Chapter 86

"As long as you ask me seriously, I can tell you the truth."

Looking at him, Nijika hesitated for a long time before asking with a barely perceptible tremor in her voice.

"So... did Ryo go on a date with you too?"

Ishikawa Hayato remained truthful, looking at Nijika as he spoke.

"Although it wasn't called a date, the two of us went out to have some fun."

"Is that so, Hayato-kun? You really are..."

Nijika was a little unsure of what to do. She put her hands behind her back and noticed the unevenness of the cement floor. She tried to press the unevenness with her foot, but it was clear that she couldn't smooth it out.

She took a breath, then stepped back half a step. She looked up at the few faint stars and said in a low, lonely voice.

"A harem... it feels a bit unreal. Can Hayato-kun make everyone happy?"

"If I start doing it, it means I have a certain level of confidence that I can do it."

Nijika's gaze met Ishikawa Hayato's. Looking at his handsome face, she thought of his strength, which usually seemed to only reveal the tip of the iceberg, and his reliable behavior.

She felt a little uneasy.

"Is it alright to stop here?"

Ishikawa Hayato did not avoid her gaze, but looked at her with great determination, as if he were unleashing all his emotions without fear, and speaking to her.

"If I decide to have a harem, I will try my best to include Nijika in it."

Nijika panicked, averted her gaze, and asked in a strongly trembling voice.

"Why?"

Ishikawa Hayato didn't press him further; he also looked at the sky like Nijika.

"Because, since I've become a womanizer, I should try to take in any girls around me that I don't trust, and take care of them myself."

Nijika didn't ask him how he managed to take care of her, and instead put on an inscrutable smile, concealing her true thoughts.

"Me? I'm worried? What are you talking about, Hayato-kun?"

Ishikawa Hayato said to her with a smile.

"Because Nijika likes to be strong. I know that Nijika is impulsive sometimes, and then she tries her best to hold on. Seeing her like that makes me feel uneasy."

Nijika pursed her lips and called out urgently.

"Let's go back!"

After saying that, she turned and ran back as if fleeing.

77. Sea and Sky

Saturday morning finally arrived.

Sitting on the waiting seat at the station, Bocchi recalled the time last night when Nijika pulled him aside for a private talk.

When asked about her dreams, he also congratulated her in advance on being with Ishikawa Hayato, and reminded her to keep an eye on Ishikawa Hayato and not let him be unfaithful.

As Bocchi thought about it, a happy smile spread across his face, but he quickly snapped back to reality.

She definitely couldn't control the falcon; in fact, she simply hoped it wouldn't stray too far from her.

That's why I confessed my feelings.

Moreover... she recalled every moment she had spent with Ishikawa Hayato recently. Hayato always kept a safe distance from her, ready to help her in times of trouble, but then retreating to a safe distance afterward.

She felt like she was making a suicidal confession, but it was also a confession that took all the courage she had in her life.

I don't want to delay any longer.

Good morning, Bocchi.

Bocchi raised his head and looked ahead.

In bright, pale blue light that carried little warmth.

Ishikawa Hayato, wearing a white T-shirt and a short-sleeved shirt over it, stepped off the train and seemed to spot her immediately, raising his hand to greet her.

Bocchi pulled the canvas bag by the handle onto his shoulder, stood up, and walked towards the person he liked.

Although she had considered trying on other clothes, none of them suited her taste, and she didn't know what kind of clothing Ishikawa Hayato liked.

In the end, with time running out, she opted for sportswear.

She had it all planned out: if her confession failed, it would be the fault of her gym uniform.

Emerging from the station, she found herself on a familiar road she had only visited once before.

"It's been almost a month since we last went out."

"Ah, yes."

Bocchi responded instinctively and quickly. Her gaze had been fixed on Ishikawa Hayato's hand, which swayed naturally with his steps, without any intention of taking her hand.

She didn't know what she was feeling when she said that.

"Hayabusa, this time... are we riding bicycles again?"

That's right.

Very good.

"Speaking of which, that car was really durable last time. I wonder if the boss has fixed it yet."

Ah, the Love Love Special.

Bocchi also felt a surge of anticipation; he hoped he could get on that bus again.

But a few minutes later...

"What? You're not lending me that car anymore?"

Ishikawa Hayato cried out in disbelief.

"The Love Love Special can only be lent out once, and besides, someone as ungrateful as you, I absolutely will not lend it to you a second time!"

Sigh... The boss's shout cast a shadow over Bocchi's heart.

"Are there any other cars?"

Ishikawa Hayato asked again.

For some reason, Bocchi wanted to stop him, to ask him to try again to talk to the boss, but in the end he gave up.

"Alright, but don't be violent like last time."

The boss sighed and walked towards the back warehouse.

Practice makes perfect.

After Ishikawa Hayato patted the seat, Bocchi sat on the back of the bicycle. The seat was somewhat different from the one he remembered.

This time, as the bicycle started moving forward, she deliberately ignored the backward pushing force and leaned against Ishikawa Hayato's back, just like last time.

I hope I won't get yelled at by the falcon...

Bocchi thought, supporting Ishikawa Hayato's waist.

Ishikawa Hayato simply made a nonchalant teasing remark.

"Bocchi's body is so flexible."

Feeling that he hadn't been rejected, Bocchi's lips curled up slightly as he responded.

"Um."

The wind was a bit strong near the sea, but Bocchi felt quite comfortable.

The fierce wind didn't feel like it was going to blow her away, because she was holding someone who made her feel very safe.

The sun is warm, but not very hot.

The falcon was riding very fast, so fast that it felt a little cold around it.

But it's okay, it's not cold behind him.

Bocchi closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the cool breeze, the distant sound of the sea, and the occasional bird call.

Cars occasionally sped past her, making a whooshing sound.

She remained completely unperturbed.

Ishikawa Hayato said something as he could feel the bicycle starting to slow down.

"Bocchi, we've arrived."

She then felt the surrounding temperature begin to drop.

As she got off the bicycle, the sunlight lingered on her back, but the warm summer sun didn't make her feel warm; instead, she felt a chill in her chest.

Maybe I shouldn't confess at all.

That's fine.

As she was thinking this, Ishikawa Hayato had already parked the car in the haystack, walked over, and took her hand.

"Let's go, let's enjoy a sunbath in the Maldives!"

He was as excited as a child going on a spring outing.

Bocchi followed in his footsteps.

Sitting cross-legged on the waterproof sheet that she and Hayabusa had laid out together, Bocchi glanced at Ishikawa Hayato lying beside her.

He stretched out his hands like a mischievous child, as if wanting to bask in more sunlight.

After enjoying himself for a while, he said lazily with a smile.

"Sunbathing is like grilling fish; you grill one side, then grill the other, or deep-fry until both sides are golden brown."

Hearing his joking words, Bocchi was in a state of confusion and didn't know how to respond.

I could only give a soft "hmm".

She felt all the courage she had ever had was disappearing, and her mood became increasingly depressed.

Lying on the ground, watching Bocchi gradually revert to his withdrawn state, Ishikawa Hayato sighed inwardly.

He had hoped to explain things when the atmosphere was better, but it seemed that Bocchi's mood wasn't going to improve.

To prevent Bocchi from running away because he was afraid to listen to his story.

He took Bocchi's hand and sat up amidst her surprised and uncertain gaze.

"Bocchi, I'm so sorry for the delay in telling you this. Let me explain now."

In a panic, Bocchi braced himself on the ground, ready to run away, but when he realized his hands were being grabbed, he lost all momentum and sat back down.

Her gaze wavered, she blinked a few times, and a faint mist filled her eyes, as if she were prepared for anything terrible to happen.

Once they arrived at this place where he could relax and speak freely, Ishikawa Hayato didn't keep them in suspense and got straight to the point.

"First, let me make this clear, Bocchi, I like you." He paused. "While it's not quite love, I definitely like you."

Just from those words, you could already tell that Bocchi was happy.

"A girl as cute, well-behaved, and interesting as Bocchi is probably the ideal type for many men, even though Bocchi is a bit eccentric."

"Eh..."

Bocchi stared at him dumbfounded. His pitiful and sorrowful appearance was quite adorable, with faint tears welling up in his eyes, making him look very endearing.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and calmed down to speak.

"But I dare not get too close to Bocchi, dare not be too intimate with you, because I'm afraid that if you're with me, you'll just become like a pet that Ishikawa Hayato keeps."

Bocchi blinked, trying hard to hold back his tears.

Then she looked up and met Ishikawa Hayato's gaze for a moment, before quickly lowering her head again, her gaze seemingly lingering on his chest, as if she had understood what Ishikawa Hayato meant.