Horikita Suzune pressed the intercom outside Hikigaya's dorm room.
After a long moment, the door opened from inside.
"Sorry, I just got back from martial arts club practice and took a shower."
Hikigaya had a towel draped over his head, rubbing his damp hair dry.
Catching a whiff of that clean, post-shower scent, Horikita's tightly knitted brows relaxed ever so slightly.
At least he didn't smell like sweat this time…
"Next time, have a pair of indoor slippers ready for me."
She kicked off her polished shoes, stepping onto the wooden floor in her black knee-high socks.
This woman… not even a hint of hesitation.
Hikigaya's gaze shifted to the two bento boxes in her hands. "Uh, Horikita, what's all that?"
"Didn't you say it yourself?" she replied matter-of-factly. "You told me to prepare dinner for you."
Horikita set the boxes down on the table.
Wait— that was just a joke.
You actually took it seriously…
Hikigaya stared, half expecting to find "Hikigaya Suzune" possessing her body.
"Uh… having you cook for me, isn't that a bit much?" he asked, scratching the back of his head, embarrassed.
Honestly speaking, this was the first time in his life he'd ever eaten food made by a woman who wasn't his mother.
"It's fine," Horikita replied simply. "I cook for myself anyway. Adding one more portion doesn't take extra effort. Besides, with all the points I've taken from you, this is the least I can do."
She opened the lunch boxes. Inside weren't luxury dishes— just grilled chicken wings, stewed cabbage, and tomato scrambled eggs. Simple, but comforting.
"Thanks. I'll dig in."
After a few bites, Hikigaya couldn't help showing a nostalgic smile. "I've got to admit, in terms of housewife skills, you've got everyone beat."
Horikita's pride flared immediately. "Who's a housewife?!"
"Oh? Great! That means I can be the househusband instead," Hikigaya said with mock delight.
"Pathetic." Horikita sighed. "I still don't get what my brother sees in you."
After the meal, Hikigaya brewed two cups of Ceylon highland tea.
"You actually know how to enjoy life," Horikita remarked, impressed by the rich aroma. She clearly knew good tea when she smelled it.
"It's nothing. Consider it payment for my private tutor."
While his official points balance was nearly empty, Hikigaya still had over four million tucked away in his anonymous account.
Horikita nodded, perfectly content to accept the gesture. "Then let's get started."
One hour later…
Two hours later…
"H-Horikita, sensei, how about we stop here for tonight?"
After grinding through problem after problem, Hikigaya felt his brain splitting open.
"No." Horikita's tone was firm. "Finish the last two problems."
"Please, have mercy…"
He complained, but his hand kept moving. When they finally finished, Horikita spent another half hour explaining the solutions in detail.
In total, the tutoring session lasted three hours straight.
Well, that's ten thousand points well spent…
"At this rate, you should catch up to high school-level material before the end of the month," Horikita said. "But your foundation's still weak. Even if you cram, you'll only manage about sixty points."
"Wait, isn't that goal a little high?" Hikigaya grimaced. "I was just hoping to scrape past the passing line."
With a pass mark of thirty-two, sixty would actually make him above average— a miracle for a long-time math disaster like him.
"Quiet."
Horikita's sharp eyes narrowed. "A student I personally teach won't settle for just passing. For the midterms, you're getting at least sixty. For the finals— seventy or eighty."
"This is abuse. Straight-up academic abuse!" Hikigaya cried.
***
"Hey, Hikigaya! Get up!"
"Today's training— wait, you're already awake?"
Short-haired Suzune had come to wake him, expecting the usual sleepy resistance.
"…"
Hikigaya stared at her, serious-faced. "Suzune… turn around for a second."
"What? Do I have something on my back?"
Puzzled, she turned as told.
A pink apron was tied around her waist, perfectly outlining the curve of her hips under dark shorts.
"Whew…" Hikigaya took a deep breath— and suddenly swung his hand down.
SMACK!
A sharp, echoing slap.
"Ah!! What was that for!?"
Suzune jumped in shock, her cheeks flaring red as she clutched her burning backside.
"Nothing," Hikigaya replied calmly. "I just suddenly felt like hitting you."
He stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Ahh, that felt great. I feel refreshed already."
"Hachiman!"
Her voice trembled with anger— and something else. "You… you'd better be ready to pay for that."
Suzune yanked off her apron— and then—
"!!!"
The sight before him was far too pure, far too dangerous. Hikigaya's pupils shrank in horror.
"W-wait! Hold on! I'm not ready for—"
Suzune's lips curled in a furious yet strangely thrilled smile. "You're not getting out of bed on your own after this."
***
The next morning.
Hikigaya was up early, jogging on the track.
"Yo, Hikigaya," Ibuki Mio called, running beside him. "What's with that bright, refreshed look? Something good happen?"
"I got abused last night," Hikigaya said honestly.
"…I— wait, what?!"
Ibuki nearly tripped mid-stride. "You've completely lost it, haven't you?"
"Probably," Hikigaya said with a weak smile.
Lately, his dreams had been getting stranger and stranger— each one vivid enough to feel real. Too real.
"Anyway, stop saying dumb things," Ibuki sighed. "By the way— what about your math tutoring? You planning to keep that up?"
She shot him a look. "Your grades are so bad that our homeroom teacher keeps using you as D-Class's cautionary tale."
Damn that square-faced, side-banged demon of a teacher… Hikigaya grumbled inwardly.
"You sure you don't need help? My friend Shiina's top of the class— she's kind, approachable, and doesn't care about the whole class rivalry thing."
"Oh?" Hikigaya thought it over for a moment, then nodded. "Alright… I'll take you up on that."
***
Ill update in the afternoon again 😁