Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

"Nothing?"

Sitting on the bench, Miura furrowed her brows and gave the boy in front of her—who was currently rubbing her leg—a somewhat exasperated look.

"Hikigaya, are you even a man or not?"

"Of course I'm a man," Hikigaya replied quickly, though he added awkwardly, "I just… don't have any particular thoughts right now."

"Hmph. Don't give me that. You say you don't, but your body's been telling a different story ever since earlier."

Miura huffed and instinctively glanced at Hikigaya.

"Eh?"

Hikigaya flinched and scrambled to respond, "With a beauty like you sitting right in front of me, who wouldn't feel something? That's just biology."

"…Hah?"

"But," he coughed and quickly added, "I really don't have any other thoughts. I mean, I'm Yukinoshita's boyfriend—how could I think of anyone else?"

The implication was clear.

"…"

Miura narrowed her eyes. She'd caught what he meant right away.

And it didn't sit well with her.

They hadn't said it outright, but Miura couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just been… rejected.

She bit her lip and clenched her fist without realizing it.

She thought she'd won a round—but in the end, she still lost to Yukinoshita.

Seriously, Yukinoshita… What kind of sorcery are you using to keep Hikigaya so loyal?

If her future husband could be as devoted as Hikigaya, Miura thought, she'd have nothing more to ask for.

Jealousy welled up inside her.

"…That should be about enough. Try standing up and see how your leg feels."

After massaging her thigh for a while, Hikigaya withdrew his hands and spoke gently.

"…Okay."

Seeing his respectful demeanor, Miura's emotions grew more tangled. Still, she nodded and stood up.

But the moment she lifted off the bench, her expression changed.

"Huh? My leg…?!"

"What's wrong?"

Hikigaya quickly stepped forward, ready to help her.

"It's fine—I'm totally better."

Miura shook her head and, as she stood, even bounced a little. She looked completely rejuvenated.

"I feel like… my whole body's full of energy."

Clenching her fist, she muttered to herself.

"Wait, full of energy?"

Hikigaya blinked. "You just had a cramp. Take it easy, seriously."

"No, really. It's like something that was stuck inside me suddenly got released. Ugh—I need to move, I want to run!"

She was practically glowing with enthusiasm.

"Uh, maybe rest a bit more first?"

"No way. I have to burn this off—I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't."

After stretching a little, Miura turned to him. "You're coming too. Let's run together."

"Uh…"

"Don't 'uh' me. We wasted so much time earlier—we need to make up for it."

Miura shot him a commanding glare.

"…Got it."

Hikigaya gave a resigned smile.

And so, under the night sky, the two began to run.

This time, though, unlike before when they ran side-by-side, Miura led the way, with Hikigaya trailing behind her.

Not because he didn't want to run beside her—but because…

He simply couldn't keep up.

He was already pushing himself just to stay close enough to see her silhouette ahead.

The faint fragrance she carried wafted toward him as she ran, combined with the graceful motion of her figure.

Even Hikigaya had to admit—Miura looked incredibly striking right now.

"S-Slow down, Miura… Don't forget you were just cramping up…"

Gasping behind her, Hikigaya tried to caution her.

"I'm in perfect shape now."

Miura glanced back and smirked, "What about you, Hikigaya? You're falling way behind. Come on, pick up the pace!"

"…Hah?"

Being called slow—especially by a girl—didn't exactly feel great.

Even if it was just about running.

"Don't underestimate me now!"

Gritting his teeth, Hikigaya pushed himself to keep up.

Watching his determined effort, Miura couldn't help but chuckle softly. She quickly turned away to hide her flustered expression.

What a strange day this is…

Compared to earlier, she felt ten times better—maybe even stronger than she'd ever felt before.

Like she'd shed a layer of herself.

Why though?

Nothing else had really changed… except…

Her cheeks flushed again as an image popped into her head—the scene in the restroom, when Hikigaya had kissed her.

It was around that moment everything shifted.

That pent-up pressure inside her had finally been released.

She felt like she'd been reborn.

Could it really be… because of him?

Instinctively, Miura looked over her shoulder.

Hikigaya was still there—drenched in sweat, face strained, but stubbornly refusing to fall behind her.

This guy…

Her heart skipped a beat.

A strange feeling began to well up in her chest.

Miura had never been in love before, but she knew exactly what this was.

"So that's it… So it really was you… messing me up all along…"

Her face burning, she suddenly understood.

No wonder she'd kept thinking about him during practice. No wonder her performance had tanked.

It was all because of Hikigaya!

But… where there's cause, there's also effect.

With his help, she'd rediscovered herself—her spirit, her strength. She'd even improved.

So maybe… it's not so bad after all.

"Maybe I could get even stronger… even better…"

She murmured to herself.

And that was just from a kiss.

If they went further…

If they truly crossed that line—could she transform entirely?

Miura instinctively pressed her legs together.

That thought alone stirred something deep inside her.

She'd gain strength, outshine Yukinoshita, and—well—handle some other needs too.

Talk about a win-win situation.

Besides…

That look on Hikigaya's face when he was trying so hard—

It was… kind of handsome.

Yeah… I wouldn't mind…