Yui patted her cheeks to clear her head, then nodded in response to Yukino.
But... I booked a little late yesterday, so there are only two rooms...
Then Komachi and I can share one.
Before Yukino could finish speaking, Yui cut in.
So the two of us... Huh? Yukino was stunned.
Yui playfully stuck out her tongue at Hachiman, then pulled Komachi toward the hotel.
The two people left behind, having fallen for the ploy, were speechless.
The Snow That Melted
By the time Hachiman and Yukino entered the hotel, Yui and Komachi were already waiting to pick up the room key cards.
Once they had the room key cards, Yui pulled Komachi upstairs.
Halfway there, Komachi seemed to remember something and turned back to Hachiman. "Onii-chan, Yui and I will wait for you in the restaurant."
Hachiman remained silent as he watched Yukino stagger to the front desk to check in.
With the room key card in hand, Yukino let Hachiman lead her toward the room.
After opening the door, Hachiman surveyed the room and nodded in satisfaction.
Although it was not extravagantly decorated, it certainly lived up to the reputation of a four-star hotel.
Hachiman and Yukino collapsed onto the soft bed together and let out a comfortable sigh.
"Komachi said she was waiting for us in the restaurant. Aren't we going?" Hachiman asked, looking at Yukino, who was lying beside him with a blissful expression.
"Let me lie here for five more minutes. We swam all afternoon. I'm exhausted."
Yukino was sunk into the bed and had no intention of getting up.
After five minutes passed, Hachiman spoke to Yukino, who was resting with her eyes closed. "The five minutes are up. Let's go eat, or Yui and the others will get impatient."
"Aww~ I don't want to eat anymore. You go ahead. Let me sleep here for a while."
Yukino took a pillow and covered her head with it.
Hachiman said nothing. He simply picked up the stockings Yukino had tossed beside the bed and slowly helped her put them on. Then he hoisted the snow catfish over his shoulder.
"What are you doing~? Put me down! I want to sleep."
Yukino pounded on Hachiman's back.
Supporting Yukino by the buttocks, Hachiman ignored the gazes of those around them and carried her all the way to the spot Yui and Komachi had reserved.
Although it was a seafood buffet, neither Hachiman nor Yukino managed to eat much. Yukino was overwhelmed by embarrassment, while Hachiman was distracted because another small foot kept stomping hard on his own.
By the time they finished eating and Yui was patting her little belly in satisfaction, repeatedly saying she was about to burst, Hachiman could no longer feel his right foot.
"Hikki, Little Snow~ I'm full, so I'll head out first?"
"Ah... yeah."
Hachiman answered with a twisted expression.
"Mm, Onii-chan, Sister Yukino, I'm full too. I'm going to find Yui and play."
Komachi wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth and ran after Yui toward the room.
As soon as the two of them left, Hachiman reached down and grabbed the small foot that had been grinding against the top of his.
"That's enough, right? You've been stepping on me for so long without me saying anything. Don't push your luck."
Hachiman looked at the imprint of the leather shoe on his foot as he spoke.
"Push my luck? Who's pushing whose luck? Am I disabled or something? Can't I walk on my own? Did I ask you to carry me? And your hand kept touching my butt."
After her left foot was caught, Yukino stuck out her right foot as well.
Hachiman immediately grabbed both of Yukino's small feet and clamped them between his thighs.
"Little tyrant, can you stop moving for a moment and let me eat? Please?" Hachiman quietly pleaded with the sulking Yukino.
Yukino huffed angrily and moved her feet, only to discover that she could not pull them free from Hachiman's legs with her own strength.
So Yukino turned back and resumed battling the fish slices in front of her. With the way she gritted her teeth, she looked as if she were devouring Hachiman's flesh alive.
After Hachiman had eaten and drunk his fill, he looked toward Yukino beside him.
Only to find that the girl in front of him had also let out a tiny belch.
"Mm..." The girl's face flushed faintly when she realized she had been noticed.
"Are you full? Then shall we return to the room?" Hachiman asked.
"No. I ate too much. Lying down would feel uncomfortable right now."
Hearing that, Hachiman said nothing. He simply released Yukino's small feet and helped her stand.
He tightened his grip slightly on Yukino's hand and led her forward.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Yukino looked puzzled.
"You said you ate too much, so I'm taking you for a walk to help you digest."
After hearing Hachiman's explanation, Yukino let him lead her around the courtyard.
Cool breezes always blew along the seaside on summer evenings. The uniquely salty sea wind lifted the hem of Yukino's skirt and her beautiful black hair.
Yukino's face wore the languid expression of someone who had just eaten her fill. Looking at the girl before him, who seemed increasingly real, Hachiman could not help smiling.
"What? Why did you suddenly smile at me? That expression of yours is disgusting."
Yukino looked at her boyfriend with disdain.
"Nothing. I just suddenly realized that compared with how you were before, you have more and more expressions on your face now. They're becoming more genuine, too."
"Is... is that so?"
Yukino looked a little embarrassed.
At that moment, Hachiman suddenly pulled Yukino into his arms.
"Are you trying to kill me? What are you doing?"
Yukino had been lifted without warning and beat against Hachiman's back.
Hachiman supported Yukino under the arms and lifted her up. Ignoring the bashful girl's spoiled, playful pounding against his back, he spun her around in the air several times before pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Mm..." The girl felt slightly uncomfortable in his arms, but she did not struggle. Instead, she obediently rested her chin on Hachiman's shoulder.
Feeling the soft touch against his chest, Hachiman gently stroked Yukino's back and said, "Yukino, let's get married after we graduate."
"Huh? Why are you suddenly saying that...? Isn't it still too soon...?" Yukino spoke in a fluster.
"It's not too soon. We have a little over a year left, and I want to start making preparations early."
Hachiman's expression was extremely serious.
"Then... do whatever you want. I'm tired. Let's go back."
Yukino answered perfunctorily.
After returning to the hotel, Hachiman immediately lay down on the bed, but Yukino grabbed him by the ear and said, "No getting on the bed until you take a shower."
"You go first. I'll rest for a while."
Hachiman walked over and sat down on the sofa.
"Then I'll go first."
Hachiman dozed on the sofa with his eyes closed, but then he heard Yukino call out.
"Hachiman! I forgot to bring a change of clothes in here. Help me get them from my luggage bag."
Hachiman stood up, found a set of underwear in Yukino's bag, knocked on the bathroom door made only of frosted glass, and passed the clothes inside.
By the time Yukino came out wrapped in a bath towel and drying her hair with a dry towel, Hachiman was almost asleep.
"Hachiman? Wake up. Go take a shower."
"Ah... oh."
When Hachiman finished showering, Yukino had just turned on the hair dryer and was about to dry her hair. She paused when she saw Hachiman standing there with a bath towel wrapped around his waist.
"That was fast."
"A man who takes too long in the shower definitely wasn't doing anything good."
Hachiman waved a hand, took the hair dryer from Yukino, tested the temperature, and skillfully began drying her hair.
By the time Yukino's hair was completely dry and carried a fresh fragrance, Hachiman's hair, which he had been drying with cool air, was almost dry as well.
"I'm actually curious. Are our families related somehow?"
Hachiman toyed with the cowlick atop Yukino's head as he teased her.
"Of course we are. Didn't you know?" Yukino turned around and answered with utmost seriousness.
The movement of Hachiman's hand froze. He stared blankly at Yukino. "W-What kind of relationship?"
"Pfft." Yukino burst out laughing before continuing, "The relationship between future in-laws."
"Look at your face. Hahahaha, you look like you've turned stupid."
"Oh, so you've learned to tease me now?" Embarrassed and angry, Hachiman rolled up his sleeves. "Let's see if I don't spank that butt of yours raw today."
Yukino giggled as she and Hachiman chased each other playfully around the edge of the bed.
In the end, Hachiman caught her in one move, pulled off her bath towel, and exposed her buttocks clad only in black lace panties. A rhythmic series of smacks soon rang out through the room.
The Snow's Great Collapse
"Ah~" A breathy moan that stirred the blood flowed from Yukino Yukinoshita's throat.
The moans were accompanied by the rhythmic slapping sounds of flesh striking flesh.
Hachiman's questioning voice was mixed in among them.
"Was making a fool of me fun?" Smack.
"Ah~ Mm, it wasn't fun. I... I'm sorry. Forgive me."
Yukino spoke with a sob in her voice.
"Will you dare do it again?" As he spoke, another slap landed.
"Uu~ I won't. Darling, I'm sorry."
Hachiman said nothing. He simply gave her one more light, lingering pat, then gently stroked the spot.
Seeing the red handprint he had left behind, he asked worriedly, "Does it hurt?"
Yukino said nothing. She simply bit Hachiman's thigh, responding to his question with direct action.
"Argh, Little tyrant, little tyrant, I'm sorry! Let go!"
Yukino climbed up, spat several times, then wiped her lips with an expression of utter disgust.
Hachiman looked at the bite mark on his leg, close to tears.
"You said you were a cat. Why do you feel so much like a dog?"
"Don't you know cats bite too?" Yukino blinked her beautiful eyes playfully and answered with righteous confidence.
Hachiman looked at Yukino and could only say helplessly, "It's late. Let's sleep."
After speaking, Hachiman removed his bath towel and slid straight into bed.
"What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to sleep?" Hachiman asked, looking at Yukino, who had frozen in place.
Yukino hesitated, but Hachiman directly switched off the lights.
So Yukino could only slowly climb into bed. But just after she pulled up the covers, Hachiman reached out and dragged her over.
"What are you doing?" Yukino asked, caught off guard.
Before you continue