Chapter 231: Linked Dream: Hikigaya Hiyori!
"I'm serious."
Shiina Hiyori gazed at him with a serious expression, adding with a hint of a mock-reproach: "Hachiman-kun, how can you use something like this as a joke?"
"T-this... this couldn't possibly be a confession, could it?"
Hikigaya's face instantly turned crimson, and his heart rate accelerated wildly.
Because his prior psychological expectations were extremely low, he hadn't expected her to say something so direct at all. For a moment, it completely threw him into disarray!
"..."
Shiina Hiyori didn't answer directly. She simply took a step forward, staring at him with eyes full of mischief: "I like Hachiman-kun, just as Hachiman-kun likes me."
"That way of putting it is just too cunning..."
Hikigaya forced a bitter smile, his heart full of complex emotions.
"The cunning one is Hachiman-kun.
Suddenly asking out of the blue if someone likes you."
As Shiina Hiyori spoke, she puffed out her cheeks: "Especially with that practiced tone... just how many girls have you asked that already?"
'About four or five...'
Hikigaya didn't dare speak the truth.
"Hmph~ It seems my guess was correct."
Seeing Hikigaya's eyes darting away, Shiina Hiyori understood everything.
"However, judging by Hachiman-kun's reaction, it seems my answer touched Hachiman-kun even more than those previous girls did~~"
Shiina Hiyori was all smiles.
'What's with this sudden 'winner's declaration'?'
Chop!
Hikigaya raised his hand and gave her a light hand-chop to the forehead: "A patient should rest properly; don't think about these useless things!"
"Alright then~"
Perhaps because she had just taken her medicine, Shiina Hiyori really was a bit sleepy.
"...Oyasumi~ Hachiman-kun."
After lying down on the bed, Shiina Hiyori fell into a deep sleep within just a few breaths.
'This girl has way too little guard, doesn't she?'
Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, Hikigaya felt caught between tears and laughter.
"I haven't even left yet!"
Hikigaya shook his head and reached out to tuck the blanket around the sleeping Hiyori.
He looked up at the wall clock. There was still over an hour before the girls' dormitory curfew. According to the student dormitory regulations, boys were prohibited from entering the girls' dorm after 10 PM, but there were no restrictions on girls entering the boys' dorm. This was why Horikita Suzune had been able to stay over in his room the previous night.
Although it was quite unfair, Hikigaya had no intention of staying the night anyway.
"I might as well tidy up Hiyori's room for her."
Hikigaya glanced at the messy room, feeling that his "house husband soul" could not endure it!
He skillfully folded the bras and panties on the sofa and tucked them into the wardrobe. Then he gathered the dirty clothes and stockings from the floor, threw them into the washing machine, and set the drying time. Next was sweeping and mopping, cleaning the entire room until it was spotless.
'A friendly reminder: maintaining a clean and ventilated environment helps a patient recover.'
Finally, after bagging up the household trash, Hikigaya left the girls' dormitory.
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The Dream
Hiyori opened her eyes. What appeared before her was a strange yet cozy house. There were many books, and a handsome guy with glasses.
"Th-that's Hachiman-kun?!"
Hiyori blinked her eyes in wonder, her face full of shock.
The handsome guy with glasses was currently sitting at a computer desk, his hands flying across the keyboard. The lenses reflected dense paragraphs of text; it looked like he was engaged in literary creation.
"Hiyori, you're awake."
Hikigaya didn't turn around, yet he could sense her familiar footsteps.
"..." l
Hiyori's eyes shifted, and after only two seconds of thought, she deduced the current situation. She spoke tentatively: "Darling?"
"What is it?"
Hikigaya stopped typing and turned back to give her a questioning look.
"Mnh, it's nothing.
I just wanted to call out to you."
Hiyori's eyes curved into little crescents.
"Wait for me for a bit. Once I finish this chapter, I'll have a 'round' with you."
Hikigaya immersed himself in his work once again. It wasn't that his personality had changed and he suddenly wanted to work; rather, he was very interested in his future professional identity as a "light novel author."
"...That's a bit too direct."
Hiyori's face showed embarrassment, but considering they were currently in a dream, "marital life" was perfectly reasonable.
"I-I'll go brew a cup of tea for you..."
The flustered Hiyori planned to drink some tea to calm her nerves.
She discovered that in the kitchen's thermal kettle, a large pot of American Ginseng and Goji berries had already been brewed.
"Eh? Do I have the habit of drinking this?"
Hiyori blinked, feeling somewhat puzzled.
She poured a cup and took a sip herself. It smelled faintly of medicinal herbs and had a sweet aftertaste; while not unpleasant, it couldn't be called delicious either. It wasn't as good as traditional tea leaves.
'Does Hachiman like this?'
"American Ginseng and Goji berries again...I've been drinking this for three days."
Hikigaya looked on with a helpless expression.
"Eh? Why?"
Hiyori looked blank.
"Isn't it because a certain someone is so 'greedy-greedy'?"
Hikigaya lightly scraped her nose with his finger, an expression appearing on his face that Hiyori couldn't quite decipher.
'I'm greedy? Eating what?'
Hiyori's head was full of question marks as she expressed her confusion.
However, since it was a dream anyway, there was no need to look too deeply into even the most bizarre things.
(American Ginseng and Goji berries help to regain energy and stamina)
Hiyori turned and picked out a mystery novel from the bookshelf that she had never seen in reality. She came over to sit by Hikigaya's side, leaning against his thigh, and began flipping through the book, reading with great interest.
Hikigaya only glanced at her once before continuing his work.
Among all his "dream wives," Hikigaya Hiyori was the quietest. Plain and simple is the true essence of life—it was incredibly cozy and soul-stirring...
Of course, in certain aspects, Hiyori was quite formidable, creating a strong contrast with her quiet personality!
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Without paying attention, a tent had already propped itself up!
His focus was stripped away, causing Hikigaya to lose his heart for work. Having no choice, he had to resolve his biological issues first. Hikigaya picked up the Goji berry ginseng tea on the table and downed it in one go.
"Let's go, Hiyori."
"Eh? Where to?"
"To brush our teeth and rinse our mouths."
"..."
Hiyori looked confused.
In terms of modern lifestyle, brushing teeth and rinsing the mouth were usually things done only in the morning or before bed at night.
"We must pay attention to hygiene."
Hikigaya was dead serious.
However, after taking off his glasses, he wasn't quite so serious anymore.
"Is it really that particular?"
Though Hiyori was puzzled, she followed suit.
Then, she suddenly understood.
There truly was a need to pay special attention to personal hygiene. After all, "illness enters through the mouth."
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