"You're seriously asking me to do that?!"
"You won't?"
"How could I possibly do something like that?! No way!!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's mature face flushed faintly pink as she instinctively squeezed her thighs together, shooting a flustered look at Sayuri on the phone.
"You won't? Hehe, then I guess I'll just go spend time with Hikigaya-kun myself tomorrow~"
Sayuri's cheerful voice came from the other end of the line:
"Tomorrow, I'll make sure to keep Hikigaya-kun company~"
"You—!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's face shifted, and she quickly protested,
"No! I won't let you mess with that boy again!"
"Heh… and you think you can stop me by yourself?"
Sayuri chuckled. "Right now, Hikigaya-kun won't listen to you. But to me? Oh, he'll quietly do as I say~ If I ask him to join me, he'll come right along~"
"This…"
Mrs. Yuigahama hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the quiet, good-natured boy sitting beside her. He sighed softly, wearing an exasperated look.
Of course, Mrs. Yuigahama understood.
Without question, Hikigaya-kun must have gotten caught up in some situation or weakness that Sayuri—her supposed close friend—was now using to pressure him into going along with all this.
"Asuna, if you really want to save Hikigaya-kun tomorrow, then today… you should give him a little kiss~ And… hehe, I want to see it happen right in front of me!"
"No way! I—I'm older than him! How… how could I do something like that?!"
"So you're saying you're not willing to help Hikigaya-kun? Ah, and here I thought you cared so much about him… and yet?"
"I—I…"
Mrs. Yuigahama trembled slightly with frustration.
"Hikigaya-kun, maybe we should just leave it," he said quietly, glancing appreciatively at the gentle lady beside him. "Thank you, but I'll handle tomorrow on my own."
"Hikigaya-kun, but… I haven't done anything to help yet! And tomorrow—how can you handle tomorrow? Sayuri's like an unstoppable force, she'll run you ragged…"
"Auntie, I'm not that fragile."
"You're still trying to act tough? Just now you were…" She sighed deeply, gazing at him with worried eyes. "It really pains me, you know."
"Hehe, if you're that worried about Hikigaya-kun, why not just give him a little kiss~ It's not like you've never kissed him before, right?"
Sayuri's teasing voice continued, pressing in on Mrs. Yuigahama's nerves.
"I… I…"
Mrs. Yuigahama looked helplessly at Hikigaya, wanting to speak but unsure how to even begin.
Hikigaya took a deep breath and addressed Sayuri directly. "Aunt Sayuri, please don't trouble Mrs. Yuigahama anymore. Tomorrow… I'll come to the park as usual."
"Hikigaya-kun!"
Hearing that, Mrs. Yuigahama's emotions nearly burst forth. She clutched the boy's arm tightly.
"Don't go! It's… it's too dangerous! Sayuri is just too forceful, you'll…"
"It's fine, Mrs. Yuigahama. I've been keeping in good shape lately."
"This, this…"
Mrs. Yuigahama looked heartbroken, deeply worried.
Sayuri's voice chimed in with satisfaction. "Hehe, well, it's settled then~ Auntie still has a lot of tricks up her sleeve, you know. I'll make sure you experience what a real woman is~"
"W-wait!!"
Unable to hold back anymore, Mrs. Yuigahama hurriedly interrupted, flustered and panicked.
"Sayuri, fine! I agree, okay? Just stop dragging Hikigaya-kun into this!"
"Oh? So you're ready to give him a little kiss?"
"I… mmm!"
Mrs. Yuigahama blushed as she looked at Hikigaya, stumbling over her words.
"Hikigaya-kun, Mama just wants to help you. I don't want you getting caught up with Sayuri again, so… maybe, maybe just this once? What do you think…"
"Uh, well…"
Looking at the beautiful, gentle woman in front of him, Hikigaya hesitated.
Honestly, if just giving Mrs. Yuigahama a light kiss could get him out of Sayuri's clutches for now, that was actually… a pretty fair trade.
But still…
"Mrs. Yuigahama, maybe we should let it go. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"Hikigaya-kun, Mama said she'd help you. I'll follow through. Whether it's awkward or not… that doesn't matter right now."
Mrs. Yuigahama gazed gently at the boy, who was over ten years younger than her.
"In that case, let's do a video call! I want to see, I want to see~"
"You—"
Under Sayuri's prodding, Mrs. Yuigahama felt helpless and frustrated.
Left with no choice, she reluctantly turned on the video call. Soon, both she and Hikigaya were visible on screen—just as Sayuri's smiling face appeared on their side.
On screen, Sayuri grinned. "Make sure it's on the lips~ Mm… Asuna, you take the lead~"
"Ah?"
Mrs. Yuigahama's shoulders gave a slight shiver. She glanced nervously at Hikigaya.
"Just a little peck… is that okay?"
"If it's just a light one…"
Hikigaya hesitated for a few seconds but didn't immediately refuse.
"T-then Mama… Mama will start."
Mrs. Yuigahama gently pressed her lips together, leaning slightly toward Hikigaya. The soft scent of her perfume drifted between them as her graceful figure moved closer, almost brushing against the boy's firm build.
Closer, closer…
At last, their lips touched.
Mrs. Yuigahama's heart pounded wildly, and her whole body tensed up.
Ugh… meanwhile, Yui was in the bathroom, taking a shower.
And here she was, as the mother, sitting shamefacedly in the living room… doing this with the boy Yui liked. Cough cough.
Ah, what am I doing… Ugh, Yui, forgive me! Mommy's doing this to help Hikigaya, to save him—please understand, please forgive me!
Just one second.
No… three seconds, at most.
Three minutes later.
This boy… really is wonderful~
Before she even realized it, Mrs. Yuigahama had instinctively wrapped her arms around Hikigaya, continuing the kiss.
Watching this unfold, Sayuri's smile only widened, her lips curling into a satisfied grin. Asuna, you've been so lonely for so long… let's see just how long you can keep holding back.