Chapter 98

Ishikawa Hayato saw them off.

The five people walked side by side in the setting sun.

Nijika's face darkened, and she gave him a disgusted look. "It's a disaster for Hibiki to have an older brother like you."

"But it's so nice to have siblings, it makes me so happy."

Kita smiled, a hint of envy in his voice.

Her words made Nijika and Bocchi think. One thought of her proud and arrogant older sister, and the other thought of her cunning younger sister.

The two awkwardly looked away.

Nijika: "Hmm, ah, yes."

Bocchi, "I feel like my sister looks down on me at home..."

Liang then said, "It's better to be alone; having siblings at home feels like too much trouble."

"But friends can also be like brothers and sisters, Kita, it's okay if you call me Onii-chan."

Kita's expression turned cold. "Ishikawa-kun, what month were you born in?"

"March."

"Gurgle~" Kita let out a reluctant cry.

Her birthday is in April, a month after Ishikawa Hayato's, which means you should call her Ishikawa Hayato older brother).

"Well, don't take Hayato-kun's words too seriously."

Nijika smiled and waved her hand, but then she heard Ishikawa Hayato say something.

"Sister Nijika, Sister Ryo ~"

Nijika was taken aback. Just as she was feeling a little happy, she heard Liang's footsteps approaching.

She turned her head and saw Ryo looking at Ishikawa Hayato with a look of disgust. She immediately snapped out of it and changed her attitude instantly.

"I don't want a younger brother like Hayato-kun. It would be too dangerous for me to be your older sister."

"Impossible!"

Ishikawa Hayato declared confidently, "If Nijika were my older sister, I would sit and wait outside the bathroom every day, determined to protect Nijika safety, and perhaps even record some audio..."

"Hey hey hey!!!" Nijika shouted, her face flushed, trying to cover up the perverted words she was about to say.

The other two also quietly distanced themselves from this pervert.

As they were talking, Ishikawa Hayato saw the station coming into view and looked around at the four of them with a hint of regret.

"Are you sure you don't need me to take you back? You can stay here overnight if you want..."

Nijika said with a smile that contained a hidden threat.

"Hayato-kun."

Ishikawa Hayato closed his mouth like a zipper, and Nijika nodded in satisfaction, but then glanced at her friends beside her without leaving a trace, and let out a soft sigh.

After saying goodbye to the girl at the station, Ishikawa Hayato went home.

As soon as he opened the door, he saw Xiang standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, looking disgusted.

Despite having witnessed it many times, he still had to admire Hibiki's mastery of the face-changing skill.

She's almost as good as him.

Hibiki saw Ishikawa Hayato enter and sighed.

"That's really perverted, openly running a harem."

Ishikawa Hayato didn't seem to care about Hibiki's tone at all, and went inside after changing his shoes with a smile.

Caught off guard, he pressed her head into his chest with one hand, stroked her head, and then straightened her hair after accidentally messing it up.

"Hibiki, no matter what, we'll always be family."

After he finished speaking, he felt Xiang swallow hard, and then he was pushed away.

"I'm never helping you again!"

Xiang turned around quickly as if trying to dodge, and ran upstairs shouting.

That evening, Ishikawa Hayato looked at the messages Nijika had posted in the group chat on LINE.

Nijika's T-shirts are already in production, so please look forward to them!

Ishikawa Hayato: "Did I design this?"

Nijika "..."

Kita was shocked when she thought of the exquisite designs that Ishikawa Hayato had used to completely overwhelm them earlier that day.

"Ijichi-senpai? Could it be!"

Nijika: "No, no, how could I possibly design it according to Hayato-kun's ideas!"

Ishikawa Hayato: "I'm looking forward to everyone's evening gowns (drooling)."

Meanwhile, in Ishikawa Hibiki's room, Hibiki opened a wooden box beside her bed.

Inside the unremarkable wooden box was a piece of silk cloth. She unfolded the cloth, revealing a note inside that was identical to the one in Bocchi's hand.

A large stack.

She picked up a sheet, held it up to the light, but couldn't make out anything.

But she was already used to it. After staring at the large stack of papers for a long time, she carefully put them away and closed the box.

The next day, during lunch break.

As usual, Bocchi sat in the corner at the bottom of the stairs, neatly setting out lunch. She thought about her meeting with Ishikawa Hayato that morning as she waited for him to arrive.

I don't know when it started, but the thoughts that Bocchi had every day when he went to school changed.

Initially reluctant to go to school, but at the same time filled with anticipation of finding friends and like-minded people.

Now, all I want is to meet Ishikawa Hayato, to find that one extraordinary boy among so many people.

If not, Kita- chan would be fine too, but Kita- chan always has other friends around her, so I feel like I can't rely on her...

That day, she was still carefully searching for Ishikawa Hayato among the students in school uniforms.

Although she knew the chances of seeing it after leaving the station were slim, she still couldn't help looking for it.

Just as she was about to give up again, she suddenly heard Ishikawa Hayato's voice beside her, "Bocchi!"

Although they were very close, she wasn't scared at all; in fact, she felt quite at ease. This was how Falcon always greeted her without attracting the attention of other students.

She glanced at his face, and seeing the gentleness in his eyes, she was about to look away.

What was Bocchi looking for just now?

The gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a teasing, affectionate smile. Sometimes, she would feel resentment towards him for his mischievousness.

But that resentment couldn't linger in my heart for long before it dissipated.

And what remains are only more people who like it.

She answered his question hesitantly and shyly.

"Find... find..."

As her face grew increasingly red, Ishikawa Hayato abruptly interrupted her.

"By the way, shall we go to school together from now on?"

Let's go back to the present.

"Hehe, going to school together~ it's totally a couple's lifestyle!"

As soon as he thought about it, Bocchi couldn't help but laugh and twist like a spring.

However, at that moment, Ishikawa Hayato squeezed in through the gap between the classroom chairs. He didn't take a lunchbox and waved to Bocchi.

"Bocchi, how about we move to another spot to eat?"

86. Rely on

Bocchi, who still had a smile on her face, was taken aback by Ishikawa Hayato's sudden question. Her smile faded, and she answered.

"Good."

After exiting the corner of the stairs, Bocchi followed behind Ishikawa Hayato. She had no objection to changing lunch seats; it was up to Ishikawa Hayato to choose whichever he wanted.

But she was afraid of something else entirely.

What if Ishikawa Hayato takes her somewhere where there are other people?

It wasn't a possessive feeling, although she felt a little uncomfortable and bitter when she saw Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo exchanging glances with a hint of affection.

But she could also pretend not to care.

However, she didn't want to lose this rare time alone with the two of them.

No matter who joins, her presence will be overshadowed by that person, and she will lose her right to stand next to Ishikawa Hayato.

However, after leaving the main school building, she felt a little confused.

Where are we going?

As she walked towards the clubhouse, her unease grew stronger.

"Bocchi?"

Ishikawa Hayato immediately noticed her slowed pace.

"Ah, um."

Bocchi didn't say anything and quickly followed.

Suddenly, Ishikawa Hayato changed direction and walked in the other direction.

Seeing a grove of trees ahead that looked deserted, Bocchi felt a sense of relief for no apparent reason; there shouldn't be anyone else in such a place.

At that moment, Ishikawa Hayato, who was walking beside him, suddenly asked hesitantly.

"Is Bocchi afraid of bugs or anything?"

"Absolutely not."

Bocchi answered quickly, and Ishikawa Hayato glanced at her as if to confirm, then looked away.

"To what extent are you not afraid..." His voice sounded somewhat hesitant.

Bocchi was also unsure of his thoughts, so he honestly recalled the feeling of seeing the insect.

"Cute...?"

But as soon as she finished speaking, she regretted it, feeling that her answer lacked any girlish charm.

Just as she was feeling frustrated, she saw Ishikawa Hayato relax, he said.

"If there are any bugs, could you please remove them for me?"

Bocchi still didn't understand why Ishikawa Hayato asked that question, and answered crisply.

"Good."

As they were talking, the two had already walked into the woods and stopped a few meters away from a huge oak tree.

She saw Ishikawa Hayato look around, then take out a waterproof cloth, spread it on the ground, and solemnly extend his index finger to her.

"If we're lying, what if bugs come along and we can't eat?"

Bocchi paused, as if she had completely understood the situation, and said while suppressing a smile.

"I'll drive them away properly."