Chapter 317

Ishikawa Hayato immediately raised his hand and said decisively.

"I surrender, it was my fault."

"That's not a falcon..." Hitori hurriedly began, and walked towards the center, wanting to take responsibility for the mistake.

But Ryo didn't listen to her and continued to push the blame onto Ishikawa Hayato.

"Nijika was woken up by what you did."

Ishikawa Hayato walked over to Hitori, patted her head to calm her down, and then resumed his usual ruthless demeanor.

He doesn't care about taking the blame at all.

"Oh dear, that's such a pity. I was hoping to carry her shopping while she was asleep."

Ishikawa Hayato mentally termed this behavior "sleeping face parade."

Suddenly, everyone's eyes turned to Nijika, Nijika screamed in anger after imagining the scene.

"Hayato-kun, are you a ghost?!"

Ishikawa Hayato laughed out loud, and then the girls followed suit.

221. Like bathing in starlight and snow

After their banter, the five of them, having regained their usual relaxed demeanor, packed their bags and left.

The group didn't let Ishikawa Hayato leave, and brazenly began changing clothes right in front of him.

However, Ishikawa Hayato obediently turned his back, quickly took off his hoodie, and put on his winter clothes.

They've had enough rest, and they've dealt with everything they needed to. It's time for them to begin their own Christmas Eve.

After a while, Ishikawa Hayato turned around.

Hitori pulled her waist-length hair out from under her clothes, then let it fall loose.

Ikuyo turned around to check if there was anything inappropriate about her clothes. Nijika straightened her clothes and raised her eyebrows as she watched Liang Na put on her clothes without even looking at them.

Ishikawa Hayato reluctantly went over to help Ryo straighten his collar and scarf.

Afterwards, the group, carrying musical instruments and dragging suitcases, walked along the music-filled corridor to the office. After explaining their departure to Yoshida Ginjiro, he seemed completely unsurprised.

The slender, fashionable, and artistic man looked at the group with a gentle smile, his eyes filled with the teasing of an elder looking at a young couple.

"Hiroi, really, inviting you to perform on such a festival, you really have no sense of romance."

Ishikawa Hayato wasn't embarrassed by those kinds of looks.

But when he glanced back at the girls behind him and saw that they all seemed embarrassed to varying degrees, he smiled but didn't give a direct answer.

"Performing together on special days is also a fun thing."

"How cunning!"

Yoshida Ginjiro, who had already bent down to take an envelope from the drawer, pointed out Ishikawa Hayato's actions and handed the envelope to him.

"Here, this is your performance fee for tonight. Hiroi did turn out to be smart after all."

Ishikawa Hayato took the envelope without counting it, and said with a smile.

"Then we'll be leaving now."

Yoshida Ginjiro waved cheerfully.

"Have fun."

Perhaps because of Yoshida Ginjiro's initial gaze, the four girls were too embarrassed to say anything, so they bowed in response and quickly left.

Upon leaving the office, Ishikawa Hayato very conscientiously handed the money to the young woman in charge of housekeeping.

Nijika didn't refuse, and after taking the envelope, she began counting the money.

She slowed her pace, and the five of them slowed down as well. When they reached a place in the office where they should be able to hear each other, Ikuyo finally spoke.

"I didn't expect Hiroi-san to actually remind the manager, and it seems the manager already knows about our situation."

She is now very familiar with the operation of the performance venue, so the fees for independent performances are usually settled by the organizing band.

"Of course, a drunkard's mouth is like a cosmic broadcast."

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Hitori and Ikuyo and Ryo behind her. They were carrying musical instruments and walking through the passageway, which was filled with musical echoes and decorated with a rebellious and free spirit. They all had a special air about them than usual.

Considering they had just performed here, there was a sense of rebellion without being corrupted.

Even winter clothes that don't look particularly special appear exceptionally fresh against the backdrop and environment.

"Did Manager Yoshida know? But he didn't say anything..."

"I'm puzzled, "Hitori asked.

"Not everyone cares that much." Liang said this very convincingly, as she herself was that kind of person.

Nijika had already counted the money, and she slipped it to Ishikawa Hayato before he joined the conversation.

"Um?"

Ishikawa Hayato looked at the money that was being stuffed into his arms again with surprise.

"Just in case we need it tonight." As Nijika spoke, she didn't look at Ishikawa Hayato at all.

She was a little shy, and also didn't want to put any pressure on Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato was still in shock.

Of course, he was shocked that being shyly given money by a girl before a date, implying that he could use the money to woo her and win her favor, was actually so satisfying.

This is a more sophisticated way of feeding a woman than simply treating her to a meal.

Although he didn't need it, he was happy, and that was enough.

Ishikawa Hayato didn't take the money. He peeked at Nijika twice, and Nijika quickly noticed. Embarrassed and indignant, she stuffed the money into his pocket and turned her back to him completely.

He chuckled, then reached into his pocket and said, "Oh dear, so much money... I can't spend it all without a big plan, so I can only..."

He knew this definitely wasn't just Nijika's idea, and looked at the others as he spoke.

"You're treating us to a big meal."

With just one sentence, he successfully made the three people Hitori away all show expressions of disgust, Nijika even wanted to take the money back.

Walking out from backstage to the performance venue, Hiroi Kikuri was still performing there.

Inside the venue, the psychedelic rock music's layered, numbing effects and the feeling of losing one's sense of direction and sinking into oblivion quickly enveloped the group.

Combined with the flickering lights in the dark room, and her free and unrestrained playing.

I really feel like I'm going to sink into despair.

This unique sensory experience is unforgettable.

No wonder she got so drunk; she's usually so unserious, yet she still managed to reach the top of an independent band.

But they won't be too far off; to be specific, this refers to the difference in the band's status and level.

It doesn't refer to the degree of their inherent rottenness.

When the five arrived at the venue, they didn't cause much of a commotion, since the music fans there were quite well-behaved, and they walked around to the back.

Only when passing by the three members of the Snow Cat Love trio standing in the back row.

When Oyama Nekoneko saw the group of five passing by, it quickly walked over and asked without even realizing it.

Are the seniors leaving?

Ikuyo, who was closest to her, said in a low voice.

"Yes, we went to experience Christmas Eve in more places."

Ishikawa Hayato asked casually.

And you?

Oyama Nekoneko looked back at the other two, and after their different responses, she turned back to Ishikawa Hayato and said...

"We'll stay until the end; Hiroi-senpai's performance was absolutely amazing."

"Well, we'll take our leave now."

Ryo said impatiently, and made no attempt to hide it as he pushed Ishikawa Hayato, gesturing for him to leave quickly.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and waved to the three women as they were gradually pushed away from them.

Then, after the three figures disappeared from sight, the pushing force from Liang behind him suddenly vanished, as if punishing him for relying on her strength to move forward.

Ishikawa Hayato only leaned back slightly and didn't fall. At that moment, he noticed the gaze and followed his instincts to look at the stage.

On stage, Hiroi Kikuri, with a blissful, intoxicated expression, gave a very exaggerated thumbs-up.

Wearing winter clothes, the five people felt unbearably hot after just a few steps in the stuffy performance hall. The moment they stepped out of the hall, the heat clinging to their bodies was immediately swept away by the cold world.

"Ugh, it's so cold..."

"Yes..."

The girls wrapped themselves up in their clothes to protect themselves from the drastic temperature change.

Completely unaffected by the changes, Ishikawa Hayato watched with delight as their adorable faces scrunched up from the cold, and made a suggestion with a smile.

"Want to hug?"

I want to go home.

Liang covered his ears with both hands, looking disheveled, his half-closed golden eyes filled with regret as he looked at the ground.

The warm breath she exhaled as she spoke was frozen into white mist by the cold air and drifted away with the faint chilly breeze.

"Hey, don't go so fast. If you feel cold after walking a few steps, or if it's not interesting, let's go home."

"Ishikawa Hayato said hastily."

Ryo is also a homebody, but unlike Hitori, she occasionally goes out for walks, listens to music at CD stores, buys comic books at bookstores, and hunts for bargains at flea markets.

However, this person dislikes trouble. She basically won't go out on rainy or cold days, and will only go out for a short while on particularly nice days.

Ishikawa Hayato knew that if he didn't try to persuade her, she would definitely walk back without a second thought.

Liang sighed, white mist clinging to her scarf.

Seeing her reaction, Ishikawa Hayato smiled inwardly, feeling quite pleased with himself.

"What should we do with the instrument?" Nijika blew on her hand, the heat transferring through her gloves to her hand.

Her suitcase was placed to the side.

There's a luggage storage station near the station...

Ishikawa Hayato glanced uncertainly at the instruments on the group's bodies. "But it seems that they can only store suitcases over there. The other places to store belongings are either too far away or closed down."

Seeing the girls' hesitant expressions, Ishikawa Hayato glanced around, then suddenly laughed and said, "It's alright, we can just rent a room to play our instruments."

After he finished speaking, he was unsurprised to be stared at blankly by the girls.

While we all know what people do on Christmas Eve, it's really inconsiderate of you to be so clear about it before that time even arrives.

This is the meaning of "liang" and "yu" representing exposure.

"I'm definitely going home tonight." Ishikawa Hayato waved his hand and took out his phone to check the surrounding hotels.

He's gotten used to being misunderstood about this, after all, he knows perfectly well how outrageous his actions usually are.

Are there any rooms available today?

Liang sighed, losing all hope.

"Found it! I've placed the order."

As soon as Ishikawa Hayato saw the room, he immediately made a reservation, then turned and beckoned to the girls.

Let's go.

Leaving Shinjuku Folt and walking just a few steps into the street, the five of them saw a completely different landscape than when they arrived.