Chapter 226: A Battleground First Thing in the Morning!
Early morning.
My neck is so sore...
How did I end up falling asleep in this chair?
Horikita Suzune groggily went to use the bathroom, then returned to the bed and continued to sleep.
The next morning.
Hikigaya let out a comfortable groan.
What a great dream that was!
However, the moment he opened his eyes, he couldn't help but freeze.
What met his eyes was Horikita Suzune's beautiful sleeping face.
"...Am I... in a dream again?"
Hikigaya was completely bewildered.
"No... this is the long-haired Suzune!"
The Suzune in Hikigaya's dreams was a capable housewife with short hair. The long-haired Suzune before him was full of the aura of a youthful girl.
Gulp~
Hikigaya couldn't help but swallow hard.
He thought to himself that this was the first time in reality he had looked at Horikita Suzune from such a close distance.
Truth be told, it seemed the long-haired version of Suzune was also super-cute!!
Calm down! Calm down!
Think quickly, what is going on here!
Last night he and Suzune studied together until very late. Suzune had fallen asleep slumped over the desk, and then he went to bed as well.
Could it be that she was groggy and, thinking she was in her own room, climbed into his bed?
The deduction was correct.
But you're far too lacking in vigilance, Suzune! If I were a bad person and turned you into a "Hikigaya" on the spot, what would you do?
"Nnh~"
Suzune let out a soft moan, her eyelids fluttering, looking as if she were about to wake up at any moment. Hikigaya quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. This was to avoid embarrassment.
"...Hachiman?"
A voice of surprised suspicion came from her; she was clearly awake. Hikigaya pretended not to know and continued to sleep soundly.
"Am I... dreaming again?"
Horikita Suzune couldn't help but reach out and pinch the bridge of her nose.
'She thinks she's dreaming? Also, why did she say "again"?'
Hikigaya felt a surge of surprise.
Her reaction was somewhat beyond his expectations.
Shouldn't a normal girl scream at the top of her lungs when she wakes up and sees a member of the opposite sex lying next to her? This girl is way too calm!
"Why am I having a dream like this...?"
Horikita Suzune murmured to herself.
'Thoughts during the day become dreams at night~'
Actually, being thought of by Suzune even in her dreams made him feel a little happy! Hikigaya couldn't help it; the corner of his mouth curled up slightly.
Crap! I've been noticed!
Hikigaya's body tensed up.
"This guy... when he doesn't open his eyes, he's actually quite handsome."
Horikita Suzune stared at him intently, scrutinizing him closely.
'So sorry about the dead fish eyes then!' Hikigaya complained in his mind.
However, her next action truly gave him a massive shock. Horikita Suzune reached out and gently caressed his cheek, murmuring the name: "Hachiman..."
With his eyes tightly shut, Hikigaya couldn't see her expression. The situation seemed a bit off! With his sensitive senses, Hikigaya faintly perceived that she seemed to be leaning closer. In his breath, he could clearly smell the rich scent of a young girl coming from her.
Wait, it seemed Suzune didn't take a shower last night... but she doesn't seem to smell bad either?
Dammit! This must be a hallucination!
Influenced by hormones, the human body sends out signals of self-deception. But that's not the point right now...
Suzune... she doesn't want to kiss me, does she? Is this for real! Does Suzune like me?
Hikigaya's heart pounded wildly. At this critical moment—
Ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling!
The loud sound of the alarm clock shattered the ambiguous atmosphere.
"Ah?!"
Horikita Suzune was jolted awake, her body hurriedly retreating.
"This isn't the marital home... this is the school dormitory!!"
'Good grief, what kind of dream was that? Did you get married to me? Is it... such a coincidence?'
A trace of doubt arose in Hikigaya's heart.
"I... I almost..."
After realizing her incredibly reckless behavior just now, Horikita Suzune's face instantly flushed crimson.
She stared closely at Hikigaya, and after finding that the latter was still in deep sleep and knew nothing, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yawn~"
Hikigaya pretended to be about to wake up and let out a huge yawn.
"!!!"
Seeing this, Horikita Suzune quickly retreated and tiptoed out of his room.
"An accident! This was just an accident..."
The moment Horikita Suzune opened the door, she saw the person she least wanted to see.
"Good morning, Hachiman... Huh?!"
Kushida Kikyo's angelic smile instantly transformed into that of a hideous witch! Horikita Suzune was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to explain for a while.
"Horikita!!
You slut! Why are you coming out of Hachiman's room first thing in the morning!!!"
Kushida Kikyo's face was boiling red as she cursed in a rage.
"Hmph! I have no obligation to explain anything to you."
Horikita Suzune kept a cold face, pretending to be calm as she intended to bypass the other girl.
"You stand right there!"
Kushida Kikyo grabbed her by the shoulders and forcefully pinned her against the wall: "Unless you explain yourself clearly today, don't even think about running away!!"
"Calm down, Kushida-san.
Also, your voice is too loud. You'll draw people from the other dorms over here."
Horikita Suzune frowned. Fortunately, it was still early.
"So what if they are?
You have the nerve to seduce a man, yet you're afraid of being discovered?"
Kushida Kikyo's words grew increasingly vicious.
"So then, what does that have to do with you, Kushida-san?"
Horikita Suzune's gaze was cold as she stared directly back without backing down.
"You!!!"
Seeing the two outside the door arguing louder and louder, Hikigaya finally couldn't take it anymore. He quickly opened the door, grabbed each of the two girls with one hand, and forcibly pulled them into the dorm.
"It's so loud outside. What happened?"
"I thought I heard a girl's voice."
"Don't be ridiculous, what girl would be running to the boys' dorm first thing in the morning?"
Voices of inquiry came from outside, causing the two girls to fall silent in a rare display of coordination.
"Shh!"
"Do you want to attract the entire dormitory?"
Hikigaya said with a helpless look on his face.
"..."
"Wh-When did you wake up?"
Horikita Suzune looked nervous.
'Oh, so you know how to be embarrassed now?'
"I just woke up and heard you guys arguing."
Forget it, I'll at least leave her some dignity. Hearing this, Horikita Suzune instantly let out a sigh of relief.
"Don't think you can change the subject!
Horikita, why were you coming out of Hachiman's room!!"
Kushida Kikyo was clearly unwilling to give up the investigation, her sharp gaze scanning back and forth between the two of them.
"Th-That is..."
Horikita Suzune stammered, unsure of how to explain.
"That expression... could it be that you and Hachiman... in bed..."
Kushida Kikyo's face turned pale, as if she had thought of some terrifying imagery, her face filled with the despair of the world collapsing.
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