Chapter 224

As night deepened, the performance inside the Starry Night store had long since ended. In the shop where only Hitori, Kita, Nijika remained, they chatted leisurely.

Because Seika had to go out and it wasn't time to leave work yet, Kita and Hitori didn't go back either.

Meanwhile, the Hitori they were talking, nestled between two sunny corners, hadn't collapsed as before, but she kept glancing towards the door with an uneasy look in her eyes.

Kita and Nijika, who were chatting happily, did not ignore her reaction, but they only tried to get Hitori to join the conversation occasionally, and complained about the man who was probably out gallivanting with Ryo.

Nijika looked up at the clock in the store; she knew without looking that it was already past 10 o'clock.

She said to Hitori.

"Bocchi-chan, if you're worried, go back first. I'll talk to your sister for you; there won't be any problems."

Hitori glanced at her with gratitude, but the somewhat disappointed yet expectant look on his face did not disappear.

"I'll wait a little longer."

She declined Nijika's offer. Before leaving, Ishikawa Hayato told her that he would pick her up if he had time, so she planned to go back after work.

Kita smiled and made the suggestion as well.

"Then let's go together later."

Unfortunately, Hitori was any response, steady footsteps echoed on the shop's steps.

Hitori quickly looked around.

Ishikawa Hayato stood on the steps, hunched over, his arm resting on the handrail, and raised his hand to greet people with a refreshing look on his face.

"I haven't gotten off work yet."

Hitori's eyes suddenly lit up with joy, and she quickly went over to stand beside him.

"Falcon."

Ishikawa Hayato took the opportunity to put his arm around his girlfriend, who had become increasingly clingy since they started living together, patted her head firmly, and then tidied her hair.

Hitori squinted her eyes in enjoyment, but after a short while, she sniffed the scent.

Ishikawa Hayato ignored her actions and spoke to the other two.

"Would you two like to come along? My bedding is all ready, and there's a place for us to rest."

Nijika stared blankly at him and asked.

"Why are you inviting us over at this time?"

Kita and slumped his shoulder, expressing his dissatisfaction.

"Who invites people over like that?"

Ishikawa Hayato thought for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration, and said with a smile that was hard to decipher.

"My cat's meowing sound is so cute!"

The three of them were completely baffled by his inexplicable words. They had only been at Ishikawa Hayato's house for a short time and had never heard of him keeping cats.

Even Hitori was asked.

"Falcon, did you just go buy a cat?"

Ishikawa Hayato waved his hands sheepishly, "Just kidding, just kidding."

He himself felt that the joke had gone a bit too far, and Liang would probably be angry if he knew he said that.

But Nijika looked at him suspiciously, and said to Kita, "It doesn't feel like you're joking."

Kita frowned slightly, then nodded in deep agreement.

"Yes, something is definitely being hidden."

When did these two become so perceptive?!

Ishikawa Hayato wasn't worried that they would investigate further. He looked around and saw that the shop had been completely cleaned up and restored to its daytime cleanliness.

Seeing that Seika was not there, he asked Nijika.

"I'll take that Hitori back with me."

"Yes, have a safe trip."

Nijika didn't say goodbye to Seika before letting Hitori go, but Ishikawa Hayato didn't leave, so he asked Kita.

"Kita, Kita come along?"

Kita thought for a moment, then glanced at Hitori. Seeing that she didn't seem reluctant, he responded.

Let's walk together for a while.

Although she doesn't want to get too involved yet, she will still often walk home from school and get off work with the two of them after the start of the semester.

It's strange that she always makes a point of avoiding me, and since Ishikawa Hayato has already invited her Hitori doesn't object, she's destined to be a third wheel for a long time to come.

After she finished speaking, she walked quickly over, then waved to Nijika and said, "See you tomorrow, Ijichi-senpai -senpai."

"Okay, bye-bye."

Nijika waved.

The shop originally had a group of three girls and one boy who came in, but now it has a group of one girl and two girls and one boy.

As Ishikawa Hayato was about to leave with Hitori and Kita, he turned back to look at Nijika, who was standing alone in the shop.

He looked up, thought for a moment, wiped away the crocodile tears from the corners of his eyes, and said something pitiful about Nijika.

"Isn't Nijika lonely? Isn't she afraid to run the shop alone...?"

Now that she was alone in the hall, Nijika hadn't felt anything was wrong at first, but after he said that, she inexplicably felt uncomfortable.

She looked at Ishikawa Hayato, who could be described as having women on either side of him, and complained.

"Go back quickly!"

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and turned around, placing his hands on Kita and Hitori's shoulders, urging them to walk forward as they were about to turn back.

Kita gave him a helpless look, and the three of them walked out of the shop.

At this moment, only Nijika remained inside the starry sky.

Human perception is based on comparison. After experiencing noise and then returning to tranquility, everything feels excessively desolate.

Even the quiet that I'm used to can't accept.

Nijika stood alone, looking around the somewhat gloomy shop.

The performance hall, which was bustling and somewhat stuffy an hour ago, is now deserted. After the last two performers left, it became even quieter and lifeless.

She walked to the bar, sat down on a bar chair, and prepared to wait there for her sister to come home so they could go home together.

It is the environment that is calm, not the mind.

After a moment of silence, she recalled the way Ishikawa Hayato placed his hand on Kita and Hitori's shoulders as he left, and a mix of emotions stirred within her.

But after clearing away her worries, she felt uneasy in the stillness.

Nijika sighed in dissatisfaction.

"It's all Hayato-kun's fault for saying some strange things!"

She spoke as if she didn't care about being lonely, but then she took her phone out from under her skirt and dialed Liang's number.

The phone rang for only two seconds before Liang answered. Nijika breathed a sigh of relief and asked...

"Liang, have you gone back yet?"

"Yeah, I'm reading comics."

As Liang spoke, a slight page-turning sound could be heard on the phone.

Hearing Liang say this, Nijika felt relieved. Even if the three of them were together, she still had someone to keep her company.

"Don't stay up too late, go to bed early, you still have things to do tomorrow."

She gave the instructions.

"Um."

Nijika was surprised by Liang's response. Why was she suddenly so obedient?

But not wanting to hang up, Nijika casually started asking questions.

"By the way, Liang, where did you go just now?"

"Hmm..." After a few seconds of hesitation, he said, "Falcon's house."

"Oh... um?"

Nijika paused for a moment, then held the phone up to her face to check if there was anything wrong with it.

Seeing the steadily increasing call duration on her phone, she took a deep breath and brought the phone back to her ear.

Come to think of it, since Ryo dared to announce her relationship with Ishikawa Hayato in front of everyone, no one could stop her from doing what followed.

"What did you do?"

She asked nervously, though she didn't know where it came from, she did feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"I played video games, and I finally beat the two-player game I bought before."

Liang's tone was nonchalant, not like he was lying, but Nijika still confirmed it.

"That's all?"

"Nijika is such a hassle."

Liang complained.

"I'm just worried about the relationship issues between the band members!"

Nijika spoke righteously, but she couldn't deny that she did feel much more relaxed after hearing that the two were just playing games.

"Okay, that's all then, bye."

"Um."

Nijika was prepared to put down her phone after hearing the dial tone, but then Liang's voice rang out again.

"Oh, by the way, please bring my schoolbag to school tomorrow."

Nijika fell silent, and after a moment of hesitation, she asked.

Are you still at Hayato-kun's house?

"Um."

"Not coming home tonight?"

"I won't go back."

This time, Nijika remained silent for a long time, and Liang couldn't help but check if the call had been disconnected.

"Hello? Hello?"

Holding her breath, Nijika brought the phone to her mouth and yelled.

"Come and get it yourself!"

He then hung up the phone.

After putting her phone away, Nijika sat there sulking with her arms crossed. After a while, as her anger began to subside, she felt cold again.

She rested her arms on the bar, head bowed, her red eyes filled with worry beneath her slightly drooping blonde hair.

Seika returned from outside and before she even came down the stairs, she saw Nijika sitting alone at the bar.

The difference between people who enjoy solitude and those who don't is very obvious when they are alone.

Just by observing their general movements, postures, and expressions, one can clearly sense whether a person can enjoy solitude.

People who can enjoy solitude will never need to use the word "lonely" in any way.