Chapter 249

But the atmosphere was different when I went back today.

Ikuyo smiled, which was her response to Ishikawa Hayato's words.

Feeling much lighter, she quickened her pace and asked the two people who hadn't joined the conversation.

"How about going to Enoshima? There's a shrine there related to music."

Realizing that Ikuyo was talking to him, Hitori snapped out of his thoughts.

She first glanced at Ishikawa Hayato's reaction, but Ishikawa Hayato instantly noticed her gaze, smiled to conceal his true thoughts.

Hitori, then looked away and said...

"Ah... I'm fine."

Since they had already made plans to go out, and so much time had passed, she was mentally prepared to go to crowded places.

There must have been many people like this during that period.

Liang neither directly denied nor agreed.

Ikuyo stopped in her tracks, her eyes gleaming as she clenched her fist.

"But lively places are more fun!"

Her words and demeanor hurt Ryo and Hitori to varying degrees.

Seeing this, Ishikawa Hayato smirked and made a suggestion.

"How about we go for a stroll around Mount Takao? Although the autumn leaves aren't yet in bloom."

"Yeah, I haven't gone hiking in a long time either."

Hitori's attitude suddenly changed, and he nodded repeatedly.

Her response was frighteningly fast; it seemed to everyone that she hadn't even mentally processed Ishikawa Hayato's words before agreeing.

Ikuyo was dumbfounded by her exaggerated change in attitude, and she complained.

"Gotou-san, keep your own personality in check."

"Taking a cable car to see the scenery sounds nice too."

Ryo jumped into Ishikawa Hayato's camp without hesitation, and Ikuyo looked at her with disbelief.

Ishikawa Hayato paused for a moment upon hearing her words.

"Hey, a cable car?"

Ryo realized something was wrong and looked at Ishikawa Hayato. Their eyes met, and she looked incredulous.

"We don't mean... we'll have to walk up, do we?"

"... At least you should walk when you climb a mountain."

"Don't want!"

Liang objected without hesitation.

"Then let's go to Enoshima," Ikuyo said happily, trying to win Ryo over.

"Let me think about it some more."

Ishikawa Hayato pleaded tearfully, his cool face showing hesitation, but after glancing at his two juniors, he still didn't budge.

This scumbag sister can be quite concerned about saving face sometimes.

As the four chatted and joked, they walked further and further away.

After much arguing and bickering, the four, unable to reach a stalemate, finally decided to discuss the topic again when Nijika was present.

At this moment, they were approaching the fork in the road leading home for Ikuyo, and the other equally brightly lit T-shaped intersection caught their attention.

Ikuyo was walking ahead, noticed the intersection from afar, and hesitated slightly.

Ryo and Hitori noticed her hesitation, but Ishikawa Hayato had a more direct understanding of the situation than they did.

He knew very well that Ikuyo was too embarrassed to tell the others about her relationship with him. Unlike Nijika, who only joined the group after she found out that the others were also dating him.

She returned to his side, seeking her place in the world, only to find those who knew of her past misdeeds.

That's why she had kept something from Nijika earlier, but now that she could no longer hide it from Liang and Hitori, she had no choice but to be honest.

Ikuyo opened her mouth, turned to look at the three of them, and mustered up the courage to speak frankly, but Ishikawa Hayato spoke to her first.

"Let's talk about this when we get home."

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Ryo and Hitori and added with a smile.

"Our home."

His words and attitude gave the two men a general understanding of the situation, and also provided some breathing room for the three of them to proceed with their conversation.

The four returned home.

After the switch was pressed, the lights came on in this nest that belonged only to the boys and girls.

Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo did not hesitate to enter their home even though there was one more person returning.

Only Ikuyo hesitated, pondering how to express herself, and Hitori, also worried, slowed down as well.

But in the end, they still went inside and started changing their shoes in the entryway.

When Ishikawa Hayato got slippers for the group, Ikuyo noticed the names labeled in the shoe cabinet.

It's cool, about Hitori.

Nijika hasn't labeled her name on her special slippers yet.

Ishikawa Hayato casually took out everyone's slippers and put them on the ground. He then went inside first, carrying the synthesizer and Ikuyo's bag.

He said it in a deliberately boastful manner.

"Hurry up and come to the lobby, I have something to say."

After he finished speaking, he picked up Ikuyo's bag and walked towards the hall. His imposing voice dispelled the deepening thoughts and hesitations in the girls' hearts.

They breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both reassured and uneasy as they followed him into the hall.

Ishikawa Hayato went to the middle of the hall first, put down his bag and keyboard, and waited for them with his arms crossed.

Since you've already decided to be with them, don't be hesitant and make the girls feel wronged and lose face.

The girls came out of the entrance hall and were all taken aback when they saw him like this.

"Ishikawa Hayato called out the roll."

"Ikuyo, come here."

Ikuyo didn't listen to him directly, but thought about what he might do. But no matter what, she felt she was going to embarrass herself.

But Ishikawa Hayato would stand by her side and explain, but... it was still embarrassing.

She said in a slightly shy and coquettish tone.

"Ah... well... then maybe not."

"Give me some face in front of others."

Ishikawa Hayato lowered his arm in frustration.

"Okay... okay."

Ikuyo walked away helplessly under the two people's gazes, which were either encouraging or pitying.

Sure enough, as soon as she walked to Ishikawa Hayato's side, he grabbed her slender waist and pulled her towards him.

With his arms around the girl's slender waist Ishikawa Hayato regained his pride and spoke to Ryo and Hitori.

"Yes, as you guessed, this is my girlfriend now."

"I knew it would be like this."

A cool and indifferent response.

"Well... Kita -chan, welcome."

Hitori smiled and clapped softly.

Although the welcome wasn't particularly enthusiastic, Ikuyo, who knew the two's style, felt a weight lifted from his heart.

She felt awkward staying in Ishikawa Hayato's arms, so she pushed him away and quickly walked away.

Ryo glanced at the large suitcase that Ishikawa Hayato had put down and asked.

"So, why did you move here so suddenly?"

When asked about this, Ikuyo felt a little embarrassed, and she knew that what she had done was a bit outrageous.

But after the main problem was solved, she no longer hesitated and spoke directly to the two of them.

"Because... I ran away from home!"

Even though Miss Ikuyo ran away from home, she spoke with such conviction that Ryo and Hitori were momentarily stunned.

Hitori: "Eh... Eh?!"

"That's amazing!"

Liang sighed calmly.

Because Ikuyo needed to use Hitori and Ryo's names to let her family know she was safe, and the two of them had some details they wanted to ask, Ishikawa Hayato went to prepare the bathroom first.

This time he just did a quick thing: poured bath salts into the tub, set a timer on his phone, and then went outside.

I heard Ikuyo say this before I even reached the lobby.

"I told her that what kind of person I like has nothing to do with my mom, but she said, 'You can't like that kind of scumbag either.' I was so angry that I packed my things and left."

Liang: "The word 'scumbag' is quite accurate."

Ikuyo: "Ah, I don't object to that either..."

"No... no! Falcon isn't scum."

Hitori was a little slow and objected loudly.

Ishikawa Hayato paused in his tracks.

How could Hitori actually yell at those two people who completely outclass her in terms of their ecological niche, all for his sake?!

Moved, Ishikawa Hayato quickened his pace and walked out into the lobby, where he saw Ryo and Ikuyo looking surprised.

Hitori had her back to him, and her back view was very assertive at that moment.

He also joined in, offering his grievances to Liang and Ikuyo.

"I never expected you all to think of me like that!"

His words drew the attention of the three men to him, and Ishikawa Hayato walked straight to the sofa without stopping.

He sat down next to Hitori, affectionately picked her up and placed her on his lap, then moved to her original spot.

He wrapped his arms around Hitori's waist, pulled her closer to him, and took a deep breath as if savoring happiness.

"Hitori is still the best to me."

Ikuyo sighed as she watched Hitori, who was laughing so hard she forgot everything else, being held by Ishikawa Hayato like a pet.

She glanced at Ishikawa Hayato again. Although he was holding Hitori, he was looking this way happily, completely oblivious to what they had just said.

When Ishikawa Hayato saw her stop, he asked her a question.

Where did Ikuyo say it?

"Hmm..." Ikuyo thought she had almost finished explaining the whole story, and since Ishikawa Hayato was also there, she replied.

"It's about what Hayato-kun mentioned this morning."

"Oh."

Ishikawa Hayato hugged the already fragrant and soft Hitori and responded. Ikuyo was referring to lying to her parents and telling them that she was staying at a classmate's house for two days.

This isn't exactly lying, since it really was at a classmate's house, or even smaller, a female classmate's house for a couple of days.

This statement didn't mention whether there were any male students.