Chapter 200

Ishikawa Hayato noticed a string of water droplets remaining on the windowpane.

The heavy rain outside didn't bother him, and after his shower, he felt warm all over. The girls around him were no longer tired and were chatting excitedly.

He was not afraid of the storms; the feeling of laughter blooming inside the house made him extremely happy.

He even thought, rather heartlessly, that if the rain outside got heavier, until 11 p. m., it would be nice to have a typhoon added to the mix.

That means they'll have no choice but to stay at his house.

Whether it's the Hitori room or the guest room, there's enough space to rest in his house, and he wouldn't mind even sleeping in his double bed.

He would generously give up most of the bed for the group to rest on.

What kind of divine punishment is this? It's like the Thunder God helping me!

While he was lost in thought, they didn't mean to, but the conversation gradually turned to Ishikawa Hayato's new home.

While they were talking, Nijika glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, who was staring blankly out the window, before lowering her voice slightly to ask Hitori a question.

"Bocchi-chan, did Hayabusa rent this place?"

Hitori didn't quite understand why Nijika asked that, and hesitantly nodded, "Um..."

"Isn't it his house, or a friend's house?"

Nijika confirmed this as if explaining.

"Um..."

As Hitori responded, she couldn't help but recall the tension of going to rent a room together that day. Although Nijika asked several times and still couldn't believe it, Iri understood Nijika's feelings.

Even now, she still feels unreal living here.

"Well... I went to rent it with Hayabusa that day."

Seeing the tension in Hitori's expression, Kita and Nijika could empathize with her very much. They were also very worried when they came in, afraid that they would be stopped by security or that the police would be called.

If they were replaced by Hitori, and brought here to rent this house, they would also be terrified.

Kita, then asked as well.

"Then these things are also..."

Hitori lowered his head and answered quickly.

"Bought after we moved in..."

Seeing the indescribable expressions on Kita and Nijika, Hitori breathed a slight sigh of relief, as if someone had finally shared the immense pressure with her.

Ishikawa Hayato wasn't completely oblivious to what they were saying; he only turned around with a sigh when he sensed the tense atmosphere of their conversation.

Why are you making such a fuss over such small things?

"It's a small matter..."

The three were terrified.

"How much will all this cost...?"

Kita had started saving money beforehand so she wouldn't have to use Ryo's guitar anymore. She silently calculated in her mind how much she could save up to buy the guitar she wanted.

The expensive guitar she wanted to buy was probably just a fraction of what was available here.

Nijika also sighed deeply.

"Hayato-kun is just like Ryo, spending money without any planning whatsoever."

Just as Ishikawa Hayato turned his head, he saw Ryo silently stand up and turn towards the aisle.

He caught a glimpse of Liang before she entered the corridor, but seeing her quick and decisive steps, he assumed she knew where the restroom was, so he remained silent.

He then looked at Nijika and continued the conversation.

"As long as you save enough money to hedge against risks, you can spend whatever you earn, right?"

Ishikawa Hayato is the kind of person who doesn't care about money at all. He wouldn't bother with this kind of money if it weren't for wanting his girl to live in a comfortable place.

For him, enough money for ordinary living expenses is fine.

Hearing Ishikawa Hayato's response, Kita and Hitori inexplicably felt that he was right; only Nijika, who also managed all the big and small matters at home, objected.

"That's true! But spending money without a plan will quickly lead to buying a bunch of meaningless junk, and by the end of each month, you won't even know where the money went."

She then reminded Hitori.

"Bocchi-chan, Hayato-kun is also terrible at this, you should pay attention to that too."

"Eh..."

Hitori sighed hesitantly. She herself was completely clueless about how to manage money. Apart from saving money for her wedding, she spent all her money on musical instrument-related equipment.

But she still nodded with a pained expression to indicate that she understood.

Seeing that she was at a loss, Nijika explained to her how to keep accounts and make a spending plan.

Kita felt like this scene was an elder instructing a newlywed couple who didn't know how to manage a household. After a while, she asked Ishikawa Hayato with a curious smile.

"Isn't Hayato-kun's family just like ours? Where did they get so much money?"

"Of course, it's because of my extraordinary intelligence that I dominate the stock market and various other places."

After Ishikawa Hayato finished speaking, he saw Kita's expression turn slightly worried, so he added.

"Don't worry, I've saved enough for me and Hitori to finish university."

Ishikawa Hayato still kept some things hidden; he had saved enough money for all five of them to finish university and hadn't touched it.

"Oh... I see."

Kita felt relieved, but hesitated for a moment, then sighed subtly before finally raising his head and praising her with a smile.

"Hayato-kun is really amazing."

Ishikawa Hayato immediately sat up straight, head held high, and said smugly.

"Louder! Speak sweeter! And add the word 'pervert'!"

Kita looked helpless and turned to push Hitori.

"Gotou-san, go and discipline Hayato-kun!"

Hitori, who was initially bewildered by Nijika's teaching, turned around unsteadily with circles in her eyes.

"Uh... why..."

Kita opened her mouth, her gaze darting away, and then she lowered her head, looking embarrassed.

"Isn't he your boyfriend? You should tell him to be more careful."

"But all I care about is whether Falcon can stay with me for the rest of my life..."

He said in Hitori confused manner.

Kita held her breath, then slowly exhaled, glancing helplessly at Hitori.

Nijika also noticed Kita's reaction. She looked at Kita thoughtfully, blinked twice, and then widened her eyes in surprise. She subconsciously turned to look to the side.

But the blue-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, it's cold?!"

It was only then that Ishikawa Hayato realized something was wrong; Ryo seemed to have been gone for too long.

"Liang went inside while you were talking, but even if it was just to use the restroom, it took way too long!"

After he finished speaking, the four of them looked at each other, their expressions instantly becoming serious. They all stood up and walked into the house in unison.

If it were anyone else, perhaps none of them would need to worry so much, but for them, it's a real disaster.

Ishikawa Hayato could almost picture Ryo rummaging through his house.

The sound of four footsteps echoed erratically in the deserted corridor. They searched the washroom, bathroom, and toilet in turn, but there was no sign of Liang.

Upon arriving at Ishikawa Hayato's room, Ishikawa Hayato opened the door first and paused upon seeing the scene inside.

Dim light streamed in through the gaps in the loosely drawn curtains, slightly illuminating the edges of objects in the room: the cabinet by the door, the long table to the side, and the largest double bed in the center.

The bed sheet, which had been neatly made, was now half-open, revealing the sheet underneath.

On the bedsheets, a blue-haired girl lay on her side, her head resting on his pillow, peacefully asleep.

The person lying down is cold.

She, who usually appears tall and slender, suddenly seemed petite when she lay down; her entire body looked less than half his width.

Even though she is petite, the graceful curves of her shoulders, waist, hips, and legs, revealed when she lies on her side, are extremely attractive.

The way she lay there quietly exuded both the delicate charm of a young girl and the mature figure of a sophisticated woman.

Seeing Ryo lying unguarded on his bed, Ishikawa Hayato suddenly felt that the others were getting in his way.

When Kita and Nijika, who were behind him, saw the huge bed, they immediately realized whose room it was. They looked at Ishikawa Hayato with strange expressions, then quickly came to their senses.

Nijika looked at Liang lying in a place she shouldn't be lying, and suddenly connected it with her thoughts from a while ago. She immediately became anxious, rushed in, pulled Liang up and shook her.

"It's cold, don't sleep here!"

Seeing that Nijika was having trouble pulling Ryo, Kita went in to help.

"Ryo-senpai, wake up!"

Harassed by the two men, Liang couldn't pretend to be asleep anymore, so she asked through a sob.

"What's wrong?"

"This is a perverted room!"

Nijika calls.

This was the first time Ishikawa Hayato had felt uncomfortable being called a pervert.

That wretched Nijika!

She sat there for a couple of moments, seemingly ignoring their noise and continuing to sleep loudly, but after a couple of seconds she slowly opened her eyes.

Ishikawa Hayato met her newly opened eyes, and looking into them, he immediately understood the situation.

Ryo's acting skills might fool Kita and Nijika, but they couldn't fool him at all.

That wasn't the look in someone's eyes after waking up from sleep.

Instead, it's a listless gaze while taking a short break, waiting for something.

158. Convergence

Liang, who had been woken up by the two, sighed, avoided Nijika, got off the bed, raised his hands and feet slightly, hummed softly, and stretched.

In the dimly lit room, the hem of a long T-shirt was lifted up, revealing a glimpse of her fair waistline.

"Is it time to go back?"

Liang put down her hands, rubbed her eyes, and asked.

When Liang asked her this question nonchalantly and with a hint of morning grumpiness, Nijika felt a pang of guilt, wondering if she was overthinking things.

After all, Ryoko looked quite tired at the station, and probably found their chatter too noisy, so she came in to find a bedroom to rest, and Ishikawa Hayato's room just happened to be the first one there.

"No... not yet," Kita said for Nijika, but seeing Ryo's expression, she felt a little embarrassed and said weakly.

"It's not really appropriate for me to sleep in Hayato-kun's room."

The coolness seemed to be replenishing oxygen to my drowsy brain, and I took another deep breath.

"They slept at my house during summer vacation, didn't they?"

She finished speaking with resentment, then hesitated, perhaps feeling her tone was a bit harsh, and continued.

"It's okay to just rest on his bed for a bit, right?"

She finally confirmed it with Ishikawa Hayato.

"Yes."