Chapter 327

Ikuyo: "Everyone, I'm sorry! I can't go tonight."

Nijika returned at that moment.

"Hey, Ikuyo-chan... what's wrong?"

Ikuyo: "Dad asked me to stay home and keep Mom company..."

Ishikawa Hayato recalled that Ikuyo's mother was the kind of mother who cared a lot about her children, but didn't like to explain things, and tended to interfere a little in her children's lives.

It's been a while since we last saw each other, so I'm sure we'll miss each other.

Ikuyo's father, on the other hand, felt that he was somewhat similar to himself.

He likes to tease his wife when he's not busy, and he's very caring towards her when something happens.

Ishikawa Hayato: "Well, there's nothing we can do about that. After all, we'll be going on a long trip soon, so let's spend more time with her."

Nijika: "Yeah, Ikuyo-chan, don't worry about it."

Ikuyo: "But I feel bad about that. How about we make a video call and I join the party online?"

Ishikawa Hayato imagined the scene, his phone propped up beside him, with Ikuyo passionately engaging in conversation within the small rectangular frame.

He immediately chuckled and quickly typed, "A cyberpunk portrait?"

Ikuyo didn't seem to understand.

What does "Hayato-kun" mean?

Nijika: "You don't need to work so hard."

After chatting for a while, Ishikawa Hayato walked through the crowd and saw that the scenery outside the car window was becoming more and more familiar, realizing that they had Shimokitazawa.

He said in the group chat.

"We're almost there, so I'll stop chatting now. See you later."

Several girls responded, but only Ikuyo spoke.

"See you tomorrow..."

Ishikawa Hayato could almost picture her pitiful state. He chuckled as he put away his phone and then braced himself for the slight swaying caused by the train slowing down.

He didn't lean forward with the crowd, but stood firmly in place, and then slowly walked off the bus with the crowd.

On Christmas Day, the train station was bustling with people coming and going, but many others were quietly waiting in a corner for someone.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced around and found that most of the people waiting for him were women, which he found inexplicably interesting.

He immediately spotted Hitori's figure, but unfortunately, she was surrounded by several thugs.

A dozen seconds ago.

While Hitori was looking at a group chat on her phone, she heard a sound approaching from the side.

"What a cute girl! Are you waiting for your boyfriend? You've been waiting for quite a while now; he's definitely not coming. Why don't you come and play with us?"

"Yeah, a boyfriend who makes his girlfriend wait on Christmas Day should just be dumped."

"Ah... um." Hitori glanced at the three tall men surrounding her, looking bewildered. She lowered her head, tucking her chin into her scarf, making her chubby face appear even more delicate.

"I'm waiting for someone... Please move aside, Falcon won't see me..."

"I already told you that's the kind of boyfriend..."

At this moment, Hitori closed her eyes tightly in fear, but clutched something in her hand.

The next moment, a familiar voice immediately made her open her eyes.

"It's not appropriate for people to stand around my girlfriend and talk bad about me."

Ishikawa Hayato stood behind the three delinquents, smiling as he spoke, his hands pressing heavily on their shoulders.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!!"

As they began to cry out in pain, Ishikawa Hayato shoved them away.

Knowing they were in the wrong, the group only complained about their bad luck a couple of times before quickly leaving. They couldn't help but look back once more, but after being glared at by Ishikawa Hayato, they walked even faster.

After the group had walked away, Ishikawa Hayato turned his gaze away and saw Hitori's sparkling eyes and excited expression.

Why am I so happy...?

Thinking this, Ishikawa Hayato patted her on the shoulder to encourage her.

"Well done, that's how you should call me now."

Upon hearing his words, Ichiri hesitated for Hitori before breaking into a relieved smile and happily leaned over to hug Ishikawa Hayato's arm.

"Hmm... and... Falcon is like a hero, so cool."

So that's the reason. Ishikawa Hayato thought she had fallen in love with the feeling of being rescued.

As he walked away with Hitori, he struck a pose with one hand.

"Is that how it should be? I'm reporting for duty!"

Hitori jumped up and down with rare excitement, then glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, hesitated for a few seconds, bit her lip, and finally spoke:

"Falcon, if I buy a cosplay outfit, could you wear it?"

"Sure," Ishikawa Hayato readily agreed, then added with a smile, "I've finally discovered Hitori's hobbies besides the guitar."

Hitori said shyly, "It's not a hobby, I just wanted to see Hayabusa wear it..."

Ishikawa Hayato gave her a teasing look.

"Then I can't easily agree to that!"

"Huh?!!"

"Even Hitori has to wear it according to my requirements."

"Good!"

The two quickly put the unpleasant incident from their conversation behind them and walked along the bustling yet cold street toward the restaurant where they were having their gathering.

Inside the small private room of the izakaya, the atmosphere had been thrown into chaos by Hiroi Kikuri.

"Haha, you're already thirty, senior! Time really flies. If that's the case, I'll be close too, hahaha, let's drink!"

Nijika looked at the drunkard who was holding a bottle and had dragged the atmosphere to an abyss, as well as a few older women who were also provoked by her and were wiping away tears and drinking around them.

Not only Seika, but even Iwashita Shima was in the same band as Hiroi Kikuri, touched her face with a melancholy expression.

"I can feel wrinkles on my face now, all because of Hiroi... sigh..."

The source of the oppressive atmosphere at the celebration party wasn't just the group of adults drinking, but also Otsuki Yuyuko and Ryo, who were sitting in two separate corners.

They sat at a distance, seemingly disliking each other, each quietly scrolling through their phones.

Only Nijika and the three SIDEROS beside Nijika were relatively normal.

But she was already thinking to herself, "It's over. Tonight's party is doomed before it even started."

Hayato-kun, Ikuyo-chan, hurry up and come, even if it's just a video call, let's cleanse this gloomy atmosphere!

She can't control the situation on her own!

She tried to salvage the situation again, changing from sitting to kneeling to elevate herself while speaking.

"Hey everyone, cheer up... it's a victory celebration today..."

"But today is also your thirtieth birthday, Senior. You young person like Nijika wouldn't understand the meaning of turning thirty... Senior, umm."

Hiroi Kikuri, as if Seika were dead, lay on the table and wept bitterly.

Seika, who had been silently drinking after being provoked by her, finally couldn't stand it anymore.

"I'm still alive!"

At this moment, Otsuki Yuyuko, who had been watching Nijika from the corner for a long time, also stood up.

"Hiroi-nee, that's enough."

Nijika looked up at Otsuki Yuyuko with gratitude.

However, her next sentence revealed her lack of emotional intelligence.

"You're still three years away from thirty."

At that moment, the wine glass in the Seika suddenly shattered, for reasons unknown.

Nijika glanced at her forehead, where veins were bulging, and thought to herself, "Oh no!"

Hayato-kun, you'd better wait a bit! My sister's on the verge of snapping!

But at this most inopportune and inappropriate moment, the shoji door to the private room was opened.

Ishikawa Hayato poked his head out and asked with a smile.

"What do you mean 30 years old?"

Don't upset your sister anymore!

Let's skip the birthday party. I'll go home and celebrate with my sister tonight!

Nijika screamed inwardly.

227. Dragon Slayer

Tonight's get-together will be at an izakaya (Japanese pub) as usual; after all, a group of musicians don't have that much spare cash.

Debonair, handsome, a drinker, and broke are all common stereotypes about musicians.

So much so that she became one of the three women in Japan who are generally considered unsuitable to be boyfriends.

They are very easily scammed out of money and emotions, even if they become wealthy; in fact, they may become even more ruthless in their emotional exploitation than before.

This group, apart from one man, who weren't particularly wealthy, chose to book a room simply because it was Seika's birthday today, and there were more people coming tonight, making it easier to communicate.

After giving their room number at the front desk, Ishikawa Hayato and Hitori followed the waiter down the corridor to their private room.

Despite the noisy drinking crowd around her, Hitori remained calm. She glanced at the waiter walking ahead and whispered to Ishikawa Hayato.

"Falcon, will there be any problems with tonight's party?"

Are you worried about Seika?

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at the waiter in front of him, then lowered his head and asked in a low voice.

Hitori nodded quickly but slowly.

Seeing her like this, Ishikawa Hayato glanced at the waiter walking straight ahead and the person next to him who was indulging in alcohol, and affectionately nuzzled his head against hers.

After a few steps, they arrived at the private room they were going to.

Upon arrival, the waiter knocked on the door to inquire before letting Ishikawa Hayato and Hitori in. When they overheard the women inside discussing their ages, Ishikawa Hayato smiled and sparked a conversation.

"What do you mean 30 years old?"

Hiroi Kikuri said this izakaya was a great place with good quality food at reasonable prices, and it also had large private rooms compared to other izakayas, so the group followed her there.

The moment Ishikawa Hayato Hiroi Kikuri recommended it, he lost some of his anticipation for tonight's meal.

Don't alcoholics believe that as long as it's something to drink with, gazing at the stars can turn into touching heaven?

As he spoke, he walked into the private room. The furnishings were very traditional, with a low table, chairs, tatami mats, and some decorations, giving it a simple and clean feel.

However, the scene inside the private room was already a bit chaotic.

Some were drunk and acting crazy, some were drinking alone, some were trying to liven things up, some were used to the scene and chatted amongst themselves, and some were sitting quietly in a corner drinking beverages.

Before he even entered the private room, he was suddenly looked at by more than a dozen women.

As they looked at him, Ishikawa Hayato was also looking at the people who had come tonight.

The bands that make up the group are Kessoku Band, SICK HACK, SIDEROS, and Seika, which most people here recognize.

Almost everyone has arrived; it seems he and Hitori were among the last to arrive.

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy about turning 30?" Seika asked him with a gloomy face.