Chapter 120: Setting Off
“Um, Nijika-chan…”
Nijika was startled, quickly released her hair, and looked towards the source of the voice.
Hitori walked out of the store, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, looking cautious.
“Ah, Bocchi-chan.”
Nijika casually responded to her.
“Is something wrong?”
Hitori had waited in the store for a long time but Ishikawa Hayato and Nijika hadn't returned.
Although she wasn't worried about what had happened to them, she couldn't help but come out to check, only to see Nijika alone.
“Oh, I just came out to cool off for a bit,” Nijika replied naturally.
Hitori noticed Nijika’s still slightly red earlobes and believed her.
However, as she moved closer, she inadvertently noticed another footprint beside Nijika’s foot, clearly of a different size than hers.
And it had already left in the other direction.
She walked to the other side of that footprint, keeping a slight distance from Nijika, and stopped to say, “It’s a bit chilly tonight.”
“Yes, it’s all because of this heavy rain,” Nijika said with a very calm expression, sighing faintly.
After she sighed, she realized Hitori hadn’t responded for a while, so she turned her head to look.
Hitori had her head down, her normally timid expression now tinged with gloom.
Nijika wasn't too surprised by her reaction and smiled as she advised, “Bocchi-chan, if you don’t take things a bit more seriously, the person you like might be snatched away.”
Nijika hadn't deliberately hidden it.
She had expected Hitori to find out, though it was much earlier than she anticipated.
Hitori’s observational skills were always sharp, she just wasn't bold enough to express herself.
Hearing this, Hitori looked up at Nijika in surprise, then averted her gaze and said, “No, it’s not that…”
Her voice grew weaker and weaker, as if she still didn't dare to express her thoughts, but she still finished her sentence completely.
“…Nijika-chan didn’t come out for that reason, did she?”
“Ah…”
Nijika hadn't expected Hitori to see through her and felt a bit awkward for a moment.
But then, she immediately understood that Hitori’s gloom wasn't because of Ishikawa Hayato, but because of her.
Her act of not telling the truth had made Hitori uneasy.
“I’m sorry, I had something on my mind just now and called Hayato-kun out.”
She quickly apologized to Hitori.
“Mm…”
Hitori fidgeted with her fingers and nodded.
Feeling that Hitori had no intention of digging deeper, Nijika couldn't help but complain about what method Ishikawa Hayato had used on Hitori to make her trust him so much.
However, she could feel that Hitori had become much bolder.
Nijika smiled, explaining to Hitori in a comforting manner, “Just now, Hayato-kun and I were talking about Bocchi-chan being Guitar Hero.”
She looked at Hitori, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Hitori was slightly stunned, then nervously covered her hands.
“Ah, that, no, I didn’t mean to hide it.”
Seeing her get nervous again, Nijika withdrew her gaze and looked forward, continuing to speak in the cool night breeze.
Amidst the constant wind, she also articulated her dream.
Their conversation continued, and on the other side, Ishikawa Hayato returned to his seat and was surprised to see Hitori gone. He glanced at the store door and felt relieved.
Turning his head, he looked at Kita, who was curled up on the floor with the same broken expression as Hitori would have, then glanced at PA-san.
Her face was flushed with wine, and she patted the seat, motioning for him to sit next to her.
Ishikawa Hayato pretended not to see, smiling as he called out to Kita, who was lying on the floor, “Yo, Bocchi Number Two.”
He casually sat down between Hitori and Nijika’s seats.
At the same time, he ignored Hiroi Kikuri, who was laughing loudly next to him, pointing at him and saying, “The young man is scared, haha!”
And he also ignored PA-san, who was covering her face and pretending to cry.
Seeing Ishikawa Hayato approach, Kita instantly regained her energy, flaring up and saying angrily,
“It’s all because Ishikawa-kun said my name that I’m like this!”
Ishikawa Hayato heard her words and looked at Ryo, whose face held a mischievous smile.
Apparently, Ryo had been the one to reveal it.
Ishikawa Hayato also stifled a laugh and said, “Ikuyo, a mature person bravely accepts everything about themselves!”
Kita’s eyes were filled with chaotic colors as she sat on the floor and yelled at Ishikawa Hayato, “You’re still calling me Ikuyo! And even if you use nice words, you can’t hide this reality!”
“Don’t be angry.”
Ishikawa Hayato said, propping himself up and bringing over the snacks he had ordered, picking up a skewer of chicken.
“I’ll treat you to one.”
Kita looked at the chicken skewer in his hand, hesitated twice, then took it, still grumbling,
“This is a treat from the manager, it doesn’t count! You still owe me one!”
“Alright,” Ishikawa Hayato agreed.
But just as Kita was settling down, Ryo’s voice rang out again.
“Hayato-kun, I want a skewer too.”
Ishikawa Hayato didn’t hesitate to take out a skewer and hand it to Ryo.
Kita was stunned for a moment, and across from them, the three adults, upon seeing this scene, all looked at Ishikawa Hayato as if he were a philandering scumbag.
But Ishikawa Hayato smiled, completely unconcerned.
...
“Ishikawa-kun, go to the rooftop in a bit.”
The teacher announced the end of class and turned to leave the classroom.
Amidst the students’ clamor, Ishikawa Hayato received this text message from Kita.
But let’s start from this morningー
That day, Ishikawa Hayato walked out of the station with his school bag.
As soon as he stepped under the gloomy sky, he detached himself from the crowd and walked to the left.
Walking 68 steps along the roadside trees and the station’s wire fence, Ishikawa Hayato saw Hitori standing by a tree.
She had her head down, her hands clasped in front of her, holding a canvas bag.
Whether it was due to her sportswear or her temperament, she gave off an extremely timid and self-pitying impression.
Ishikawa Hayato looked back.
Previously, Hitori would hide nearly 20 trees away, out of sight of the station. Now, after only 10 trees and 68 steps, he could see her.
It could be said to be a milestone-like improvement.
But even so, she was still not satisfied with herself.
She often wore an expression of suppressed apology and dejection.
Although Ishikawa Hayato had encountered Hitori waiting for him by the station before, those times he could tell she was just forcing herself to endure.
And each time he comforted her, telling her not to force herself to wait by the station.
She would indeed hide back by the trees, but then her expression would return to one of guilt.
It seemed Hitori was the type who, if indulged a little, would comfortably become useless.
This made Ishikawa Hayato very troubled, but fortunately, Hitori was easy to coax.
A little teasing would immediately lift her spirits.
Thinking of this, he again felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.
“Now I’m going to hold the hand of a very, very cute beautiful girl. Oh my, I’m a little excited. Will she let me hold her hand?”
When he was three or four steps away from Hitori, Ishikawa Hayato teased her as usual.
Hitori looked up happily and walked over in surprise.
“Hayato…”
Reaching for Ishikawa Hayato, she extended her hand without hesitation.
Ishikawa Hayato took it and held it firmly.
The two walked side by side, accustomed to this, they walked towards school at the same pace.
“By the way, Bocchi doesn’t seem to be in a very good mood today?”
Ishikawa Hayato said, observing his surroundings.
Among the crowds of students going to school, male and female pairs like them were not many, but there were still some.
However, none of them were holding hands on their way to school like them.
Most were playfully bickering, or following each other like husband and wife.
Speaking of which, since when could Hitori naturally hold his hand and go to school like this?
Beside him, Hitori wasn’t surprised that Ishikawa Hayato understood her so well.
She thought to herself, 'He’s reading my mind again… I feel so shy.'
She cast a somewhat wronged glance to the side and said honestly, “Today is the last day of school with Hayato, and I just can’t help feeling a little sad.”
Ishikawa Hayato seemed amused by her simple train of thought and chuckled softly.
“So that's what Bocchi was thinking? But during summer vacation, we can see each other when we work part-time or go out to play.”
'Go out to play?'
Hitori perked up.
She then realized that summer vacation was inherently a time for playing, for enjoying oneself, for experiencing youth.
Ugh.
But simply imagining it suddenly gave her a wave of nausea.
She had actually forgotten about her youth phobia.
Memories of past holidays, practicing guitar from morning till night, resurfaced in her mind.
At that time, she cursed herself day after day for not daring to go out and play, and envied the normies who were enjoying themselves outside.
Youth phobia was already rooted in her soul.
However… 'If it’s with Hayato, it should be fine, right? Even her past self would accept it.'
Hitori showed a blissful smile that could kill her past self.
Before she could regain her senses, Ishikawa Hayato's voice sounded next to her.
"Bocchi~ Bocchi?"
Hitori snapped back to reality and looked at Ishikawa Hayato.
"You didn't hear anything I just said, did you?" Ishikawa Hayato said with a helpless smile.
Hitori froze.
She had actually zoned out while Ishikawa Hayato was talking—she had committed such an unthinkable act.
Hitori's tongue stumbled, and she quickly said, head bowed and eyes closed, "I-I-I'm so sorry, Hayato, what did you just say?"
"Hmm~ You're apologizing unnecessarily again."
Ishikawa Hayato, walking beside Hitori, had a mischievous smile.
He leaned slightly forward, watching Hitori's expression.
Seeing Hitori's bewildered and flustered look from her string of mistakes, he smiled and said, "It's alright though, because I was the one who tricked Hitori first. I didn't say anything just now, I was just staring at Hitori."
Between great shock and great joy, Hitori let out a 'pop' sound, and her whole body softened and turned into a piece of paper.
Ishikawa Hayato amusingly picked her up as she floated in the air.
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