Chapter 145

After tidying up the kitchen, Nijika came out to take a look and was surprised to see that Ishikawa Hayato had covered all the dishes with lids. She had thought that Ishikawa Hayato had already started eating, or was waiting for her to come out and call her to eat together.

"That's really unexpected."

Nijika said.

Ishikawa Hayato arranged the plates on the table.

"It's better for everyone to eat together."

After finishing breakfast, the two sat on the sofa and turned on the TV. Ishikawa Hayato casually watched the TV programs chosen by Nijika.

However, he soon discovered that Nijika didn't seem to be watching TV at all.

"Nijika?"

"Ah, sorry." Nijika subconsciously changed the program.

Ishikawa Hayato watched her quietly, and only spoke when she felt awkward.

"What are you thinking about?"

Nijika looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and then voiced her concerns.

"The performance list will be released in two days, and we haven't received any performance invitations yet..."

Seeing her downcast expression, her furrowed brows conveying her unease, Ishikawa Hayato smiled casually and said...

"Let me think about it. Should we go to the martial arts gym or the Tokyo Dome? I'll pay."

"Don't joke around."

Nijika patted his arm.

Ishikawa Hayato was indeed joking. Even if he rented the Budokan or the Tokyo Dome, given their current influence, the venue would probably be as quiet as the Siberian permafrost.

Even with free tickets, the venue might not be full.

He looked at Nijika, who had perked up and was acting coquettishly, and said with a smile.

"How about I rent Starry Night for a day and invite some friends to perform there?"

Nijika blinked, thought quickly, then jumped to the side on the sofa and held up her index finger.

"Hayato-kun, you said it!"

"Of course, a pervert is someone who does what they think."

She was already used to Ishikawa Hayato referring to himself as such, but she still smiled and snorted with a hint of displeasure before turning her head to watch TV.

On the television, the protagonist is running around searching for the female lead, with cars and crowds flowing past him, his helpless eyes searching everywhere.

Although I didn't watch much of the first half, Nijika was still drawn in by the tension built up in the drama.

She was on tenterhooks, her bright eyes fixed on the screen without blinking.

After failing to find the protagonist, she sighed softly, and as she caught her breath, she noticed the gazes on her side.

"What's the matter?"

Only then did she realize that she had been being stared at for a long time.

"Nijika is so cute."

Nijika's expression turned dissatisfied, and she sullenly said.

"Didn't we agree that you weren't allowed to lay a hand on me?"

"Eh, but I definitely didn't touch Nijika."

Nijika moved aside in disgust, and seeing Ishikawa Hayato's aggrieved look, she smiled to herself.

But soon, Ishikawa Hayato rallied and said aggressively.

Okay, now I have a goal.

Nijika had already kept her distance, wasn't too worried; she trusted Ishikawa Hayato.

She gave a soft "hmm?" to express her curiosity.

Ishikawa Hayato slapped his thigh and said.

"My next goal is that when I pat my leg, Nijika will obediently sit on it."

He even pictured the scene in his mind. He didn't say anything, but just slapped his thigh. Nijika turned her gaze over, saw his action, sighed, stood up, walked to him, turned around, and sat on his lap.

He could then happily put his arm around the waist of the petite Nijika, lean on her shoulder, and be affectionate with her.

His fantasy was shattered by Nijika's kick.

Who would do that!?

Nijika pursed her lips and glared at him fiercely.

However, she inexplicably felt that she didn't completely agree, but having such thoughts made her even angrier, so she kicked Ishikawa Hayato's shin again.

Ishikawa Hayato grinned foolishly.

Not long after their conversation ended, while Nijika still had a tense expression and seemed unwilling to talk to Ishikawa Hayato, footsteps sounded from the other end of the corridor.

She quickly turned to look at her savior.

It was too dangerous to be alone with Ishikawa Hayato. It wasn't that he might do anything, but she knew very well that if she showed any sign that it was okay for him to come close to her without any hesitation.

This made her feel very dangerous.

Seeing that it was Bocchi who had arrived, she greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Bocchi-chan, good morning!"

"Nijika-chan, good morning..."

Bocchi responded in a soft, gentle voice.

She had originally planned to take a nap, but after realizing that someone was missing from her side, she couldn't fall back asleep. After looking around on the second floor and not finding the two of them, she washed up and came downstairs.

Ishikawa Hayato saw that Bocchi was still in her pajamas and waved to her with a smile.

Seeing that Bocchi responded and walked over, he turned around and looked at the blonde, red-eyed girl who had just had a tense expression.

Nijika noticed his gaze and smiled, no longer worried at all.

However, Bocchi always manages to surprise them when they feel safe.

The two had just taken their eyes off Bocchi when they suddenly heard a loud bang.

Ishikawa Hayato, Nijika:??

They quickly looked toward the source of the sound, where Bocchi lay stiffly on the wooden floor.

Noticing their gazes, she looked up, wearing a pitiful expression as if she had done something wrong.

"I'm not feeling well..."

"Ah..." Nijika gave an embarrassed laugh knowingly. "I know, your muscles are sore, right? Bocchi-chan, you don't need to force yourself to get up."

She herself has experienced this; even the slightest movement of her body causes her pain, so it's normal that Bocchi, who seems even more of a homebody, can't handle it.

Ishikawa Hayato walked over to Bocchi, who was struggling to get up from the ground in a silly and adorable way.

"Why don't you lie down on the sofa for a bit?"

"Yes..." Bocchi hesitated for a moment, then changed his words to "Thank you..."

Ishikawa Hayato hummed happily.

The two helped Bocchi lie down on the sofa, but before Ishikawa Hayato could even sit down, Bocchi shrank further into the sofa.

Ishikawa Hayato remained where he was, without sitting down.

Although Bocchi's actions just now seemed particularly humble, he knew that wasn't what she really meant.

At this moment, it's probably not good for me to occupy the longest chair all by myself, so I'm thinking of trying to shrink the space I'm taking up.

And her next step should be...

Nijika looked at Ishikawa Hayato, who was standing and observing Bocchi, with a puzzled expression, and then glanced at Bocchi, who was lying on the sofa. She didn't understand what Ishikawa Hayato was planning to observe.

However, she and Ishikawa Hayato Jun also began to observe Bocchi.

Before long, Bocchi began to wriggle, its head against the sofa armrest as it began to straighten its body, slowly placing its hands on the sofa in preparation to sit up.

However, after she sat up, she looked to the side.

Contrary to her expectations that the two men were watching TV and wouldn't notice her reaction, one was standing and the other was sitting, both staring intently at her.

"Huh?" She looked flustered.

In a panic, his grip loosened, and he collapsed again.

But the soft sofa made her sink in, her whole body swayed, and her muscles tensed up and then relaxed.

The consequence is...

"Ouch!!~~~"

Bocchi let out a terrible wail.

The sound reached the second floor. Kita sat up blankly, stretched, let out a soft moan, and looked around in confusion.

"Bocchi-chan, don't push yourself."

As Nijika tidied Bocchi back to its original state, she grumbled.

"Ugh..." Bocchi responded with tears in his eyes.

Seeing the scene before him, which resembled a mother comforting her sick daughter, Ishikawa Hayato smiled inwardly.

"It looks like we can't get anything done today."

"Ah?"

Bocchi looked up in alarm.

She learned that in such a group outing, the most serious incident would be if one person couldn't continue due to illness. This would not only require one person to stay and accompany the group, but also cause the other members of the group to worry about not being able to enjoy themselves.

This means that the happy memories have come to an abrupt and unsatisfying end!

But she absolutely couldn't let that happen; in this situation, she could just manage to stand up and follow the others!

Bocchi sat up abruptly and said in an exaggeratedly hurried tone.

"It's... it's okay. Wow, suddenly the pain is gone! My body feels so light, and I don't feel uncomfortable at all."

But her reaction did not escape the notice of the two people in front of her.

Nijika sighed, her expression suddenly turning serious.

"Bocchi-chan, hand!"

Bocchi realized this was a difficult hurdle, but she gritted her teeth and stretched out her arm anyway.

Nijika pressed down on her arm without any hesitation and squeezed it with a little force.

Instantly, Bocchi's hand went limp from the pain.

But she still gritted her teeth and cried out through tears.

"It doesn't hurt... it doesn't hurt at all..."

Seeing how hard she was trying to hold back, Nijika suddenly couldn't bring herself to do it.

"Don't push yourself," she complained.

Ishikawa Hayato knew how stubborn Bocchi was; in fact, it was precisely because of her stubbornness that she acted in so many exaggerated ways.

This is turning into an interrogation.

He pulled back Bocchi, who was at her Nijika's end.

"Bocchi seems quite interested in playing, shall I give her a massage to relax her muscles?"