Chapter 276 – Sayuri: “Best Friends. Hikigaya-kun. Great.”

After a heated exchange, mother and daughter finally calmed down.

Mrs. Yuigahama looked apologetically at the visibly shaken Hikigaya. "Sorry, Hikigaya-kun. Mama and Yui got a bit carried away just now."

"It's alright. A little arguing just means your relationship is strong," Hikigaya replied calmly.

Mrs. Yuigahama sighed. "Still, having a man around in the house would probably help. When it's just women, conflicts are inevitable. A boy could help keep the peace... wouldn't you say, Hikigaya-kun~?"

"Y-Yeah..."

Under her suggestive gaze, Hikigaya awkwardly averted his eyes. "I'm sure that'll happen someday."

"Someday, huh... sigh."

She looked wistfully toward the stairs where her daughter had disappeared to do homework.

It was always like this.

Whenever Hikigaya came over, Yui would get all flustered and run off to hide in her room.

Couldn't she at least invite him in?

Always locking herself in there...

So hopeless.

There was no doubt about it.

Her daughter lacked initiative.

The idea of Yui actually making a move on Hikigaya was as likely as pigs flying.

Did that mean...

Was it truly impossible for their little household to welcome a man?

Was it up to her to take action?

Maybe... maybe it was time to start over?

Mrs. Yuigahama's thoughts grew more tangled. Her eyes fell on Hikigaya again, and for some reason, the word "children" floated back into her mind—something he'd mentioned earlier. Ah... if it were Hikigaya-kun… if she were to have his child... she'd probably be willing to do anything…

What am I thinking!?

She snapped back to reality, shaking her head in shame.

Ugh, I'm a grown woman! Why am I entertaining such nonsense!?

Quickly pulling herself together, she picked up a piece of cake from the table and held it out with a warm smile. "Here, Hikigaya-kun~ ahh~"

"Ah, it's okay, I can feed myself."

"Don't be shy with Mama~ Come on, open up."

Her affectionate gaze made Hikigaya freeze, slightly uncomfortable.

Left with no choice, he reluctantly opened his mouth.

As she brought the fork close, Mrs. Yuigahama's eyes momentarily fixated on his lips. For some inexplicable reason, she found them... captivating.

"A-Auntie?!"

"Ah!"

She snapped out of it, only to realize the cake had slipped from her fork and landed right on his thigh—leaving a smear of whipped cream on his pants.

"I'm so sorry! That's all my fault. Ugh, how could I mess up something so simple?" she said, flustered.

"It's fine, Auntie. I can just wipe it off," Hikigaya replied, trying to stay calm.

"Wipe it off? That's such a waste... Let Mama take care of it."

"Huh? Auntie, wait—"

Hikigaya looked confused, and when he saw her lean in closer, he instinctively jerked back in alarm.

"Auntie! What are you doing?!"

"It's okay, I'll just clean up the mess," she insisted.

"It's... really not necessary!"

"Don't worry."

Even with Hikigaya protesting, Mrs. Yuigahama took matters into her own hands and cleaned up the mess in her own way.

A few awkward minutes later...

She wiped her lips, a strange look in her eyes. "Much cleaner now."

"Y-Yeah..."

Hikigaya nodded, clearly uncomfortable, avoiding eye contact.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Yuigahama, lips pursed, kept stealing glances at a certain spot on his pants. For some reason, the cake that had touched Hikigaya tasted different—sweeter, somehow. She almost wished it hadn't been cake at all...

But before her thoughts could spiral further, her phone rang, breaking the tension.

"Auntie, your phone," Hikigaya reminded her.

"Yes, yes."

Mrs. Yuigahama glanced at the caller ID—Sayuri. She took a deep breath and answered.

"Hello? Yes, I'm here... Huh? Not coming tonight? But I thought we were going shopping? What? You're spending time with Hikigaya-kun instead?"

As she spoke, she shot a sideways glance at the boy sitting quietly on the sofa.

"Hikigaya-kun, what are you doing with Auntie Sayuri tonight?"

"Uh... we're going for a jog," he answered vaguely.

"Just a jog?"

Mrs. Yuigahama raised an eyebrow in suspicion.

From the other end, Sayuri's teasing voice piped up, loud enough for her to hear:

"Oh~ is Hikigaya-kun with you right now?"

"Yeah, he's right next to me. Why?"

"Heh, Asuna~ I knew it. You're trying to seduce him, aren't you? Talking on the phone while cozying up to him~"

"N-No! What kind of things are you imagining?!" Mrs. Yuigahama turned beet red.

"Oh please~ I don't buy it. Anyway, I already beat you to the punch. He's great, isn't he? Last night was just... wow~"

"W-What are you saying?!"

Mrs. Yuigahama's expression froze, her whole body stiffening.

"What did you do to Hikigaya-kun last night?! Sayuri! He's still a boy!"

"Well, he might be a boy in some ways," Sayuri said playfully, "but in other ways... not so much~"

"!!!"

Mrs. Yuigahama's heart skipped a beat. She turned toward Hikigaya, her voice trembling.

"Hikigaya-kun... did you and Auntie Sayuri...?"

"..."

Hikigaya looked away, saying nothing.

"Ugh, Hikigaya-kun... did she take advantage of you? Tell Mama—Mama will stand up for you!"

On the outside, she was angry and upset, but deep down... there was something else she couldn't quite name. If Sayuri had really crossed the line with her Hikigaya-kun...

Then she... she might just stop holding back too.