Chapter 112: Tree
The three quickly changed into their T-shirts with Ryo guarding the door, and Ryo then moved away from the door.
Soon, while Kita was taking a selfie with a peace sign, a muffled knocking sound came from the door.
Nijika, who was wondering why Ishikawa Hayato was taking so long, heard the sound and was stunned.
Was that Ishikawa Hayato outside the door? Would he knock?!
She walked over in surprise and opened the door.
Ishikawa Hayato stood at the doorway.
Nijika looked at him in shock, but after getting a clear look at Ishikawa Hayato, she was taken aback.
Before, when Ishikawa Hayato hadn't changed clothes, she hadn't paid much attention, but once he changed, she immediately noticed.
Ishikawa Hayato had grown his hair long.
His casually messy hair slightly obscured the sharpness in his eyes, giving him a lazy feeling.
Unlike his previous fresh and sharp look, he now appeared as a lazy and casual young man, perfectly hiding his previous rigidity.
She felt her heart skip a beat, but she quickly suppressed that feeling.
Nijika asked with a smile, "Hayato-kun, why did you take so long?"
Ishikawa Hayato looked up, savoring it like a pervert.
"I was immersed in the joy of wearing the same outfit as all these beautiful girls."
Nijika sighed.
She should have known that if she didn't make serious demands, this guy would never be proper.
Ishikawa Hayato walked past her, and Nijika also turned back, seeing Kita and Hitori momentarily stunned.
She then glanced at Ryo.
Ryo was looking at Ishikawa Hayato with a calm expression, but when she saw Nijika looking, she quickly shifted her gaze.
Nijika had a feeling that in the future, she would also have to worry about the romantic relationships of the band members.
A sense of inexplicable sadness welled up in her heart.
But before the atmosphere could turn awkward, she clapped her hands to make a sound and reminded them, "So, is everyone ready?"
The other four looked at her.
Seeing everyone wearing the same outfit, truly feeling a sense of unity, Nijika smiled and raised her hand excitedly.
"Our first serious performance!"
"It will definitely be a success."
Ishikawa Hayato completed her sentence.
"Oh~"
The girls happily responded, looking forward to the performance a few days later.
...
The rain poured down, as if showcasing its power, bringing gales and downpours upon this world.
The vast world, the empty sky, were now covered by powerful and incessant raindrops everywhere.
Under the hurricane, raindrops were torn into sheets, constantly hitting the ground that had gathered into a river, and the river-like rainwater gurgled into the road drains.
The terrifyingly gloomy sky was like the end of the world was approaching.
This was the weather on the day of the performance.
Hitori stood blankly at her doorstep, staring at it all.
"Hitori, are you okay?"
Behind her, her parents' worried voices came.
Hitori turned around, looking at their worried expressions, she hesitated for a moment, but then smiled.
"Mm, it's fine."
Hitori's parents looked at their daughter's reaction in surprise, exchanged glances, and then couldn't help but smile.
They clearly saw Hitori's growth and changes now.
Just as Hitori was wrapping her guitar case in a waterproof bag, putting on a raincoat, and grabbing an umbrella, preparing to brave the heavy rain.
A blue Toyota stopped at her doorstep.
While she was surprised, Ishikawa Hayato, ignoring the heavy rain, rolled down the car window, he didn't say much of a greeting, just waved and said, "Hitori, get in."
Hitori's originally somewhat hesitant face instantly showed a look of surprise, and she quickly ran over.
She quickly slipped into the car through the door Ishikawa Hayato had opened.
The car door closed.
After Hitori got in, Ishikawa Hayato rolled down the window a bit more and called out to Hitori's parents, "Uncle and Auntie, don't worry, I'll protect Hitori well. It's raining really hard, so please go back inside."
Hitori's mother saw this scene and smiled happily.
“It’s fine to call me ‘mother-in-law,’ you know."
"Honey!?" Hitori's father exclaimed in surprise.
...
The raincoat, still wet from the rain, was neatly folded and placed on the car's floor mat, water droplets sliding off the raincoat and wetting the mat.
But Hitori didn't notice this which would've normaly made her heart pound anxiously. She merely kept her legs together, shoulders hunched, trying to make herself as small as possible, to appear even more petite.
The reason she did this was that in the not-so-large car interior, besides her and Ishikawa Hayato, there was also Ishikawa Hayato's father, who was driving.
Their previous meeting with his father at Ishikawa Hayato's house was just a fleeting glimpse, but this time they were close enough to talk directly.
Hitori panicked when she saw Ishikawa Jinpei, her heart was in turmoil.
It was too sudden, she hadn't even prepared a script for what to say.
'This counts as meeting the parents, right? What should she say? First... first she must greet them.'
'Ishikawa Hayato's father... address, address!'
Hitori's gaze flickered rapidly in a daze, and after quickly settling, she nervously raised her voice and shouted, "Dad... Ugh!"
As if he had anticipated it, Ishikawa Hayato reached out and covered her mouth, his expression blank.
Hitori's actions were hardly surprising. If she had managed to shout what she intended to shout, it would probably have scared the old man driving in front.
The car might even veer off the road into a ditch.
As he thought this, he noticed the sensation on his hand.
Hitori's lips were soft, yet resilient like a gummy bear at the corners, making him feel a slight urge to tease, and her cheeks were as smooth as a peeled hard-boiled egg.
ButーIshikawa Hayato looked at her face.
She had clearly realized the problem with her earlier address, and her expression had turned into a 69-like shape.
Ishikawa Hayato extended another hand, with the intention of taking advantage while also helping her recover, and pinched both her cheeks.
"Ah."
Hitori suddenly opened her bright eyes and came back to her senses.
Ishikawa Hayato withdrew his hand, sighed, and pointed at his father in front, saying to Hitori, "Don't mind him, just treat the person in front as a tool for driving."
As soon as he finished speaking, a furious curse immediately came from the front.
“You little… ”
But his voice stopped midway.
Ishikawa Jinpei swallowed the words he was about to curse, suppressed his resentment, and started over.
“Hayato, that’s not what you said before.”
Ishikawa Hayato looked at Hitori, seeing her watching him and his father with great concern.
He said to his father, “I didn’t say you couldn’t watch the performance. Don’t talk yet.”
“Alright, this time add another tank of gas and car wash fees. Don’t forget.”
Hearing his father’s words, which seemed directed at him but were actually a subtle reminder to Hitori of how much Ishikawa Hayato had spent on this trip, Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but sigh.
Although his mother was emotionally oblivious, his father was also quite dense.
No wonder they almost divorced during their arguments back then.
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