Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

Mrs. Yuigahama was utterly shocked.

As an adult, she rarely let her emotions spiral out of control.

But now…

This was—?!

How could such an accident have happened?

While it was true that her husband had passed away years ago and any feelings for him had long since faded, how could she possibly not feel a stir in her heart at a time like this?!

Of course, beyond this, something else weighed even more heavily on her conscience—

The boy involved was her daughter's crush.

As a mother, how could she… oh, no! What a failure of a mom she was!

"Ah, Hachiman-kun, I—"

"Sorry."

Before Mrs. Yuigahama could finish her sentence, Hikigaya spoke first, apologizing:

"If I hadn't lowered my head just now, this wouldn't have happened..."

"No, no, no, it's all my fault..."

Mrs. Yuigahama waved her hands nervously, lowering her head in shame.

"I'm so sorry, Hachiman-kun. It's all my fault for being so clumsy... so careless... I'm such an idiot... I'm so sorry..."

"Ahh… what do we do now? To think you had to… kiss someone like me… how disgusting it must've been... For a young boy like you to kiss an old lady like me…"

"Sorry, sorry! I've sullied you, Hachiman-kun... I'm a sinner..."

The more she spoke, the more Mrs. Yuigahama spiraled into self-loathing. Her voice grew increasingly soft and filled with self-doubt.

Hikigaya, who had initially been caught in a whirlwind of confusion, began to calm down as he listened to her string of apologies.

And when he saw the gentle woman on the verge of tears, his heart softened, and he couldn't help but try to comfort her.

"Auntie, there's no need to think like that... Really, you're, uh, quite young—certainly not an old lady!"

"Hachiman-kun, you don't have to comfort me. I know myself. I'm already in my thirties... an old woman..."

"Being in your thirties doesn't make you an old woman!" Hikigaya said seriously, looking at the woman crouched before him.

"Besides, Auntie, you don't look like someone in her thirties at all. You look like you're in your twenties. If you and Yuigahama stood side by side, people might mistake you for sisters—they wouldn't even realize you're mother and daughter."

"R-really?"

"Of course!"

Faced with her gradually leaning closer, Hikigaya instinctively leaned back a little, coughing lightly.

"So, Auntie, there's no need to apologize anymore. If anything, I'm the one who overstepped just now."

"Hachiman-kun, you're such a kind boy..."

Mrs. Yuigahama gave a bitter smile.

"But there's no need to comfort me. I know myself. If I were as amazing as you say, would I still be... well... sigh."

The gentle woman still seemed immersed in self-doubt, her eyes tinged with loneliness and regret.

Hikigaya hesitated for a moment before boldly continuing to reassure her:

"Auntie, you really are amazing. If I were ten years older, I might even pursue you!"

At this point, he might as well go all in with the comfort, preventing her self-esteem from crumbling further.

"W-what?"

Mrs. Yuigahama froze, dumbfounded that he'd just said something so... explosive.

"Hachiman-kun, are... are you serious?"

Hikigaya nodded solemnly. "Of course."

Mrs. Yuigahama averted her eyes, flustered. "B-but even if you were ten years older, the age gap would still..."

"Age is just a number. Besides, Auntie, you don't look your age at all."

If not for Yukinoshita already holding a special place in his heart, Hikigaya thought, back when his teacher Hiratsuka-sensei was leaving, he might've confessed to her despite their ten-year age gap!

"This... this is..."

Mrs. Yuigahama's heart was racing. Stammering, she said, "S-stop joking, Hachiman-kun. Even so, I was married before. I... I had a husband..."

"And what about it?"

Hikigaya replied calmly, "That was in the past. Right now, Auntie, you're single. And since you're single, I, as a man, have the right to pursue you!"

"B-but don't most men mind if a woman isn't... you know, a virgin?" Mrs. Yuigahama asked hesitantly.

"In Japan, it's rare for adult women to still be virgins. Most men don't care about that," Hikigaya replied.

"Huh?"

Mrs. Yuigahama's heart was in turmoil, her eyes darting everywhere.

"B-but I've had a child... raising a child as a single mom... what man would accept that?"

"And what's wrong with that?"

Hikigaya nodded matter-of-factly.

"Having a child shows Auntie is capable of bearing children! You know, some women can't even conceive—it's a real issue for some men. The fact that Auntie has already had a child shows you're healthy and capable, which is a good thing! Plus, a bigger family feels more lively and homey!"

"For me, I wouldn't mind at all."

"???"

Mrs. Yuigahama was stunned, her heart racing uncontrollably.

"H-Hachiman-kun..."

What's with this boy?

How can he say such sweet, gentle things?

This... is amazing!

I want to marry Hachiman-kun!!!

"Ahem~"

Hikigaya realized he might've overdone it and quickly coughed to shift the mood.

"Auntie, do you feel a bit better now?"

Oh no!

What am I doing?!

How did comforting Auntie turn into something that sounded like a confession??

Hachiman was simply trying to console a self-conscious mother—he had absolutely no other intentions!!

"Hachiman-kun, I..."

Just as Mrs. Yuigahama was lost in her own thoughts, Yuigahama's voice came from the bathroom, panic-stricken.

"Mom! Are you there? There's no toilet paper—bring me some!"

"???"

Her daughter's voice immediately snapped Mrs. Yuigahama out of her daze.

"Huh? N-no toilet paper? I'll get some right away!"

She responded hurriedly, standing up in a fluster.

Hands pressed to her chest, she tried to calm her racing heart.

Her mature face was tinged with a faint blush.

This is bad!

How did I almost lose myself just now?!

I actually wanted to kiss Hachiman-kun again, maybe even...

No, no, no!

He's Yui's crush!

Sigh, Hachiman-kun is just a child—he's the same age as Yui.

Mrs. Yuigahama felt a mix of emotions—complicated and regretful.

If only Hachiman-kun were a bit older... that would've been perfect.

*********************************************

Read advanced chapters ahead of everyone else on my Patreon.

p@treon/GodDragcell