Chapter 266

"Let's hurry back and prepare dinner!"

"Hey, let's practice the new instrument first, dinner can come later."

Ishikawa Hayato understood what she meant, but he didn't accept it. He just smiled and pushed her towards his home.

Nijika, fearing he hadn't understood, sighed and turned back to explain.

"Eat dinner early so your stomach won't hurt from being nervous."

Why do you think I'll be nervous?

Ishikawa Hayato looked pitiful, as if he had been underestimated.

Ikuyo smiled, a mixture of admiration and helplessness in his voice.

"These are Ryo-senpai's parents, after all. It's understandable that they should be a little nervous, right?"

Hitori looking at the group and speaking, Ichiri thought for a moment and then stepped forward to speak to Ishikawa Hayato.

"Ah... Falcon, do your best!"

Ishikawa Hayato responded with a smile and a clenched fist.

Liang, seeing the commotion, followed suit.

"By the way, my parents are quite a handful."

"Hmph, but if Ryo is on my side, it should be a piece of cake, right? I've even faced Seika."

"Seika-manager was actually persuaded by Hayato-kun?! When did this happen?!" Ikuyo was shocked.

"That terrifying Manager-san?" Hitori shuddered.

"So that's how everyone perceives my sister, huh... I guess so..."

Nijika sighed helplessly.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and opened the apartment door, then walked home with them.

192. Decision

"No need to send it."

At the entrance to the living room, Ishikawa Hayato spoke to the three people who were preparing to see him and Ryo off.

A few hours ago, they came back to practice, eat, rest, and play. Now, Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo are going to her old home to face her parents.

Faced with such a major event, even the three people who were not directly involved took it seriously.

It can be said that the entire Ishikawa family was on high alert.

Even though Ishikawa Hayato said there was no need to see him off, they had already escorted him to the living room door, where they surrounded him as if blocking his way.

Nijika looked him over, checking his clothes and face to make sure there was nothing in disarray, and while tidying him up, she gave him instructions.

"When you meet Ryo's father, don't be so carefree. You'll look much more handsome if you're more serious."

Yes, yes.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and responded to the eldest, youngest, and most reliable girl in the family.

At this moment, she perfectly embodies the image of a gentle and virtuous wife.

"Get serious!" Seeing that he still looked so casual, Nijika put her hands on her hips and straightened her face.

Ishikawa Hayato obediently did as he was told, though he couldn't help but smile.

Not only her, but Ikuyo, like Nijika, scrutinized Ishikawa Hayato from all sides.

"Hmm, I still feel like something's not quite right..."

For her, the things that Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo are facing now are also the major life events that she will have to face with Ishikawa Hayato in the future.

Although she couldn't offer Ishikawa Hayato any advice, she tried her best to help Ishikawa Hayato in the areas she knew, attempting to lend him a hand.

"Really...?"

Hitori of her words, Ichiri looked at Ishikawa Hayato again and asked in a low voice with doubt.

There's no need to expect her to help with things like appearance; it's already quite impressive that she can dress herself up like an ordinary person.

"Hair!"

Because of Ikuyo's words, Nijika examined the room again carefully. At this moment, she noticed the details, called out, and hurriedly ran into the room.

Indeed, Ishikawa Hayato's hair has grown quite long now, and he looks very lazy. He's fine with them, but if he were to meet Ryo's father, they might think he's not serious.

Liang leaned against the wall, watching the scene unfold, and sighed.

"If we go too late, we won't be able to get back."

Knowing Ishikawa Hayato's personality, she took out her phone to kill some time.

As she expected, Ishikawa Hayato smiled and waved his hand.

"It's alright, we didn't set a time beforehand, and it's only 6 o'clock, so it might be a bit early for us to visit."

He really enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the family helping each other.

This kind of mutual care and support is better than anything else. Even if it can't help much in a practical way, the encouragement and love are better fuel than anything else.

She had only been back in her room for a short while when Nijika came running out, shaking hairspray in her hand.

Although she had never lived in this house, she was very familiar with everything there.

"Hayato-kun, crouch down."

She knew she shouldn't waste any more time, so she spoke quickly.

Ishikawa Hayato obediently squatted down, hugging his knees with both hands, and watched with a smile as Nijika and Ikuyo stood in front of him.

"There's not much time left, let's comb the front hair back and tidy up the sides a bit."

"Yeah, I didn't even notice..."

Ikuyo said with annoyance as she helped spray hairspray.

With their small hands combing his hair, Ishikawa Hayato began to look forward to his hairstyle, smiling as he waited for them to finish.

Liang watched helplessly, while Hitori studied diligently.

The two socially active people quickly fixed their hair; in no time, Nijika said...

"Alright! Right, mirror!"

After finishing her sentence, Nijika walked towards the coffee table in the hall, where her bag was placed, without waiting for Ishikawa Hayato to get up.

Ishikawa Hayato quickly grabbed her hand and said with great reassurance.

"I'm sure everyone's hairstyle for me is the most handsome."

He had great faith in the aesthetic sense and character of these two individuals. If it were Ryo and Hitori who were to do it, he would indeed need to look in the mirror to feel at ease.

As Ishikawa Hayato stood up, realizing it wouldn't be good to waste any more time, he bid farewell to the three who remained at home.

"Then I'm off."

Contrary to what he had expected—a smile and words full of encouragement—when they saw his face after he stood up, Nijika, Hitori, and Ikuyo froze in place, stunned.

"What's wrong?"

"Ishikawa Hayato asked, puzzled."

"No, there's nothing there," Ikuyo replied hastily.

Nijika also hurriedly gave instructions.

"Okay, come back early and don't play outside."

Hitori was still frozen in shock, not having recovered yet.

Was it because you were struck by how handsome he looked with his hair styled up after so long?

Ishikawa Hayato was well aware of their reactions. He was about to reach up to touch his head when Ikuyo grabbed his hand.

"This is good enough, Hayato-kun, let's set off quickly."

"All right."

He responded by turning to Liang beside him, and when their eyes met, Liang also stared at him for a moment, which was rare for her.

Let's go.

She came to her senses and spoke.

After Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo left the house and closed the door, the three people left at home finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They looked at each other, both knowing why the other was frozen in place.

Finally, it was Ikuyo, who was more outspoken, who spoke up with a smile.

"I feel like Hayato-kun is even more handsome than before."

"It's probably because we haven't seen his whole face in so long."

Nijika tried to explain, and seeing that Ikuyo and Hitori had both come to their senses, she said...

"They probably won't be back that soon, let's go practice a little longer."

Her words made it sound like she had absolutely no doubt that Ishikawa Hayato could handle the matter smoothly.

Moreover, she could tell that Ikuyo and Hitori, who had just received their instruments, needed to practice more and familiarize themselves with the new instruments, so she spoke frankly without reservation.

However, Ikuyo and Hitori, having been exposed, seemed somewhat embarrassed and did not accept her suggestion.

"This..."

Ikuyo seemed to want to wait for Ishikawa Hayato to return before practicing together.

But her hesitation did not discourage Nijika, Nijika continued to comfort her.

"Hayato-kun will definitely be fine, everyone don't worry, let's practice while we wait for him!"

"That's true, Gotou-san, let's go practice."

Relieved, Ikuyo accepted Nijika's suggestion and then invited Hitori, who still seemed hesitant.

"Ah, um."

Hitori nodded in agreement.

The three walked towards the rehearsal room, but on the way, Hitori still looked like he couldn't let it go.

Her concerns differed from those of Nijika and Ikuyo.

After walking a few steps, the three of them passed by Ishikawa Hayato's room on the outside. When they reached her door, recalling the scene just now, they made up their minds and stopped to speak to the two of them.

"Um, Hayabusa is the only member of the band who doesn't have a new instrument. I'm thinking of buying him a new one. What do you all think..."

Her voice gradually lowered from a high pitch, and her momentum Chisato from its peak until it was barely audible to the two people next to her.

Nijika stopped and turned back to look at Hitori in surprise, then smiled.

"Not bad!"

"But money..."

Ikuyo looked rather troubled, after all, she knew that none of them had much money and couldn't spend as lavishly as Ishikawa Hayato.

I can't exactly go to Ishikawa Hayato to get money to buy him gifts.

Hitori moment of hesitation, she finally thought about the money. Synthesizers weren't that expensive; a high-end synthesizer cost about the same as the instrument they bought today, or even less.

"If it's just one instrument, the band's money will suffice; we still have enough savings."

Nijika said to Ikuyo with a smile.

The band's money...

Hitori felt unwell, but she didn't have any other options at the moment.