Chapter 248

Ikuyo actually wanted to refuse, but she couldn't help but hope that Ishikawa Hayato would know, that her boyfriend would understand her predicament, and that he would lend a hand.

But she also worried that he hadn't seen clearly, or that he might have handled things poorly, making things even more complicated, and even thought she was very foolish.

Lost in this dilemma, she didn't respond to Ishikawa Hayato's words.

A few seconds later, Ishikawa Hayato seemed to have read her mind and said calmly.

"You must have had a conflict with your family because of me."

Ishikawa Hayato's words here were very clever; whether it was the band's affairs or his personal relationships, they could all be considered Ikuyo's business.

But his words instantly relieved Ikuyo.

She no longer hesitated about her decision; the feeling of being deeply understood by the person she liked was enough to put aside all her anxieties.

She no longer cared about the dissatisfaction at home.

"Yes, she ran away from home."

She smiled, looked up, and her yellowish-green eyes shone brightly but not harshly as she spoke to Ishikawa Hayato with great authority.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at her, then turned around and embraced Ikuyo gently yet tightly.

"If you're feeling down, just complain to me. I may not be a great boyfriend, but you can always reach out to me when you need something."

Ikuyo leaned quietly against him, and after he finished speaking, she waited for more than ten seconds before pushing him away.

You're treating me like a child.

Although she complained like this, her face had a slightly coquettish blush.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't expose her for lingering for more than ten seconds, but instead leaned against the railing and sighed contentedly.

"Ah, if Ikuyo comes too, then the five of us will be having breakfast together from now on."

Ikuyo was stunned for a moment, and after realizing what the concept of five people really meant, she couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Five people?!

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and showed her the photo on his phone of "The Vocalist Ran Away".

Ikuyo looked at his phone, remained silent for a while, then looked up at Ishikawa Hayato incredulously and asked.

"Am I now the slowest one?!"

Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but laugh.

Ikuyo understood what he meant, but still looked at the photo with an incredulous tone.

"Even Ijichi-senpai..."

She suddenly paused for a moment, then looked up at Ishikawa Hayato with even greater fear and asked.

"You guys don't do... that kind of thing every night, do you?"

"Cough... cough cough..."

Ishikawa Hayato's laughter faltered at her sudden change of pace, but he quickly recovered, and after thinking for a moment, a sly smile appeared on his face as he spoke.

"I won't deny it, but does Ikuyo want to join?"

"There's no way I'd join!"

Ikuyo, whether out of anger or embarrassment, smiled and shouted loudly, causing her side ponytail to bounce.

However, she quickly realized that Ishikawa Hayato was teasing her, since his surprise and tone indicated that it wasn't true.

Or rather, things weren't quite as she imagined.

While Ishikawa Hayato was laughing, she calmed down and asked with a smile.

"Hayato-kun, what's the real situation?"

At this moment, she seemed to have completely forgotten about what happened at home.

Even if Ikuyo asked him directly, Ishikawa Hayato still had room to bluff, but he had no intention of bluffing when it came to matters of the heart.

"Only Hitori and Ryo are permanent residents; Nijika only comes here occasionally."

This difference alone made Ikuyo feel much more relaxed, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Fine..."

Perhaps because of the urgency, she suddenly thought of the issue of finding a place to stay.

Ultimately, she had planned to stay at Ishikawa Hayato's place anyway; it was a decision she made impulsively last night.

"By the way, where am I going to sleep... Gotou-san's room is a bit bigger, can I go to her room?"

Although Ishikawa Hayato didn't say it explicitly, she understood his attitude from his words.

Meanwhile, Ishikawa Hayato was wondering if Ikuyo suggested sleeping in Hitori's room, Hitori would feel embarrassed to refuse and develop a rebellious attitude, waiting patiently until Ikuyo fell asleep in the middle of the night before immediately bringing his pillow to Ikuyo's room.

It's quite interesting to think about it that way.

But he couldn't bear to bully Hitori like that.

"Hmm... it should be fine, it's just that Hitori might grow to dislike Ikuyo more and more."

Why?

Ikuyo asked blankly, and Ishikawa Hayato smiled but didn't explain.

Ikuyo thought for a moment and vaguely understood something; she sighed.

"Then we'll have to go to the rehearsal room..."

Are you planning to keep Nijika company?

Ishikawa Hayato kept those words to himself and simply denied them.

"No, you either sleep in Hitori, or you sleep in my bed."

Ikuyo was taken aback, not expecting Ishikawa Hayato to be so domineering.

Ishikawa Hayato noticed her surprise and explained.

"I'm fine sleeping on the sofa or in the rehearsal room, but how could I let my girlfriend sleep in a place like that? Only I can bully my girlfriend; not even heaven or earth can bully her!"

Ikuyo breathed a sigh of relief, lowered her head and smiled, her yellowish-green eyes revealing an unexpected gleam.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

"Um."

"Besides..."

She smiled gently and looked up, her bright little face full of lively cuteness, but beneath that cuteness lay a fawn-like unease.

"If you promise not to do anything, sleeping together... is fine, okay?"

She wanted to rely on him after this reckless act.

But Ishikawa Hayato just looked at her quietly without saying a word.

Ikuyo looked at him and gradually understood the situation.

After a long standoff, Ishikawa Hayato finally asked tentatively.

"If you can't guarantee it... is that okay?"

Ikuyo sighed, pouted, and looked away.

Ishikawa Hayato gave an awkward laugh, "We'll talk about other nights then."

"Okay," Ikuyo replied, "Then please take good care of me from now on."

"Of course."

Ishikawa Hayato responded, but as he spoke, he turned around and looked out of the school, widening his gaze to the distance.

Under the sunlight, the autumn sky is bright and open, with wispy clouds outlining the not-so-blue sky.

After he finished speaking, he looked at Ikuyo, at this lively girl full of energy.

She gradually matured from being impulsive to someone who thinks things through before acting decisively.

However, the best solution has still not been found.

"Ikuyo."

"Um?"

"Tell your parents to stay at your classmate's house for a couple of days to calm down, and then I'll go home with you and talk to your parents. It's better to resolve this directly."

In the afternoon, the five of them gathered at Fanxing to begin their daily practice and part-time work.

Today it's Kita, Ryo, and Nijika's turn to work, and it has nothing to do Hitori Ishikawa Hayato and Ichiri.

But Ishikawa Hayato stayed, and Hitori stayed with him.

Seeing this, Nijika was a little surprised and asked him about it, but Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Ikuyo and brushed Nijika off.

When it was time to leave work in the evening, the four of them, except for Nijika, started walking back.

Normally, this would be a perfectly normal scene, but today Ikuyo Nijika that big bag without revealing what was inside, and Ishikawa Hayato unusually lying to her, made Nijika feel inexplicably... concerned.

She called out to Ikuyo from the steps at the entrance to the Starry Sky Gate.

"Kita- chan".

Ikuyo stopped and turned around.

"Ijichi-senpai, what's wrong?"

Since she had already asked Ikuyo about the contents of that bag, and Nijika remembered how vague Yu Dai had sounded at the time, she didn't ask again. She simply said...

"Don't stay out too late."

Ikuyo.

"I will."

Ishikawa Hayato smiled as he watched her turn around and look nervous after she finished speaking.

She dared to run away from home, yet she's so nervous around Nijika.

He glanced back at Nijika, waved to reassure her, and then spoke to the three of them.

Let's go.

186. Double-sided

On this journey home, concealing their true purpose, Ikuyo, carrying a guitar case, a schoolbag, and a luggage bag, walked ahead, turning slightly to the side, and said...

"Where should we go this weekend? I'm already prepared to take tons of photos!"

As she spoke, she stepped from outside the streetlight into its shade. Her guitar case, schoolbag, and luggage weighed heavily on her, and the shadow cast by the light from her side added a veil to her smile.

But her red hair swayed gently, radiating contentment.

"Huh? They won't even let a pervert like me take the picture."

Ishikawa Hayato spoke arrogantly, but extended his hand naturally.

"Give me the bag."

He deliberately walked for a while, waiting until Nijika could no longer see them, before saying this to her.

Ikuyo blinked, glancing casually at Liang Hitori before handing over the bag.

She looked at Ishikawa Hayato with a pleasant smile.

"Hayato-kun aren't just travel photos, they're artistic portraits."

"Perverts are omnipotent."

As he spoke, Ishikawa Hayato took the bag and keyboard, placing them on the same side.

Ryo and Hitori looked thoughtfully at Ikuyo seemed different today.

During group practice sessions, the four of them would sometimes go home together, though not to the same house.