In front of the main gate of Advanced Nurturing High School.
A luxurious red sports car was parked by the curb, the driver's door swung open. Hiratsuka Shizuka, dressed in casual black attire, sat in the driver's seat with one leg crossed over the other. A cigarette dangled from her lips as she exhaled a puff of smoke, gazing in mild annoyance at the panting figure of Hikigaya Hachiman running toward her.
"You're so slow."
With that, Hiratsuka put out the cigarette and tossed the stub into the portable ashtray in her car.
"Something... kind of bad happened…"
Hachiman gave a vague response, his eyelids twitching. His gaze drifted to the ashtray, where several still-smoking butts lay.
"How many have you smoked?"
"Three or four, maybe."
After closing the ashtray lid, Hiratsuka gestured for him to get in.
"Three or four?"
Hachiman inhaled sharply and couldn't help but chide her.
"Smoking too much isn't good for your health."
"You're not wrong. Smoking too much is bad for your health."
She gave him a look that hovered between a smirk and a sneer.
"!!"
That subtle smile from Hiratsuka made Hachiman's body stiffen. His face flushed slightly, and he quickly averted his eyes.
Weird… Why does it feel like there's more behind what she just said?
"Well, today's an exception. Usually, I keep myself in check. But today I ran into a former student—felt particularly good, so I indulged a little."
She shrugged as she spoke.
"Then I guess it's my fault… triggered your nicotine craving." Hachiman muttered under his breath.
"Haha, you haven't changed at all, Hikigaya," Hiratsuka chuckled as she glanced at him in the passenger seat. "But don't say that. It's rare I run into an old student. Honestly, I'm really happy."
A reunion between teacher and student.
That rare, radiant smile from Hiratsuka caught Hachiman off guard. Something stirred faintly within him. Then he smiled, too.
"Come on. Let's go for a spin!" she said cheerfully.
And just like that—
Hiratsuka stepped on the gas, full of enthusiasm.
Hachiman gave a wry smile.
As expected.
Hiratsuka-sensei… she hasn't changed a bit. Still the teacher he respected most.
About ten minutes later—
Hiratsuka brought the car to a stop on a nearly deserted bridge. Below was a stretch of deep blue ocean, stretching out to meet the horizon.
Both of them got out of the car.
For some reason—
This moment, this setting, struck Hachiman with a strange sense of déjà vu.
He remembered now!
Back in his second year of high school, when the Service Club was crumbling, barely holding itself together, it was this very woman who had brought him to the seaside…
Thinking back to it all, even now, Hachiman couldn't forget.
If it hadn't been for Hiratsuka-sensei—if she hadn't offered him her guidance—he probably would still be lost, still unable to understand the Service Club, unable to understand himself.
"Hiratsuka-sensei…"
Just as Hachiman was murmuring to himself, he suddenly noticed her pulling out another cigarette, ready to enjoy it in the sea breeze.
At that, Hachiman quickly snatched the whole pack from her hand, grumbling:
"You're still smoking?"
"Eh? Just one more, c'mon~"
"No—no way. You've had enough."
That sudden cutesy tone of hers made Hachiman's face flush red. While trying to keep calm, he quickly shook his head in refusal.
"Such a beautiful scene like this… if I don't have just one, I'll burst! Just one, okay, Hikigaya~"
Hiratsuka looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
One moment she was the stern, serious teacher; the next she'd turned unbelievably soft and cute—this, this should be illegal. Too adorable… this woman and her whiplash charm!
"F-Fine. Last one."
With no other choice, Hachiman handed the pack back to her.
"Alright, alright. Last one. I promise."
Hiratsuka smiled and took the pack.
The two of them stood by the edge of the bridge.
She lit a cigarette and exhaled gently, while they chatted and laughed, catching up on recent events.
Well—mostly it was Hiratsuka venting about the madness of Advanced Nurturing High. She said her energy was constantly drained by a bunch of monsters masquerading as students, and she didn't even have time to go on arranged dates anymore.
As for Hachiman, he just stood beside her quietly, listening intently, while offering a bitter smile. "And now those monsters are going on a joint training camp with our school, too. Just great…"
"Heh, I'll be counting on you to help guide those brats, alright?" Hiratsuka said with a grin.
"Spare me, please."
Hachiman sighed.
"Just dealing with Sakayanagi and Horikita is already exhausting, not to mention… ugh."
"Haha, not all of them are as eccentric as those two. Don't stress yourself."
Still smiling, Hiratsuka added, almost as an afterthought:
"Oh, by the way, between those two girls—especially Sakayanagi—she's really interested in you, you know? Keeps popping by my office, asking about you~"
"…Huh?" Hachiman's expression shifted slightly. "You told her?"
"Sure I did. It's not like it's a state secret," she said casually. "Honestly, from the way that girl reacts, I'd say she's probably into you."
"T-That's ridiculous!"
Hachiman quickly retorted.
"Sakayanagi's a total little devil. Anyone she sets her sights on… let's just say they'd be lucky to get away with their skin intact."
"Geez, that's a bit dramatic."
"It's true."
He scowled, then slowly lowered his head, his voice growing softer and more hesitant.
"Besides… I—I have a girlfriend now. I should avoid getting too close to other girls… No, I must avoid them. I can't betray Yukinoshita. Not again…"
As he spoke, a complicated look came over his face.
Back there… just now with Horikita… he had almost lost control.
Even though Yukinoshita was his girlfriend—
He had nearly made a terrible mistake. Nearly hurt the person he loved most.
He couldn't even remember how many times he'd already betrayed Yukinoshita.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I—"
"Hikigaya, do you remember what I once told you?"
Just then, a hand gently landed on his head. A warm, earnest voice reached his ears:
"If you truly want to treasure someone, you must also be prepared to hurt them. So pull yourself together!"
"…Sensei…"
He slowly lifted his head, gazing at the kind smile on Hiratsuka's face—and for a moment, he found himself dazed.
———
Meanwhile.
Yukinoshita sat quietly on a train bound for Chiba, calmly reading a book.
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman has been gently embraced by Hiratsuka Shizuka…]
[Ding! Hikigaya Hachiman's affection level for Hiratsuka Shizuka +1]
[Hikigaya Hachiman's affection for Hiratsuka Shizuka: 93/100 (Respect; if Yukinoshita didn't exist in this world, I'd want to marry Sensei)]
"…Huh?"