Bocchi knew she didn't have what it took to escape from a strong man, so to avoid getting hurt, she obediently followed him inside.
Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. Even though I was such a useless daughter, you'll never see me again.
Just as she was about to cry,
Ishikawa Hayato asked the counter in a grave, tense voice,
"Boss, give me one of those."
Sitting behind the counter was a big, burly owner with a broad chest and thick arms. He wore a filthy apron and had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He stubbed it out in an ashtray, exhaled, and a white cloud of smoke spread through the air.
"That's against the law."
As if he had made up his mind, Ishikawa Hayato sighed.
"I know."
Behind him, tears sprayed from Bocchi's eyes.
No! At least... at least use anesthetic.
Futari, I'm sorry. I never took good care of you before. Ah, though it seemed like Futari didn't need me to take care of her.
"Wait a moment."
The owner sighed, as though lamenting the boy's path of no return.
Watching this scene, Bocchi felt that her end was near. Every memory in her life flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.
Nijika, Ryo, Kita, I'm sorry I won't be able to play with you anymore!
Just as Bocchi began repenting for her entire life, the owner pushed out a bicycle.
It was a lady's bike that was seventy percent new, with a reinforced rear seat.
Ordinary bicycle rental shops didn't rent out this kind of bike.
"I'll say this one last time: carrying someone on a bike is against the law. You..." The owner glanced at the trembling girl standing behind Ishikawa Hayato and sighed.
"The bike's in excellent condition, so don't worry."
With a nostalgic smile, as if recalling better days, he pushed the bike over to Ishikawa Hayato.
Ishikawa Hayato held out his hand.
The owner clasped it, and the two shook hands firmly.
"Mm."
Love
After paying, they left the bicycle rental shop.
Ishikawa Hayato pushed the bike a few steps to check its condition. At the same time, he surveyed the area, making sure there were no police around, before speaking to the bewildered Bocchi.
"Bocchi, get on."
"Um... carrying someone on a bike is against the law..."
Bocchi lowered her head. Though she couldn't see them herself, her little feet in loafers shuffled backward.
Now that she knew what was going on, Bocchi had already apologized to Ishikawa Hayato in her heart for misunderstanding him earlier.
But getting on the bike was a different matter.
If they got caught by the police for carrying a passenger... just imagining it scared her.
Holding the bike steady, Ishikawa Hayato asked the retreating girl,
"It's nearly four kilometers from here to our destination. Can you walk that far, Bocchi?"
"Ah..."
Bocchi looked up in surprise, realizing that Ishikawa Hayato had rented the bike because he was thinking of her.
Someone was actually being this nice to her!
As she felt touched, the unease in her heart gradually faded, and she suddenly wanted to throw caution to the wind.
She began to waver.
Seeing her like this, the boy who had been learning keyboard for less than a month declared shamelessly,
"It's fine. We're band people. To rock, the law is just a piece of paper."
He flashed a brilliant smile and raised his thumb.
Ishikawa really seemed like a dangerous person...
Bocchi thought to herself.
And... you're going to ruin people's impression of rock!
In the end, Bocchi still got on the bicycle.
She placed her bag between the two seats, sat astride the rear seat, gripped the back of it, and put her feet on the little pegs beside the rear axle.
Once she was settled, she looked at the sturdy back in front of her and softly said,
"Um... Ishikawa... I'm ready."
Ishikawa Hayato looked back at her decidedly unladylike sitting posture.
He didn't mind it at all. Instead, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Hold on tight. Don't fall off."
Bocchi:?
The next instant, the force of acceleration threw her head backward. Afraid of falling off, she hurriedly sat upright, but used too much force and slammed into Ishikawa Hayato's back.
Bocchi froze.
Wh-what do I do? I-I'm going to get killed.
I actually did something like that.
To Ishikawa, the law was just a piece of paper.
Then, a hand suddenly pressed against her lower back.
"You didn't fall off, did you?"
She was a little tense at being touched so suddenly, but hearing the unexpected concern in his voice, Bocchi felt a little happy.
She looked ahead. Apart from the broad back in front of her, all she could see was the passing scenery.
No one was looking at her.
And she was completely relying on the boy in front of her.
If Ishikawa hadn't been joking that day... then she probably would have been able to experience this kind of happiness.
But she could tell that Ishikawa was an amazing person. He definitely wouldn't choose someone like her...
Only then did she suddenly realize that she hadn't answered Ishikawa Hayato's earlier question.
But so much time had passed already... wouldn't it be strange to answer now?
She opened her mouth, gathered her courage, and said,
"I'm fine... Um, what about you, Ishikawa?"
She asked after him too.
But unlike what she had imagined, Ishikawa Hayato answered with laughter in his voice.
"Hitori, that hurt a lot when you crashed into me."
"But it felt really cute. The feeling of your little head bumping into me was so interesting. I really want to pat it."
Eeeh?!
He was happy about it!
Bocchi's face instantly turned red. She pressed her lips tightly together, holding back both her embarrassment and delight.
At the same time, something stirred in her heart, and a sentence slipped out for no reason.
"Um, can I lean against you?"
What... what had she just said?! Even if she got carried away, this wasn't the time.
As she regretfully wished for a time machine or some other way to erase that moment,
"Sure. I'd love that."
Ishikawa Hayato's delighted voice came from in front of her.
He actually... agreed...
A gentle breeze brushed past her. The bicycle chain clicked and hummed softly, and Bocchi felt her face burning up.
The wind was so cold. I'll just lean on him a little. Ishikawa agreed, she told herself.
Gently, she rested her forehead against Ishikawa Hayato's back.
It felt very firm...
Ishikawa's back was strong... and as he pedaled, the muscles in his back moved as well, radiating a powerful presence from within.
His clothes also carried a fresh, clean scent.
Being behind him made her feel safe. It was different from being in her closet, but the sense of security was the same.
Was this what boys felt like?
After indulging in that feeling for a moment, just as she wanted to wrap both arms around him, Bocchi suddenly came to her senses.
Wait, didn't she look like some kind of pervert right now?!
That was close, that was close. Her life had almost ended.
Ishikawa was someone far beyond her reach.
Just as Bocchi's desire to find a boyfriend grew ever stronger, she heard Ishikawa Hayato say,
"My life is complete. Taking a beautiful girl for a ride on a bicycle really is the most romantic thing in life."
A beautiful girl? Was he talking about her?
As she had no idea how to respond, Ishikawa Hayato continued,
"And her shy little head is pressed against my back. It's super cute."
He was talking about her!
Bocchi was both embarrassed and delighted. After taking a while to steady her emotions, she suppressed the voice that was about to float away and said,
"Um, I'm not a beautiful girl... I'm not pretty, and besides..."
Before she could finish, the bicycle quickly slowed down, and Ishikawa Hayato said,
"We're here."
So soon?!
Bocchi was startled, and a feeling of loss welled up inside her.
With the sound of brakes, the bicycle coasted for several seconds before coming to a stop.
Bocchi lowered her head. It was normal for her words to be ignored; she had long since gotten used to it.
After the bicycle stopped, she looked around.
They were now on a mountain village path that stretched so far it vanished from sight.
Birdsong and something like the sound of ocean waves drifted over from afar. She turned her head and saw a stretch of grassland on the right side of the road.
Before you continue