Chapter 236
As she spoke, she squatted down, chuckled softly, cupped Ishikawa Hayato's cheeks in her hands, and gazed at him tenderly.
"But you've always been very good at protecting everyone's feelings; even when things go wrong, you manage to arrange everything perfectly."
"It's this reckless and self-proclaimed pervert of yours that makes me think about you all the time, wondering if you're doing something reckless again, if you're doing something for someone else, if you're hanging out with other girls..."
"I don't like Hayato-kun because of all the things Hayato-kun 've done for the band, but because of Hayato-kun companionship along the way."
"But if you ask me why I like you, I don't know either. There are many things about you that I care about, but I can't pinpoint exactly what I like about you because you are unique."
"Because even the ordinary and annoying aspects of Hayato-kun are attractive to me."
As she spoke, she crouched down and moved closer to Ishikawa Hayato, her face flushed red to the roots of her ears. They were now so close that their eyes were practically touching.
"Did this... make Hayato-kun feel liked?"
She said shyly.
She was both the one who took the initiative and the one who was shy.
"I felt loved, and I was incredibly touched."
Ishikawa Hayato's voice trembled slightly.
"Then I'm a bad girl too."
Nijika smiled, tilting her head slightly to the side.
"Chirp."
As promised, she gave her a kiss after blowing on the air.
Then, Nijika blushed and hurriedly stood up, standing by the bar and looking casually at the performance stage.
After savoring the moment for a while, Ishikawa Hayato stood up and gently put his arm around Nijika's waist.
She let him hug her without worry, and Ishikawa Hayato didn't do anything inappropriate in the shop she valued.
To be honest, he was very lucky to have Nijika under these circumstances.
Nijika is clearly the kind of girl who has been deeply hurt by her partner, and even if others try to persuade her, she will still hesitate about whether to leave her other half.
Despite her gentle exterior, she possesses greater strength and hidden vulnerability than others.
Therefore, once she truly accepts it, she will have no complaints about Ishikawa Hayato's indiscriminate behavior within their circle of girlfriends.
After work, Ishikawa Hayato, Hitori and Kita went home.
After parting ways with Kita, Ishikawa Hayato escorted Hitori the station.
On the way, he noticed that Hitori's eyes were darting around, as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare to. He patted her head hard and said with a smile.
"By the way, everyone in Hitori should have found out about Nijika by now."
Touched so casually, and hearing Ishikawa Hayato's laughing voice, this sensitive and thoughtful girl immediately relaxed and responded with a light laugh.
"Um."
"What's he thinking over Hitori? Does he want me to read his mind?"
"Hey, I said...!"
Hitori panicked sounds echoed through the streets.
The girl's thoughts weren't so pure either, especially knowing what Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo would be doing on the weekend.
She dared not let Ishikawa Hayato know what she was thinking.
Hitori and then said carefully.
"Hayabusa, will you really always love me...? Everyone else is so amazing..."
Ishikawa Hayato sighed and patted her on the back.
"Hitori look around."
After noticing some admiring glances around Hitori that she was starting to get used to, Ishikawa Hayato said.
"The number one beauty at Shuhua High School, a professional-level guitarist, cute, funny, and obedient—do I need to keep praising her?"
After he finished speaking, he looked at Hitori and, as expected, saw her with a smug look on her Hitori, as if she wanted to continue praising him.
But after noticing Ishikawa Hayato's gaze, she waved her hand.
"No... no need."
She struggled and found it very difficult to refuse.
"Your Mother-in-law will be surprised if I go home this time," Ishikawa Hayato said gently, patting her head.
"Um."
Hitori was also looking forward to seeing the surprised looks on her family's faces because of her changes.
But she changed the subject again, asking expectantly.
"Then when will I...?"
Ishikawa Hayato thought for a moment, then counted on his fingers.
"We made plans to hang out next week after my makeup exam, but I'll probably have to go home the week after that, so it'll probably be the weekend after the school festival ends."
"Eh..."
Hitori this sigh of despair, Ichiri couldn't help but ask.
Why does it have to be on the weekend?
Ishikawa Hayato paused, blinked, and said with an air of matter-of-fact certainty.
"One night isn't enough for me to play, and besides, it's my first time, and I don't want to go to school feeling uncomfortable at Hitori."
His words made Hitori lower her head in embarrassment.
"When we arrive at the station, "Ishikawa Hayato said to Hitori, who was about to enter the station.
"Let me know you've arrived home safely."
"Um."
Ijichi Family.
Seika, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV, glanced at Nijika next to her.
She knew that Nijika was here to talk to her, but she was currently busy confirming order details.
Seika patiently watched TV; the dramas she used to watch every day had become something to pass the time when she was bored.
After a while, I saw Nijika finally put down her phone.
She spoke first.
Are you sure you want to be with that Ishikawa kid?
Nijika shifted her position, then sat up straight on the sofa, her beautiful, clear eyes looking directly at Seika with certainty.
"Yes, even if Hayato-kun has other girlfriends, I still want to be with him."
Seika, who originally wanted to say more, gave up when she saw her firm attitude and left with a helpless remark.
"Whatever you want, just don't get terribly fooled by men."
"Thank you, sister~"
The Gotou family.
Hitori opened the door, entered the foyer, and spoke to the family.
"I'm back."
As she spoke, she took out her phone to let Ishikawa Hayato know she was safe. As she put the phone down, her parents came out of the living room.
"Welcome back, Hitori..."
Gotou Michiyo was stunned when she saw Hitori. She looked at Hitori, who seemed like a completely different person, and was even a little unsure if this was her daughter.
Seeing Hitori Ichiri had a suitable fringe, her eyes were filled with happiness as she leisurely put her phone into her pocket, and then she turned her gaze to look at her.
Gotou Michiyo asked.
"It's about Hitori."
"Um... why is Mom asking that..."
Hitori stared blankly at his mother.
Seeing that her daughter still had that same silly expression, Gotou Michiyo patted her chest and felt relieved.
"The changes in Hitori are so great, even I was shocked, Mom!"
Hitori wasn't just that Ichiri changed into a school uniform and got a haircut; she also improved her posture considerably by following Ishikawa Hayato's example.
Several factors combined would make her almost unrecognizable even to her family.
"Right, honeymooner?"
Gotou Michiyo smiled and gently patted Gotou Naoki.
Gotou Naoki came to his senses, and instantly he was moved to tears, saying with teary eyes.
"I knew my daughter wouldn't be bad, Hitori has finally grown up."
But his words had the opposite effect, almost causing Hitori to retreat to a corner and become withdrawn.
"So I used to be really bad at things, I actually knew that... but... but..."
She was aware of this, but being pointed it out still made her feel depressed.
Seeing her husband's foolish behavior, Gotou Michiyo couldn't help but sigh. She pushed him toward the living room while saying to Hitori.
"It's been a long time since Hitori has been back. Let's go back to our rooms and rest for a bit."
"Ah... okay."
After responding, Hitori took off her shoes, put on the slippers in the house, and prepared to go upstairs.
Gotou Michiyo pushed her husband to the living room, but still kept her eyes on Hitori. The wife was surprised by Ichiri's movements and aura.
"Hayato-kun is surprisingly well-behaved."
"Huh? What?"
"Gotou Naoki asked."
Gotou Michiyo sighed again.
Ishikawa family.
Ishikawa Hayato opened the door and saw that the living room lights were on, but he couldn't hear the TV or the sound of turning pages in a comic book. He assumed that Ryo was still in her room reading comics.
But even when he got home and no one greeted him, he still said it.
"I'm back."
But as he changed into his slippers and walked into the living room, he was surprised to hear footsteps.
Will Liang come to greet him?
Ishikawa Hayato was somewhat surprised.
As he walked from the entryway into the living room, he was met by Liang.
She had neat and elegant short blue hair, and stood quietly at the corner of the entrance hall, looking calm and graceful. She had been home for several hours, but she was still wearing her school uniform shirt and skirt, as well as tights.
Her figure wasn't particularly outstanding, but it was very well-proportioned, with long legs and slender calves, which made her appear very tall.
Coupled with her aura and charisma that completely disregarded others, her outstanding qualities and mature, sophisticated demeanor drew even more attention.