Chapter 48: Assassin

The time returned to an hour ago, when Hitori hadn't come home yet.

Gotou Naoki, who was watching a movie at home with his wife and daughter on his day off, received a call.

[ “Hello, is this Uncle Gotou? This is Ishikawa Hayato, I apologize for calling so suddenly.” ]

Hitori's father, after receiving the call, told his wife and daughter that he was stepping out for a bit, then left the room.

“No, Hayato-kun, is something wrong with Hitori?”

Although he asked this, he didn't seem too worried, as he could tell from Ishikawa Hayato's calm tone.

[ “No, Hitori is already on the train home. What I'm worried about is that today, the other band members and I decided to work part-time at a livehouse to earn funds for our band activities.” ]

Gotou Naoki exclaimed in surprise, “Work part-time!?” Then, realizing his voice was too loud, as if he was objecting, he quickly explained.

“I'm very much in favor of it, but can Hitori manage it?”

Ishikawa Hayato: [ “I think Hitori can try, and she agreed. But I'm just not sure if she really agreed, I'm a little worried.” ]

Ishikawa Hayato: [ “If Hitori does anything strange, please tell me. I'll trouble you, Uncle.” ]

Ishikawa Hayato: [ “Oh, besides me, all the other band members are girls of similar age, so there's no need to worry.” ]

Gotou Naoki: “No, with Hayato-kun there, I'm already at ease.”

After hanging up, Gotou Naoki looked at his wife, who had come out of the living room with a worried expression. He calmed himself down, but still couldn't help but say with emotion,

“Honey, Hitori has made some really good friends!!”

Then, he recounted his conversation with Ishikawa Hayato on the phone to Goto Michiyo.

Goto Michiyo's face broke into a surprised smile.

“Wow, he's such a good child!”

...

“I...I'm sorry! Please, Hayato-kun, punish me for agreeing to work part-time and then trying to escape with such a despicable method!”

Ishikawa Hayato finished showering and was leisurely leaning back in his chair in his room, casually resting his elbow on the armrest, holding his phone, and tilting his head to listen.

He heard Hitori's voice, full of remorse, on the other end of the phone, and a mental image of her small figure performing a proper dogeza appeared in his mind.

The image of the cute, pink Hitori weakly cowering and kneeling, just the mental image alone he found adorable.

Thinking of the amusing scene happening from the other end of the line, he smiled and said in a gentle voice,

“No, I was just worried if Bocchi did anything dangerous. If she didn't want to go, I would still want to hear Bocchi say no directly.”

Hitori: “Ah...”

She let out a soft gasp, then fell silent for a long time.

Ishikawa Hayato waited patiently as she went though her hesitation and internal struggle.

Only after a short while did she reply with certainty,

“I...I can do it.”

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and touched the half-finished textbook on his desk, saying to her:

“Then a liar has to swallow a thousand needles.”

As he spoke, he heard a sound like she was fearfully swallowing her saliva on the other end, and said playfully:

“Just kidding, but I'll still ask your uncle to keep an eye on Bocchi later. Don't do anything to harm yourself.”

Hitori responded with a low, drawn out hum.

“Mm...”

Then, the waveform representing their conversation suddenly became stable, with only faint, low-frequency signals continuously transmitting something.

Something sweet and soft.

After a long while, Ishikawa Hayato listened to her faint breathing and said with a nervous, pursed-lip voice,

“Alright then, see you tomorrow.”

“Mm, see you tomorrow.”

...

Meanwhile, near a high school not too far from Ishikawa Hayato's home.

Several young people, who were still at school for club activities despite it being a holiday, were walking leisurely down the road.

Among this group were energetic and lively athletic youths, gloomy and taciturn otaku youths, and a tall, casually dressed youth with a menacing aura that gave off a delinquent vibe.

Different members would normally have nothing to do with each other, but now had formed a group together.

“Hane, you're already keeping up with everyone's training plan now.”

“Mm, but I'm still a bit unaccustomed to being all sweaty.”

“You're too out of shape, kid! Even if you're an otaku, get out and run more!”

“Haha...”

Watching them being boisterous, one of the youths suddenly said with worry:

“Speaking of which... Hayato-aniki suddenly ran off to another school without a word. It's been a month, and there hasn't been much news... It's not like him.”

The delinquent-like youth laughed wildly: “Haven't we already heard news of him conquering that school?”

“Conquering... don't use such a delinquent term.”

“I don't care, Big Brother is the best, invincible, a god!”

The previously worried youth shook his head.

“I'm just curious why Hayato-aniki suddenly ran off when everyone else is at schools nearby. I always feel like he has some plan...”

“That's right... wouldn't it be better to change the world with us... Daigo's school seems to be in a bad situation...”

“No rush, we'll go over when they need help.”

At this moment, a boy who was lagging behind, looking at his phone, suddenly shouted,

“Everyone! Come look, isn't this Big Brother?”

Immediately, all the teenagers curiously gathered around, and the small phone screen was filled with their staring eyes.

On a stage, at the edge of the lights, a handsome, confident young man of their age was playing the keyboard with a brilliant smile.

Even with their limited musical knowledge, they could tell that the song wasn't played too well.

But... the music seemed to carry a sense of unrestrained freedom that allowed one to relax and let go.

However, their attention wasn't here, but rather fixed on the blurry figure of the young man at the edge of the lights.

After a while, the delinquent youth said with certainty:

“It's Big Brother.”

“Mm...”

After confirming, the few of them felt something strange in their hearts and were speechless for a moment.

The melancholic youth also clicked on his phone to search.

He found a more complete version.

After Ishikawa Hayato finished introducing the band members, his declarative voice rang out by the street:

“And now, "Guitar, Loneliness and Blue Planet" is about to begin.”

The young man was stunned for a moment, then looked at the others, and in their vaguely understanding yet seemingly uncomprehending expressions, he said,

“So that's how it is.”

...

The next morning, Ishikawa Hayato, as usual, bid a 'gentle' farewell to his family, greeted every neighbor he knew along the way, and cheerfully hummed a song as he headed to school.

Near the school, he had pretty good luck today, spotting a girl with a guitar on her back, wearing a pink tracksuit with a skirt over her pants.

He quickly walked over, getting closer before greeting her.

“Bocchi, good morning.”

Hitori, who had been slightly wary upon feeling someone approaching quickly, immediately relaxed upon hearing that voice.

She turned her head, looking at Ishikawa Hayato with uneasy azure eyes, and slightly nodded her head.

“Good morning, Hayato.”

After her response, Ishikawa Hayato looked her up and down a few times, then said with relief,

“Looks like you haven't done anything foolish again.”

When Ishikawa Hayato said that, Hitori immediately thought of the foolish thing she had done yesterday and instantly panicked.

“Ah...”

She immediately wanted to apologize, but was too nervous to speak for a moment.

“Ah... ah ah...”

She waved her hands helplessly, but just for a moment, Ishikawa Hayato grabbed her wrist. He changed the subject and asked again,

“So, have you decided to work part-time?”

Seeing the slightly serious Ishikawa Hayato, Hitori, influenced by his mood, quickly regained her composure. She lowered her head, following him at a pace that kept up with his steps.

She said weakly, with some hesitation yet also determination,

“Nijika... also comforted me this morning. I... I will try my best.”

After her first 'vocalization' of the day, Hitori's speech became much more natural.

After she finished speaking, she felt as if she had given all the credit to Nijika, and quickly turned to Ishikawa Hayato, even leaning forward as if on tiptoes, raising her voice.

“But I still have to thank Hayato a lot, it's all because of...”

She hadn't finished her sentence when her gaze met Ishikawa Hayato's, who had been watching her, and she became speechless.

Seeing Hitori's sudden glance at him, then her sudden fearful evasion and lowered expression, Ishikawa Hayato teased,

“Bocchi is so cute.”

Immediately, Hitori buried her head even deeper.

...

On the other side, Kita, who had noticed the two and was about to greet them, saw this scene from afar and held back the shout that was on the tip of her tongue... 

By lunchtime.

Feeling that the band was almost waiting for her alone, Kita, accustomed to responding to others, eagerly took out her phone and messaged her 'mentor'.

[ Gotou-san, can you practice with me during lunch break? ]

As she typed on Line, Ishikawa Hayato passed by her, saw the words on her phone screen, and sighed.

“Such youth.”

Kita, feeling mocked by this guy, snorted lightly and turned her phone in another direction.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled and didn't stop, leisurely walking past her.

Kita's peripheral vision watched him until he left the classroom.

But at this moment, Hitori, who seemed to have no social activities and remained in full standby mode at school, immediately replied.

[ Kita-san, can we practice in the storeroom? If you come, please don't bring anyone else, and don't let anyone find out. ]

Kita's expression immediately froze when she saw the Line message.

Hitori was talking about practicing guitar, right?

Why did it feel so dangerous?

She looked at the door again; Ishikawa Hayato was already gone. Then she turned back to her phone, hesitated, and replied,

[ Okay... ]

Just as she sent the message, a girl, whose footsteps were hushed as she quickly moved through the corridor, received a notification on her phone in her pocket.

She stopped in a panic, leaning against the wall, and looked left and right, observing her surroundings. The students passing by only looked at her curiously when she caught their eye. After confirming that no one was continuously staring at her, she changed to a more furtive movement and ran towards her safe haven.

After Kita sent the message, she heard the Line notification sound from outside the classroom. She immediately understood, her gaze fixed on the classroom window.

Soon, she saw Hitori stealthily yet quickly running through the corridor.

Looking in the direction she left, Kita remembered the place where she had found Hitori last time. At the same time, she wondered… 'which way did Ishikawa-kun go just now?'

Kita stared blankly out the window where Hitori had just passed. The large sliding window was like a book recording the beginning of someone else's story, and she sat there, watching from afar.

Regarding the whereabouts of Ishikawa Hayato and Hitori, she suspected one possibility. The thought of it made her heart feel as if it were being clawed by a cat, a possibility that made it difficult for her to calm down.

When it was time for her usual lunch with friends, they walked over with their bento boxes.

The daily routine was about to begin.

She opened her phone and looked at her recent Line conversation with Hitori, then stood up and said to her smiling friends who were walking over,

“Sorry, I’m going to the restroom.”

Then, instead of waiting slowly as usual, she quickly stepped out.

She left her seat as if letting go of something from the past.

She didn't even pay attention to her friend's voice saying, “Wait, Kita-chan, I’ll come too.”

Upon hearing her, she just smiled and looked back, saying,

“I’ll be right back.”