Noon. Rooftop of the school building.
"Kawasaki-san, I'll be counting on you to stand watch at the door."
After finishing lunch, Kasumigaoka turned to Kawasaki, who was seated on the far-left end of the bench, and smiled gently.
"!!"
Her body stiffened. Trembling, Kawasaki picked up her neatly packed lunchbox, stood up, and walked toward the rooftop door.
Before leaving—
Kawasaki couldn't help but turn around and remind Hikigaya:
"Remember... to take proper precautions."
"Tch… Just go already. We're about to get started."
At that, Kasumigaoka first pouted slightly, but the next second, she gave a sudden sly smile and said:
"Of course, if you want to stay, I wouldn't mind..."
As she spoke, she shot Kawasaki a meaningful look—right in front of a thoroughly confused Hikigaya.
"!!!"
Kawasaki visibly shivered. Ignoring them, she turned around and left the rooftop without another word.
"Tch… We're already this far, is there even a point in still playing the shy girl?"
Kasumigaoka looked entirely unbothered by Kawasaki's flustered retreat.
"What exactly did you say to Kawasaki?" Hikigaya frowned, unable to help asking.
"I just taught her how to properly train you, Air-kun," Kasumigaoka replied with a sunny smile.
"Hah? Train me? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Hikigaya instinctively flinched as Kasumigaoka inched closer to him.
"Well, we can talk about that later. For now, let's focus on our business—Air-kun, it's time to pay your dues~"
She reached out and brushed his hand, still smiling.
"All weekend long, I couldn't stop thinking about you~ And now… finally, I get to have you again. Don't let me down, okay~?"
"C-Can you please show a little restraint?"
Hikigaya sighed helplessly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a box.
"What's that?" Kasumigaoka asked, puzzled.
"Protection."
"Eh?"
Kasumigaoka blinked in confusion. But when she saw the word "Okamoto" printed on the box, her expression instantly soured.
"Air-kun, seriously? Is that really necessary? I already told you—I'm safe today. So…"
"There's no way you're 'safe' every single time."
Hikigaya gave her a deadpan look, clearly unimpressed.
"Besides, I figure you're probably hitting your risky period soon. So this is non-negotiable."
"But… I hate using that stuff. It feels awful. And I bet you guys don't like it either."
Pouting, Kasumigaoka nudged him with her foot, protesting with visible reluctance.
"Just once should be fine, right? Luck can't be that bad."
"??"
Hikigaya frowned.
"You can't just assume that. What if you do get pregnant?"
"Then I'll just deal with it," Kasumigaoka replied nonchalantly. "Worst case, I'll drop out and have your baby~"
"You... No way!"
Hikigaya instantly rejected her.
"That's completely irresponsible! If you're not okay with this, then forget it. I'm leaving!"
With that, he stood up, ready to head down from the rooftop.
"Eh?! No no no… don't go!"
Seeing this, Kasumigaoka quickly grabbed his arm, pleading:
"Air-kun, I'll listen to you, okay? I'll do it your way… I'll even help you put it on myself, alright?"
"…I don't need your help."
Hikigaya took a deep breath.
"I can do it myself."
"Oh, don't be so shy. Just let me handle it." Seeing that Hikigaya was finally giving in, Kasumigaoka sighed in relief, her smile bright and content.
Then—
She gently pulled Hikigaya back onto the bench, motioning for him to sit down again.
While doing so—
Hikigaya suddenly noticed a small tear in the black stockings on Kasumigaoka's leg.
"Torn?"
"Well, they're made for men to tear, after all. It's no surprise they rip easily," Kasumigaoka replied with a teasing smile, inching closer again. "But don't worry, Air-kun, I always carry a spare pair. So… you get what I mean, right?"
"No idea what you mean."
Hikigaya avoided her gaze.
Senpai really is a seductive little demon...
---
Meanwhile.
Kawasaki sat just outside the rooftop door, feeling emotionally wrecked.
As Yukinoshita's close friend…
She was actually standing by while her friend's boyfriend fooled around with another woman—ahem.
No, even worse, she was helping stand watch while it happened.
"Ugh… Yukinoshita, I'm sorry. I'm a terrible person, an absolute sinner. I've failed you… Hikigaya, he… sigh…"
Kawasaki bit her lip, her heart filled with guilt and remorse.
They'd promised to look out for each other.
And yet, here she was, reduced to this.
"Sigh… What am I even supposed to do? How do I put a stop to all this?" Kawasaki clenched her fist in frustration and slammed it against the ground.
"Kawasaki-san?!"
Just then, a couple headed toward the rooftop froze when they saw her sitting there.
"…Hm?"
Kawasaki glanced over at them.
In the next instant, the couple scrambled to back away—the guy even grabbed the girl's hand and bolted in the opposite direction.
"Uhh…"
Kawasaki opened her mouth, then looked down at her own fists—hardened from years of karate practice.
Great. Branded as a delinquent girl again.
Sigh.
Well… maybe that's not such a bad thing.
At the very least, no one would dare barge in while she was sitting here.
Kawasaki sighed, turning to glance at the rooftop door.
…Huh?
For some reason—
She suddenly heard a faint voice coming from inside.
It was… Kasumigaoka's voice!
Wait a second!!
You could hear Kasumigaoka through the closed rooftop door!?
That door had excellent sound insulation!
Which meant…
"That… that girl…"
Kawasaki's lips twitched as she fought the urge to fling the door open and tear into Kasumigaoka with a good scolding.
But—
She eventually restrained herself. After a brief pause, she pulled out her phone and dialed Kasumigaoka's number.
It took a full five minutes—
Before Kasumigaoka finally answered the call.
"H-Hello? Ka-Kawasaki…"
The moment she heard her voice, Kawasaki snapped:
"Kasumigaoka! Can you stop being such a lunatic?! You want the whole school to hear you two or what?!"
"No, I… I didn't mean to…"
A whimpering voice came through the line:
"Uuu… Ka-Kawasaki… please, hurry and save me… Air-kun, he—he's like a wild beast… please come help me… I'm begging you…"
"Hah?!"
Hearing the always-proud Kasumigaoka cry for help, Kawasaki was completely dumbfounded.