"W-Wait! Hikigaya-kun, you're going too fast! I can't keep up…"
"Sorry, I'll try to…"
"Hikigaya-kun, don't rush so much, s-slow down a bit…"
"Uh…"
Hikigaya hesitated.
Why does everything this devilish white-haired girl says sound so strange?
He glanced down at the girl in his arms. She was clutching his shirt tightly, her big eyes blinking up at him.
…So cute.
Wait!
Cough, cough!
That's just a devil's smile!
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya continued carrying her in a princess carry, hurrying away.
His main goal was to avoid letting passersby take pictures of them. His stunt of plucking the beret from the tree had been way too flashy, attracting a lot of attention. Some people even said they were going to post photos of them as a couple on social media. That scared Hikigaya half to death.
"Hikigaya-kun, actually… it's not a big deal. I don't really mind~" Sakayanagi chuckled as she watched him fluster.
Hikigaya ignored the giggling devil.
I mind!
If Yukinoshita found out he was this close to Sakayanagi, wouldn't that be the end for him?
Wouldn't she go berserk and skin him alive?
Moments later.
Hikigaya finally reached a quiet park, still carrying Sakayanagi in his arms.
"Phew… This place should be safe."
Breathing a sigh of relief, he carefully placed the girl onto a bench.
"Hikigaya-kun, I never thought you'd be such a good runner."
Sakayanagi's eyes sparkled as she stared at his legs.
"I've been working out recently," Hikigaya said casually, instinctively putting some distance between them.
"Hehe, boys who work out are pretty popular with girls, you know~" Sakayanagi smiled, leaning in closer.
"Uh…"
Like a hunter eyeing its prey, Sakayanagi's gaze made Hikigaya squirm. He kept shifting away, avoiding her eyes.
Seeing this, Sakayanagi sighed.
"Hikigaya-kun, if you stay that far away, how am I supposed to wipe your sweat?"
"No need."
"That won't do."
Shaking her head, Sakayanagi spoke seriously,
"You helped me get my hat back. If I don't properly thank you, I'll feel guilty. Come on~ Just a little closer, or I'll have to report this to Yukino-chan~"
"Hah?"
Hikigaya twitched.
"Why are you bringing her up?"
"Hehe~ Fine, I won't mention her. Just move closer."
"…Sigh."
Resigned, Hikigaya reluctantly gave in to the demon lord.
Seeing his compliance, Sakayanagi grinned triumphantly and pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket. Carefully, she dabbed away the sweat on his forehead.
"Hikigaya-kun, your face is so red~"
"I just ran too much."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Ignoring her teasing, Hikigaya turned his gaze away, trying to avoid direct eye contact.
But even so—
Out of the corner of his eye, he still caught sight of Sakayanagi's delicate, doll-like features.
Her appearance… was unfairly cute.
Combined with her unique fragrance…
Not gonna lie, just like Yukinoshita, even without the so-called "assets" many girls prided themselves on, Sakayanagi was still a walking superweapon against men.
"Hikigaya-kun, when you put my hat on earlier… were you thinking about another girl?"
"…Huh?"
Her sudden question startled Hikigaya.
Does this girl have mind-reading powers?!
"I knew it… Hikigaya-kun was thinking about another girl."
Sakayanagi's smile gleamed as she continued wiping his sweat.
Whoa, whoa, whoa!
What's with this interrogation grin?!
Taking a deep breath, Hikigaya reluctantly admitted,
"I was just thinking about something from the past…"
"The past?" Sakayanagi blinked curiously. "If you don't mind, can you tell me? I'd love to hear it, Hikiiigaya"
Tch, calling it a request when it's clearly a threat! Damn sneaky white-haired devil!
"I just remembered… there was a time when I helped a girl pick up her beret."
"Oh?"
Sakayanagi's eyes brightened as she immediately asked,
"You remember something from the past?"
"Uh…"
Hikigaya continued,
"Yes, but I barely remember the details. Just bits and pieces."
"Hehe, as long as you remember a little, you'll eventually recall everything~" Sakayanagi chuckled meaningfully.
…Why do I feel like she's hinting at something?
Hikigaya didn't dwell on it and simply replied, "Maybe."
Then, Sakayanagi suddenly asked,
"For example… was it at the beach?"
"Huh? The beach?"
"During an elementary school summer vacation?"
"Elementary school summer vacation?"
Hikigaya frowned.
"It wasn't?"
Sakayanagi immediately pressed, her tone sounding unusually eager.
Hikigaya hesitated.
He could barely remember his middle school days, let alone elementary school.
But now that she mentioned it…
Maybe, just maybe, he had picked up a beret for some boy… or was it a girl… at the beach one summer during elementary school?
Then again, that was just a vague impression.
Too lazy to dwell on childhood memories, Hikigaya shook his head and said,
"No, it was in middle school. I found a beret on a slope by the street. I remember the road was lined with cherry blossom trees in full bloom. In the end, I returned a white beret to a girl. And… that's about it."
"…A white beret? Shouldn't it have been black? It was definitely at the beach… How did it turn into a middle school cherry blossom street…?" Sakayanagi muttered under her breath. "Could it be… that there was another girl…?"
"Sakayanagi? Hey, Sakayanagi?"
Watching her mumble to herself with a strange look, Hikigaya cautiously called out, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.
"…It's nothing."
Hearing his voice, Sakayanagi suddenly lifted her head with a smile. Then, as if on instinct, she reached out and touched Hikigaya's chest, chuckling softly.
"Forget that. Let's talk about you instead. Hehe… Hikigaya-kun, I just realized… you're surprisingly well-built~ Hehe, I like that~"
"Eh?!"
Feeling her hand on him, Hikigaya's expression shifted. A sudden chill ran down his spine.
Why…
Why does Sakayanagi's smile seem ten times scarier than before?!
And also—boundaries! Personal space! No touching!