Chapter 83

The two students, who had violated their student duties, showed no remorse for skipping class; instead, they happily prepared to leave school on their own.

After sending a message to Kita on LINE, Ishikawa Hayato put away his instrument and stood up.

"Bocchi, are we going to practice again today?"

Bocchi quickly stood up, her movements suggesting that everything was fine except for going to school, she said hurriedly.

"No, no problem."

"Really? How about we dance?"

Ishikawa Hayato joked.

Without a second thought, Bocchi started dancing as Ishikawa Hayato had instructed.

Despite her efforts, her mud-catching dance only looked disappointing, especially considering she was wearing a tracksuit with a skirt.

After a couple of moments, she realized something was wrong, but since Ishikawa Hayato hadn't told her to stop, she didn't dare to stop at all; her expression just kept getting worse.

"Alright, alright, stop now that you realize you've been tricked."

Ishikawa Hayato said helplessly, and was about to step forward to stop Bocchi when Kita walked in from outside, carrying both of their schoolbags and personal belongings.

"Gotou-san, how is it?"

She opened the door and asked worriedly, but when she saw Bocchi struggling to jump and catch loaches, she froze in the doorway, dumbfounded.

Looking at the scene, she immediately realized it was Ishikawa Hayato who did it, and shouted angrily.

"Ishikawa-kun! How can you tease Gotou-san at a time like this!"

Bocchi was startled and hid to the side. When she saw that it was Kita who had called out, she worried that the two of them would start arguing, so she waved her hand and said...

"No, no, it's alright if it's Falcon."

Feeling that he would be branded with a bad reputation if he didn't explain, Ishikawa quickly spoke up.

"I just wanted to see how well she's recovered, you idiot."

Kita was taken aback, and his momentum immediately weakened.

"Oh."

She didn't apologize. Perhaps she needed to apologize to others, but apologizing to Ishikawa Hayato felt like she would be taken advantage of.

She returned all their belongings to them.

"Then let's go to STARRY next."

"Ishikawa Hayato said, and Bocchi nodded eagerly."

The three of them were walking along the road.

Ishikawa Hayato noticed that Bocchi was a little nervous, but it was a nervousness that was different from usual.

He asked, "Bocchi, are you really going? Nijika's birthday party is tonight."

Bocchi paused in his tracks.

"Yes, I want to go."

"How about you all stay next to me tonight?"

After Ishikawa Hayato finished speaking, he suddenly felt something was wrong and turned to look at Bocchi, who had fallen behind.

Bocchi raised her head, and against the backdrop of the ever-flowing crowd behind her, her expression was no longer tense or uneasy, as if she had cleared away all distracting thoughts.

Her bright, clear eyes looked past her bangs and fixed on Ishikawa Hayato, as if they held something indescribable, a beauty that was breathtaking.

She spoke softly, her voice carrying steadily to Ishikawa Hayato.

"Good."

Ishikawa Hayato suddenly felt that he might have misunderstood something, and the piercing gaze coming from Kita beside him was terrifying.

The look in his eyes was like that of a scumbag who would take advantage of a girl's emotional distress to attack her.

"It's just at the shop, but I'll take you home tonight."

Ishikawa Hayato explained helplessly, and then extended his hand.

Bocchi paused, lowered his head, and without any sign of disappointment, quickly stepped forward and extended his wrist.

But Ishikawa Hayato grabbed her hand directly.

She paused for a moment, blinked slowly, and took a few steps closer to Ishikawa Hayato.

Kita, who is usually the one flashing flashbang, was blinded by someone else for the first time.

This was the first time in her life she'd been publicly shamed by a couple—wait, these two probably haven't even confessed their feelings yet.

For some inexplicable reason, she began to find Ishikawa Hayato beside her repulsive.

Just as she was thinking of an excuse to escape.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Bocchi, who was quietly nestled beside him, trying to keep pace with him, and then at Kita, who was looking around as if searching for Kita.

"Speaking of which, what are you going to do now, you clueless idiot who doesn't know how to cooperate?"

Kita was taken aback, and immediately felt immense respect for the scumbag next to him.

He's holding hands with a girl who just expressed her complete infatuation with him, and they're already chatting? And about this kind of topic at that.

However, considering that this person could even talk about having a harem, she wasn't surprised at all.

She glanced at Bocchi and noticed that Bocchi was also looking at her, but his eyes held only curiosity, not wariness or repulsion. She hurriedly looked away.

She thought about it for a moment and then spoke.

"This is probably the only way things will continue."

She sighed, her yellowish-green eyes lingering on the shop signs.

"It wouldn't be good for my heart to cause something like this again. Anyway, I'm not planning on finding a boyfriend for the time being, so let's just stay like this."

After she finished speaking, as if to prevent someone from getting carried away or to avoid Bocchi from misunderstanding, she hurriedly issued a warning.

"Let me make this clear first, I only accept being mistaken for your girlfriend at school. If you dare to do anything strange to me, I won't hesitate to call the police!"

"I understand, Kita likes the rooftop."

Ishikawa Hayato's words instantly shattered her stern expression.

Her yellowish-green eyes glared at Ishikawa Hayato with murderous intent and shame, but because Bocchi was also there, she dared not lash out for a long time.

As she glared at Ishikawa Hayato, Bocchi scrutinized her face for a while, but said nothing, only moving closer to Ishikawa Hayato.

We arrived at the store.

The three who came directly after school were definitely earlier than Nijika and Liang.

Before entering the store, they saw that the sign at the entrance, which used to display the bands performing, now said it was closed for the night.

The three of them pushed open the door and walked into the store.

Inside the shop, Seika, unusually smiling, was diligently tying balloons to the ribbons hanging in the shop that day, with PA-san helping her along.

Seeing this scene, Ishikawa Hayato cleared his throat and began preparing some witty remarks.

His voice made the Seika tremble; she put down the balloon and turned to look.

I noticed that Ishikawa Hayato looked refreshed and was about to launch into a long speech.

She spoke first.

"You'll get paid for helping me; if you say anything other than 'yes,' your pay will be deducted."

"Yes."

After speaking, Ishikawa Hayato shut up, indicating his competence, and quickly stepped forward to pick up the balloons and begin working.

Seeing the festive scene behind them, and Ishikawa Hayato's smiling response, Kita and Bocchi quickly dispelled their previous gloomy mood. After putting down their bags, they hurriedly helped decorate the shop.

With the addition of Ishikawa Hayato, who possesses extraordinary abilities, the shop's decoration progress accelerated instantly, jumping from 70% to 97% completion.

After a busy half-day at high speed, Ishikawa Hayato looked at the LIVE HOUSE, which was basically finished with decorations.

This gloomy underground space was brightened up and made lovely by various pink, blue, red, and golden ribbons, balloons and other decorations, creating a colorful and charming atmosphere.

Two older women, along with Kita and Bocchi, were setting out drinks and freshly delivered snacks on a table they had pieced together.

He relaxed and sat down beside her, watching with a sense of enjoyment. Indeed, compared to all that nonsense, this kind of time was the best.

Seika glanced at him, but didn't mind his slacking off, and continued working.

Not long after, some light and hurried footsteps came down from upstairs, and Nijika's voice rang out from there.

"Don't be shy, this is my home, please make yourself at home."

Ishikawa Hayato knew his time to shine had come. He took out the angel-themed birthday crown he had just secretly made and ran towards Nijika, who was coming down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, he bowed exaggeratedly and presented Nijika with the special crown.

"Please let our angel wear the birthday crown."

Nijika's natural smile vanished instantly, and she stomped her foot angrily.

"Hayato-kun!"

However, their conversation elicited laughter from Nijika's friends.

Many of the people who came to Nijika's birthday party were friends who had attended her first performance. They immediately remembered Ishikawa Hayato's identity when they saw her here.

A young girl said with a smile.

"I remember now, you're from the Nijika Band..."

"Keyboardist, Ishikawa Hayato," Ishikawa Hayato replied with a smile, then greeted the room like a host, "Please come in, please come in."

Inside, Seika stared at him expressionlessly, while PA-san, wearing long sleeves, covered his mouth and chuckled as he watched the scene.

As soon as Nijika came down the stairs, Kita jumped out from behind the bar and congratulated her.

Happy birthday, Ijichi-senpai!

After saying that, he pulled open the paper firework in his hand, and with a snap, the paper firework jumped out.

Caught off guard by Kita attack, Nijika was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Thank you, Kita- chan." Then she immediately noticed that someone was missing and asked in confusion.

Where's Bocchi-chan?

Hearing Nijika call her, Bocchi stood up from inside.

She wore star-patterned party glasses and had two banners draped across her body, one of which read, "The World's Best Birthday Party Ambassador."

A message read, "The best birthday party for Angel Nijika."

Bocchi saw Ishikawa Hayato guiding Nijika's friends into the room. Seeing so many people, she said nervously.

"Happy birthday, Nijika."

Nijika stared blankly at her outfit, her bright red eyes widening in disbelief, before yelling angrily.

"Ishikawa-kun!!"

"Here it comes~"

Ishikawa Hayato rushed over like lightning. He had just finished guiding Nijika's friends and then sat down at the back of the table, where Ryo had been sitting.

He was still carrying a drink.

He had barely stopped walking when he asked, "Would you like coconut juice, milk, or our orange juice, which accounts for 53% of our sales?"

Nijika glanced at him blankly, clearly unable to do anything about it, and could only speak to Bocchi.

"Bocchi-chan, don't let Hayato-kun tease you, hurry up and take it off."

Bocchi reluctantly shrank back, saying, "It's okay, this is fine."

"That's right, this is the best hidden equipment."

Ishikawa Hayato said, and after he finished speaking, he went around behind Kita and Nijika and shoved the two of them.