Chapter 148

She stopped thinking.

Bocchi doesn't even dare to think about that situation. Even though she has been praised for her guitar skills getting better and better recently and is gradually able to communicate with others naturally, she still feels that she has many shortcomings.

Just now, I almost did something bad because of my dissatisfaction.

Thinking of this, Bocchi glanced at the Summoning Ticket in the laundry basket and was glad she hadn't taken that step.

To clarify everything in this way, and even to get closer to the Falcon more quickly, can only be considered betrayal.

Come to think of it, I guess I've finally figured out what I want. Let's take it slow. Besides, I can live with Hayabusa next semester, right?

Just imagining living together made Bocchi's lips curl into a slight smile, and her blue-green eyes gazed downwards.

Her clear and bright expression, and her serene and lovely smile, were almost too beautiful.

Unfortunately, no one saw it.

After changing her clothes, Bocchi left the dressing room and walked into the lobby. Just as she was about to greet Ishikawa Hayato and Kita, she noticed a slightly strange atmosphere in the lobby.

"That..."

Bocchi didn't know what to say at that moment, but Ishikawa Hayato quickly came to his senses upon hearing her voice.

He turned to the side from the sofa, looked back at Bocchi, and said with a smile.

"Bocchi's finished showering? How about we go sunbathe at the beach for a bit more?"

"Um."

Bocchi immediately snapped out of his unease and responded cheerfully.

Kita hearing their words, Kita stood up abruptly and spoke quickly.

"Yes, Ijichi-senpai must have been waiting for a long time."

Bocchi noticed that the two were sitting almost on opposite sides of the sofa. Their relationship couldn't be that bad, could it? But when she saw Ishikawa Hayato stand up and walk towards the door, she quickened her pace and jogged to catch up.

The three walked towards the beach. Along the way, Ishikawa Hayato held Bocchi's hand and chatted casually with the two.

"Sigh, Nijika is too strict; we can only play for two days."

Kita knew perfectly well what this person was thinking when they said that.

"Hayato-kun, haven't you had enough of the swimsuits yet?"

"Of course not. No man in the world ever feels he's had enough of looking at the swimsuits of women he likes."

Ishikawa Hayato said decisively.

Bocchi's small hand froze. She regretted changing out of her swimsuit earlier. She wasn't worried about the awkwardness of being the only one in a swimsuit while the other three were in casual clothes.

Anyway, everyone has gotten used to her odd behavior to some extent.

Kita glanced at Bocchi, knowing she wouldn't dare discuss such potentially suggestive topics with Ishikawa Hayato in front of Bocchi, so she changed the subject.

"What will Gotou-san we get back? Shall we go to the community swimming pool to practice together?"

When Bocchi heard the word "citizens' swimming pool," his mind went blank.

"No, that's..." But then she thought it was also an opportunity to wear a swimsuit, so she changed her mind.

"All right."

Seeing that Bocchi had actually agreed, Ishikawa Hayato covered his eyes and cried out.

"Waaaaah, I wish everyone would only show me their swimsuits!"

"Isn't that a bit too possessive?!"

Kita.

Bocchi's expression froze.

The ceaseless roar of the waves, one after another, accompanied by a relentless, surging sea breeze, carried away the summer heat, leaving behind just the right temperature.

The parasol blocked the glaring sunlight, and amidst the noisy yet quiet sounds of nature, the dialogue from the movie on the tablet in my hand continued.

In this extremely relaxing moment, Ryo once again heard Nijika turn over next to him, and the beach chair creaked.

A few seconds later, Nijika couldn't help but say something else.

"Those three are way too slow... Could something have happened to them?"

This was the third time Liang had heard her say such worried words, and she couldn't pretend she hadn't heard them anymore.

It's such a leisurely time, the sounds of nature are so beautiful, and the movie is so interesting, so why can't she calm down and watch the movie?

She comforted him.

"Isn't Falcon here? What's there to worry about?"

She knew what Nijika was worried about, but she felt that worrying was a waste of time. If something had really happened, it was impossible not to notice. She would just observe her later.

Nijika sighed as she looked at her, giving her an expression that said this person really didn't understand anything.

Before long, the three of them walked over, chatting and laughing. Liang glanced at them; everything seemed calm and peaceful, and their relaxed demeanor suggested that nothing had happened.

"So slow."

Nijika seemed to relax as well, and complained a little to the three of them.

Ishikawa Hayato was taken aback, then walked over with a smile. As if he didn't know anything about the difference between elders and juniors, he patted Nijika's head and said...

"If you're lonely, just give me a call. I've been waiting for Nijika-chan's call."

Nijika looked at him in disbelief. She hadn't expected this man to become so bold, daring to speak to her like that in front of others.

She glanced at Kita and Bocchi behind her, and seeing that they didn't react, she hurriedly said something.

"No... no way would I do that!"

Seeing her reaction, the three girls all thought the same thing.

Nijika's reaction was so easy to understand.

Nijika realized that her reaction was not calm enough. When she tried to brush it off, she found that she was still holding her phone, so she quickly hid it behind her back as if to cover it up.

Just then, her phone suddenly beeped with a message notification. Nijika paused, then looked at Ishikawa Hayato with displeasure.

She thought that Ishikawa Hayato had deliberately sent the text message at this time to tease her.

Ishikawa Hayato saw through her thoughts and raised his hands to prove his innocence.

Nijika immediately looked puzzled, took out her phone, and complained to ease her embarrassment.

"Who sent this message at this time...?"

She complained that the news came at the worst possible time, but inwardly she was relieved that it had arrived just in time.

No matter who it is, she wants to thank them.

However, after she saw an email displayed in the notification bar, and saw that it was from the organizers of Seesaw Festival, she realized that...

She held her breath and hesitantly reached out to open the email.

The four of them looked surprised when they saw Nijika like this.

Aside from Ryo, who peeked directly at Nijika's phone without any sense of distance, the others just exchanged puzzled glances.

Until, Nijika's tense voice rang out.

"Thank you for your support and participation in this event... After review..."

Immediately, Ishikawa Hayato, Bocchi, and Kita realized something and quickly moved closer, squeezing behind Nijika to look at her phone.

The email wasn't long, but the group still slowly browsed through it—the first email they had received from the organizers.

In my ears, I could hear Nijika's trembling voice reading an email, her voice filled with unease.

In the end, just as they saw the result, Nijika read it aloud.

"Approved! Please come before August 8th..."

Nijika's voice trailed off as she turned to the people behind her with a look of surprise and cheered.

"It's approved!"

She was thrilled. This time, they had gained recognition from the music festival organizers not because of her sister's preferential treatment, but because of their own abilities.

"We passed!"

Kita's more exuberant voice drowned out Nijika's.

The others were also overjoyed, and Bocchi was Kita happy that he jumped up and down with Kita.

"Great, we can go to the music festival too!"

A little closer to the two, Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo were not as excited as the other two. They had faint smiles on their faces, as if they had already been certain of it.

Nijika quickly noticed the difference between the two people and spoke to these two incongruous individuals.

"Hey, you two over there, cheer up!"

Liang looked completely at ease, his expression calm yet tinged with understanding and pride, and a hint of excitement.

"I knew I could participate a long time ago."

Seeing that Nijika looked incredulous, Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Ryo again.

In his judgment, Liang was definitely just going along with the atmosphere.

He was looking at Liang when Liang suddenly looked at him, seemingly sensing what he was thinking, and her smile vanished instantly.

Sensing that this person, who was usually too lazy to make expressions, was trying hard to convey a threat, Ishikawa Hayato zipped his mouth up like a zipper.

Nijika glanced at the two of them, then breathed a sigh of relief with a smile.

"Alright, let's go back and prepare for practice right now!"

She said to the four of them.

The four of them froze, the warm sand beneath their feet now covered in frost.

"I... Ijichi-senpai!?" Kita stared blankly at Nijika.

Bocchi had a feeling something was off, but he still nodded weakly to indicate his acceptance.

Liang asked her calmly.

How do we get back now?

Upon hearing this, Nijika's expression froze. She turned around and looked at the vast sea and the long cement road they had come from, completely stunned.

After a slight hesitation, she looked to Ishikawa Hayato for help.

Seeing Nijika's tearful, pleading eyes, Ishikawa Hayato stepped forward, sighed, and patted her shoulder.

"It's only half a day, let's go back when we've had enough fun."

"Yeah... yes."

Nijika reluctantly accepted his offer.

The four of them spent the rest of the day playing on the beach, their excitement boosted by the prospect of performing at the music festival.

Kita, Nijika, Bocchi played in the sand, while Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo played with Nijika.

Normally, Nijika would never obediently let these two bully her, but now, Nijika's heart has already drifted to Fanxing's rehearsal room.

She stayed there, even trying to pretend she was having a lot of fun.

Faced with the thoughtless Nijika, the two scoundrels worked together in perfect harmony, coaxing her into wearing the 'equipment'.

"Nijika, the ground is all sand, be careful there are holes."

"Ah, thank you."

"This is very refreshing."

Is that so?