When Eriri heard Kasumigaoka claim she and Hikigaya were that kind of couple, her face immediately flushed, and she shot back indignantly, "Kasumigaoka, are you insane?! Hikigaya and I... we're nothing like what you're implying!"
"Oh? Sneaking off here during study hours for a cozy little rendezvous, and you were just hugging a moment ago. And you're telling me there's nothing going on?" Kasumigaoka's tone was dripping with sarcasm. "Heh~ So, it seems that Miss Sawamura, who plays the innocent on the surface, is actually that kind of girl behind closed doors. You've been wanting to make a move on Air-kun for a while now, haven't you?"
"You—!" Eriri bit her lip, instinctively stepping a bit farther away from Hikigaya. She huffed, "As if I'd ever fall for a dead-fish-eyed guy like him! I—I have zero interest in him! Not even a smidge, got it?!"
"Oh?" Kasumigaoka smirked thoughtfully. After a moment, she chuckled and added, "Dead-fish eyes, is it? Heh, I never thought Sawamura would be the shallow, looks-obsessed type. Personally, I think Air-kun's eyes are quite endearing."
Her suggestive gaze flicked toward Hikigaya, who quickly looked away, visibly uncomfortable.
"Eh? I... that's not what I meant, I just—" Eriri, realizing she may have gone too far, instinctively glanced at Hikigaya, as though wanting to explain. But with Kasumigaoka giggling at her side, she couldn't find the words and swallowed them back.
Not missing a beat, Kasumigaoka interjected, "Oh, don't bother with the fake apologies, Sawamura. Just admit it—you think he's beneath you."
"Kasumigaoka, you—"
"Ahem." Hikigaya, caught between the two girls, was already drenched in a cold sweat. Sighing inwardly, he hurried to intervene before the argument spiraled any further. "Ladies, this is a library. If you keep this up, you're going to disturb everyone else, and then we'll all get scolded by Kirisu-sensei."
At the mention of Kirisu-sensei, both girls froze for a moment.
Kasumigaoka turned to Hikigaya, her tone cooling. "Air-kun, you still haven't finished today's math worksheet, have you? Go back and finish it. If you run into any problems, feel free to ask me—I'll graciously tutor you."
"...Eh?"
Hikigaya blinked in surprise. Even after rejecting her confession, Kasumigaoka still wanted to tutor him?
Was this really about helping, or... was she plotting some form of revenge?
Regardless, Hikigaya couldn't refuse the leader of their study group. Resigned, he muttered, "Got it."
As Hikigaya and Kasumigaoka prepared to leave, Eriri hesitated. She bit her lip and blurted out, "Hikigaya-kun, I... about earlier, I—"
"It's fine, Sawamura," Hikigaya replied casually, not even glancing back.
Kasumigaoka, however, couldn't resist chiming in with a sly smile. "Heh~ Air-kun, you're too kind. Honestly, there's no need to waste your time on such a shallow little golden retriever."
"Kasumigaoka!"
Eriri, who had been feeling a twinge of relief moments ago, now looked ready to explode. She glared daggers at Kasumigaoka, her hands twitching as though resisting the urge to strangle her.
The three eventually shuffled back to their study group seats, but in the shadows behind the bookshelf, Yukinoshita's expression was anything but pleasant.
She'd been hoping for some entertainment, expecting to see her dear Hikigaya caught in the midst of two girls fighting over him. But no—this Sawamura girl dared to insult her Hikigaya?!
My Hikigaya-kun... is not someone you get to belittle!
Yukinoshita clenched her fists, trying to suppress the bubbling frustration.
She understood that Eriri's words were just a result of her tsundere personality. For a classic tsundere like her, saying such things was practically second nature.
But still...
No.
Yukinoshita couldn't stand it.
It made her blood boil!
After all, if anyone was allowed to mock Hikigaya, it would be her, Yukinoshita Yukino!
When she saw Hikigaya's affection for Eriri had actually increased—[Hikigaya Hachiman → Sawamura Eriri Affection: 35/100]—her eye twitched.
"You've got to be kidding me! His affection actually went up?!" Yukinoshita's lips trembled as she stared at the stats panel.
A girl who says she dislikes you, and your feelings for her improve? Really, Hikigaya? Truly living up to your reputation as a hopeless, bottom-tier fish!
Fine.
If you're not going to get revenge, then I will!
Yukinoshita took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
You don't retaliate? Well, as your future wife, I'll do it for you!
"Doesn't like my Hikigaya-kun, huh? Dares to insult him, huh? Just wait until tonight—I'll use a Dream Simulation Card on you. Tomorrow, I'll follow it up with a Forced Intimate Card!"
Yukinoshita began to strategize, a wicked glint in her eye. She'd make Eriri regret every word she said today.
You say you don't like Hikigaya-kun now? Fine. But soon enough, you'll be completely infatuated with him!
---
That evening, back home, Yukinoshita stuck to her plan and purchased the Dream Simulation Card.
But when she saw the new price—500 points—her brow furrowed. "Huh? Why's it so expensive now?"
[As the host's privileges increase, the card's features expand accordingly.]
"Expanded features?" Yukinoshita tilted her head. "What new features?"
[The host can now adjust the stamina levels of Hikigaya Hachiman and other characters in the dream, ensuring the desired outcome.]
"...Stamina levels?" Yukinoshita's eye twitched. "You mean... that stamina? Seriously?!"
Ridiculous as it sounded, the more she thought about it, the more the feature intrigued her. This could be fun.
"Buy it!"
[Dream Simulation Card purchased.]
That night, Yukinoshita patiently waited until almost midnight.
Sigh.
"So Sawamura is a night owl too, huh?"
[Please specify the dream target.]
"Sawamura Eriri."
[Dream Simulation initializing...]
[Would you like to adjust stamina levels?]
[Hikigaya Hachiman: 46 | Sawamura Eriri: 30]
"Leave Sawamura's the same. Raise Hikigaya's to 90."
[Adjustment complete: Hikigaya Hachiman stamina → 90]
"Perfect." Yukinoshita smirked.
[Would the host like to observe the dream?]
"Hmm..."
Yukinoshita hesitated for a moment. But the thought of watching her Hikigaya teach that tsundere Eriri a lesson was too tempting to resist.
"Alright, just a quick look."
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