An Unexpected Witnessing, and an Encounter with Ayanokōji / Ichinose Honami's Winter Break Plans

After the girl who had satisfied her shopping desires stopped, Hashiba Hikaru glanced at her phone; there were still more than ten minutes until midnight.

Are you hungry? Do you want to go eat?

Ichinose Honami looked at her boyfriend, whose hands were full of bags, and asked softly. She had originally wanted to help carry some of the bags, but Hashiba Hikaru refused.

"I'm fine. If Honami is hungry, let's go get lunch first."

Because the boy had been planning his Christmas date for a week in advance, he booked the restaurant well in advance, so there was no need to wait in line and the date went smoothly.

"Let's go have lunch first."

Ichinose Honami smiled. Although she was fully engaged during her date today, her attention was still focused on Hashiba Hikaru in the slightest.

For example, when she first entered the women's lingerie store, although she was browsing inside, the girl's gaze was always fixed on the boy standing outside the door. She even saw several girls passing by trying to talk to him, but Hashiba Hikaru rejected them all.

"Um."

After reaching an agreement, Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami went to the restaurant they had booked in advance. Since it was winter, they ordered hot and steaming dishes to warm them up.

"Hikaru, what else is planned for this afternoon?"

The pink-haired girl was curious about what would happen next.

Hmm, let me see.

Hashiba Hikaru didn't intend to keep the girl in suspense; he immediately took out his phone and showed her the plan he had prepared.

"After dinner, let's go see a movie, and then go to a craft shop together. I heard they've recently launched a personalized cake-making service. Hasn't Honami always wanted to try making his own cake?"

The boy explained his plans calmly, "After I finish making the cake, I'll take it back to the dorm, and then I'll give you the gift I've prepared."

"That's really a lot of content."

Ichinose Honami, they were not allowed to go out on the Uninhabited Island, so even if they had fun, there wouldn't be anything particularly special. Being able to spend time together was already enough to make the girl very happy.

"Okay, let's take it one step at a time."

After lunch, Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami went to queue for movie tickets. However, as the two were chatting quietly together, two people walking into the movie theater lobby caught the boy's attention.

"Hikari, what's wrong?"

The pink-haired girl was a little confused. Following the other person's gaze, she saw two people standing there.

"Ayanokoji and Sato?"

Ichinose Honami before confirming their names.

Today is Christmas, and it's hard not to think of an ambiguous relationship when a man and a woman are seen together in a movie theater. But after noticing this scene, Hashiba Hikaru's expression became very ambiguous.

The information I had received from Sakayanagi Arisu came to mind again: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was someone who came from the [White Room]. His abilities and personal qualities were extremely exaggerated. Hashiba Hikaru, who had already had several encounters with him, knew very well that this guy's personality was extremely cold, to the point of being emotionless.

Even though he joined the Student Council, Hashiba Hikaru still couldn't find a chance to have a proper conversation with the other person; they would basically just exchange a few words and then leave.

Would someone like that date a girl?

Hashiba Hikaru became very curious, as did Ichinose Honami next to her. She was curious as to why her boyfriend cared so much about this Ayanokoji.

"Light, should we watch the same movie as them?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, they should have bought the same tickets as us."

Hashiba Hikaru didn't dwell on the issue. Instead, she looked at Ichinose Honami's pretty face and whispered, "After the movie ends, Honami, could I talk to Ayanokoji? I'll explain the reason to you tonight."

"Will it take a long time?"

Although Ichinose Honami was reluctant, she knew her boyfriend wouldn't do these things without a reason.

"It won't take long, just a few simple words."

"Oh well."

"Okay, let's go line up and get ready to enter."

419

Chapter 419 An Unexpected Witness, and Contact with Ayanokoji.

Movies released for Christmas naturally need to fit the Christmas theme. In addition to romance films, the cinema in Keyaki Mall also sells tickets for animated films and documentaries, but the long lines are naturally for romance films.

After getting his ticket from the machine, Hashiba Hikaru glanced at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka not far away and decided to put the other person's situation out of his mind for the time being. After all, they were on a date and he couldn't neglect someone more important.

"Look, our location is pretty good."

Have you only seen the trailer for this movie?

Ichinose Honami held her boyfriend's hand, her heart pounding with joy.

"Hmm, I think I've seen a little bit of it. It seems to be a love story related to memories."

Hashiba Hikaru thought for a moment. Actually, he wasn't very interested in romantic movies, but it was the safest option for a Christmas date, and it would be nice to soak up the atmosphere.

"Memories?"

After so much experience as a class representative and growing up, Ichinose Honami has become quite outstanding in all aspects. However, she is also a teenage girl who likes the things that girls her age like.

"Yes, we'll find out soon enough. Let's keep our anticipation alive for now."

After a while, the movie started checking tickets, and the two of them lined up together to walk into the movie theater.

Just before going inside, Hashiba Hikaru caught a glimpse of Kiyotaka Ayanokouji out of the Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of her eye. He was actually quietly staying next to Sato, and although he didn't have much of an expression, he didn't seem to be rejecting her either.

Upon entering the movie theater and sitting down, Ichinose Honami immediately placed her small hand in her boyfriend's. She had intended to lift the armrest in the middle, but after trying, she found that she couldn't move it and gave up.

"Hehe, there's still plenty of time today, Honami, no need to rush."

Stroking the other person's soft little hand, Hashiba Hikaru's gaze fell on the movie screen.

"... Um."

The girl's cheeks flushed slightly, but she quickly recovered from her shyness and became fully immersed in the movie's plot.

The film doesn't actually have a complicated plot; it incorporates classic melodramatic elements like high school romance, bullying, and amnesia. However, since most of the people watching the movie here are couples, no one left early.

After watching the two-hour movie, Hashiba Hikaru glanced at the slowly rising end credits and couldn't help but yawn.

It was indeed very boring, just as expected.

"He was asleep just now, really."

Ichinose Honami watched the entire movie with complete concentration. She noticed, of course, that her boyfriend closed his eyes intermittently several times during the film, but she didn't disturb him.

"Really? I was looking at it quite intently."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled slightly. Only a superhuman could watch a romance movie like this from beginning to end without getting distracted.

"It's alright, I'm not blaming you. There'll be other opportunities next time."

Ichinose Honami certainly wouldn't dwell on such trivial matters, since the focus wasn't on the movie's content, but rather on who she was watching it with.

"Then let's go out."

Hashiba Hikaru left the theater with the pink-haired girl. He saw Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's back, gave Ichinose Honami a look, and walked up with her.

"Good afternoon, Ayanokoji! And Sato too?"

After approaching, the boy smiled and greeted them.

"Good afternoon Classmate Hashiba!"

Sato Maya was unusually excited. Her attention had been Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, so she hadn't noticed Hashiba Hikaru, who was also in the movie theater. Now that they were talking face to face, the girl's emotions were in turmoil.

After all, everyone knows what kind of reputation someone has among first-year girls.

"Good afternoon, Ayanokoji and Sato."

Ichinose Honami greeted Hikari Hashima from Hashiba Hikaru. Because she was quite familiar with Kushida Kikyo, she had some impression of many of the girls in Class D.

"Good afternoon, Ichinose. Are you here on a date today?"

Looking at the stylishly dressed and impeccably made-up young man and woman in front of him, Sato's love radar immediately went off.

"Yes, it's Christmas today, so I brought Honami on a date."

Hashiba Hikaru readily admitted it, but when his gaze shifted to Ayanokoji beside him, the other person took the initiative to speak.

"Is Classmate Hashiba looking for me?"

"Oh wow, you could even tell that?"

Seeing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's calm expression, Hashiba Hikaru found it amusing. He smiled and nodded, then turned to Sato beside him and said, "May I borrow Ayanokoji for a few minutes?"

"This..."

Sato Maya looked a little nervous, after all, she had mustered up the courage to invite her classmate Ayanokoji Kiyotaka over to play today, and never expected to encounter this situation.

"It's alright, I won't be gone for long."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded to the girl beside him, then walked alone towards the flower bed next to him.

"Really, then Honami, why don't you stay here and keep Sato for a while?"

"Uh-huh."

The pink-haired girl immediately understood and took Sato Maya's hand, starting a private conversation between girls.

As Hashiba Hikaru walked past the flowerbed not far away, she immediately met Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze.

Am I that obvious?

"Classmate Hashiba looked over here three times from before we entered the movie theater until we left. I noticed it the first time."

The handsome, black-haired boy seemed to reveal his talent at this moment, but his aura didn't change much.

So you concluded that I was looking for you?

Hashiba Hikaru frowned slightly.

"Yes, you must have something you want to tell me, right?"

"I enjoy talking to Akito; it seems I made the right choice."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled, glanced at the crowd around him, and dropped a bombshell. "Ayanokoji, have you heard of the [White Room]?"

"..."

The other person's expression remained unchanged, revealing no flaws, but that momentary silence itself was an answer.

"It seems you've heard of it. Then I knew I was right. Congratulations!"

"If I answer that I've heard about it, what does Classmate Hashiba plan to do?"

After asking that question, Hashiba Hikaru noticed a change in his tone.

"Of course I'm recruiting you! I have a lot of interesting ideas, and I just need a capable assistant."

What if I refuse?

"Oh, unfortunately, my strength is that I'm particularly good at changing people's minds. I think Ayanokoji is very interesting, and she might not give up so easily."

"..."

After a brief silence, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took out his phone.

"Please add my contact information. I need to think about it first."

"No problem."

420

Chapter 420 Ichinose Honami's Winter Vacation Plans

After finishing her discussion with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, Hashiba Hikaru returned with him to Ichinose Honami and Sato Maya.

"We're back. It shouldn't have taken too long, right?"

Hashiba Hikaru glanced at his phone. He had only discussed things with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka for about three minutes, but they had efficiently exchanged information. Whether Kiyotaka was willing to cooperate or not, today's probing had already yielded some results.

"Hmm, have Hikaru and Ayanokoji finished talking?"

Ichinose Honami immediately moved away from Sato and took her boyfriend's arm.

"We just had a simple exchange, and just like I said at the beginning, we quickly reached a consensus."