Chapter 109: Return (Part 1)
“Hayato-aniki, I’m really sorry.”
Downstairs in an apartment building, a boy with a buzz cut spoke apologetically to Ishikawa Hayato and Hongo Amane.
He was bowed, not daring to look either of them in the eye.
Ishikawa Hayato didn’t care at all, as he himself was already ahead of the game in bailing on things.
But even though he was still getting involved with this club's activities, he didn’t like forcing others to do anything.
He patted the buzz-cut boy’s shoulder.
“No, it’s fine. It’s good to find something you want to do, but if you ever come across anything like that again, I’d still like you to let the club know.”
The buzz-cut boy heard Ishikawa Hayato’s words, completely devoid of blame, and looked up with wavering eyes.
Seeing Ishikawa Hayato’s expression, he instantly became resolute.
“Of course, although I can’t become someone like Hayato-aniki, I will still try my best.”
Afterward, Ishikawa Hayato left with Hongo Amane.
Those Hongo Amane listed were basically the presidents of each different school’s branch.
Their reasons for suddenly stopping communication varied.
Giving in to reality, lacking the courage to act, family changes, wanting to focus on studies, not wanting to follow Hongo’s command.
Ishikawa Hayato handled it very quickly and peacefully.
Although Hongo Amane had a sour face when she was with Ishikawa Hayato, once they reached their destinations and saw the people Ishikawa Hayato had summoned, her regret was mixed in with her seriousness.
Just like when she used to follow Ishikawa Hayato and act with him.
However, even with Ishikawa Hayato’s presence, only a few members were willing to continue acting.
Most others shook their heads and refused.
Of course, this was due to Ishikawa Hayato’s casual attitude.
Otherwise, he could have recruited more people.
Hongo Amane also knew that doing such things was very difficult.
Strength, wisdom, and willpower were all indispensable.
She didn’t force the others to follow her either.
...
The train vibrated slightly, and they boarded it again to continue headding towareds the other members’ homes.
Hongo Amane, who had been sulking earlier, now had no capacity to compete with Ishikawa Hayato.
Her anger had turned into silence.
Her expression clearly showed that she had been prepared for this, but she was still unwilling to give up and wanted to try.
Ishikawa Hayato turned to look at her.
“Looks like it’s been tough?”
“Whose fault is that?”
Hongo Amane’s voice echoed stubbornly and struggled in the quiet train.
Provoked, she again showed an unyielding expression.
Ishikawa Hayato was not affected by all the failures up to now.
He said softly and gently, “It’s obvious it’s not me, isn’t it?”
Hongo Amane fell silent.
Her hands were clenched into fists on her knees, her heart curled up like a hedgehog.
After a moment of contemplation, Ishikawa Hayato said guiltily, “How about I tell you my current plan?”
Ishikawa Hayato saw Hongo Amane look at him.
Gazing at her with hopeful eyes, he thought he might be leading her into another pit, and his heart faltered.
But this person had extremely strong psychological fortitude and shamelessly began to speak eloquently.
“I left because I anticipated this situation, but I also thought of a solution.”
“Right now, we can still help others as peers, but when we grow up, the age gap will be fatal.”
Ishikawa Hayato smiled carelessly.
He thought of the solution he came up with on the day he saw Hitori.
“But! Music that resonates with people can build a new channel for communication.”
“While it might not succeed, I’m just planning to try it out, but it’s more reliable than what I initially started on a whim, isn’t it?”
Amidst the train’s station announcement, he turned to look at Hongo Amane, who was lost in thought.
“If you’re interested, you can directly be the leader of this organization. I, someone who can’t stand rules and regulations, won’t be involved in that. I’ll help you with everything else.”
Ishikawa Hayato watched Hongo Amane’s eyes widen in realization and slowly said,
“Hmm, let’s call the plan ‘Bocchi the Rock’.”
The train began to stop.
Amidst the screeching brakes, Ishikawa Hayato’s casual voice was clearly audible.
...
So that’s how it was.
Hongo Amane had noticed something was off that day but hadn’t thought deeply about it.
This person had secretly planned everything long ago, then acted as if nothing was wrong, happily playing around, and began his plan.
To establish a formal civilian organization, and at the same time, create a closer channel of communication with lonely, marginalized people, giving them space to reach out for help in places they dared to approach.
Solving a series of problems like not daring to call the police, not finding trustworthy people, and so on.
Then, using more mature methods different from the current ones, to deal with those people.
Music that resonates with lonely people?
Hongo Amane felt that what she was doing now was truly like child’s play compared to what he had in mind.
She felt guilty for a moment but still reached out to Ishikawa Hayato.
“Let me listen.”
Ishikawa Hayato promptly took out his phone and handed it to Hongo Amane.
But Hongo Amane clearly saw that he still had earphones in his pocket, yet he didn’t lend them to her.
She couldn’t understand why so many girls liked this person back then, only for him to turn around and run off to another place to fall in love.
And from the looks of it, he was even pursuing someone else.
She couldn’t help but think there was something wrong with him.
She angrily took out her own earphones, connected them, and started listening.
Seeing her annoyed expression, Ishikawa Hayato silently kept his distance from her.
Being targeted by such a strong-willed woman would be a real headache.
After a short while, she finished listening to a song.
She put her earphones away, returned the phone to Ishikawa Hayato, and thought for a moment before saying, “You didn’t tell them anything, did you?”
“No, I don’t want to rush things.”
Ishikawa Hayato put his phone back in his pocket and said to Hongo Amane, with a meaningful hint in his voice.
Hongo Amane wasn’t stupid and quickly realized he was referring to her trying to force others.
She didn’t respond to his words.
Hongo Amane felt as if everything she had done was negated by him, and she suddenly felt lost.
She couldn’t help but ask, "What about the next step?"
Hayato saw her attitude gradually change and knew she had accepted it.
"Just have fun and do as much as you can. Then, when you're fully capable, start then."
"That's too..."
Hongo Amane disagreed.
But Hayato didn't give her a chance to retort.
"Help others only after you've helped yourself. That's the basics. Besides, my Band is still just a sprout."
Hongo Amane's expression gradually turned strange.
"You just want to be in a relationship, don't you?"
Hayato whistled guiltily, but after a long while, he couldn't resist Hongo Amane's persistent gaze.
"But it's definitely true that we shouldn't rush. Besides, maybe in the future, the world will be a much better place that we won't need to do this, or maybe someone else is already be planning to do it—in that case, we can just enjoy our time and have fun, right?"
"I don't want someone else to get ahead of me! Fine... alright, but you're not allowed to ditch me again this time."
"I won't make a promise to you. What if the band breaks up and you come at me with a knife?"
Hongo Amane was stunned.
After she came to her senses, she angrily stood up and kicked Hayato's leg repeatedly.
"You bastard, bastard, bastard!"
Hayato dodged and yelled.
"Pervert! Please call me pervert!"
Comments (0)
Please login or sign up to post a comment.