Chapter 192

Hitori looked up at them in surprise.

Ishikawa Hayato sighed, thought for a moment, and then gave a wicked and strange smile.

"Then you'll find out when you follow me. I don't mind if Hitori."

He then confirmed with Hitori.

Without much hesitation, Hitori told the two, "Yes, everyone is welcome to come anytime."

The two looked at Hitori, who was completely embracing the role of his wife, with complicated emotions. Although Kita had always supported Hitori, she was now a little worried.

"Gotou- san..."

She immediately realized what was going on as soon as she opened her mouth; Ishikawa Hayato had already said that he had obtained permission from Gotou-san's parents.

They're practically husband and wife now, so warning Yili not to listen to Ishikawa Hayato Hitori everything is just meddling in other people's family affairs.

She thought about it and then glared angrily at Ishikawa Hayato.

Just then, Nijika, having finished settling other matters, returned.

She said to the four of them.

"It's almost time to open the store, let me assign everyone's tasks for today."

The four of them perked up slightly and prepared for tonight's work.

Nijika hesitated for a moment, glancing at Hitori who was standing obediently next to Ishikawa Hayato, before her gaze settled on the center of the four.

"Tonight Bocchi-chan and Ryo will be in charge of the drinks..."

Before she could finish speaking, the three girls looked at her with astonishment.

But Nijika didn't stop and continued talking.

"Kita- chan will take charge of maintaining order inside the venue, Hayato-kun and I will go to the front desk."

Kita stared blankly at Nijika after she finished speaking, somewhat unable to believe that Nijika was such a strong-willed person.

But she didn't say anything that would embarrass the situation.

They can be cool, but they don't shy away from it.

"Finally, I can openly and legitimately steal food by taking advantage of my position."

"No, that's not true!"

Nijika knew that what she was doing wasn't a good idea, but it was actually the safest way to talk to Ishikawa Hayato face-to-face alone. She was worried that if they talked in other places, she would be manipulated by Ishikawa Hayato, just like last time.

But she knew that saying anything in this situation would be useless, so she walked Hitori away and spoke apologetically in a voice that only one person in the Hitori could hear.

"Bocchi-chan, I'm sorry, I'd like to speak with Hayato-kun alone."

Hitori felt a little upset, but quickly felt relieved.

"Um... it's okay."

When it was time to open, customers gradually poured in, but unlike before, many of them actually recognized the five people.

Among the new guests, some even exclaimed in surprise at their band's name.

Nijika was quite happy to realize that her band had become famous to some extent, but her happiness was short-lived, and her face soon darkened.

Once most of the guests had entered, Ishikawa Hayato cautiously patted Nijika on the shoulder.

"Then... Nijika, you might grow taller in the future."

He offered words of comfort.

It should be quite clear why Nijika angry.

The store was open a couple of days ago, and only Nijika was there. Judging from the surprise of so many people today, not many people probably recognized Nijika before.

Why is this happening...?

First of all, it should be noted that Nijika is 1.54 meters tall, and although she is the oldest, she is the shortest in the band.

When she was in the back row, she was blocked by three people who were already taller than her. She was sitting down and was also blocked by the drum cymbals. There was also a very tall and conspicuous person next to her.

You can imagine her predicament during the performance.

If you ask music fans who have seen the show who the drummer is...

Their only response would be a questioning, "Is she a blonde girl...?"

Perhaps only those who are quite interested in their band would recognize Nijika.

Sitting in the chair, Nijika looked at the shop entrance in front of her and asked in a low, heavy voice.

"Possible?"

Ishikawa Hayato hesitated for a moment, then said guiltily.

"Um..."

Nijika angrily slammed her fist on the table.

"My height hasn't changed in a year!"

"Wow..."

Hearing Nijika's astonishing self-deception, Ishikawa Hayato subconsciously glanced at Nijika. She was sitting in a chair, and the tip of her ahoge (cowlick) didn't even reach his waist.

Hearing his surprised voice, Nijika turned to the side and looked up at him with her dark eyes.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and squatted down, now it was his turn to look up at her.

"That's how tall Nijika is now, and little Nijika is very cute too."

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato's weak tone and ingratiating smile, Nijika's heart wavered. She clenched her fist, then relaxed it, trying her best to maintain a blank expression.

She felt that her emotions were too easily stirred by Ishikawa Hayato.

Even her anger vanished instantly.

"Hayato-kun, you're Bocchi-chan's boyfriend now! You can't betray Bocchi-chan!"

She was reminding Ishikawa Hayato, as if reminding herself.

Ishikawa Hayato shifted his feet, turned around, and leaned against the wall while still crouching, facing Nijika.

"Is Nijika planning to back out?"

Nijika looked away from him, her feelings complicated, and stared at the table.

She said.

"Anyway, you can't expect anyone else to continue dating you under these circumstances."

Ishikawa Hayato considered their current relationship status.

Hitori and Ryo dated him while accepting that he was only seeing multiple women within the band.

Kita had already dated someone, and although they broke up, she only said she would think about it again, or that she would hesitate for a while.

It seems that Nijika is completely unaware of the reality.

"If I can do it, Nijika definitely won't go back on her word, right?"

Ishikawa Hayato asked again.

But Nijika didn't answer immediately.

After a short while, Ishikawa Hayato said jokingly.

"Oh no, is our adorable yet authoritative leader going to back out? No way, I'll be heartbroken!"

Nijika, who had tried to escape through silence, was provoked into feeling ashamed and angry.

"I won't go back on my word!"

She turned around and looked at Ishikawa Hayato, only to see him staring at her with a smile in his eyes. She shrank back slightly but then regained her composure and asked.

"Since Hayato-kun 're so confident, tell me, besides Bocchi-chan, who else are you dating right now?"

On the day of the training camp, Nijika also heard about Kita and Ishikawa Hayato's relationship.

Although she felt her safety was in grave danger, she believed that Liang would not fall easily.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't say it directly; he counted on his fingers.

"Since Nijika won't go back on her word, let me do the math. Our band has five members; besides Nijika and me, there are three others."

Ishikawa Hayato tucked his thumb and forefinger in.

Of the three, I'm already dating Hitori.

As he spoke, he retracted his middle finger, leaving only his ring and little fingers.

Ishikawa Hayato's gaze shifted from his hand to Nijika, Nijika also looked away from his two raised fingers.

Ishikawa Hayato, observing her increasingly uneasy gaze, said...

"Of the remaining two, one dated me, and the other dated me before but we broke up temporarily because she couldn't accept me dating so many people. She said she needed to think about it some more."

Ishikawa Hayato Nijika in disbelief.

She stared intently at the boy's expression, trying to find a trace of a lie.

But she couldn't find it no matter what she tried.

She asked, her voice trembling.

"Have you dated everyone?"

Ishikawa Hayato nodded, but the response he received was...

Nijika looked at him and said crisply and briefly.

"So terrible..."

This was the first time Ishikawa Hayato had seen such repulsion and resistance in her gentle red eyes.

"Yes, I'm terrible."

He made no attempt to defend himself.

But Nijika hesitated because of her own words. She remained silent for a long time, as if she was re-examining Ishikawa Hayato's fantastical idea from the past.

She didn't expect that Ishikawa Hayato would actually fulfill that request.

She clutched the ticket she had torn off from the front desk drawer.

After thinking it through, she expressed her thoughts again with great disappointment.

"Hayato-kun, I used to like you a lot, but now I don't think I like you as much anymore."

She looked at Ishikawa Hayato, knowing that this was tantamount to going back on her word, but for a moment she couldn't accept it.

"But... I will still keep my promise and give you the opportunity to date."

She didn't mind that Ishikawa Hayato hadn't yet reached that tiny bit of closeness, and that the appointment was ended early.

Ishikawa Hayato was not discouraged, but spoke calmly and firmly.

"Then it seems I'll have to work hard to make Nijika like me again."

"If it's possible..."

Nijika, unusually, couldn't maintain her cheerful demeanor. She kicked her legs and said in a frustrated voice.

This is a partial conversation between a tall boy crouching against the wall with his head tilted back and a petite girl sitting in a chair with her head down, inside a small cubicle.

152. Deduct

"Cheers!"

A lively atmosphere emanated from the clinking of glasses filled with various drinks.

With one hand, she pulled the glass back to her face after the clinking, and without hesitation, a heavy drinker gulped down what was essentially free beer for her.

After downing half a glass of beer, she let out a satisfied "ha".

"Bliss! Free beer is amazing!"

"Why is this person here too...?"