Chapter 77

"Nijika is so gentle~"

Finally, Nijika, looking helpless, glanced cautiously at her sister who was busy in the warehouse and loudly reminded her.

"Sister, I'm going back now."

Seika's response came from inside the warehouse.

"Oh."

Nijika then quickly waved, signaling the others to follow.

She clearly knew how terrifying the struggle would be if Seika found out what she had done.

Seeing Nijika sneaking around doing something naughty for the first time, Ishikawa Hayato also got into character and followed her furtively.

Behind him was Kita, who seemed helpless yet somehow had a certain Kita.

There's also Bocchi, who wanted to say something at the beginning but dared not say anything, and Liang, who was yawning and feeling sleepy.

After leaving STARRY, they went directly into the apartment next door.

Take the elevator up.

While telling the others about her family situation, Nijika also mentioned that Liang often stayed overnight here, which made Kita and Bocchi feel more relaxed.

At the same time, I noticed Ishikawa Hayato, and after he took out his phone to check the time, he smiled with relief.

Nijika's house was deserted, dark and quiet, as if it had been submerged in water.

Suddenly, there was a sound of a key being inserted, and then the door was opened.

"I'm back."

In the house where no one responded, Nijika's voice came on as the lights came on, instantly filling the house with a sense of tranquility.

"Excuse me~" came the mixed male and female voice.

The sound of slippers being placed could be heard.

"Please don't be shy, everyone, come in."

Nijika's home is a fairly ordinary Japanese-style apartment, with pure white walls and light wood furniture, which looks clean and warm.

The kitchen is open-plan, and the dining table is placed very close to the kitchen.

It's as if when someone in the family is cooking, everyone can watch over each other or lend a hand.

Further inside is the living room, where several dolls are placed on the sofa.

Nijika didn't linger in the living room; she led the group through the straight corridor beside the living room.

She opened her door and spoke to the three younger men.

This is my room.

After saying that, she led the way inside.

Kita followed her into the room, and upon entering, she was surprised by the unexpected interior design, which made her look around in astonishment.

"Ijichi-senpai's room is completely different from what I imagined."

As Kita said, Nijika's room and the feeling she gives off are completely different.

From the table, carpet, curtains, and even the clothes rack, some ornaments, and the colors of various objects and furniture, everything exudes a subcultural vibe, so exaggerated that it's almost unbearable.

Behind Kita was Ryo, half asleep and half awake, as if she had entered auto-follow mode.

Finally, there was Ishikawa Hayato standing at the door of the room, and Bocchi, who seemed to be repelled by an invisible barrier, peeking in with a hint of fear.

Upon hearing Kita's words, Nijika sighed.

"That's cool..." she said, then realized she couldn't explain it properly and changed her mind.

Please make yourself at home.

Stepping into the room, Nijika thought about the rest of the evening's arrangements. Her room was well soundproofed, so Kita and Bocchi could practice for a while.

With so many people at night, they can only sleep on blankets. As for showering...

After confirming, she turned around and noticed the two people standing outside the door. She asked them in confusion.

"Hayato-kun? Bocchi-chan?"

When asked the question, Bocchi panicked. She glanced around the room, then at Nijika, her eyes darting around rapidly.

After trying for a long time but still not daring to step into the room, she sighed but tried to force a smile as if admiringly saying, "I admire you."

Wow... wow, what a beautiful room!

She wouldn't dare go into such a stylish room!

Nijika stared at her blankly.

Is her room really that hard to get into?

Meanwhile, Kita, who had just entered the room, looked around Kita, feeling that the room and Nijika didn't match at all.

She couldn't help but point to the somewhat flashy-looking coat on the wall and ask Nijika.

"Ijichi-senpai, is this your outfit?"

Nijika thought that Ishikawa Hayato was with Bocchi, so she didn't need to worry too much about her, and then looked at Kita.

She glanced at the clothes, then at Ryo, who had rudely lay down on her bed, and said to Kita.

"It's cold."

Kita:???

Kita tentatively pointed to the niche comics on the bookshelf.

"This comic is..."

"That one's cold too."

"This toy, whose purpose is unclear, is..."

"It's cold too..."

Kita's expression froze, and she asked blankly.

"Is this Ijichi-senpai's room?"

Nijika sighed and walked to her bedside, sitting in the spot not occupied by Liang, and said with a helpless smile.

"This is the only space that belongs to me."

Kita glanced at the small space that Nijika claimed to be her own; the bed had already been taken over by Ryo-senpai, and the curtains were clearly in Ryo-senpai's preferred style.

Even in that corner, apart from the bed, the dolls, and the drum mat, nothing else looked like belonging to Ijichi-senpai.

Kita was puzzled.

On the other side.

Ishikawa Hayato patted Bocchi on the shoulder.

Bocchi, feeling uneasy, flinched and cautiously glanced at Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato walked in, as if he were the master of the room, and invited Bocchi.

"Bocchi, please come in without making a fuss."

Bocchi hesitated for several seconds, glanced at Ishikawa Hayato again, before taking a step and crossing the dividing line.

Ishikawa Hayato reached out and patted her head with satisfaction, ruffling it without any hesitation.

"So nice, so cute!"

Like a small animal, Bocchi wore a comfortable and soft smile. Lost in thought with a relieved smile, she was pulled by Ishikawa Hayato to sit at the table in Nijika's room.

After Ishikawa Hayato finished dealing with her, he spoke to Nijika, who was sitting on the bed.

"I'll head back now, or I'll be late for the tram."

Seeing the situation, Nijika smiled, stood up, and walked towards him.

"Let me walk you to the door."

After leaving the room, with only the two of them remaining, Ishikawa Hayato and Nijika didn't exchange any words as they walked down the quiet corridor.

However, it seemed that Nijika was brewing something.

It wasn't until Ishikawa Hayato walked to the entrance and changed into his own shoes that he heard this.

As Nijika watched him put on his shoes, she could clearly sense that Ishikawa Hayato's attention had shifted.

Only then did she dare to speak.

"Hayato-kun, thank you for today, and for many other things before today."

Ishikawa Hayato paused, looked up, and stared at Nijika.

Seeing Nijika's earnest expression of gratitude, he said casually.

"I'm glad Nijika didn't find me troublesome, and besides, Nijika is so cute, I couldn't help but help her."

Nijika smiled, then, as if remembering something, asked back with a hint of resentment.

"Cute? Isn't that Mommy?"

Upon hearing this, Ishikawa Hayato's expression suddenly turned serious. He tensed up, as if he had something important to say.

His expression startled Nijika.

"W-what's wrong?"

But then Ishikawa Hayato spoke.

"Oh no, Nijika is so cute, I really want to take Nijika home."

Nijika sighed deeply, exasperated by this guy, and offered him a smile as she tried to comfort him.

"Hurry up, we'll miss the tram!"

Ishikawa Hayato turned his back, and with an air of unwavering determination, raised his hand as if he were an anime protagonist heading to a place of certain death.

"Ishikawa Hayato, now begin, full speed ahead home!"

Then, he opened the door and saw Seika standing outside with a puzzled expression.

"Ah..."

Seika looked at him, then at her younger sister, and then confirmed that she was indeed at home.

Amidst their terrified expressions.

She lowered her head, her silence like the calm before a volcanic eruption, and called out, word by word.

"Ishi... Kawa...!"

But before she could finish speaking, Ishikawa Hayato dodged past her and dashed away, shouting arrogantly as he did so.

"Manager, your wind-up is way too long!! Hahaha!"

"I'm absolutely going to kill you!!"

After Ishikawa Hayato's joyful shout, came the roar of a volcanic eruption.

72. Heart of a flower

The last tram was eerily quiet; the cold, white lights seemed to illuminate a deathly wasteland.

On the train, amidst the weary crowd or those whose faces reflected the white light of their cell phones, Ishikawa Hayato leaned back in his seat, a sweet smile on his face that seemed to indicate he had just finished a date with his girlfriend, setting him apart from the others.

He went to Nijika's house only to fulfill a promise he made to Bocchi's mother.

After all, that's what Bocchi's mother said on the phone back then.

"I trust Hayato-kun more than anyone else. If possible, please take care of Hitori."

He answered.