Chapter 108

They passed by Ishikawa Hayato and Bocchi.

Ishikawa Hayato also overheard the two talking about dinner that night, and about going to a yakiniku restaurant for yakiniku next time.

Beside him, Bocchi hesitated, unsure whether to speak.

She looked up at Ishikawa Hayato and noticed that he was also looking at the couple she had spotted earlier. After thinking for a moment, she moved closer to Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato snapped out of his daze. At that moment, Bocchi's arm was already touching his waist, and he also felt his arm lightly brushing against Bocchi's chest.

Because the distance was so unpredictable, he wasn't even sure if he had encountered it.

This feeling sent a chill down his spine.

He glanced at Bocchi, but she had her head down, her bangs obscuring her eyes, making it impossible to tell whether she was doing it on purpose or accidentally.

At this moment, Bocchi suddenly spoke up.

"Falcon, I'm sorry... I didn't dare to speak up for you this afternoon."

When Ishikawa Hayato heard Bocchi's idea, he was quite pleased. He squeezed Bocchi's soft little hand a little tighter and asked with a smile.

"No?"

He looked up at Bocchi with a surprised expression and continued speaking.

"Although the sound was muffled by the cold, I still heard Bocchi say something like, 'Don't force people to do things they don't want to do.'"

Ishikawa Hayato wasn't lying; he really did hear it.

However, the voice was so soft it was barely audible; even Bocchi herself probably wasn't sure if she was thinking it or saying it aloud.

A smile quickly spread across Bocchi's surprised face as he happily moved closer to Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato paused, gasped, and looked up at the sky. The bright moon hung high in the night sky, illuminating the area around him.

The moon tonight is as soft as cotton candy; if you press your finger on it, it will quickly collapse like a lunar eclipse, and immediately return to a full, round shape as soon as you release it.

I really want to rub it!

His hands clenched so tightly they made a terrifying squeaking sound.

As if unaware, Bocchi leaned against Ishikawa Hayato for a while, then thought of something and said to him.

"Falcon, I've made up my mind. I want to live with you next semester, and I've already told Mom and Dad."

Ishikawa Hayato, who had originally wanted to confirm, took back his words after hearing the second half of Bocchi's sentence.

"Okay then, let's look for a place to rent together at the end of summer vacation."

"Um!"

The next day, at Iketora Station.

Today it's Ishikawa Hayato and the others' turn.

Previously, when he went on dates with Bocchi would always wait for him. He would usually arrive a few minutes early, but he never asked how long Bocchi waited.

This is a frustrating question.

He leaned against a pillar by the platform, hands in his pockets, gazing at the blue-white sky.

This phenomenon is caused by high water vapor content; the sky will turn blue again when the temperature rises.

It's going to rain soon.

Ishikawa Hayato murmured.

He waited for more than ten minutes, gazing at the sky, until another tram pulled into the station. Only then did he see Liang Cai yawning as he got off the tram.

Liang was wearing a three-quarter sleeve dark blue patterned shirt and black trousers, with headphones on her head.

Her outfit suggested she was going to a show or enjoying some time alone, rather than going on a date.

As soon as Liang stepped onto the platform, she looked around and reached into her pocket to take out her phone.

But when she saw Ishikawa Hayato, she put her phone back, seemingly prepared to call someone immediately if she didn't see it at first glance.

Ishikawa Hayato stepped forward and calmly spoke to her.

You're late.

Ryo didn't follow his lead, nor did she say anything like "this is fate's choice." She took off her earphones and handed them to Ishikawa Hayato.

"The headphones we agreed on last time."

Seeing that she seemed to have only just thought of a way to repay the debt, Ishikawa Hayato didn't press her further and took the earphones.

He was touching his earphones, about to say something sarcastic, when Liang stepped out, looking like he didn't want to listen.

Ishikawa Hayato had no choice but to shut up and follow.

The two walked out of Iketora Station, and Liang picked up his phone to check the route.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at her slender fingers, then looked down at the pants she was wearing, his face showing regret.

"Liang, where are we going today?"

After confirming the route, Liang put his phone back in his pocket and turned to him.

"Hotel."

Her gaze lingered on Ishikawa Hayato's startled but quickly composed and serious expression as she continued, "Ruins."

"Sister Ryo, could you please stop breathing so heavily?"

Ishikawa Hayato realized he had been tricked and pretended to be annoyed.

Liang quickly changed the subject again, speaking as she took a step forward.

"Didn't you say you'd go help today?"

Ishikawa Hayato followed her, his face full of flattery. "I already made an appointment with Sister Ryo, how can I give up because of something so small?"

Liang strolled leisurely down the street, glancing around with a hint of disdain.

"You just want to see my legs, don't you?"

Without hesitation, Ishikawa Hayato answered firmly.

"Yes, that's right!"

After leaving the station, Liang walked a section of the same path as Bocchi, and then turned at a fork in the road.

She walked on the inside of the road, browsing the shops on either side, but Ishikawa Hayato could tell that her attention was focused on their conversation.

However, this time she hesitated for a long time before speaking.

"You're so cruel over such a small thing."

Ishikawa Hayato sensed that she still felt some guilt and inner turmoil. Beneath her sometimes funny, sometimes cold exterior lay such a delicate heart.

But Ishikawa Hayato didn't comfort her; what she needed wasn't meaningless words, but answers.

"There's no way around it; I'm just fixated on the outward appearance. It's just something I hope will continue like this. It's really nothing special."

Ryo stopped at the bus stop, turned her head, and stared directly at Ishikawa Hayato with her golden eyes, as if trying to put pressure on him.

"So what is this new method you mentioned?"

As she had expected, Ishikawa Hayato refused to answer.

"Keep it a secret from Liang."

He smiled lightly.

94. Zero

"Speaking of which, Hongo is quite cute, why didn't I make a move on her back then?"

"This topic..."

"Can't I say?"

"No, I met her in junior high. You can't really say junior high is the right time. After that, I blocked her out for a long time and I just lost all feelings for her. Besides, she's the workaholic type."

"A middle school student obsessed with his career."

Liang didn't know how to even begin to complain.

Ryo's date ended in the afternoon. They took the train together to Shimokitazawa and parted ways. Ryo told him that he was going to browse secondhand clothing stores and CD stores before leaving.

Ishikawa Hayato looked at her, sensing that she was implying that he could accompany her to these places next time.

Perhaps it's because they don't want him to never return.

At that time, Ishikawa Hayato made a serious statement.

"Great, I'll treat these places as where Ryo often hangs out. In the future, I'll sneak over to see Ryo in my free time, and when I do, I'll pretend it's a chance encounter, and then we'll have a romantic afternoon together, ending with a hug."

"A stalker?"

"Stalking is exactly what I do."

Liang chuckled softly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Her gaze lingered on Ishikawa Hayato's eyes for a moment before she silently turned and left.

Only Ishikawa Hayato was left at the station.

Looking at her retreating figure, Ishikawa Hayato had to admit that the feeling of being around people of the same type is like two magnets; once they touch, they want to get closer and closer.

He didn't know if Liang felt the same way.

However, he could sense that Liang did not resist his approaching footsteps at all.

When it was time to take the train back to his home, Ishikawa Hayato patted his cheeks, trying to wash away the feeling of coldness beside him.

Time to get down to business.

He straightened up, and his eyes gradually sharpened beneath his slightly longer bangs.

Upon returning to Kawaguchi City, Ishikawa Hayato did not go home, but instead headed in another direction.

Ishikawa Hayato quickened his pace, lightly passing a young girl strolling along the street and a family of three with their child.

Without them noticing, he disappeared from their sight.

Kawaguchi City is separated from Tokyo only by the Arakawa, yet many people live in Arakawa but work or study in Tokyo.

As a city close to Tokyo, the pace of life here inevitably follows Tokyo's pace, but on weekends, only Ishikawa Hayato seems to be rushing around like this.

After walking for a while, he arrived near a high school.

Before he even got close, he could hear the youthful song, sung amidst sweat and sand.

The synchronized chants of the athletes mingled with the summer heat, and the accompanying cheers and shouts drowned out the piercing chirping of cicadas.

This school is known for its strong sports clubs.

Most of his former classmates and club friends chose this high school, and Hongo Amaha is also here.

They probably thought he might come here.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at the school gate not far away; people from other schools like him were generally not allowed to enter.

Therefore, he had no intention of taking the conventional path.

Anyway, he could ensure that he wouldn't be seen by anyone outside of his circle of acquaintances, so as not to cause trouble for the guards.

He hopped on the spot, stepped onto the wall, and used the momentum to leap directly into the school.

Not a speck of dust was stirred up.

Perverted invasion!

Ishikawa Hayato struck a pose, then darted to a corner, pulled out his phone, and dialed Hongo Amaha's number.

The call was answered after a while.

"How can I help you?"

Hongo Amaha's polite yet indifferent voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I'll help you one last time, and I'll also let you know my current plans."