Pajama Party, Masumi Come Join Us Too

Waking up in the morning, an angel appeared before my eyes.

"Good morning, Hachiman."

Hiyori, looking like an angel, greeted me with a face full of smiles.

This instantly cleared my groggy, just-woken-up mind, and I realized I was currently embracing Hiyori.

"...Good morning, Hiyori."

"Um... it might be a bit sudden to make a request right after waking up, but could you grant me a favor, Hachiman?"

"A favor?"

"Yes. Yesterday I asked for a post-meal hug and a goodnight kiss... could you give me a good morning kiss this morning as well?"

A bombshell dropped just thirty seconds after waking up.

A good morning kiss and a goodnight kiss—isn't this just the daily routine of a loving married couple?

Just as I was thinking about how to politely decline without hurting Hiyori, she seemed to sense my hesitation and stared at me with an uneasy expression.

"..."

...This spoiled brat. I really can't do anything about her...

I sighed and leaned my face toward Hiyori's forehead, giving it a light kiss.

"...Is this okay?"

"I'm so happy. Then, I want to..."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Hiyori leaned her face toward my forehead to return the kiss. It seems this will be a morning and evening routine... I'd better get used to it sooner rather than later.

(But is it really okay for Hiyori to stay in my room?)

Although school rules prohibit boys from entering the girls' dormitory area after eight in the evening, there is no rule against girls entering the boys' dormitory area. Furthermore, the school rules do not explicitly forbid having others stay over in one's room, so Sakanayanagi and Hiyori staying here does not violate any regulations.

However, from an ethical standpoint, it is definitely problematic. Sakanayanagi comes to stay at least once a week, and Hiyori has been staying over every day lately, putting us in a state of semi-cohabitation.

If the other boys found out, I would definitely be executed, wouldn't I?

But...

"Hachiman..."

Looking at Hiyori, who was acting spoiled toward me without reservation, I truly couldn't find the heart to refuse...

I glanced at the clock; it was only five in the morning.

Hiyori usually starts making bento boxes at six, so it looks like this state of affairs will continue for another hour. But... I don't exactly hate it.

I gently stroked Hiyori's hair, and she narrowed her eyes comfortably, rubbing against my palm.

Forget it. Since it doesn't violate school rules, I'll just let the ethical issues be.

As a result, I let Hiyori cling to me and act spoiled until six o'clock.

Two hours later...

"Let's get going, Hiyori."

"Okay."

We had finished getting ready for school and were about to take the elevator downstairs, but when the doors opened, we ran into a familiar face.

"Ah, good morning, Kamuro!"

Kamuro Masumi, Sakanayanagi's "friend" and attendant, was standing inside the elevator.

"Hikigaya and Shiina? I heard from Sakanayanagi that Shiina often stays in Hikigaya's room, so it seems it's true."

"Yes. Would you like to come stay with us next time, Kamuro? Sleeping with Hachiman is very comfortable."

"Huh?!"

Hiyori's naturally explosive statement caused the usually cold Kamuro to widen her eyes in a rare display of shock. As expected of Hiyori, who can even rattle Sakanayanagi; in a sense, she is the strongest in the grade.

"How about it? Sakanayanagi comes to stay occasionally too, it's quite fun."

"You don't actually think I'd agree to that, do you?"

When we reached the first floor, Kamuro responded with a look that suggested she thought I was an idiot.

"? Are you not taking the elevator?"

"I am not."

"What are you two talking about regarding taking or not taking? Are you talking about the elevator?"

As Sakanayanagi's puzzled voice echoed from the lobby, I felt a sense of impending doom—if she joined the conversation, it would be...

"Good morning, Sakanayanagi! Actually, I just invited Kamuro to stay the night in Hachiman's room, but she refused."

Hiyori stated the truth without any defenses.

Upon hearing this, Sakanayanagi wore a delighted expression, while Kamuro's mouth twitched.

At this moment, Kamuro and I were likely of the same mind, having already foreseen how this would unfold.

"Oh my... Masumi-san, you're so cold. Next time I go to spend the night in Hikigaya-kun's room, I'll bring you along for a pajama party."

It was just as I had expected. Kamuro seemed to have had a premonition, sighing in resignation.

"Sakanayanagi... if you want to have a party, do it in your own room."

"That won't do. To make Hikigaya-kun shy, it must be in his room... Oh, and inviting Ichinose-san along would be lovely too."

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Don't say such terrifying things so nonchalantly! Although Ichinose would likely decline with a bitter smile, if four girls were to actually spend the night in my room, I would absolutely die of embarrassment.

"Since it's decided, I'll contact Ichinose now... Mmph!"

I blew into Sakanayanagi's ear to interrupt her dangerous proposal, and she immediately let out a sultry gasp. I decided to pretend I didn't see Kamuro, who was turning her head away and trembling beside us.

Sakanayanagi, her face flushed red, glared at me fiercely: "I never expected Hikigaya-kun to do something so lewd!"

"The person who kissed my cheek in the cafeteria has no right to say that."

"In that case... next time, I'll kiss your lips..."

"I beg you, have mercy!"

"I'm joking, I won't use that trump card just yet."

Thank goodness... if she actually used that, I'd be finished.

"Are you two done playing? It's time to go."

"...Masumi-san is right. Let's head out."

Sakanayanagi sighed and began to walk, and we followed immediately after. Being watched by passersby had long since become a daily occurrence.

"Come to think of it, have Hikigaya-kun and Shiina-san been dragged into any class disputes?"

"My class is currently quite stable."

"Our class is making a huge fuss over class points, but I'm too lazy to get involved."

Besides, even if Sudo were to be expelled, it would have nothing to do with me; if anything, it would be better if that troublemaker left sooner.

"But the fact that you and Shiina are dating is known to the whole school, so you might get dragged into it, you know?"

Kamuro said this. Well, it wasn't impossible; after all, it was common knowledge that I was close with Hiyori from Class C.

"I'll deal with that if it actually happens."

I replied as I walked toward the school. I really just want to maintain a peaceful life. Should I just agree to join the Sakanayanagi Faction and receive funding from the A-class Sakanayanagi Faction?

After school, Hirata and Kushida began searching for witnesses as usual. They really are tireless.

Just as I was thinking that, Kushida walked toward the back of the classroom. Her target was an introverted girl, I remember her name was Sakura.

"Sakura-san~"

"...! W-what is it...?"

The moment Kushida spoke to her, Sakura's shoulders jolted, and she turned around timidly. It was only natural for her to be flustered, given that a gloomy student with such a faint presence was suddenly being addressed by the most cheerful girl in the class.

"I have a few things I'd like to ask you about that matter, Sakura-san..."

"I-I'm sorry...! I, I have something to do next..."

Sakura kept her head down, stuttering as she tried to escape. I guessed right. This girl definitely knows something about the incident involving Sudo.

"It won't take much time...? It really will only take a few minutes. I heard that when Sudo-kun was involved in the incident, you were nearby, Sakura-san..."

"I, I don't know...! I really don't know anything!"

Sakura's tone carried a clear refusal. Was she trying to avoid getting involved in Sudo's business? Or did she simply not want to interact with people?

"Is it... okay now? I'm going home..."

Sakura kept darting her eyes around, looking for an opportunity to escape. There was no point in staying in the classroom, so I should head back too.

Having judged the situation, I picked up my bag and checked to see if I had forgotten anything. What should I do after school today?

As I stood up while thinking about my after-school plans, the tug-of-war between Kushida and Sakura was still ongoing.

"Can you spare a moment now?"

Kushida didn't seem to intend to let her go, continuing to speak while blocking her path.

"W-why... I really don't know anything..."

Neither side was willing to back down, both looking for an opening. What was this inexplicably tense atmosphere?

Feeling helpless, I pulled out my phone to connect to the school network, and as I walked out of the classroom while checking for new book releases at the bookstore--

"T-then, I'm leaving...!"

Along with that voice, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly rang out--

"Tsk!"

"Ah!"

The next second, my body was struck by an impact. I turned my head to see Sakura sitting on the floor, her personal belongings scattered everywhere. I hadn't noticed Sakura because I was looking down at my phone, and she had likely been walking quickly with her head down as usual, which was why she hadn't seen me.

"Ah!"

Following the sound, I discovered a digital camera lying on the ground. It must have fallen during the collision.

Sakura covered her mouth with her hand, looking completely devastated, but she still fiddled with the digital camera.

"How could this be... it's not responding..."

It seemed the digital camera was broken. I was also at fault for playing on my phone while walking.

"I'm sorry. I'll pay for the camera; just give me your account details."

It would probably cost around twenty or thirty thousand yen to resolve, which wasn't a problem for me.

"No, it's fine. It was my fault for not looking where I was going... Goodbye."

After saying that, Sakura fled the classroom as if escaping. She didn't even want compensation; it seemed she was truly resistant to interacting with others.

"So, that gloomy girl is the witness? Does she really intend to testify for me?"

Sudo, who was sitting in the classroom with his legs crossed, spoke, but Sakura didn't look like the type who would take the initiative to help him at all.

"There must be some underlying reason. Besides, she hasn't even admitted to seeing it with her own eyes yet, so don't give her a hard time, okay?"

"I kno~w. I have enough sense for that. I'm a mature adult, after all."

What kind of nonsense was he spouting? If he really had that much self-control, he wouldn't have gotten into this mess in the first place.

I was just about to leave the classroom in frustration when Kushida called out to me.

"Ah, Hikigaya-kun. Could we talk for a moment?"

Being approached by Kushida at this time, I could roughly guess the content of the conversation.

"Trying to get information through me because I'm on good terms with Hiyori from Class C? It's useless."

"? Why do you say that?"

"Hiyori said that Class C has the win in the bag this time and isn't even taking any action."

"What did you say?!"

Sudo suddenly flew into a rage. Although I suspected Ryuen was pulling the strings behind the scenes, looking at Sudo's attitude, the outcome wouldn't be much different whether Ryuen was involved or not.

"So, trying to fish for information from Hiyori won't work."

Just as I was saying that and preparing to leave the classroom—

"Tch, students from a bottom-tier class really are useless."

Huh? What did this guy just say? Did he say Hiyori was useless?

"Heh... hearing that from the plague of the class is truly hilarious."