Chapter 320

The two spent quite a while browsing in the souvenir and jewelry shop, discussing which items they could take home to decorate, and even gesturing at each other.

She looked around the flower shop again, but Ikuyo didn't want any, saying they would take up too much space in her hand and would be exposed to the cold wind.

There are also handmade sweater shops and fabric shops here.

Seeing some nice fabric, the two of them picked and chose for a while, but finally realized that neither of them knew how to make clothes. They made up an excuse and sneaked away from the enthusiastic shopkeeper.

They then chuckled at each other's foolishness, which turned into playful banter.

Then, Ishikawa Hayato, with a very malicious heart, dragged Ikuyo to the cake shop.

Controlled by Ishikawa Hayato, forced to smell various fragrant cakes, and listening to him talk to the shopkeeper about how the cakes are made and what high-end ingredients are used, Ikuyo's anger at being bullied kept rising.

She's still trying to control her weight!

A moment later, her cheeks puffed up with anger, and she rammed her head into Ishikawa Hayato's chest.

Having successfully teased his girlfriend into getting angry, Ishikawa Hayato smiled and told the shopkeeper that he would come back to buy it when he got home.

Then this person went to coax Ikuyo, and after just a couple of words, Ikuyo showed a sweet smile again. She didn't care at all about being bullied by him.

The two continued to wander deeper into the gathering and saw a huge tent that was connected together.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced around and immediately realized that this was a place where tourists could eat hot food, and it seemed to be holding some kind of event, making it quite lively.

As he looked away, Ikuyo watched him warily.

Ishikawa Hayato quickly offered an explanation.

"I'm wondering if I should get some hot drinks."

"... Hot drinks should be fine."

Ikuyo looked at her stomach and thought for a moment.

They had a performance today, so they ate on the street and didn't eat much.

As she walked toward the tent, Ikuyo suddenly paused, took out her phone, and checked it.

"What's wrong?" Ishikawa Hayato asked her.

"It's about time we made a change." Ikuyo smiled brightly.

Ishikawa Hayato could see the emotions beneath her smile.

"That's a bit of a shame."

"There's nothing I can do; what can I do when I fall for such a womanizer?"

Ikuyo deliberately let out a long sigh.

"I'll make it up to you tonight."

"That's not compensation at all!"

After complaining, Ikuyo turned around and looked at the three of them, then waved to them cheerfully.

Has anything been said at home lately?

Before they arrived, Ishikawa Hayato casually asked.

Ikuyo looked at the three people approaching, thought for a moment, and said.

"I feel like they found out I was using an excuse to stay at Hayato-kun's place, but they just asked about our current relationship and told me to be careful with protection..."

Ikuyo looked helplessly at Ishikawa Hayato.

"This was discovered really thoroughly..."

Ishikawa Hayato didn't know what to say.

After a few words, the three people came over and stopped talking.

"What's wrong?" Nijika asked, puzzled, as she approached.

"It's almost time for the exchange," Ikuyo said, pointing to the tent. "And let's all go get some hot drinks."

"Hmm, I'm hungry too."

Liang agreed to the suggestion and stepped to the front.

No one else objected, and the group followed, entering the warm tent one after another.

223. Night is approaching

The tents at the Christmas gathering are not the small tents used for ordinary travel and picnics, but rather frame tents with metal frames that can be combined and connected.

To put it simply, it looks like a bunch of awnings connected together.

The white, lace-trimmed sheds stretched out in a row, with windproof cloths hanging down in three directions.

Ishikawa Hayato followed Ryo into the tent. As he looked inside, he saw young women dancing and cheering along to the cheerful music.

Inside the tent, the dining tables and chairs were neatly arranged in five rows and ten columns, yet with so many chair covers, it still looked like the tent was full of people.

Further inside the dining table and chairs was the spot where Ishikawa Hayato had seen—a young woman in a thin red and white Christmas-themed dress, dancing and waving her skirt.

The layers of little skirts spun and danced like blooming flowers as they moved, seemingly oblivious to the cold, dancing joyfully.

Ishikawa Hayato stared for two seconds, then suddenly sensed something was wrong and quickly looked away, glancing at his surroundings.

Beside him, his girlfriends quietly observed him, as if to confirm how much longer he would look at them.

His gaze was curious yet calm, but Ishikawa Hayato felt that calmness was like a stagnant pool of water.

There was a heater not far from inside the tent, and a warm breeze was emanating from it. A large group of people nearby were watching the young lady dance, and some were even recording it with their phones.

But Ishikawa Hayato broke out in a cold sweat, the wind making him feel chilly. He gave an awkward laugh and subtly wiped his forehead.

"Haha... it suddenly got hot."

"What should we do?" Liang ignored him and turned to ask the three people behind him.

Is this a trial that starts without giving anyone a chance to explain?!

Ishikawa Hayato looked behind him.

But this sudden crisis was quickly resolved.

Nijika glanced at Ikuyo and Hitori, briefly confirming their attitudes, and then spoke.

"Don't stand here, let's find a place to sit down."

"Yes, yes," Ishikawa Hayato echoed with a smile.

Although he did nothing, he had already won from the very beginning by finding a good girlfriend.

The five looked around the tent, but the best spots for watching the performance were already taken. However, Ishikawa Hayato didn't seem to mind. He looked at a corner of the tent and pointed there.

"It doesn't look very lively over there, let's go over there."

Ikuyo stood on tiptoe and looked into the corner, then looked at Ishikawa Hayato with a puzzled expression.

"Is it inconvenient for Hayato-kun to watch the performance from there?"

"What are you saying? I'm not that kind of person."

Ishikawa Hayato put on a serious face and took the first step. The four of them looked at him suspiciously and followed a step later.

After arriving at their seats, Ishikawa Hayato and the others sat down before speaking.

"What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it."

Although this is a corner, judging by the flow of people, it's hard to say whether there will be any seats left later, so I'll definitely have to reserve it first.

Ikuyo saw through the reason and didn't stand on ceremony. "Creamy corn soup will do."

Hitori was startled by her words. Did she know what dishes were served without even needing a menu?

She hesitated for a moment, then pretended to know what she was talking about and said, "Me too."

Liang observed for Hitori, and after seeing her answer, he also said, "Me too."

"Are you really not ordering any main dishes?"

Ishikawa Hayato acted very much like a waiter, standing to the side with a smile and asking them questions. As for Nijika, she stood next to Ishikawa Hayato, clearly intending to go with him to order.

Eating after 8 p. m. not only leads to obesity, but is also detrimental to health.

Ryo looked up at Ishikawa Hayato, as if asking him, "Aren't you a health enthusiast? How come you don't even know this?"

Ikuyo was initially a little helpless, but seeing Liang standing on her side, hands on hips, she wholeheartedly agreed.

"Ryo-senpai is right, we won't order any staple food today!"

"Ah..." Ichiri hesitated for Hitori, but without a menu, she didn't know how to help.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled nonchalantly.

"Alright, it seems no one's hungry, so let's have creamy corn soup three..." He glanced at Nijika again, and Nijika nodded slightly.

"Four portions, please wait a moment."

After saying that, he turned around neatly and elegantly, looking like he was pretending to be a waiter, but the last action of casually pulling Nijika's hand immediately ruined the image he had been trying to create.

However, after the two left, the remaining three felt that the silence was too much. They looked at each other and realized that they seemed to have missed something.

On the other side, Ishikawa Hayato, suppressing his laughter, pulled Nijika out of the tent. Once outside and out of the three people's sight, he could no longer laugh heartily; he was doubled over with laughter.

This startled Nijika, who grabbed Ishikawa Hayato and asked anxiously.

"What's wrong with Hayato-kun?"

Ishikawa Hayato realized that Nijika hadn't noticed either, so he turned to look at her while still bent over and said something to her.

"Nijika didn't want to be spied on on her date, right? Now that's it!"

Nijika stared at the mischievous smile on Ishikawa Hayato's handsome face, paused for a moment, looked around, and then turned back to him.

"That's so mean, all three of them are waiting."

However, although Nijika said this, her face also showed a look of excitement.

"So, are you going or not?"

Ishikawa Hayato straightened up, tilted his head back arrogantly, and asked with his arms crossed.

Nijika smiled helplessly and leaned against him.

"Of course I went."

"I used to think that a solo date like this was a great idea~"

Once out of the three people's sight, Nijika became even more affectionate than Ikuyo.

Standing by the fountain, Nijika leaned her head against Ishikawa Hayato, her soft, lively red eyes quietly watching the water spraying from the colored lights and the passersby walking around the fountain.

Although the number of couples chatting and laughing wasn't very large, it still made her feel somewhat relaxed.

It felt just like being in a normal relationship.

"So it was Nijika who suggested it."

Ishikawa Hayato reached out and patted her head. "But it's a good idea, and it successfully got me to meet Nijika alone."

Nijika enjoyed the feeling of being alone with him.

As if influenced by the interactions between the two people in front of her and Ishikawa Hayato, she carefully wrapped her arms around his waist, gently nuzzled Ishikawa Hayato with her head, and settled on his chest in a comfortable position.

"Then wouldn't I be the only one who benefits...?"

After she finished speaking, she paused slightly, and before Ishikawa Hayato could speak, she asked again, "So, Hayato-kun, what are you going to do when the four of you go on dates together in the future...?"

"Didn't we already do that?"

Nijika sensed something was wrong when she heard Ishikawa Hayato's smiling voice.

She looked up at Ishikawa Hayato, her eyes already showing a sweet and cute disdain, waiting for Ishikawa Hayato could retort.

"When the mood is right, we'll hug and kiss each other."

After listening, Nijika's expression darkened, and she said with mixed feelings.

"Then in other people's eyes, Hayato-kun will be a real scumbag."