Chapter 121

Bocchi smiled a blissful smile, as if he could kill his past self.

Before she could react, Ishikawa Hayato's voice rang out beside her.

"Bocchi ~ Bocchi?"

Bocchi snapped back to reality and looked at Ishikawa Hayato.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Ishikawa Hayato asked with a helpless smile.

Bocchi. She had actually been spacing out while Ishikawa Hayato was speaking, and had actually done something so outrageous.

Bocchi's lips were practically slipping; he lowered his head, closed his eyes, and hurriedly spoke as if in a rush.

"I'm so sorry, Falcon, what did you just say?"

"Hmm~ Another unnecessary apology."

Standing beside Bocchi, Ishikawa Hayato grinned slyly, leaning slightly forward as he observed Bocchi's expression.

Seeing Bocchi's bewildered expression due to the series of mistakes, he smiled and said...

"But it's okay, because I lied to Bocchi first. I didn't say anything just now, I was just staring at Bocchi the whole time."

Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, Bocchi let out a loud thud, his entire body going limp like a sheet of paper.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled as he carried her, who was swaying precariously in the air.

Not far behind them, several girls also witnessed their merriment.

Kita gazed ahead with a complex expression, her eyes carrying a hint of regret and sigh.

Just a moment later, I heard my friend asking me a question.

"Kita- chan, are you really dating Ishikawa-kun?"

She snapped back to reality and quickly turned to look at her friend beside her.

Tamako looked at her with suspicion and worry, as if she had long doubted the authenticity of the information.

Kita's mind had already been tempered by big events, and she answered with a smile without any panic.

"Ah, of course, Ishikawa-kun is quite interesting."

"It's okay even if you're a womanizer?"

Beside her, Hui frowned and asked in tacit agreement, as if she had already discussed it privately with Tamako.

Kita instinctively made a firm assertion.

"How can it be unrelated!"

Kita's other friend's Tsuguko smiled with relief as he looked at her, and said to the other two.

"Kita- chan definitely has her own plans, so there's no need to worry unnecessarily. She's practically disappeared at lunchtime this semester."

After she finished speaking, she smiled mischievously at Kita and said, "So, have you decided how you want to have fun this summer?"

"Summer..."

Kita repeated the words with a melancholy expression, then quickly realized his reaction was abnormal and put on a cheerful smile.

"Of course I'm ready."

When he got to class, Ishikawa Hayato always felt like Kita was watching him.

Even when teachers assign summer homework, and when they explain summer safety tips,

Although the gaze paused, it continued intermittently without ceasing.

Ishikawa Hayato was so engrossed in watching that he almost lost control of his nature and wanted to take off his clothes and show off on the spot.

Fortunately, the teacher's rambling eventually came to an end.

Before ending the session, he called out the names of the students who had failed their final exams, reminding them to work hard and study before the next semester.

Otherwise, you'll be plunged into the hell of after-school tutoring and retakes.

One of them is named Kita.

When Ishikawa Hayato heard the teacher call Kita's name, he turned around and looked at Kita, only to meet her gaze.

Kita immediately snapped out of his reverie, turned his head, and sat down with a serious expression.

Looks like they didn't hear it.

Ishikawa Hayato sighed.

"Well then, I won't take up any more of your precious holiday time." The teacher smiled politely, picked up the textbook, and turned to walk out of the classroom.

Immediately, the students, who had been unable to contain themselves any longer, began chatting loudly with their friends, sharing their holiday plans.

Some students packed their bags and left immediately; you could even hear some catching up with the teacher, saying goodbye, and then leaving.

Amidst the noise, Ishikawa Hayato received a Line message.

"Ishikawa-kun, let's go to the rooftop for a bit later."

105. Summer is approaching

As the students gradually left the classroom, Ishikawa Hayato sent a message to Bocchi, telling her to wait a moment, and then went upstairs.

Going against the flow of students who were about to leave the school, he headed towards the rooftop.

Upon reaching the platform in front of the rooftop, one can see the gloomy sky outside through the rooftop door.

With such a gloomy sky in summer, it wouldn't be surprising if a heavy rain were to fall at any moment.

"Kita, you really like rooftops, huh?"

When Ishikawa Hayato went up to the rooftop and turned to the side, he saw Kita standing on the side furthest from him, with his Kita to him.

Under the dark clouds, her silhouette reflected a sense of unease; one hand rested on the protective netting, while the other subtly pressed against her skirt.

Even so, the back of the collar, cuffs, hem, and skirt hem swayed gently in the wind.

Kita didn't answer; she remained motionless, and Ishikawa Hayato wasn't sure if she had heard him.

He walked over.

Walking up to Kita, I glanced at her as she gazed at the various residential buildings ahead; her eyes seemed hesitant and uncertain.

Ishikawa Hayato speculated that the girl might be starting to act like a pretentious intellectual, and with a mischievous thought in mind, he spoke with mixed feelings.

Summer has begun.

This statement seems normal, but it appears a bit strange now that the Lesser Heat solar term has just passed.

Kita finally reacted.

She turned to look at Ishikawa Hayato beside her; he looked at her, as if waiting for her to say something surprising.

She let go of her inner turmoil and vented her frustration.

Summer has already started.

Ishikawa Hayato stared in surprise, his eyes wide, and retorted, "Shouldn't you have said that this sweltering season will bring calamity?"

Kita's eyes were filled with complicated emotions; she realized that Ishikawa Hayato had made fun of her.

For a moment, the impulsive thoughts that had occurred to her in class were overshadowed by the wind on the open rooftop and by Ishikawa Hayato's mischief, and she began to re-examine her chaotic inner world.

After hesitating for a long time, she still felt she shouldn't do that and chose to give up once again.

Without saying a word, she prepared to abandon Ishikawa Hayato and leave quickly.

Just as her shoes made a scraping sound against the road on her way back, Ishikawa Hayato's voice rang out, sounding much more serious.

"High school summers are full of wonder; if you don't let loose a little now, you'll just end up as a boring person with no past."

Ishikawa Hayato's words reignited the embers of hope that had been gradually extinguished in Kita's heart.

Kita turned around, looking utterly helpless and resentful.

She had no idea whether Ishikawa Hayato had sensed her hesitation before saying that.

But looking into the eyes of that unrestrained and handsome young man under the dark clouds, her emotions suddenly overwhelmed her reason.

This was the first time Ishikawa Hayato had ever seen Kita hesitate to this extent.

Kita usually makes decisions quickly, acting as swiftly as her name suggests. But this time, she lowered her head, her expression complex, and hesitated for a long time before finally looking up into his eyes.

When their eyes met, Ishikawa Hayato could tell that she had finally made up her mind.

Kita asked seriously.

"Ishikawa-kun, are you dating anyone right now?"

Is this... a confession?

Ishikawa Hayato was somewhat surprised. Although he had anticipated this possibility, he still underestimated Kita's decisiveness.

He tentatively answered, assuming it might be a confession.

"If you're asking about a girlfriend you're actually in a committed relationship with, then not yet."

Kita had no doubt about his answer.

She nodded slightly, then looked away and murmured softly.

"Okay, that'll do."

Then, just as she had mentally prepared herself, she used all her strength to shout it out loud.

"Ishikawa-kun! Please go out with me!"

She cried out and bowed, releasing all her emotions while concealing her unease.

It really was a confession...

Ishikawa Hayato was somewhat surprised by Kita's efficiency.

As for the answer, although he prefers to take the initiative rather than be confessed to by girls, he cannot reject the confession of his second harem Number Two because of this.

But just as he was about to accept, Kita lowered her head and hurriedly threw out her next thoughts.

"However, this relationship has a time limit. When Ishikawa-kun starts dating Ryo-senpai or Gotou-san, our relationship will automatically end."

Her anxious explanation, however, gave the impression of a well-thought-out decision.

Ishikawa Hayato was both amused and exasperated. Was she treating him like a gigolo, taking turns dating him?

It seems Kita is the one who can't accept a harem the most.

He sighed.

"I'm telling you, Kita, if you only plan for a short-lived relationship from the start, it won't end well."

Kita looked up at Ishikawa Hayato Kita surprise, his eyes filled with astonishment, and slowly straightened up, staring blankly at him.

She was clearly surprised by Ishikawa Hayato's answer, after all, it was a method she had carefully considered that could satisfy her own desires without harming others.

She had assumed that a harem scum like Ishikawa Hayato would agree without hesitation, but she never expected him to be so serious at this moment.

Kita blinked, his expression gradually turning somber.

"Ah... yeah, that's true, such a strange kind of relationship."

She pursed her lips, took a breath, and turned to run away.

"However, Kita doesn't mind, dating you is fine."

Kita didn't know whether she felt ashamed or delighted, but she was definitely indignant that Ishikawa Hayato was still teasing her at this time.

But when she turned around, she didn't see Ishikawa Hayato grinning; instead, his face showed a mixture of joy and embarrassment.