Chapter 180

What's most interesting about Hitori is that she always seems very uncomfortable, but with proper guidance, she grows up quickly.

Seeing her put away the bamboo skewers, looking so happy she almost jumped for joy, Ishikawa Hayato resisted the urge to hug her and rub against her, and instead picked up the donut and said something to her.

Ah~

Hitori's eyes were filled with joy, and she obediently opened her mouth.

During such a cloying dinner, they managed to eat a box of steak and two donuts for more than ten minutes.

Back on the snack street, Hitori knew that Ishikawa Hayato couldn't possibly have eaten his fill of those things.

They had both eaten the same amount, but she was already seven-tenths full, while Ishikawa Hayato was definitely not even half full.

Moreover, the main task is not yet complete.

Hitori looked around again.

She strained to see what was inside the stalls surrounded by pedestrians, sometimes even standing on tiptoe to peer cautiously inside.

Unbeknownst to Hitori, the stalls that had previously seemed shrouded in a glaring, artificial aura gradually began to reveal their contents to her.

As the two walked back to the food stall, it began to get dark.

Under the deep blue sky, red and orange lanterns hung along both sides of the street, and the aroma of cooking and the sounds of pedestrians chatting made this long food street lively.

Because of the fireworks display, many people came here to sample the snacks, and the dense crowds made the place as lively as a temple fair.

In this bustling place, Ishikawa Hayato walked along, looking Hitori.

There was little fear on her face; her eyes, searching around, revealed a hint of curiosity. Her fair and extremely lovely face was made even more radiant by the orange-red light.

Ishikawa Hayato knew that she hadn't gotten used to this place; she had simply developed other goals and was now focused on them.

He didn't disturb her, and the two walked slowly hand in hand.

Until...

Hitori's eyes swept over many roadside stalls.

Grilled sausages, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, shaved ice...

Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed and exhausted from observing so many people and shops, she saw pedestrians taking taiyaki (fish-shaped fritters) from the shopkeepers.

Her eyes lit up, but because she wasn't in such a hurry this time, and wasn't as excited as she had been at the beginning, she hesitated for a moment.

Just as we were about to walk past that store.

Hitori hesitated before turning to look at Ishikawa Hayato, and asked tentatively.

"Falcon, that sea bream..."

The moment her gaze fell upon Ishikawa Hayato, their eyes met, and she could immediately sense that Ishikawa Hayato had been watching her the whole time.

Her first thought was that even though Ishikawa Hayato was right next to her, she hadn't paid attention to him and had been looking around instead.

Hitori felt a little regretful about the time she had just wasted.

"Taiyaki, right? It's very good."

As Ishikawa Hayato said this, he put his Hitori and walked toward the stall.

Hitori glanced at Ishikawa Hayato with a hint of surprise. He probably didn't know which stall it was, right?

She looked away and noticed Ishikawa Hayato's hand around her waist.

For a moment, she thought of Ishikawa Hayato's bone conduction mind-reading technique.

Hitori was taken aback, which meant that he was aware of those bad ideas from before.

She was momentarily frightened, but then she tried to put herself in Ishikawa Hayato's shoes.

In the past, she assumed that others would despise her and think she was a weirdo, but this time, no matter how she thought about it, Ishikawa Hayato in her heart had never had any dissatisfaction with her.

Even using the worst and most rational ideas.

She still concluded that Ishikawa Hayato liked her, because his every move openly expressed his affection.

Even after realizing how terrible she is, I still like her so much.

It really is...

The stall owner handed the taiyaki to Ishikawa Hayato.

Thank you for your patronage.

Just as Ishikawa Hayato was about to pay, Hitori quickly took out the money and handed it to the stall owner.

As the stall owner was giving her change, Hitori looked up at Ishikawa Hayato. Her blue eyes, the complete contrast to the stall's color, showed a wavering expression.

The sound was faint.

"Falcon... please don't leave me. No matter what, just stay by my side, or I will..."

Ishikawa Hayato covered her mouth.

He said with a smile.

"Spending your life with someone you love is the most wonderful thing. I have no intention of separating from Hitori."

Hitori reached out and hugged Ishikawa Hayato tightly.

146. Background

It was completely dark, and the pitch-black night sky provided the perfect backdrop for the firelight.

Hitori glanced at the road ahead.

A gentle slope rises slightly, its end invisible. Dim streetlights follow the slope upwards, and dark houses line both sides.

After Ishikawa Hayato led her away from the food street, they walked this way with their backs to the beach.

Hitori didn't care where they were going next, but she did have some slight doubts.

A little while ago, she had already heard music coming from Douzi Beach in the snack street area; it was a preview of the fireworks display.

She wasn't... well, you couldn't say she was completely indifferent to watching fireworks.

As always, she didn't like it when she didn't see it, thinking it was something only "socially successful" people would do, and it only made her feel uncomfortable.

But missing out would leave her with a sense of regret.

Of course, compared to that regret, she felt that spending less time with Falcon was the real regret that kept her up at night.

Holding hands with someone you love, even though it's a bit hot in the summer, you don't want to let go no matter what.

Gradually, they reached the top of the small slope they had just climbed.

There's a fork in the road here, one going up and the other horizontal. Watching Ishikawa Hayato head up, Hitori naturally changed direction to match him.

It was so natural that she was surprised at how well she and Ishikawa Hayato had gotten along.

Beside her.

Ishikawa Hayato took out his phone, glanced at the map, looked towards the beach, and then listened intently.

The music gradually stopped on the other side of the beach, and cheers and the host's passionate speech became very noticeable.

He planned to watch the fireworks from a distance in the park on the mountaintop with Hitori.

It seems there won't be enough time to get to the mountaintop before the fireworks display.

He hesitated for a moment, guessing that it would be quite difficult for her to reach the top of the mountain, and looked at Hitori, who seemed puzzled, and said to her.

"Hitori, we're running out of time, I'll carry you up."

Hitori was stunned by his sudden decision. She blinked, wondering if she had suddenly fallen asleep or if this was a dream.

"Eh, eh? Eh!"

She kept making soft, surprised noises.

After Ishikawa Hayato finished speaking, he turned around, half-squatting with his back to her, without urging her any further.

Hitori gradually came to understand the situation.

Ishikawa Hayato wanted to take her to other viewing spots to watch the fireworks, but because they had wasted too much time at the food street, they were going to miss the opening of the fireworks festival.

So I wanted to just carry her up there on my back.

Yili hesitated for Hitori moment, clutching her clothes tightly with both hands, but she was no longer the person she used to be, and she would not back down because of panic.

She then confirmed her true feelings.

Thank you. I don't know if it's because the fireworks display was held earlier than planned.

Ah, we're about to make contact with the falcon, Hitori quickly banished the thought.

However, she is still a bit heavy. Can Falcon carry her faster than he walk...?

Will the falcon get tired...?

But it wouldn't be good to refuse for that reason, so let's observe for a while.

And you can't think about any of that right now, because the falcon can read minds using bone conduction.

"Hayabusa... are you really okay?"

Hitori still tried asking.

"No problem," Ishikawa Hayato replied.

Hitori cleared her mind, constantly hypnotizing herself to not think about anything, and tried to climb onto Ishikawa Hayato's back.

Sadly, she simply lay on Ishikawa Hayato's Ishikawa Hayato, not even daring to put her arms around his neck.

"Hold your arms around my neck."

Ishikawa Hayato waited a while, and seeing that she didn't move, he had to remind her to prevent her from falling backward.

"Ah, no... um... hmm."

Hitori stopped abruptly, saying "I'm sorry," and quickly hugged Ishikawa Hayato.

Then she felt herself being quickly lifted up, and her legs were held between Ishikawa Hayato's arms.

This was the first time Hitori had this level of contact with someone other than her blood relatives, especially with the person she liked the most.

She felt like she was melting away, and even felt that dying would be worthwhile.

Her head involuntarily pressed completely against his back.

"Hold on tight."

Hitori hearing Ishikawa Hayato's request, Ichiri instinctively complied.

Then Ishikawa Hayato took a step down the slope.

On the slope leading to the mountaintop, a boy carries a girl on his back and runs briskly, hoping to reach the summit before the fireworks festival.

Carrying Ishikawa Hayato on his back, Hitori could clearly feel the slight difference in the height of his legs as he ran, feel the power in his smooth movements, and sense that he seemed to have no burden at all.

She felt a little relieved.

But the body doesn't.

Hitori wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt an intense heat radiating from her body. She instinctively wanted to squeeze her legs together, but because she was being carried on her back, her legs remained spread apart.

She wanted to pinch him but didn't dare, afraid of revealing something.

But the itch didn't subside; instead, it grew stronger.

Hitori was not such an ignorant person.

She began to doubt whether she was the kind of person who was... No! I can't think about this!

By the way, Falcon seems really strong... No, no, no, that won't do!