Chapter 109

"I'm sorry, I don't need it."

"Are you going to act all high and mighty at a time like this?"

"... U there?"

"Which floor is the club on? Are you in the club?"

"On the third floor of the building furthest inside from the main entrance... you still completely disregard the rules."

"After all, he's a pervert."

Ishikawa Hayato hung up the phone and quickly headed in the direction Hongo Amaha had indicated.

While keeping an eye on his surroundings, Ishikawa Hayato walked up the stairs. When he reached the third floor, he could sense a group of people standing in the corridor.

He paused for a moment, then noticed they were just standing there without exchanging a word, and he roughly guessed who they were.

He went outside.

"Big Brother Hayato!"

The orderly voices made Ishikawa Hayato sigh. He looked at his friends, who stood in two neat rows ahead, mockingly and solemnly welcoming him.

He said this to his long-lost friends in a rather irritable manner.

"I told you not to yell like that, you're going to kill me! And I snuck in here, so keep your voice down."

As soon as he finished speaking, someone came up with a sly smile and pounced on him as he got close.

She clung to his legs, weeping as if at a grave.

"Big brother~~!"

Ishikawa Hayato, expressionless, threw a punch, and the others fell silent. Then, he clenched his fist and looked at the others with a threatening expression.

Immediately, everyone quieted down.

Suddenly someone burst out laughing, and they all joined in the laughter, including Ishikawa Hayato.

"I'm going to talk to the Club President about something."

He had previously handed over the Club President position to Hongo Amaha, and now she is the one in charge here.

Ishikawa Hayato only considered himself a temporary outside helper when he returned.

Upon hearing Ishikawa Hayato's words, a tall man, who didn't look like a teenager, walked over, opened the activity room door, and spoke to Ishikawa Hayato.

"The Club President is waiting inside, but Big Brother Hayato, you went too far yesterday. The Club President's eyes are still red."

Ishikawa Hayato pointed inside with disdain.

"Yesterday, she said she was going to make me uncomfortable, and she even came to the store where I work and caused a scene with my band."

"Ha ha..."

The tall young man, unable to get a word in edgewise, gave an awkward laugh.

Inside the activity room, Hongo Amaha's annoyed voice could be heard.

"Have you talked enough?!"

Ishikawa Hayato entered the club room, where there were other people, including some unfamiliar faces.

Several girls even joined.

His gaze swept around the room and settled on Hongo Amaha was sitting in the main seat.

She was clearly still angry and didn't bother with any pleasantries.

She took out a piece of paper and held it up to show it to her.

"Please ask the people here why they've stopped contacting me."

After she finished speaking, she put the paper down and then picked up another piece of paper.

"These are some really awful guys; their schools and contact information are all listed here."

After saying that, she put it down and gestured for Ishikawa Hayato to go and get it himself.

Ishikawa Hayato walked over, picked up the list, and glanced at it.

"You're ready so quickly? I feel like you've outmaneuvered me. Come with me to those places on the first list."

"Big Brother Hayato, I'm so sorry."

Downstairs in an apartment building, a boy with a buzz cut spoke apologetically to Ishikawa Hayato and Hongo Amaha.

He bowed deeply, not daring to look directly at the two of them.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't care at all, after all, he himself was a big dummy.

Even though he's still doing those things, he doesn't like to force others.

He patted the boy with the buzz cut on the shoulder.

"No, it's okay. It's good that you've found something you want to do, but if you witness any of those things, I still hope you can inform the club."

The boy with the buzz cut looked up, his gaze wavering, after hearing Ishikawa Hayato's words, which showed no sign of reproach.

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato's expression, his resolve hardened instantly.

"Of course, although I may not become someone like Big Brother Hayato, I will still try my best."

Afterwards, Ishikawa Hayato left with Hongo Amaha.

Those who could be included on Hongo Amaha's list were basically the presidents of each school branch.

The reasons they suddenly stopped providing feedback varied.

I gave in to reality, lacked the courage to act, faced family changes, wanted to focus on my studies, and didn't want to follow orders from my hometown.

Ishikawa Hayato resolved the matter very quickly and peacefully.

Although Hongo Amaha had a sour face when he was with Ishikawa Hayato, when they arrived at their destination and saw that Ishikawa Hayato had called them out all at once, he looked both regretful and earnest.

Just like when he was working alongside Ishikawa Hayato back then.

However, even with Ishikawa Hayato's appearance, only a small number of members were willing to continue the operation, while most of the others shook their heads and refused.

Of course, this was all because of Ishikawa Hayato's casual attitude; otherwise, he could have attracted more people.

Hongo Amaha also knew that doing this kind of thing was extremely difficult, requiring strength, wisdom, and willpower.

She didn't force anyone else.

The tram vibrated slightly as they boarded it to head to the other members' homes.

Previously, Hongo Amaha had been wearing a sour face, but now he had lost the will to compete with Ishikawa Hayato, and his anger turned into silence.

Her appearance clearly indicated that she had been prepared for this, but she was still unwilling to give up and wanted to try.

Ishikawa Hayato turned and looked at her.

"Looks like it's going to be tough."

"Whose fault is it?"

Hongo Amaha's voice stubbornly echoed and struggled in the quiet tram.

Provoked, she revealed a defiant expression again.

Ishikawa Hayato was not affected by the repeated failures he had just experienced; he spoke softly and gently.

"It's obviously not me, isn't it?"

Hongo Amaha fell silent, her hands clenched into fists on her knees, her heart shrinking like a hedgehog.

After a moment's hesitation, Ishikawa Hayato said guiltily.

"How about I tell you my current plan?"

When Ishikawa Hayato saw Hongo Amaha looking at him, and felt a pang of guilt as he watched her hopeful gaze, realizing he was about to lead her into another trap.

But this person had an extremely strong mentality and shamelessly began to talk at length.

"I left because I had anticipated this situation, but I also thought of a solution."

"We can still help others now as peers, but as we grow up, the age gap will be fatal."

Ishikawa Hayato laughed nonchalantly.

He thought of the plan he had come up with the day he saw Bocchi.

"But music that resonates with people can build a new channel of communication."

"Even though it might not be successful, I'm just trying it out, but it's still more reliable than the things I messed up at the beginning."

As the tram announced its stops, he turned to look at Hongo Amaha Tenyu, who was lost in thought.

"If you're interested, you can be the leader of the organization this time. I'm the kind of person who can't stand rules and regulations, so I won't get involved. I'll help you with the rest."

Ishikawa Hayato watched Hongo Amaha's wide-eyed, Daigo enlightened expression and said slowly.

"Hmm, let's call the project 'Lonely Rock'."

The tram began to stop, and amidst the screeching of brakes, Ishikawa Hayato's casual voice could be clearly heard.

95. Come back

So that's how it is.

Hongo Amaha noticed something was off that day, but he didn't think about it in detail.

This person had secretly planned everything all along, and then, as if nothing had happened, he happily began his plan.

Establish formal non-governmental organizations, and at the same time create a channel of communication that is closer to the lonely and marginalized, giving them space to reach out for help in places they dare to reach out to.

This solves a series of problems, such as being afraid to call the police and not being able to find someone to trust.

Then we'll use more sophisticated methods, different from what we have now, to deal with those people.

Music that resonates with lonely people?

Hongo Amaha felt that what he was doing now was more like children playing house than he had imagined.

Feeling guilty, she still reached out her hand to Ishikawa Hayato.

"Let me hear it."

Ishikawa Hayato deftly took out his phone and handed it to Hongo Amaha.

Hongo Amaha clearly saw that he still had earphones in his pocket, but he didn't lend them to her.

She couldn't understand why so many girls liked him back then, but he turned around and ran off to date other people.

And judging from the situation, it seems like she's pursuing someone else.

She couldn't help but think this guy was crazy.

She angrily took out her own earphones, connected them, and started listening.

Seeing her displeased expression, Ishikawa Hayato silently kept his distance from her; being targeted by such a strong woman was a very troublesome thing.

After a short while, she finished listening to the song.

She took back her earphones and returned the phone to Ishikawa Hayato, and after thinking for a while, she spoke.

"You didn't tell them at all, did you?"

"Yes, I don't want to force things to grow too fast."

Ishikawa Hayato put his phone back in his pocket and said meaningfully to Hongo Amaha.

Hongo Amaha wasn't stupid; she quickly realized he was referring to her forcing others to do things against her will.

She did not respond to him.

Hongo Amaha felt as if everything she had done had been negated by him, and for a moment she suddenly lost her way. She couldn't help but ask.