Chapter 254

"It's alright, I wasn't much of a help."

Ishikawa Hayato placed the plate on the table and answered with a strange sense of pride.

Ikuyo only had time to put the last dish on the table.

After she arranged them, five breakfasts were neatly placed on the table.

"Didn't you get up quite a while ago?"

As Ikuyo spoke, she couldn't help but notice the rather extravagant portion of breakfast on the table.

It wasn't Ishikawa Hayato who answered her, but Nijika, who had already sat down, who greeted her with a smile.

"Hayato-kun goes for a morning run, Kita- chan, please sit down without being shy."

Hitori and Ishikawa Hayato also sat down in chairs.

Hayato-kun has a habit of jogging in the morning, she didn't even know.

And even though Ijichi-senpai was the last person she dated, she seemed like the perfect wife.

Ikuyo thought for a moment, then pulled out a chair and sat down.

After sitting down, Ishikawa Hayato didn't immediately pick up his chopsticks but instead said with a mischievous grin.

"Oh dear, I, the head of the household, have started to slack off."

Nijika gave him a disdainful look but didn't touch him. "It's cold."

"I've already woken her up," Ishikawa Hayato replied.

Ikuyo added with a smile, "When I came out just now, Ryo-senpai had already washed his face."

"Ryo is really something... even though we're living together, he's still so lazy and lethargic."

Nijika placed her hands across the dining table and muttered a complaint.

"Ah, Ryosang will help pack things too."

At this Hitori provided a cool platform.

"No way?!"

"That Ryo-senpai?!"

Both Nijika and Ikuyo couldn't help but exclaim; they couldn't imagine Ryo-senpai doing housework.

"Pfft..." Ishikawa Hayato chuckled twice, "Since when has Ryo's reputation in Ikuyo's heart fallen to this level?"

"Ah..."

Ikuyo froze, realizing this, unsure how to respond.

Nijika smiled and said, "That's just how Liang is. In fact, it's quite surprising that she actually helps with housework."

After she finished speaking, she checked with Hitori again.

"Bocchi-chan, you weren't threatened by Ryō, were you?"

"Ah... no." Hitori before replying.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled lightly, clearly indicating that things weren't as simple as Hitori's answer suggested.

At this time...

Are you talking about me?

A cool voice rang out from the other end of the corridor. The four looked over and saw her walking over leisurely with her crookedly tied bow tie and the corners of her clothes exposed.

Judging from Ishikawa Hayato and Ikuyo's comments, it's clear how much time she spent getting up, washing, and changing clothes, and even then, she still hadn't gotten her clothes properly arranged.

"It's getting cold, hurry up, everyone's waiting for you to eat."

Ishikawa Hayato called out in greeting.

After Liang responded, his pace quickened slightly. At this moment, Ikuyo noticed that Nijika looked at Liang's quickened pace with some surprise.

But then, Nijika stood up angrily.

"You spent all that time and still didn't get your clothes sorted out?!"

As she spoke, she went over and retied Liang's bow tie.

Ikuyo felt that the shards of glass she had just glued back together that morning had shattered into pieces again.

"Ryo-senpai really is..."

But as she spoke, she subconsciously glanced at Ishikawa Hayato and noticed that he was unbuttoning his shirt.

After unbuttoning a few buttons on his shirt, he got up and walked over there.

"Nijika ~"

"Hayato-kun, you better have some self-respect!"

Although Nijika tie, she started buttoning up Ishikawa Hayato's shirt.

Unlike her previous complaining expression, Nijika looked at Ishikawa Hayato's chest while buttoning her clothes, but her movements became slower and slower, and her gaze lingered on Ishikawa Hayato's chest for longer and longer.

Suddenly, she snapped out of her daze, quickly averted her gaze, and fastened Ishikawa Hayato's shirt buttons.

Even Ijichi-senpai has completely fallen for her.

Ikuyo looked at him, but then remembered how Ishikawa Hayato had unbuttoned his shirt earlier, and said with a smile.

"But Hayato-kun is also cute when he's jealous and acting spoiled."

The filter that wouldn't stick to her must have been moved elsewhere.

"I'm starting to eat."

After Liang also took his seat, the five of them began their breakfast.

Perhaps because the missing person had arrived, Ishikawa Hayato felt that the conversation was much more cheerful this morning.

"It's Thursday today, everyone remember the performance in three days."

Nijika, holding a sandwich, gave a serious reminder.

Ikuyo swallowed the food in her mouth and said with a smile.

"Yes, I invited quite a few friends over this time."

Her words unintentionally hurt Hitori weakly replied, "I'm fine."

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Hitori and realized that Ichiri's preparation for the performance was indeed sufficient. While he was busy making money and reading manga, Hitori was truly practicing all the time.

However, there was absolutely no preparation in other areas.

He reminded him with a smile.

"Hmm, this is Ichiri's stage debut in Hitori current form. Number One and Number Two will probably be quite shocked."

Hitori then remembered the change in her appearance. Because there hadn't been many surprised looks at school lately, she had started to get used to the situation.

Realizing this, Hitori's hand holding the milk trembled violently, almost spilling the milk from the cup.

But just as Ishikawa Hayato was about to comfort her, Hitori's trembling suddenly stopped. She picked up her milk, took a big gulp, and coughed twice to calm herself down.

"No, no, it's okay!"

"Oh~"

Nijika and Ikuyo sighed in admiration at her will.

Liang also quietly observed Hitori.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled with delight, glanced encouragingly at the Hitori, and then confirmed with the others.

"My family's Hitori has grown a lot, hasn't it?"

"Really?" / "Yes, it is."

Ikuyo and Nijika responded with smiles.

After thinking for a moment, Ishikawa Hayato steered the conversation back to the performance.

"There are only three days left. Let's cancel the evening study sessions and replace them with practice sessions."

Nijika was taken aback for a moment, but quickly realized Ishikawa Hayato's intention. Her expression darkened, and she remained silent.

"Great! I've been wanting to practice here for a while now."

Ikuyo didn't notice Nijika's cheerful expression as she continued, "If I practice at home, my mom will scold me, so I can only practice in a low voice, hiding in the box."

"Box?"

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Nijika, his expression thoughtful.

"I didn't expect Ikuyo to like cramped spaces just like Hitori. Looks like I'll have to buy two suitcases so I can carry one in each hand when I go out. I'm kind of excited..."

"Don't suddenly start thinking in a perverted direction!"

Ikuyo called out anxiously.

Ryo noticed that Ishikawa Hayato was playing the long game, so she cooperated by driving the fish into the designated area.

"But without the drummer, the group rehearsal won't be as effective."

"Oh, what should we do then?"

Ishikawa Hayato, in perfect unison, feigned difficulty and asked an exaggerated question, only to be met with Nijika's unusually disdainful cat-like eyes as he said it.

The actions here were indeed too obvious.

He gave up helplessly, waving his hand and saying.

"Just kidding, just kidding. We're just practicing on our own. Of course, if Nijika is free, you can come over anytime."

Hitori noticed Nijika's hesitant expression. Because a similar problem had occurred last night, she reacted more quickly this time.

"Well, if you're staying here, it's fine for Nijika-chan to sleep in my room."

Thanks to the reason given by Hitori, Nijika sighed and accepted the situation.

"I understand. I'll come if I have the chance."

Ishikawa Hayato smiled.

Ikuyo, sitting diagonally opposite him, looked at Nijika with pity.

This woman was in a much worse situation than her; she was forced into this home by those three men.

After the meal, Ishikawa Hayato and Ikuyo cleared the dishes, Hitori and Ryo packed their school bags to go to school. Nijika followed the two inside.

Ishikawa Hayato casually handed the sudden, foam-covered bowl to Ikuyo, watching her rinse it under running water, and then asked her something.

"Ikuyo, will you get used to living here?"

Ikuyo was not surprised by his question and looked up with a smile.

"Yes, I'm much happier than I imagined."

I've been the one being teased the whole time.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled inwardly, but said aloud, "Then you can tidy up your clothes tonight, and I'll make a closet for you to put them in."

"They want me to stay for an extended period, huh?"

She spoke with a somewhat uncertain smile, as if she had caught someone in a night raid.

Ishikawa Hayato nodded very firmly.

"Um."

The girl in front of him, who had just been acting flirtatiously, paused, lowered her head shyly, and focused on what she was doing.

The two of them worked very quickly; by the time Nijika and the other two came out, they had almost finished washing the dishes.

"Hayato-kun, are you done washing up? Bocchi-chan and the others are all ready for school."

After Nijika came out of the corridor, she spoke to the two of them.

"Get it done right away."