Chapter 324

Although she knew that it was common for high school students to do this kind of thing, she never thought that she would be one of those common people.

However... her thoughts have changed now...

Thinking about it, Nijika sighed.

It's impossible tonight; let's talk about it another time if there's a chance.

The phone screen lit up, illuminating Nijika's eyes.

2:46 AM.

I can't sleep, I can't sleep at all.

As if her mind had been stimulated and she couldn't calm down, she was still incredibly energetic, with countless thoughts running through her head.

Those were even more ideas than when I was planning the band, and they haven't stopped even now; thoughts are still popping into my head.

I just heard a door open again. Judging from the footsteps, it's going to the bathroom. Did they finally finish next door?

Were those four people finally satisfied?

Are they asleep?

She's still awake; will she wake up later than them tomorrow?

There's also my sister's birthday party.

I heard that if you're comfortable, it's easy to fall asleep...

Sleeping, sleeping... but can't sleep...

It's time to go to sleep, but I'm still not asleep.

Nijika tossed and turned restlessly, blinking her drowsy eyes. An idea struck her, and a resolute courage flashed in her eyes.

She took a deep breath, and whether she was still dazed or a jumble of thoughts, she didn't hesitate for long before turning to her side, clamping the blanket between her legs, and slowly and steadily slipping her hand inside her pajama bottoms.

What exactly does it feel like...?

It seems that's how it's done...

I'm starting to get the hang of it.

Um...

Just then, she heard a slight noise from the shoji door, but her mind was too confused to think it was just her imagination.

After all, who else from the family would come over at this time?

It wasn't until the second sound that Nijika groggily opened her eyes.

Then she saw Ishikawa Hayato lying next to her.

"Ah, um!"

She had barely uttered a sound when Ishikawa Hayato covered her mouth.

She's been found out, she's definitely been found out, she'll be mistaken for a lewd woman...

"You're not still unable to sleep, so you're planning to relieve stress and go to sleep like this?"

Ishikawa Hayato said.

Nijika's heart, which had been soaring high, suddenly and silently plummeted to its lowest point.

"It's all because of you..."

She looked away and complained sheepishly.

Ishikawa Hayato unceremoniously squeezed into her bed, Nijika obligingly moved aside.

Ishikawa Hayato continued to approach.

"I'm better at it, let me do it."

He reached out his hand as he spoke, but Nijika's slightly damp little hand grabbed it, and he let go.

"I really don't want to hear that... Ugh! If I did hear it!"

Nijika's breathing quickened slightly, and her gradually clearing senses made her notice many things.

"She smells filthy..."

"Impossible, I washed it very carefully."

Ishikawa Hayato was absolutely certain.

Nijika did smell that scent that she instinctively recognized, but she couldn't determine whether it was psychological or if she actually smelled it.

"Um... wait a minute."

In just two sentences, Nijika couldn't help but bite her lip and forcefully push away Ishikawa Hayato's hand.

"Aren't you going to release them?"

"No."

As soon as Nijika finished speaking, she saw Ishikawa Hayato put his hand in his mouth. "Pervert."

"Thank you so much."

"... Hayato-kun, you really are..." Nijika sighed deeply, "Why did you come here?"

"Let's make it up to Nijika a little."

"Are you trying to annoy me?"

In the pitch-black room, the two lay facing each other under the same blanket, their faces visible only by the faint light filtering through the gaps in the curtains.

"Actually, it's not just for that reason, but Nijika hurt me... mmm."

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato playing around again, Nijika smiled helplessly, her previously gloomy, sleepy, and listless mood improving considerably.

She bowed her head and admitted her mistake.

"Okay, I was wrong."

"What's wrong?"

Nijika was completely confused, but before she could explode, Ishikawa Hayato hugged her.

"As expected, we still need some time alone together. I'll tell everyone tomorrow."

To make up for being alone with Nijika tonight, I'd like to spend a day with Nijika during the hot spring trip. I think everyone will agree.

One day...

Nijika hadn't planned to accept it, but a sudden thought popped into her head.

"Okay... are you going back now?"

She made no move to try and persuade her to stay.

But Ishikawa Hayato took her hand.

"We'll go back at dawn today; we won't be detected."

That's too cunning.

"Just once in a while..." Ishikawa Hayato patted Nijika's head, letting her lean against him. "Go to sleep."

Despite having so many thoughts and plans, I still found it so hard to fall asleep.

When she saw Ishikawa Hayato, and that he had gone out of his way for her, she wanted to talk more, but that one sentence, "Go to sleep," was like a lullaby that suddenly made her eyelids heavy.

The world, once sharp and silent, softened; the sweltering heat of the bedding gradually subsided to a comfortable temperature; and my body suddenly relaxed.

She couldn't bear to make a sound at the very end.

"Um."

225. Do whatever you like.

The joyful atmosphere of a festival always makes people restless, as if they would feel it's a waste not to do something, to squander this beautiful time.

However, a significant number of people simply observe on this day, looking left and right but unable to find a way to vent their emotions, and eventually return to calm.

Lying on my pillow, I look forward to the night with the last glimmer of hope, only to sigh with regret the next morning.

But Nijika did not do that. Much later than usual, on a slightly special day, she woke up from her sleep, opened her eyes, and woke up with a mixture of thought and anticipation.

Her first thought upon waking was to check on the person next to her, but the thought vanished in an instant.

I felt like I had arms under my neck, and I could feel the weight around me.

The fear of losing what one possesses also disappeared.

Nijika turned her head slightly and saw the person beside her who had just opened his eyes. He was lying on his back, and in the light filtering through the curtains, his features were extremely defined, with a high, straight nose...

Before she could get her fill of looking, Ishikawa Hayato turned around, placed his hand on her, and asked lazily.

What time is it?

Nijika reached for her phone and glanced at it; it was 7:28.

She paused for a moment, then immediately remembered what had happened last night, and turned to push Ishikawa Hayato.

"Hayato-kun, it's time to get up and go back!"

Ishikawa Hayato withdrew his hand, but he only swayed slightly from her push and showed no intention of getting up.

Nijika quickly added.

"It's already 7:30!"

Ishikawa Hayato then slowly got up, lazily scratching his messy but still handsome hair.

"It's seven o'clock... they probably haven't gotten up yet, let me give them a hug first."

As he spoke, he reached out and hugged Nijika.

"What's the basis for that...?"

Nijika sighed, feeling that it would be more troublesome if she didn't let him hug her, so she obediently moved closer.

After embracing his petite girlfriend, Ishikawa Hayato didn't stop; he kissed her cheek and stroked her hair.

"Touching Nijika whose hair isn't tied up."

"Okay!"

After being teased like this first thing in the morning, Nijika didn't know whether to be angry or happy.

As Ishikawa Hayato touched her, she nestled in his arms and secretly sniffed him, deeply feeling the satisfying embrace that sent a jolt through every cell of her body. Without lingering, she pushed him away.

Ishikawa Hayato stood up with a smile, his previously sleepy face instantly returning to normal.

"Then I'm leaving."

He walked toward the door, pausing as if waiting for Nijika to ask him to stay.

"Run!"

Nijika also stood up, walked to the curtains, and pulled them open.

"Mmm."

Ishikawa Hayato let out two mournful cries, which made her turn around. Seeing this, he stopped playing around and went to his room.

Nijika drew back the curtains, glanced at the clear weather outside, and then tiptoed to the door to peek inside.

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato return to his room and not hearing any noise put me at ease.

She then began tidying up the bedding, went to the bathroom to wash up, and tied her long hair into a ponytail.

After finishing her morning chores, she went to the living room and stretched in the quiet space.

"Hmm~"

She went to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.

However, since it was still a holiday, other people certainly wouldn't get up that early, so she left the breakfast as a semi-finished product.

That way, they can have a hot, fresh breakfast when they get up.