Chapter 343

Beside Nijika, Ishikawa Hayato heard a voice amidst the chaotic footsteps, turned his head to look at the glass of the shop next door, and was stunned, revealing a surprised expression.

Nijika had previously been understanding of his absent-mindedness several times, but this time she wouldn't let him off the Nijika. Even though she knew it wasn't true, she still pretended to be dissatisfied and asked.

"Does Hayato-kun find dating me boring?"

Ishikawa Hayato only looked at Nijika after hearing the sound.

He could tell that Nijika didn't really think that way; she just intended to use this threat to pry him open up.

However, considering that Seika was following behind, he decided not to hide it anymore.

He didn't tell Nijika directly, but instead probed first.

"Nijika, can we do a reverse kiss?"

Nijika was taken aback, her face full of question marks at his request.

"Why?"

"Hmm... because of your older sister, Seika is behind you."

Upon hearing Nijika Ishikawa Hayato's words, Hongxia's eyes widened and she immediately turned her head. Sure enough, she saw a person wearing a knitted hat, sunglasses, and a mask. The person dodged to the side with lightning speed as she turned around.

Even though she only caught a glimpse of him, and he wasn't wearing any clothes that Nijika had ever seen before, Nijika could still say with certainty.

That's her older sister.

Nijika suddenly didn't know how to react, and after thinking for a few seconds, she asked Ishikawa Hayato.

"Was the discount coupon Hayato-kun given on purpose that day?"

"No, I just felt it was unfair that only we went on the hot spring trip. I didn't expect Seika to come along."

Ishikawa Hayato stated frankly.

It was truly unexpected that someone as proud as Seika would disregard her pride and follow him.

Nijika understood this as well, sighed, and asked.

"So... what do we do next?"

Ishikawa Hayato was a little surprised; he thought Nijika would go directly to expose Seika.

He thought about it again and realized that if he exposed her, the date would be completely ruined. He couldn't let Seika come along, or know that she was there and then ignore her.

Thus, he guessed what Nijika was thinking and said with a smile.

"Then I'll just have to get rid of her."

Nijika looked like she was about to nod in agreement when she heard Ishikawa Hayato ask again.

"Why don't we try a misaligned kiss first?"

"Don't even think about bullying my sister when you're on a date with me!"

Nijika lowered her voice and called out to him in dissatisfaction.

236. Mission: Impossible

Seika quickened her pace and chased after them from inside the coffee shop. Seeing their backs, she was filled with excitement. She hadn't expected that after searching for so long, her target would deliver himself to her doorstep.

The saying "waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump" is actually true.

Watching the two figures from behind, she was filled with doubt. Why were only Nijika and Ishikawa Hayato on a date? Where were the others?

But she didn't think about that much, since her main purpose in coming out was to see how Ishikawa Hayato and Nijika were getting along.

Let's see if that kid is bullying his sister.

But...

What are you doing, Nijika? Why are you holding his arm?! How can you do something that only lovers do?!

Seika was screaming inwardly when she suddenly saw Nijika turn around and look at her. She was so frightened that she immediately hid behind the crowd.

The foreign couple in front of her looked at her with suspicion, thinking it was some kind of performance.

Behind her, Ishikawa Jinpei also noticed the woman ahead who had been acting suspiciously ever since she came out of the coffee shop.

Although she was wearing a knitted hat, a mask, and sunglasses, her figure, clothing, and exposed blonde hair still gave her away.

Isn't that the blonde woman they met briefly at the foot bath in front of Yufuin Station?

When Ishikawa Jinpei saw her hiding behind the others and then secretly glancing ahead, he narrowed his eyes.

What is this beautiful woman doing? She doesn't look like she's hiding from anyone; is she following someone?

He glanced at his wife, who was still watching with great interest as their son went on a date with his girlfriend, and after thinking for a moment, decided to play it safe and say nothing.

But even though he didn't say it, some people brought it up.

Xiang quickly noticed Seika not far ahead and tugged at her mother's hand in a low voice.

"Mom, is that the person we saw at the foot bath before?"

Ishikawa Shizuka looked her over and then exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, really, but she looks like she's stalking someone."

"A beautiful female thief?" Hibiki's eyes lit up immediately.

Ishikawa Jinpei and Ishikawa Shizuka looked at their daughter with the same pitying gaze one might give someone who was mentally challenged.

"She's definitely following someone," Ishikawa Jinpei asserted. "Maybe she's following her husband to see if he's going to see a mistress."

Ishikawa Shizuka looked again, feeling it was possible, then glanced at her husband, and after thinking for a moment, breathed a sigh of relief.

Upon hearing this, Hibiki couldn't help but exclaim, "Isn't that like a family drama? How interesting!" She then struggled slightly.

"I... I want to go..."

At this moment, Ishikawa Shizuka's expression turned serious.

"Hibiki, following your brother is different from following anyone else. Deliberately following strangers is a very bad thing to do."

Xiang stopped struggling, but a hint of regret appeared on her face.

However, after following Ishikawa Hayato for a while, they suddenly made a terrifying discovery.

They were a little further back from the Ishikawa Hayato.

Ikuyo blinked several times in a daze, rubbed her eyes, and pointed to the blonde woman a dozen steps away, saying to Ryo and Hitori.

"Is that the store manager?"

"It feels like..."

After finishing speaking, Hitori looked at Liang beside her and asked her for confirmation.

Nod slightly and say it in an affirmative tone.

It's her.

"... And it seems that Hayabusa's family has also discovered the shopkeeper."

Hitori noticed a family of three standing in a row by the hot spring, talking and staring at Seika hiding behind a streetlamp. Ichiri felt a little unsure what to say.

In addition, there were the three people who openly followed them.

Is this tracking, tracking, tracking?

"Do the Hayabusa family and the shop manager know each other?" Ryo suddenly asked, looking at Seika.

Ikuyo thought for a moment, then shook her head.

I have no memory of ever knowing them.

"Me too, I've never heard of Hayabusa's family knowing the shop manager..." Hitori replied.

Liang laughed, a laugh of schadenfreude.

"Could it be that they don't even know they're both following Hayabusa? What if they noticed that they were both following Hayabusa, and also knew that they were family members of those two people?"

In an instant, Ikuyo's mind conjured up a terrifying image of the four people sitting in the coffee shop, their faces filled with embarrassment, unable to utter a sound for a long time.

She was dumbfounded.

That would be so embarrassing!

But Hitori had a different thought; what appeared in her mind was a terrifying scene resembling a three-way meeting.

On one side are Hayabusa's family whom he met at the most inopportune time; on the other side are Seika; and on yet another side are Hayabusa's girlfriends.

If that happened, she would definitely dig a hole and bury herself on the spot.

Thinking of this, cold sweat suddenly broke out on Hitori's forehead despite the freezing weather, and he turned and left in a panic.

"I... I want to go back."

Liang grabbed her, saying with utter disdain, "Bocchi, it's time to stand together."

At that moment, all she could think about was getting these two involved, so that the consequences of the failed tracking could be split equally.

As Liang pulled Hitori along, he also glanced at Ikuyo.

Ikuyo knew it was time for her to speak up. She hesitated for a moment, struggled internally, and then gritted her teeth and said...

"I still want to continue!"

Ryo pulled Hitori, who had originally intended to continue, stopped and sighed when she heard what Ikuyo said.

But as she and Liang watched Ikuyo struggle, they couldn't help but think...

It seems this guy is the one who's most obsessed with stalking, right?

Ishikawa Hayato said he wanted to get rid of Seika, but he wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he still led Nijika towards the Kama Jigoku.

Unlike before, this time he put his arm around Nijika's waist and led her forward.

Nijika followed Ishikawa Hayato, but seemed a little uncomfortable.

Her gaze lingered on Ishikawa Hayato and the roadside, and after a while, seeing that the pace of travel was still steady, she finally asked.

"Won't Hayato-kun dump his sister right away?"

I'm thinking about something.

As Ishikawa Hayato spoke, they could already see the entrance to the Kama Jigoku. The two approached one after another, Nijika noticed his gaze and also took out a stub of her ticket.

"What is it?" Nijika asked, turning her head to look at him.

"I'm thinking we're already dating, and it's not like we're doing anything wrong, so there's no need to deliberately avoid the store manager, right?"

Isn't walking side by side a perfectly normal thing for couples? There's no need to be shy even in front of family.

"But I'm just too embarrassed."

Nijika immediately objected. Her embarrassed expression when she denied it, and the way she clenched her fists and waved them lightly when she whispered her protest, were very cute.

Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but smile, but he quickly suppressed his smile after Nijika narrowed her eyes slightly.

"How about we shop around for a while first, and then see if she's gotten tired of it before lunch?"

"Having come all the way to Kyushu, I don't think I'll get tired of it so easily."

After making a sarcastic remark, Nijika continued, "In the end, how could my sister do something like this?"

Her tone indicated acceptance of the offer, and she tossed the tickets into the recycling bin before the two entered the Kama Jigoku.

"Hmph~" Ishikawa Hayato chuckled and patted his chest.

Nijika rolled her eyes at him. "I think my sister would never admit that she was corrupted by Hayato-kun."

"After what Nijika said, I'm now thinking of exposing the store manager."

Upon hearing Ishikawa Hayato's words, Nijika was about to ask Ishikawa Hayato who he wanted to go on a date with, but she felt helpless after seeing his smiling gaze.

"Don't use my sister's situation to tease me, really."