130 We’re All Adults, Right?~

130 We're All Adults, Right?~

The cicadas were chirping, and the man was falling apart.

This was the most accurate description of Hikigaya's current state.

Everyone was awake now — fully awake.

Haruno-san and Hiratsuka-sensei had both come out of their rooms.

But Hikigaya Hachiman, when sober, had observation skills that were nothing short of astonishing — he could detect even the tiniest cheating moves in gambling games, let alone a person's bodily actions.

Just before the two women came out of their rooms, Hikigaya had gone over to the bed sheets drying outside.

He discovered that the backside of the sheets had been cut open with a large hole. Furthermore, the edges of the hole had been washed with clear water, but some bloodstains still inevitably remained.

Meaning... Hikigaya's heart trembled.

"Yo, you're up early!" Hiratsuka Shizuka stretched lazily, her seductive curves accentuated perfectly.

From her appearance, Hikigaya couldn't detect any unnatural signs.

So, there's only one truth... Hikigaya turned his gaze towards Yukinoshita Haruno and began observing her without giving anything away.

Even though Yukinoshita Haruno was trying her best to act normal, the subtle slowing of her movements — instinctively caused by pain — could not escape Hikigaya's sharp eyes.

Haruno's face was beaming with a smile. In order to avoid raising suspicion, she spoke in a natural tone:

"I'll make breakfast for everyone!"

But she had only taken two steps before Hikigaya stopped her.

"Haruno-san, you look like you didn't rest well last night. Better sit down and let Shizuka-sensei handle it."

Hearing Hikigaya's words, Yukinoshita Haruno's heart quivered slightly.

So he noticed after all...

"You little brat, already bossing adults around?!" Hiratsuka Shizuka grumbled, giving him a light punch to the chest with her delicate fist, feeling the firmness of his muscles:

"Tch, you've grown up, huh?"

"Yukino, come help me cook," she said.

"Okay, Shizuka-sensei," Yukino obediently followed Hiratsuka into the kitchen.

Now, the spacious living room was left with only Haruno and Hikigaya.

Hikigaya sat down beside Haruno naturally, extremely close — far beyond what would be considered a safe distance between mere friends.

"Was it you last night?" Hikigaya asked bluntly. "Don't bother trying to fool me, Haruno-san. I can tell."

"Mm..." Yukinoshita Haruno bit her red lips tightly, her earlobes flushed so vividly they looked as if they might bleed. She asked, almost involuntarily:

"Are you still going to call me 'Haruno-san'?"

"I..."

Hikigaya fell silent.

What should he do? In such a crucial moment of his life, he had no guide to follow.

This wasn't a situation where victory would solve everything — matters of the heart had no such thing as clear victories.

Honestly, Hikigaya couldn't just walk away like nothing happened.

Even though his relationship with Haruno was mostly that of business partners, their private emotional connection was through Yukinoshita Yukino.

Seeing Hikigaya's inner struggle, Haruno felt somewhat relieved in her heart.

Although she had suffered quite a bit, she still achieved her goal.

As expected, he wasn't the kind of scumbag who would use someone and then heartlessly abandon them.

"Call me Haruno-nee."

"Haruno-nee."

Hikigaya immediately complied without hesitation:

"About last night, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me... I got drunk and then..."

"That's not like you, Hikigaya Hachiman. I'm an adult. I'm not as fragile as you think."

Yukinoshita Haruno raised her index finger and pressed it lightly against Hikigaya's lips, speaking quickly:

"If you really want to make it up to me, then listen carefully. You absolutely must not distance yourself from Yukino."

"W-what?" Hikigaya thought he must have misheard.

Haruno gently stroked Hikigaya's face, looking at his bewildered expression.

Her slender fingers slid quietly over his neck as if handling something fragile.

A faint smile surfaced on her face, and with just the touch of her fingertips, she pierced straight into Hikigaya's heart.

"My everything is Yukino. That child must not be hurt. This is my wish as her sister. If you truly want to take responsibility for me..."

"I already know. After all, last night when you were fucking me, you called out 'Yumeko' in your sleep."

"Even if you can't break up with the girl named Yumeko, it's fine. Even if you're two-timing, it doesn't matter.

The important thing is — you must not make Yukino sad."

"Do you understand?"

"If you dare hurt Yukino, I won't forgive you, Hikigaya."

Haruno's gentle expression suddenly shifted, becoming fierce.

But on her tired, beautiful face, such an expression made her look strangely cute instead.

"This is..."

Hikigaya took a deep breath. What the hell kind of situation was this?

A government-approved playboy?

But at this point, there was no better path available.

On one hand, he couldn't possibly abandon Yumeko.

On the other hand, he couldn't bring himself to coldly cast Haruno aside either.

And regarding Yukino, there were also lingering feelings.

So under these circumstances...

This way, everyone could more or less stay okay.

"I understand, Haruno-onee-chan."

Suddenly, an inexplicable surge of courage welled up inside Hikigaya.

Seeing Haruno's outwardly strong but inwardly fragile appearance, he pulled her into his arms.

He could clearly feel Haruno-onee-chan's body, at first startled by the sudden hug, gradually soften.

"You really are..."

"Let go quickly. If Yukino sees us, it'll be bad. Our relationship can't be exposed!"

Haruno's hand lightly pushed against Hikigaya's firm chest, but it was only a token gesture.

As a woman who had sleep with someone for the first time, she too needed someone to lean on.

"I'm sorry." Hikigaya apologized again.

This time, he lowered his head and gently pecked Haruno's red lips.

Then he let go.

He shifted his position, keeping a safe, proper distance from Haruno that conformed to social etiquette.

"Breakfast is ready~ Milk's here~"

Hiratsuka Shizuka's voice called out from the kitchen, cutting off the lingering atmosphere between the two.

.

.

.

It seemed as if everything was back on track.

Hikigaya maintained a delicate, ambiguous relationship with Yukino.

The hurtful words he had intended to say remained buried deep in his heart.

He continued his partnership with Haruno, introducing her to new manuscripts and the Sumeragi family's connections.

At their parting, Haruno, unable to restrain her feelings as a single woman, cast aside her role as an elder sister.

While Yukino wasn't looking, she reached out, wrapped her arms around Hikigaya Hachiman's neck, and gave him a passionate kiss.

Who knew when they would see each other again?

For this reason, Hikigaya responded to Haruno-onee-chan with equal passion.

He used the skills he had learned from Yumeko on Haruno.

Making her body go weak.

When Yukino appeared, the two quickly separated, maintaining the restrained relationship of "sister-in-law" and "brother-in-law."

In Yukino's eyes, there was still that foolish, clear innocence.

From beginning to end, she remained completely unaware.

Carrying the hopes and dreams in her heart, she watched Hikigaya gradually walk away from her.

And just like that, the affairs of the Yukinoshita family temporarily came to a close.