Chapter 298

When Liang turned around, the first person he noticed was Nijika, who was playing the drums behind the drum set. Among the girls, she was the quickest to notice Liang's reaction.

Their eyes met, Nijika quickly glanced at Ishikawa Hayato before nodding.

Then, Ryo ignored Ishikawa Hayato's gaze and looked at Hitori.

On this stage, where everyone was hyped up by today's performance, she was the only one who looked the calmest. It was hard to tell whether it was due to the series of questions she had just received or the preparations she was making for what was to come.

After her gaze lingered on Hitori for a moment, Hitori paused, then turned her head away.

Liang looked at her inquisitively, Hitori nodded firmly as if she had been prepared.

Their song is very fast, and they're about to start the solo section.

Reminded by Ryo's gaze, Ikuyo finally snapped out of her daze. She smiled expectantly and took over Hitori's lead guitar part.

Then, without hesitation Hitori ran backstage.

Even if the performance is not excellent, even if I cannot face forward.

But these musical phrases and this song are also sounds I truly love."

Ishikawa Hayato had been keeping a close eye on his girlfriends' actions since the beginning. Although he knew what they were planning to do, he hadn't expected them to be so bold as to do this on a stage with so many people around.

Of course, if they knew what Ishikawa Hayato was thinking, they would definitely say it all at once.

"You're the one who corrupted me!"

Before long, Ichiri, who had been prepared in advance, brought up a bag before Hitori solo performance. As she ran carefully, she quickly unzipped the bag, revealing a shoulder-mounted synthesizer inside.

It was a synthesizer shaped like a battle sword, or perhaps a battle axe. Black and white buttons were arranged on the back of the blade, and there were many setting buttons on the handle.

Hitori ran up to Ishikawa Hayato with the synthesizer in his hand and handed it to him.

On the stage where the singing was at its most intense, Ishikawa Hayato looked at Hitori, who was holding a synthesizer and offering it to him.

She lowered her head slightly, holding the synthesizer in front of him with both hands. Her blue eyes were filled with worry and unease, but she pursed her lips and forced a brave stance.

"Hawk... thank you for everything you've done for everyone... This is a gift we all raised together for you... I know it put a lot of pressure on you to have everyone with you... so..."

Hitori said very seriously and firmly.

"Right now, at the very front of everyone, let's play something cool!"

On the noisy stage, only Ishikawa Hayato could hear Hitori's urgent voice. He glanced at the others.

Ikuyo, Ryo, and Nijika all nodded earnestly to him, expressing their anticipation.

For a moment, Ishikawa Hayato didn't know what expression to make.

What is this? A reward for completing your harem?

Also, Hitori, what you just said was what I said when I first invited you to perform, right?

To outsiders, it might not seem like much, but for Ishikawa Hayato, even though he knew what they were going to do, he was still deeply moved.

Today, they arranged a confession for him at the beginning of the event, and they pooled their money to buy him a gift to give him here.

Ishikawa Hayato knew that this synthesizer wasn't cheap; the four girls who wouldn't even take a taxi during these torrential rains had really ripped themselves off for it.

Ishikawa Hayato thought about many things, but without hesitation, he reached out and took the synthesizer.

Hitori smiled and quickly returned to his seat, picking up his guitar again. The other three beside him smiled contentedly and focused on playing, preparing for the coolest solo performance by Ishikawa Hayato.

No matter how much effort is wasted.

I will continue playing.

Ishikawa Hayato, clutching the tomahawk synthesizer that could easily steal the spotlight from the lead singer and guitarist, quickly reconnected the amplifier.

He's no longer that naive new musician who unplugged the amplifier and got dizzy from the blast.

After connecting the cables, he walked to the front of the stage, checking the instruments' condition while listening to the music.

As the four singers sang their hearts out to build up to his solo, Ishikawa Hayato stepped to the front.

Even if you're clumsy, try to convey your true feelings.

Let us be bound together, wherever we go.

The solo section begins.

The singing stopped, and the four people with black ribbons tied around their wrists looked at him together.

The entire audience in the auditorium watched him standing at the front, holding what was clearly the coolest synthesizer his girlfriend had given him.

Ishikawa Hayato arrogantly stomped his foot on the monitor speaker and pressed a key on the synthesizer.

Without overshadowing the main theme or diluting the original message of the song, the electrifying melody blared from the loudspeakers, filling the entire auditorium and causing it to resonate and tremble.

The melody was beyond beautiful; it was so soothing that it went directly beyond the ear, penetrating the consciousness, purifying all worries, and making one want to relax freely with the music.

He then continued to lead the song, and although the four of them were also amazed by the music, they did not stop, continuing to play according to muscle memory.

"(Me + Society - Communication) × Understanding = Elimination"

"Me + You, who are prejudiced against, Voice ÷ Infinite Ring = Band."

The world seemed to fall silent, save for the exquisite song slightly altered by Ishikawa Hayato.

"It's all a waste of effort, no matter what."

Even so, I will continue to play.

No matter how clumsy it is, the melody must be conveyed.

Let's bring this everyday life to life.

Let us be bound together, today and tomorrow, and forever.

Wherever we go.

After the song ended, the five members, slightly out of breath, looked at the quiet audience, wondering what their reaction was.

But after a long silence, no one responded.

Then a child's clapping sound rang out, and that small sound seemed to trigger an avalanche, with a sudden, overwhelming wave of applause echoing throughout the auditorium.

Then came a series of desperate shouts, like the crashing of ocean waves.

"Encore! Encore! Encore!"

Faced with this voice, while the girls on stage hesitated, Ishikawa Hayato calmly raised his fist.

"Then let's continue! <Never Forget>"

"Huh?!"

Nijika exclaimed in surprise, "This is the school festival with a fixed schedule! How can they do this so recklessly?"

Unlike her surprise, Hitori and Ryo were already preparing to play. Ikuyo smiled apologetically at the school festival executives, but then turned to Ishikawa Hayato and said...

"One, two, go!"

The music started again.

The school festival performance concluded successfully.

The five of them fled the school as if they were escaping, after all, behind them were thousands of people who had been moved by their music and become their die-hard fans.

Watching the five people led by Ishikawa Hayato flee like lightning, Seika smiled helplessly.

"Just how much more is that pervert hiding?"

Sato Aiko was also watching the five figures, spoke up.

"His playing level must be world-class."

Seika remained noncommittal.

"They must be the happiest people in the world."

Only after they had been far from the school did the five of them relax and walk quietly, though they still couldn't hide their excitement.

They stared at each other, unable to calm down, their hearts filled with countless things they wanted to say but unsure how to begin.

Until someone started talking, Nijika excitedly walked to the front, looked at the group, and her excited voice was filled with disbelief.

"Was today's performance... a success?"

She seemed unable to believe that their performance, which they had planned to give up on but was solely for Ishikawa Hayato, could actually be a success.

Ikuyo laughed and skipped to the side to answer her.

"Yes, it was a huge success! Thousands of people were so happy listening to it, we were amazing!"

Surrounded by the girls, Ishikawa Hayato stood tall and proudly patted his chest.

"I deserve credit for this."

"I got a share too."

When Ryo said this, she was looking at Ishikawa Hayato, and it was clear that what she said was different from what Ishikawa Hayato said.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and hugged her.

"Yes, yes..." Seeing the others acting as usual, Nijika seemed to regain a sense of reality, and she indulgently replied to the two of them, but she looked more at Ishikawa Hayato.

She added, "But it seems Hayato-kun still needs to tone it down a bit..."

"Eh..." Ishikawa Hayato suddenly looked at Nijika with teary eyes.

Hitori, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, also spoke up anxiously at this moment.

"Well... it's better for Falcon to be free."

That's true...

Nijika didn't deny Hitori's words, but her face showed hesitation. "But Hayato-kun is so cool when he's completely open up. I just heard someone confessing to Hayato-kun."

"Me too..." Ikuyo, staring at Ishikawa Hayato with a complicated expression.

Seeing the uneasy expressions on his girlfriends' faces, Ishikawa Hayato, disregarding that they were on the street, opened his arms as if asking for a hug.

The girls looked at each other strangely, but without hesitation, they swarmed over, and the five of them squeezed together under the astonished gazes of passersby.

After embracing four different girls, all of whom loved him, Ishikawa Hayato said...

"It has already formed a bunch."

Does this mean we don't need to add anyone else?

Nijika leaned against his chest with a serene smile and asked.

Ishikawa Hayato answered affirmatively.

"Um."

"Are you happy?" Liang asked, hugging his shoulders.

Ishikawa Hayato replied without hesitation.

"It's like wrapping the entire universe in a cloth that filters out everything except happiness, wringing out everything that can be filtered, and then running wildly across the remaining land."

"All she does is say nice things..."

Ikuyo was pushed to the back this time, and she grumbled in complaint.

"Then a kiss will do."

Ishikawa Hayato grinned and tried to move closer to her.

"What do you mean 'okay'?!"

Ikuyo didn't accept; she stepped back, and the five of them, having had their fill of intimacy, dispersed.

They looked at each other, noticing the musical instruments they were carrying on their backs, and that Hitori and Ishikawa Hayato were still in a dual-sword style.

They laughed at each other's silly, couple-like behavior.

"Let's go home first."

"Okay!" Ikuyo adjusted the guitar strap.