Chapter 45: Is Even the Mom a Potential Target?

Eriri slumped into the passenger seat of a black sedan with a frustrated sigh, her small frame pressing heavily into the cushioned seat.

Dressed in a red-and-white striped kimono, her mother, Sayuri, greeted her school-bound daughter with a bright smile.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? You look so upset."

As Eriri's biological mother, Sayuri could immediately tell her daughter had faced trouble at school.

"Nothing. Let's just go home. I still need to finish my manuscript," Eriri replied curtly.

"Oh."

Sayuri started the car, her attention focused on the road ahead. Yet, as her daughter's mother, she couldn't help but worry.

"Did something happen at school? You can tell me, you know."

"No, nothing happened."

"Did you and Utaha get into another argument? That girl just likes teasing you. Don't take it too seriously; she's a good kid."

"I didn't argue with her!" Eriri huffed indignantly.

"Oh, so it's not about Utaha?" Sayuri murmured, lightly pressing the brakes as they stopped at a red light.

While waiting, she glanced at her daughter thoughtfully.

"Could it be… about Hikigaya?"

"!!"

The girl, who had been idly leaning against the window, stiffened noticeably.

Seeing the reaction, Sayuri smiled knowingly.

"Aha, it is about Hikigaya, isn't it?"

"No, it's not! It's not him!" Eriri's face turned red as she flailed. "Why would my mood have anything to do with him? I don't even like him!"

Sayuri chuckled, remaining silent as the light turned green.

"Sweetie," she teased with a smirk, "you didn't confess and get rejected, did you?"

"—No!!" Eriri snapped, her face a deep crimson. "He has a girlfriend already! Why would I even confess?"

"Ohhh," Sayuri mused. "So your crush already has a girlfriend, huh? No wonder you're so upset."

Sayuri's casual words unraveled Eriri's carefully constructed defenses in seconds.

"Eh? Ah!" Panicking, Eriri tried to deny it. "That's not it, Mom, I—"

"Still trying to fool your own mom? Sweetheart, you've got a lot to learn," Sayuri said with a mischievous grin.

"Ugh…" Eriri dropped her head in embarrassment, choosing to ignore her mother entirely.

Sayuri, however, wasn't about to let her daughter off so easily.

"Listen, darling, there's no need to cling to one tree when there's a whole forest out there. If he's taken, just move on! There are plenty of good guys out there."

"Hmph." Eriri snorted dismissively. "I'm not interested."

"Oh!" Sayuri raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You really like him that much, huh? Well… if that's the case, sticking with one tree might not be so bad after all."

"What?!" Eriri's blush deepened as she stammered. "W-what are you even saying, Mom? Stop making stuff up!"

Sayuri chuckled.

"Sweetie, let me tell you something—when it comes to chasing a man, you need to have thick skin. If you're too shy, you'll lose out. So what if Hikigaya has a girlfriend? If you truly like him, I'll fully support you!"

"Mom, what are you even—" Eriri stared at her mother, horrified. "You're not actually suggesting—"

"Who says you can't chase after someone just because they're taken?" Sayuri quipped, rolling her eyes at her daughter's naivety.

"Channel that same passion you have when creating your art and use it to win him over!"

"???"

Watching her mother get increasingly enthusiastic, Eriri turned as red as a beet.

"No! That would make me the blonde villain in my manga! I can't—I won't—be that kind of person in real life!"

---

Meanwhile, Yukinoshita was deeply troubled.

On the way to Yui's new house, she had tried countless subtle strategies to create scenarios where Hikigaya and Yui might naturally "get closer." Unfortunately, every single attempt was deftly sidestepped—by Yui herself.

Yes, the supposedly clumsy Yui had expertly avoided every potential interaction, not Hikigaya.

Sigh. Don't you care about my Hikigaya? Yukinoshita thought. Why won't you even try to touch him?

Is it because you're worried about me? Afraid I'll get upset?

Ahhh, Yui is just too kind.

Yukinoshita knew Yui had strong feelings for Hikigaya. Yet, despite that, Yui remained utterly passive, too hesitant to take any initiative.

Unlike the other girls, who had gradually come to terms with the situation, Yui's case was unique. Yukinoshita didn't mind if her boyfriend got close to Yui—after all, they were good friends.

But Yui's timid, overly considerate nature left Yukinoshita mentally drained.

Ugh!

Would she need to use a Forced Intimate Card for Yui as well?

How wasteful!

Such a card cost 100 points. Was Yui's reaction even worth that investment?

---

Eventually, the trio arrived at Yui's new house—a quaint, standalone residence similar to the Hikigaya household.

In the front yard, several cardboard boxes of varying sizes were stacked neatly, a total of about a dozen.

"I'm home, Mom!" Yui called out as she opened the door.

"Welcome back, sweetie… Oh? You brought friends? Oh my, isn't that little Yukino? And… Hachiman?"

A beautiful woman in a homemaker's outfit emerged, carrying a box. Seeing the group, her surprised expression quickly turned into a warm smile.

The woman, nearly identical to Yui except for her mature air and fuller figure, was Yui's mother.

"Hello, Auntie," both Hikigaya and Yukinoshita greeted politely.

Sensing the woman's slight hesitation, Yukinoshita smiled gently and said, "We're here to help, Auntie."

She nudged her boyfriend lightly.

"Hikigaya-kun, go give her a hand."

"Oh," Hikigaya muttered before walking over to help carry a box.

"Ah, you really don't need to, Hachiman," Yui's mom protested lightly, though she didn't stop him.

"Let me help too!" Yui quickly joined in.

Yukinoshita, meanwhile, stood by with a serene smile, preparing to assist when—

[System: Hikigaya Hachiman's favorability toward Yui's mother, Asuna Yuigahama: 53/100 (Respect)]

...

Wait.

Yui's mother?!

Yukinoshita froze.

Hikigaya's favorability toward Yui's mom was already at 53?

For comparison, it had taken an entire year for Yui to reach her current score of 67!

And yet…

Hikigaya had barely interacted with Asuna. How on earth was her score so high?

Could it be… was Hikigaya into older, married women?

Even more unsettling: since the system showed an update, did this mean Yui's mom was a potential romance target?

This… this can't be right! Yukinoshita's thoughts spiraled into chaos.

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