Chapter 247

The powerful drumbeats, cool guitar, steady bass, and gorgeous keyboards combine to create an intense and soaring musical sound.

Among them, as the drummer at the center of the band, Nijika is most able to feel the ease and joy in the music of the group.

They played their instruments, enjoying the music they made with their friends and loved ones, savoring the satisfaction and comfort that came from their collaboration.

In this family rehearsal room, Ryo, who usually only thought about himself, would also pay attention to Ishikawa Hayato and Hitori's performance, not to mention Hitori frequently paid attention to Ishikawa Hayato, and Ishikawa Hayato eyes never stopped on the keyboard.

Here, their performance seemed to have something more to it than usual.

A sense of family? A sense of unity? Love?

Nijika couldn't find the words to accurately describe it; she could only feel the beauty that surrounded the music.

It was so beautiful that she didn't think about anything else; she just wanted to be a part of it.

Nijika remembers a saying that for musicians, the band is like a second home.

They hadn't felt that way before, having only been together for six months. But now, their unfinished first home and their gradually completing second home are slowly merging together as they build.

The relaxed atmosphere and unity made the various musical sounds even more beautiful, and also helped the group to understand each other better.

It feels like a new home now.

For a moment, she even had a feeling that all of this wasn't so bad after all.

The four of them were so engrossed in their practice that they only stopped when Ishikawa Hayato's phone rang.

This is his set alarm clock.

He stopped playing, took his phone out of his pocket, turned off the alarm, and said to the three of them with a flippant smile.

My girlfriends are going to school.

Nijika's arrival made their practice even more lively, but they were still students and had to put down their practice to prepare for school.

He had expected Nijika to retort with that comment, but to his surprise, she calmly put away her drumsticks and sighed.

"Sigh, it's too much to practice in the morning; it'll be over soon."

"So it's better to just sleep next time."

Ryo, who had long since given up on practice, put down her bass and said to Ishikawa Hayato, who hadn't even started packing yet, "Hayabusa, help me pack."

When Nijika heard her say that, she looked at her in surprise, seemingly quite taken aback by Liang's decision.

But Nijika didn't hesitate; she called out before Ishikawa Hayato could speak.

"Clean it up yourself."

Beside her, Hitori had already obediently packed up her guitar, slung the guitar case over her back, and was ready to go to school, quietly watching what was happening.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and walked towards Ryo, clearly intending to help her tidy up.

He walked along, pressing his head with a slightly troubled expression, and said...

"Isn't anyone complaining...?"

"What are you complaining about?"

Nijika, who plays the role of the tsukkomi (straight man).

"That's what my girlfriends said."

Ishikawa Hayato started helping Ryo tidy up, while Ryo walked over and started to doze off with her eyes half-closed.

Since the drum kit used for today's practice was in the rehearsal room, Nijika didn't need to pack it up and could just pick up her drumsticks and leave.

She walked over to Ishikawa Hayato's synthesizer, turned off the power to the amplifier and synthesizer, and asked in confusion.

"That statement isn't wrong; aren't all of them Hayato-kun's girlfriends?"

"Hmm..." Hitori responded in agreement.

How should I complain about it?

Liang leaned against the wall, half-raising his eyelids and asking lazily.

Their nonchalant, almost matter-of-fact tone startled Ishikawa Hayato, then warmed his heart.

They accepted the situation without any reservations and tolerated his recklessness; this feeling of a large family was exactly what he had always longed for.

Ishikawa Hayato put Ryo's bass into the bag, handed it to Ryo, and then proudly boasted.

"This is where we should complain: 'You should call her your wife!'"

"Who would make such a comment!"

His words drew a sarcastic remark from Nijika, a light sigh from Liang, and a faint smile from Hitori.

After packing up the instruments, it became a daily routine to kiss goodbye and rush off to school.

After arriving at school, Ishikawa Hayato didn't forget about the one person his extended family had temporarily overlooked.

But she obviously couldn't come to his house early in the morning like Nijika, nor could she leave home without saying a word like Liang, and she certainly couldn't leave home openly like Hitori.

He wouldn't force her; it's best to let things happen naturally. Forcing her too much would only make Ikuyo suffer. He'd let her come over more often during holidays.

After all, she was already his girlfriend.

Next, we need to consider the accommodation issue. Ishikawa Hayato definitely won't let his girlfriend stay in the rehearsal room as Nijika suggested.

With plans in mind for the various actions to come, Ishikawa Hayato arrived at the door of his classroom, parted ways with Hitori, and entered the classroom.

Inside the classroom, the first thing he noticed was the large suitcase on Ikuyo's desk.

He stared blankly at the large bag for a long time; it was clearly unrelated to going to school or rehearsals.

For a moment, Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but connect this to his earlier thoughts.

While thinking to himself, "No way," he looked at Ikuyo.

She chatted with her friends about topics that high school girls usually talk about, just like any other day.

Food, makeup, TV dramas.

It's a pity they didn't mention the luggage bag; it seems they already did.

He started walking back to his seat, wondering what was going on, when Ikuyo turned and met his gaze.

The two of them naturally didn't have any special abilities to transmit their voices, but seeing that Ikuyo had something to say, Ishikawa Hayato nodded slightly, put down his schoolbag, sat down in his seat, and began to prepare for today's lessons.

"She never lets her daughter out of her sight... here at sight..."

On the stage, the teacher patiently delivered her lesson, breaking down large chunks of knowledge into smaller parts and incorporating vivid explanations to ensure that all students could understand.

But this was a bit slow for Ishikawa Hayato; he listened halfway through as if to solidify his understanding, but his mind was elsewhere.

He rested his chin on his hand on the table, the pen spinning in his barely moving hand, his gaze fixed on the distant high-rises outside the window.

Just a few minutes later, he calmly turned his gaze away from the window and looked at Ikuyo on his other side.

She looked down at the open textbook on the table, her eyes filled with contemplation and hesitation; it was clear that she wasn't studying.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled softly.

If this continues, his girlfriend will probably ask him to tutor her again.

In just a few minutes, this pervert who had collected four girlfriends had already mentally prepared himself for what he was about to face and had made a plan.

After class.

Ikuyo slowly packed up her textbooks, her face full of struggle and hesitation. When she couldn't make up her mind, she looked at Ishikawa Hayato.

But Ishikawa Hayato seemed to be watching a show, staring at her leisurely for quite some time.

Ikuyo thought about how much she was agonizing over while he was so carefree, and she pouted indignantly. She stood up, waved her hand subtly, and walked out.

Without any hesitation, Ishikawa Hayato stood up and followed.

As he walked out of the classroom, Ishikawa Hayato looked in the direction Ikuyo had gone. Seeing that she hadn't headed towards the rooftop, he paused and understood what she was thinking.

After the rooftop gradually became a place for the two to flirt, she wanted to change the location to show that she was talking about something important.

Ishikawa Hayato quickened his pace, catching up to her two or three steps behind.

Ikuyo stopped when she reached the corridor leading to the staircase to the wasteland next to the school building.

There aren't many students coming and going here during break time.

She leaned against the corridor railing, waiting for Ishikawa Hayato to come over; she had lost her usual liveliness.

She slumped her shoulders dejectedly, her usually bright eyes half-closed, her yellowish-green pupils filled with worry.

She didn't do it on purpose. Ikuyo is someone who doesn't hide her thoughts, and that's precisely why her straightforwardness is so dazzling.

Ishikawa Hayato walked over to her and, like her, braced his arm against the railing.

He glanced at Ikuyo, and seeing that she hadn't figured out what to say yet, he took the initiative and asked teasingly.

"Ikuyo, are you moving?"

Ikuyo's attention was drawn to his confident laughter, and her gaze shifted from the distance to Ishikawa Hayato.

She didn't quite understand why some people could make her inner turmoil disappear instantly with just a single, seemingly unrelated sentence.

She suppressed her inner turmoil and smiled, trying to appear relaxed.

"Hmm... I'm thinking of staying at my boyfriend's place for a while... but I also feel like moving in together now is too fast. What do you think, Hayato-kun?"

Her eyes weren't as bright as usual, but they still held a captivating vitality as she looked at him.

Ishikawa Hayato pondered seriously, stroking his chin as he spoke.

"I don't think it will happen quickly. After all, Ikuyo has been dating her boyfriend for over a month now, so living together is perfectly normal, yeah!"

Ikuyo knew very well that Ishikawa Hayato's face didn't show any smile; his serious demeanor was mostly just a joke.

She had barely begun to complain when she heard his next sentence.

"But living together doesn't necessarily mean doing anything. Since it's your girlfriend who needs it, then staying for as long as you like shouldn't be a problem."

That's a fallacy of misrepresentation.

Ikuyo did learn something from Ishikawa Hayato, such as how to avoid being teased, she said with a cute smile, emphasizing her words.

"Then it can't be called a temporary stay!"

Call me whatever you like.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled casually, his gaze meeting Ikuyo's eyes, his head tilting slightly. "Right?"

"No! Names are very important."

Unconsciously, Ikuyo let go of her inner turmoil. She turned to face Ishikawa Hayato, looked up at him with a smile from a "normie "Ishikawa Hayato perspective, and said...

"A name gives us momentum, and a slogan and a goal are what propel us forward!"

"Right."

At this point, Ishikawa Hayato changed his attitude and agreed to her request. He tilted his head slightly, as if to look at the sky.

"It's like being a pervert! Just thinking about being a pervert makes me stand tall and full of confidence!"

Ikuyo's smile vanished as quickly as spring snow melting, and she looked at him coldly.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled, and asked with a somewhat serious tone.

What happened?

"That..."

His words awakened Ikuyo from the questions she had put aside due to unease and hesitation. They also seemed to puncture her inflated emotions, making her feel guilty and depressed, like a thief caught in the act.

Even when she was feigning indifference earlier, Ikuyo had never looked this downcast.

"Hayato-kun... is it alright if you don't tell me?"

After thinking for a moment, she looked up with a smile.

"May I guess?" Ishikawa Hayato asked with a smile.