Chapter 169

Kita's smile faded slightly, but he still held onto Ishikawa Hayato's arm tightly.

"Um."

She answered softly.

The two set off together on the streets of Shinjuku. Kita didn't ask where they were going, but simply followed Ishikawa Hayato's footsteps.

They walked like any other couple, chatting casually.

"I feel that Ikuyo's singing has improved a lot today; she has been practicing according to the textbook."

"Of course, it's a book that Hayato-kun gave me."

"Even so, Ikuyo is really talented; she's definitely got the makings of a singer."

Kita quite pleased to be praised for his talent by Ishikawa Hayato.

But after thinking about it, she said, holding a grudge very much.

"Is that so? So even the freakish genius Ishikawa Hayato- sama would praise me for being smart. I thought I was just an idiot in Ishikawa-kun's eyes."

Ishikawa Hayato stopped and looked around with a serious expression.

"Who! Who dares to say my girlfriend is stupid? I'll make them know how heavy this punch really is!"

Kita at Ishikawa Hayato's silly expression and tugged at his arm.

Let's go!

140. Ice cream

The two linked arms and left through the crossroads where people were converging.

The two wearing matching band T-shirts are the kind of couple that single people hate the most. Not only do they lean on each other affectionately, but they also hold hands. And holding hands isn't enough; they also wear the same T-shirts, and they even look good in the same T-shirts, looking like a perfect match.

They were practically blindingly sweet; their radiance and sweetness overshadowed all the other couples around them.

But this was utterly uneventful for the two of them.

Kita leaned against Ishikawa Hayato and chatted with him while observing Shinjuku on nights when she rarely came.

They turned into a not-too-large commercial street, surrounded by clothing stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other businesses that were still open. It was bustling with people coming and going.

Bright, dazzling lights shone from the shops on both sides, and even the trees and ornaments along the road were decorated with twinkling colored lights.

But the bright lights reflecting off the dim colored lights created a very mature and restrained feeling.

Those who come here at this time are mostly very mature middle-aged couples or lovers; there are very few young couples like Ishikawa Hayato and Kita.

Even the clothing displayed in the surrounding shop windows were all quite mature and sophisticated styles.

After looking around for Kita, Kita felt a little uncomfortable in the environment, and she started to back down.

"Ishikawa Hayato suddenly said, looking troubled."

"Oh dear, looks like we went to the wrong place. We should have planned ahead."

Kita taken aback, his gaze shifting from the surroundings to Ishikawa Hayato, noticing his slightly troubled yet composed demeanor.

She smiled and hugged his arm tighter.

"Didn't I say before that I was just taking a casual stroll? Don't worry about it."

Seeing her like this, Ishikawa Hayato looked up and glanced around thoughtfully before asking a question.

"Really? Does Ikuyo rarely come here?"

"Hmm? Yeah..."

Kita responded with a puzzled look after hearing Ishikawa Hayato's strange words.

Upon hearing her say this, Ishikawa Hayato slowly stretched out his arm and pointed to a cold drink shop on the side of the shopping street.

"Over there, that ice cream shop seems to have a really famous ice cream shop?"

He said uncertainly.

Kita surprise and uncertainty, quickly turned his head to look.

Upon seeing the bustling cold drink shop, images from various advertisements flashed through her mind, and she quickly matched the shop's appearance with one she remembered.

In an instant, her eyes lit up.

"That's right, that's the SINCERITY store where the male and female leads went on their first date in 'The Permitted Life,' Hayato-kun, hurry up!"

Unlike his slightly uncomfortable demeanor just now, Kita was now radiating a rainbow of light, his eyes sparkling, and he even started pulling Ishikawa Hayato along.

Of course, Ishikawa Hayato followed in her footsteps and quickly went over as well.

At this moment, the street, which was originally solemn and heavy yet somewhat enchanting, was illuminated by a girl with a smile as bright as the sun.

The boy beside her wore a somewhat troubled smile as he followed her.

Not long after they went into the store, the two came out, but unlike when they went in, they each carried two different fancy ice creams.

The not-so-large, snow-white ice cream was decorated with various candy and chocolate ornaments.

Ishikawa Hayato took a bite and found it not bad; at least it wasn't some weird thing that was more hype than substance.

But he noticed that Kita next to him hadn't started eating; instead, he was staring at him intently.

Ishikawa Hayato looked over in confusion, only to see Kita notice his gaze and smilingly hand over his phone.

In the illumination of the ice cream shop's lights, her cheeks and the side of her arm holding the ice cream were lit up, and her extremely joyful smile made those around her feel happy as well.

"Um?"

Please.

Kita said sweetly that the solo photos Ishikawa Hayato took of her at the amusement park turned out very well, and the feedback made her extremely happy.

She was quite disappointed that she couldn't post the better group photos.

Faced with his girlfriend's request, and seeing such a happy expression on her face, Ishikawa Hayato naturally wouldn't refuse.

He took the phone, remembered Kita's messy photos by the sea, and decided to show off his skills.

"Since you specifically asked me to film this, then Kita has to obediently film according to my requirements."

Kita moment, then looked around the street. Thinking that Ishikawa Hayato wouldn't do anything reckless on the street, he agreed.

"Eh... that's possible."

Ishikawa Hayato looked around, found a spot with a light, stood by the roadside, set his phone to professional mode for taking pictures, adjusted the focus, pointed to the spot in front of him, and said to the stunned Kita.

"He walked over here, put the ice cream to his mouth, but casually looked to the side."

Kita his requests were all reasonable, so she naturally cooperated. She walked to the spot that Ishikawa Hayato had set and stopped.

"So?"

As expected of an Instagram influencer, although his photography skills are average, his professionalism as a model is excellent; he quickly and easily struck the pose that Ishikawa Hayato wanted to do.

"Yes, lean forward slightly, OK."

Ishikawa Hayato looked at his phone, carefully adjusted the angle, and when he saw that the result was perfect, he pressed the shutter button without any hesitation.

Click.

Kita quickly came over after hearing the phone clicking the shutter button.

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato's impressive expression, she slightly raised her expectations, smiled, and took the phone, opening the photo album.

The background of the photo is between a brightly lit ice cream shop and a clothing store with all its lights off.

Under the starkly contrasting lights, her silhouette was illuminated, then partially shifted into the shadows.

She looked like she had just come out of an ice cream shop, carrying a guitar case and holding an ice cream cone, walking from the light into the shadows, as if she were on her way home.

But as she was eating ice cream on her way home, she noticed the camera. The pure white, sweet ice cream pressed against her pink lips, but her clean, yellowish-green eyes held a hint of confusion.

The hint of doubt in the photo creates a sense of innocence, while the musical instrument she carries adds a touch of maturity. The seemingly unintentional candid shot further enhances the authenticity of the photograph.

Kita stared in disbelief for a long time; she even felt a flutter in her heart when she looked at herself in the photo.

After a long while, she finally looked at the person who created the photograph.

As Ishikawa Hayato looked up at Kita, his eyes filled with surprise, his smugness deepened.

But Kita looked down at the photos for a while, then suddenly clutched his phone and cried out in distress.

"No way! I can't post these photos on Instagram! What if my Ijichi-senpai think I have a boyfriend when they see them?!"

Ishikawa Hayato looked completely bewildered; he didn't understand her thoughts.

"I'll just shoot it my way!" She handed the phone back to Ishikawa Hayato with a conflicted expression.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at the phone, then took it with a long face and took a rather ordinary and cute photo of her.

Then, the two quickly ate the melting ice cream.

After finishing his ice cream, Kita glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, who still looked somewhat disappointed, and said apologetically.

"Hayato-kun, don't worry about it, I'll cherish it."

"Oh... right, send me a copy of the photo too."

Hearing him say that, Kita actually showed some reluctance, and she called out softly.

"Eh..."

"What?!"

"Suddenly having such a beautiful photo of myself, I'm a little reluctant to show it to others."

"I took the picture!"

"Even if it was taken by Hayato-kun..."

Ishikawa Hayato, slightly disgruntled, looked ahead and said sullenly.

"Never mind then. In the end, the photo just captures a fleeting expression of Ikuyo's face as I see it. Anyway, I can see it whenever I want."

Kita suddenly paused, but then quickly caught up, looking at the boy beside her who seemed to know even more.

She suddenly realized that his originally sharp temperament had become much softer after he grew his hair long.

But his gaze remained as sharp and profound as ever.

Although she already knew he was handsome, after observing him closely now, she inexplicably felt he was even more handsome.

She suppressed her emotions and changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, Hayato-kun, you said before that it wasn't part of the plan... you were lying, weren't you?"

"No, I didn't plan it out properly. I just went with the route that seemed most suitable when choosing a direction."

As Ishikawa Hayato spoke, he turned to look at Kita, but Kita quickly reached out and pressed his cheek, forcibly turning his head back.

"Ikuyo ~~"

He cried out incoherently.

But Kita, who often went along with Ishikawa Hayato, didn't Kita this time, but instead called out to him somewhat shyly.

"Don't look at me now!"

Knowing how Ishikawa Hayato her, and after reaffirming her own perception of him, Kita ashamed and couldn't even meet his gaze.

Led by Ishikawa Hayato, the two emerged from the side of the shopping street and headed towards the station in another direction.

Kita, seemingly unaware, easily followed in his footsteps.

Unlike the bustling main road, this alleyway gives the impression that you can suddenly disappear from sight.

The only light came from the streetlights and the dim glow of the surrounding houses.

Ishikawa Hayato checked his phone, confirmed the last train time, and then asked.

"Speaking of which, what does Ikuyo think of the band lately?"

If it weren't for the lingering unease in his heart, Kita would definitely have asked him if he wanted to elope with Bocchi.