed furiously.

"Both have one?"

"Ahem, of course, before any of that, you should probably find boyfriends first. Otherwise, this conversation is kind of… pointless." Hikigaya added hastily.

"Boyfriends, huh…"

At that, both mother and daughter shot him a glance—casual on the surface, but filled with unspoken meaning. Especially Mrs. Yuigahama, whose gentle gaze seemed soft enough to wring out water. Hikigaya broke out in a cold sweat.