"You did so well just now, Hikigaya-kun~"
Hikigaya and Sayuri stepped out from the public restroom.
At that moment, Sayuri's cheeks were flushed, and she radiated a rich, captivating milky scent — different from her earlier fragrance. Now, the mature woman exuded a thick, sweet aroma, like freshly warmed milk, deliciously heady and almost intoxicating.
Breathing in deeply, Hikigaya tried to steady himself, suppressing the turmoil in his chest. Calmly, he said,
"Auntie, do you even realize how dangerous that was just now? We… we almost got caught!"
"Oh my, but there was no helping it~ Today, Hikigaya-kun was just… so wonderfully surprising~ Heehee~"
Sayuri tinkered away on her phone as she spoke.
"Not bad, not bad at all. We got quite a haul today. This little video… is just too good!"
"Auntie!"
Hikigaya's expression stiffened, and he quickly said,
"Delete that video right now!"
"Beautiful memories need to be recorded, don't they? Auntie's not deleting it~"
Sayuri giggled softly.
"Don't worry, Hikigaya-kun, Auntie will take good care of our little video. I won't show it to your cute little girlfriend, promise~ You do trust Auntie's character, don't you?"
"You can't show it to anyone!"
Hikigaya emphasized again.
"Well…"
"Auntie Sawamura!"
Seeing Sayuri's hesitant expression, Hikigaya's heart gave a sharp thud.
"Relax, relax, Auntie promises — from now on, I absolutely won't send it to anyone~ Pinky swear, pinky swear~"
She smiled sweetly as she spoke.
Of course, in reality, Sayuri had already quietly sent the video over to Mrs. Yuigahama.
"From now on…"
Hikigaya frowned slightly, feeling something was a bit off about how she phrased that.
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about that for now. Let's get back to business, shall we~?"
Sayuri giggled as she slid her arm through Hikigaya's.
"Auntie, I… I really have to go home now."
Hikigaya averted his eyes, unable to meet Sayuri's gaze.
"Go home? Heh… and here I thought there was still something very important left to do, yet Hikigaya-kun's just planning to run home?"
Sayuri's lips curved upward with a knowing, playful smirk.
Hikigaya's face tightened; he squirmed slightly, resisting.
"Auntie, I really need to go home now. My sister's still waiting for me… so I really can't stay with you any longer…"
Geez, Auntie Sawamura is way over the top!
Not only could she do that practically every day, but what's more — she could go more than once in a single day!
Hikigaya was starting to understand why people always said women were terrifying creatures.
Thinking further, he didn't even dare imagine what Yukinoshita would be like when she reached Auntie Sawamura's age. Given how strong his girlfriend already was now, if she kept steadily growing in strength… by the time she hit her thirties, wouldn't she be able to just break him?! That's terrifying!
No, no.
He had to train.
He definitely needed to train harder!
While Hikigaya was resolutely setting his heart on the path of physical training, Sayuri leaned in unexpectedly, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered softly:
"Hikigaya-kun, heehee~ Are you backing down already? If you're like this… heehee, how could you ever hope to defeat Auntie?"
"!!!"
In an instant, Hikigaya jolted, snapping back to the present.
He stared, wide-eyed, at Sayuri's radiant, knowing smile — as if she had seen right through him.
"A-Auntie, you…"
Wait!
Did Auntie Sawamura sense what I was thinking just now?!
"Surprised, aren't you?"
Sayuri chuckled softly.
"Actually, Auntie figured it out a long time ago~ The reason you were working so hard tonight was because you wanted to beat Auntie, right? Heehee~ Hikigaya-kun, you're such an adorable boy~"
Auntie Sawamura… you can read minds too?!
Even though the cool night breeze was blowing through the park, a faint sheen of sweat crept across Hikigaya's forehead — and even down his back.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about."
He tried to sound calm.
"Don't try to hide it~"
Sayuri smiled sweetly.
"Hikigaya-kun, watching how hard you worked just now… Auntie really liked it~ Mmm… there was even a moment where Auntie almost… ahem. But, you're still just a kid, heehee. If you want to beat Auntie, it won't be that easy~"
As she spoke, Sayuri gently caressed Hikigaya's cheek.
Being stroked like some little doll, Hikigaya shuddered inside, feeling an almost electric tingle.
Not good, not good!
Auntie Sawamura's on a whole different level!
Watching the trembling boy, Sayuri felt a swell of satisfaction. She continued to gently stroke his face, whispering tenderly,
"Hikigaya-kun, don't be so scared. Since you're so eager to beat Auntie, heehee, of course Auntie will try her best to… cooperate with you~"
"C-cooperate…?"
Hearing that, Hikigaya's heart gave a heavy thump.
A terrifying realization crept into his mind.
He pressed his lips together, hesitating, then asked carefully,
"Wait, A-Auntie Sawamura… just now, were you… were you deliberately going easy on me?"
"Hm?"
Sayuri blinked innocently.
I knew it…
Seeing that slightly surprised look in her eyes, Hikigaya sighed heavily, feeling utterly defeated.
"Auntie… you weren't even using your full strength from the start, were you."
"Emmm… that's not quite fair to say, you know~ Hikigaya-kun is very strong! Auntie wouldn't say I didn't take you seriously at all."
"Just… a little bit?"
"Heehee, don't be so discouraged, Hikigaya-kun~ You were wonderful. Auntie really, really likes you~"
Sayuri spoke gently, pulling him into her arms and softly stroking his hair.
"Come on, let's go to Auntie's car. Auntie will… comfort you a little…"
"Car? Comfort?!"
Hearing that, Hikigaya jolted hard, suddenly wriggling free from Sayuri's embrace.
"Auntie, I'm not discouraged! I don't need any comforting! I'm not the kind of person who gives up when things get tough!"
"Oh? You don't need comforting? That's fine — in that case, let's get back to business~ Heehee, from the looks of it, Hikigaya-kun's still got plenty of energy left. That's a relief~"
Sayuri laughed softly.
"Come, let's go to the car. A change of setting can be refreshing too, don't you think? Since you want to beat Auntie… hehe…"
"The car? Isn't that a bit… won't it mess up your beloved car, Auntie?"
"Oh, it's fine. Auntie doesn't mind — why should you?"
Despite Hikigaya's protests, Sayuri practically dragged him toward the car.
Still smiling, she added cheerfully,
"But you know, since you're so determined to defeat Auntie, I'll make sure you get a real taste of what it means to face a grown woman's strength~! Don't let Auntie end up turning the tables on you~"
"!!"