Chapter 357
Ishikawa Hayato, having been interrupted, laughed and replied, "Okay~" but then playfully walked behind her and pinched her cheek.
Liang glanced at Ishikawa Hayato and then made no other move, letting him knead her.
This is considered compensation for Ishikawa Hayato's hard work composing with her during this period, and for giving her the lead composer position.
But Nijika felt quite helpless looking at it.
Is this really the state of mind needed to compose good music? It feels like they're just playing around.
Nijika walked over with a smile, picked up the mouse, quickly found the replay button on the computer, and pressed it.
The next moment, in the rehearsal room with its excellent sound recording, the piece that Ryo and Ishikawa Hayato had composed together began to play.
The gentle melody, as if it were wrapped around your fingers, lightly travels from your fingertips to your heart, bringing a sense of tranquility to your soul.
Nijika gradually froze, her eyes blankly shifting to Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo, lingering on the two of them.
She only said it blankly after the piece ended.
"This song Kohaku Uta Gassen this year."
She suddenly felt that this year was a year of complete transformation for them. Their music was no longer something that only a select few could appreciate; it didn't require them to overcome obstacles step by step.
If a song is catchy enough, and you're willing to put in the effort to spread it, you can become famous overnight.
This song alone is enough to make them famous overnight.
Ishikawa Hayato was not surprised by Nijika's reaction; after his discussion, the song did indeed have a different feel to it.
He left Liang from behind and walked up to Nijika, then flicked her forehead with his finger.
"Don't put so much pressure on Hitori."
Nijika covered her forehead and looked at Hitori. Seeing that Yili was worriedly clasping her hands to her chest, she quickly denied what she had just said.
"Just kidding, just kidding! I was just startled by the music, Bocchi-chan, don't be nervous."
But she still felt that this piece could definitely be made into a great song.
"So Kohaku Uta Gassen anymore?"
Just then, Ryo came to disrupt things again, pulling Ishikawa Hayato, who immediately adopted a similar expression, with a wronged look on his face, and said to Nijika.
Their feigned pitifulness had no effect on Nijika; instead, they ended up getting a punch in return.
She looked at Ishikawa Hayato with teary eyes; only she had been hit, while Ishikawa Hayato was completely unharmed.
When Ishikawa Hayato stood there triumphantly with his hands on his hips, and Ryo's expression turned blank, Nijika said to Hitori, "Bocchi-chan, don't be nervous, there's plenty of time. Everyone will support you and Ikuyo-chan later."
She didn't put all the pressure on Hitori, but shared some with Ikuyo.
The five of them had long since become a team; even though they had different roles, they still helped each other out.
Ikuyo Hitori at Yudai beside her and breathed a slight sigh of relief upon seeing the determined smile on Ikuyo's face.
But... everyone will support her and Ikuyo...
Hitori secretly glanced at Ishikawa Hayato, who was still playing with Ryo on the side, and asked Nijika.
"Um, the support is...?"
Nijika walked up behind Ryo and Ishikawa Hayato, who were still playing around, and put her hand on their shoulders.
"From now on, these two will listen to you."
"Eh~" Liang reluctantly made a sound.
But Ishikawa Hayato smiled slightly; Nijika's actions had inadvertently entered his plan.
He's a pragmatic person and he values timing.
There could be no better time than for them to achieve a major milestone.
Composing music with Ryo, writing lyrics with Hitori, practicing with the five of them—the formula to ensure victory!
Thinking this to himself, Ishikawa Hayato walked up to Hitori and teased him in a seemingly ingratiating manner.
"Alright! From today onwards, I'll be Hitori Ichiri's male servant. Hitori, would you like a drink, a massage, or perhaps..."
Ikuyo noticed the panicked look on Ichiri's Hitori when he heard Ishikawa Hayato mention male servants.
When Ishikawa Hayato mentioned drinking beverages, she excitedly bit her lip; when she talked about massage, her body trembled slightly; and finally, amidst Ishikawa Hayato's meaningful hesitation, her face turned completely red.
Ikuyo turned her gaze to Ishikawa Hayato, her expression turning disgusted.
"Hayato-kun, can Ichiri-chan still write music like this?"
Nijika also shouted angrily.
"Hey, hey, hey, I asked you to help Bocchi-chan, not in that way!"
"But it works."
Behind the group, Liang, who had composed a song destined to become a classic, casually raised her long legs, which were covered in black stockings, picked up her cup, took a sip of tea, and said calmly.
Nijika turned her head weakly and asked Liang.
"What kind of twisted logic do you have now?"
"Because it's rock music," Ishikawa Hayato said for Ryo.
Liang nodded in satisfaction, a proud expression on her face that said, "He's definitely someone I chose."
Hitori nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes."
Nijika was so angry with the group that she couldn't speak.
But soon the house was in chaos again, and Nijika taught them a lesson one by one. Ikuyo even went to help Nijika.
The five of them started playing around again.
Time flies by when you're composing and practicing.
The third semester after spring break quickly came to an end, and for students, it marked the start of a new academic year.
Ishikawa Hayato, Hitori, Ikuyo have moved up to the second year of high school, while Nijika and Ryo have moved up to the third year.
April marks the start of the new school term.
This is also the last time of year when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
Hitori her guitar on her back and a canvas bag in her hand, Ichiri got off the tram and couldn't wait to walk towards school along the street that seemed to be adorned with cherry blossoms.
She had only been home for a day, but the urge to see her friends and Ishikawa Hayato was already overwhelming.
The longer she spent with Nijika, Ryo, and Ikuyo, the more she could feel how much they valued the group.
Before, when they were having fun, they played wholeheartedly. Now, when they get serious, they practice diligently every day. During that period, even Liang, who seemed uninterested in songwriting, would occasionally come to check on their songwriting progress.
Ikuyo and Hayabusa also helped her a lot with the lyrics, giving her advice and helping her revise them. Nijika even treated her like a test taker.
This is a very close-knit and reassuring home.
As I was thinking, I felt we were almost there, Hitori looked ahead.
Ishikawa Hayato and Ikuyo were already standing at the intersection talking, clearly waiting for her. She immediately crossed the road and ran over.
"Falcon."
Slightly out of breath, Hitori stopped beside Ishikawa Hayato and called his name softly.
"You're here." Ishikawa Hayato looked at her casually and took her hand.
Ikuyo peeked out from beside her, smiling at Hitori, "Good morning, Ichiri-chan."
Good morning, Ikuyo-chan.
The three greeted each other and headed towards the school.
"I'm so looking forward to the new semester! I wonder how we'll be divided into classes." Ikuyo said happily, like a carefree optimist, but then suddenly realized something, jumped forward joyfully, and turned to the two of them.
"Ah, I wish the three of us could be in the same class."
"Yes!" Ikuyo felt even better and more expectant Hitori saw that Yudai thought the same way.
Even if things go badly, it won't be worse than last year when she was alone in other classes. But if possible, she still hopes the three of them can be in the same class so they can spend more time together.
Upon hearing what the two said, Ishikawa Hayato, unusually, didn't say anything, but simply smiled.
Ikuyo and Hitori waited for a while, but when they didn't hear him speak, they looked at him with suspicion.
Ikuyo's expression gradually transformed into one of shock and anticipation, as if to say, "Impossible!"
Hitori guessed it was possible, and his eyes lit up.
The three changed the subject.
"There's only one month left before the vote-soliciting begins, right? You've already sent a message in the fan group, haven't you, Ikuyo?" Ishikawa Hayato asked casually.
"Hey, we haven't confirmed that the review has been approved yet, have we?" Hitori asked worriedly.
They just sent out their demo pieces last week, and they still need to be reviewed by the organizers before moving on to the next stage: online voting.
Although Hitori was still asking this question, the five of them had already finished the music video.
After all, once approved, the music video needs to be uploaded for online voting; it's impossible to wait until it passes the review before making the music video.
Otsuki Yuyuko also secretly inquired about the situation here. The others didn't hide anything from her and even showed her the music video. She went back, gritting her teeth with jealousy after seeing the artistic music video.
"I've already spoken to them!" Ikuyo replied to Ishikawa Hayato first, then solemnly pointed to Hitori and said.
"Ichiri-chan, it's really not right for Hayato-kun to say something like that before we've even released the demo, but since it's already been released, we have to trust our demo!"
Even after spending so much time together, Hitori still doesn't quite understand some of Ikuyo's ideas about being a "normative person".
What's the difference?
It's just a difference between not sending it and sending it, right? And whether you're proud or worried during either period won't affect the actual result, will it?
While Hitori was thinking, the three of them had already entered the school.
I walked through the school gate, across the courtyard, and toward the school building.
Just then, a loud 'bang' sound suddenly came from afar.
Both Ikuyo and Hitori looked in that direction.
Under the blue sky, a baseball rapidly expanded in their field of vision, but as they hesitated, unsure if they would be hit, a hand reached out and caught the baseball with the ease of catching a ball.
They looked down along the hand and saw Ishikawa Hayato's handsome face adorned with an even more handsome, helpless smile.
"You two owe me one more time."
As Ishikawa Hayato spoke, he swung the ball back. The seemingly effortless motion sent the baseball flying through the air like a bullet, hitting the catcher's glove and sending him sprawling to the ground.
Immediately, exaggerated screams erupted from the sports field.
Hitori and Ikuyo immediately snapped out of their daze upon hearing Ishikawa Hayato's voice.
Ikuyo recalled the trajectory of the baseball that couldn't possibly have hit them, tilted her head slightly, her hair fluttering as she said confidently, "Okay, what does Hayato-kun want to do?"
"Yes!" Hitori nodded, looking at Ishikawa Hayato expectantly.
"Keep it for now."
Ishikawa Hayato noticed that the students from the other side of the playground were chasing after them, so he quickly pulled the two of them into the school building.
Ikuyo glanced at the playground, smiled, and looked back at Ishikawa Hayato, following in his footsteps.
"Hayato-kun should participate in more activities; he could be even more handsome."
Upon entering the school building, Ishikawa Hayato changed into indoor shoes and said...
"Then you're going to have more rivals in love."
"Whether or not you cheat depends on your own actions, Hayato-kun. There are plenty of rivals, and someone like Hayato-kun is bound to have many girls who like him."
Ikuyo wasn't nervous at all; she casually put the shoes into the shoe cabinet.
Hitori the topic came up, secretly observing Ishikawa Hayato's expression.
She's not the same person she used to be; she no longer has any expectations for new friends.
After all, making friends might take up more of her time with Falcon.
Conversely, the same applies to Ishikawa Hayato finding a new girlfriend.