Chapter 90: Order

After dinner, Hitori, uncharacteristically, didn't go straight back to her room.

She had already decided on the answer to Ishikawa Hayato's invitation.

There was no room for consideration. She was now eager to settle things with her family.

Thinking that she finally had something to look forward to in the latter half of her life, Hitori couldn't stop smiling.

Her parents also sensed that she had something to say and sat on the sofa together, waiting for her.

After Hitori collected herself, she adjusted her mindset and, seriously, yet with some panic and urgency, said to her parents.

"Dad, Mom, I want to move out and live with Hayato."

The two sitting on the sofa blinked in surprise at these words, which were beyond imagination, and then both exclaimed.

"Huh!?"

Hearing these words, which far exceeded their expectations, the two were dumbfounded for a while.

Looking at her daughter, who was bowing at a very rigid 90-degree angle, Gotou's father immediately panicked.

Although he knew that this day would come for his daughter, it was too soon!

At least another 10 years would have been fine for him!

He said in a flustered tone.

"Re-really?! No, no, this is too fast, isn't it?"

Gotou's mother also asked in confusion.

"Did Hayato-kun really say that?"

Hitori felt that the atmosphere seemed a little off, and things were exceeding her expectations. She looked up at their expressions and said cautiously.

"Ye-yes."

Gotou's mother stood up. "I'll call Hayato-kun."

"Eh, eh, eh?"

...

The next day, Ishikawa Hayato arrived at Gotou's house early again.

Stopping at her doorstep, he thought of the call from Gotou's mother last night and sighed.

He felt that he had spoken too soon, and Hitori was still not calm enough.

However, he was the same.

He could only blame Hitori for being too cute, and beneath that cuteness lay such alluring curves.

He reached out and rang the doorbell.

He felt someone look at him through the peephole, and then the door was quickly opened.

Hitori stood at the doorway as if she had been ready for a long time, saying timidly.

"Hayato..."

Seeing her nervous expression, Ishikawa Hayato stepped forward and patted her head.

"Don't worry, I never go back on my word."

Since they had already contacted each other, Ishikawa Hayato didn't even bother to greet her. He changed into slippers and walked straight into the house.

He seemed more familiar with her home than Hitori, walking directly into the living room.

Inside, Gotou Naoki and Goto Michiyo were already sitting on the sofa, waiting.

Opposite them, a chair was placed, looking like an interrogation setup.

Their expressions were much more serious than before.

Ishikawa Hayato also slightly put away his smile and greeted them seriously.

"Hello, Uncle and Aunt."

He didn't seem nervous at all.

Gotou Naoki nodded.

He tried hard to put on the air of a serious parent and said.

"Hayato-kun, please sit down and talk."

Ishikawa Hayato felt that this lively father's forced expression was very strained.

However, he also cooperated by straightening his face.

As soon as he sat on the chair opposite, Gotou Naoki eagerly expressed his thoughts.

"Hayato, as Hitori's father, I don't quite agree with you two living together so early, but you can also express your thoughts."

Ishikawa Hayato looked at Goto Michiyo, who was quietly sipping tea next to Gotou Naoki.

The one who spoke was just a pawn.

The one beside him was the true veteran.

But he wasn't worried.

He explained methodically.

"Actually, when Auntie called yesterday, I knew everyone had misunderstood."

"My idea is that because Hitori's commute time to school is too long, and now with her part-time job and band rehearsals, she gets home very late."

"And my home is also nearly an hour's commute from Shimokitazawa. I thought it could save more commute time, so I proposed this plan to her."

He looked at the two whose expressions had slightly softened and continued.

He didn't want it to be like a negotiation.

He threw out all his chips without leaving any room for himself.

"I wanted Hitori to think it through first and reply to me, and then I would come to you two to ask for confirmation."

"The original plan was to implement it next semester after you two agreed, but I didn’t expect Ichiri to bring it up so suddenly.”

The two turned their gaze to Hitori next to them, as if confirming what Ishikawa Hayato had said.

And Hitori nodded, indicating that what she heard from Ishikawa Hayato matched what he said.

Having obtained a legitimate reason, the two were no longer as nervous as before.

After a big sigh of relief, the previous serious aura also disappeared.

Clearly, Ishikawa Hayato's organized, planned, and arranged idea was much more reliable than Hitori's simple statement of "I want to move out and live with Ishikawa Hayato."

Goto Michiyo praised him in a relaxed voice.

"Hayato-kun is indeed a very reliable young man."

"But living together in high school is still..."

Gotou Naoki weakly voiced his opinion.

The next moment, Michiyo's gentle gaze and Hitori's resentful look made him swallow back the rest of his words.

Hayato Ishikawa smiled, seemingly unfazed by the implication.

"It can't be considered living together. It's just staying there temporarily when working part-time or practicing too late. After all, coming home late so often, I think you two would also be worried, wouldn't you?"

Even without being stared at by the two, Gotou Naoki was rendered speechless by Ishikawa Hayato's rebuttal.

All the gentle words he could use had already been shattered.

From now on, he could only rely on his wife.

Ignoring her husband, Michiyo said to Ishikawa Hayato with a gentle smile, as if she was very satisfied.

"Thank you, we all understand Hayato-kun's thoughts. Now, could Hayato-kun please step out for a moment? The three of us need to discuss this."

"It needs to be taken seriously."

Ishikawa Hayato stood up as if unconcerned and turned to leave the living room.

But as soon as he came out, he bumped into Futari, who was eavesdropping by the door.

Futari saw him, put her index finger to her mouth, and waved to Ishikawa Hayato like a little adult.

She only breathed a sigh of relief after leading Ishikawa Hayato outside.

Clearly, she also had people and things she was afraid of.

As she relaxed, Ishikawa Hayato greeted her.

"Yo, Futari."

"Hayato-nii, good morning."

Futari showed no embarrassment at all about being caught eavesdropping.

With her hands behind her back, she responded cutely.

Ishikawa Hayato remembered the snacks he bought for Futari this morning. As he was about to take them out, a "Woof woof" suddenly sounded.

He looked down.

A small Shiba Inu on the ground barked, as if not wanting to be left out, reminding him.

Futari seemed to understand the Shiba Inu's feelings and happily explained to Ishikawa Hayato.

"This pup is Jimihen."

This pup...

Ishikawa Hayato suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

“I see. He’s a pretty cute dog.”

Saying that, he squatted down and stroked Jimihen's chin.

With his Pervert-level strength, he immediately found the spot that felt the most comfortable for the puppy when massaged. After only two strokes, Jimihen let out a contented whimper.

It twisted its body, rolled onto its back, revealing its belly for him to play with.

Futari's eyes widened in surprise.

Although Jimihen was very friendly, he had never surrendered to a stranger so quickly.

"How about it? Even though I'm a cat person, I'm invincible with dogs too."

Ishikawa Hayato said with a strange sense of pride.

"So amazing!"

Futari clapped her hands and cheered happily.

At this moment, Ishikawa Hayato took out the slightly expensive chocolate he bought this morning and said to Futari, "I didn't give Futari a gift last time I came, and I don't know what Futari likes, so I bought this."

Futari took the chocolate and said with a smile, "Thank you!"

Then she happily shared it with Ishikawa Hayato.

...

Meanwhile, in the living room, Gotou's parents and Hitori were talking.

"Um... Dad, Mom."

Hitori, uncharacteristically, called out to them with a stubborn expression on her face.

"Hitori, I, your father, find it very difficult to agree," Gotou Naoki said helplessly, crossing his arms.

Although Ishikawa Hayato had provided all the reasons, the most crucial matter was tacitly avoided by everyone.

While he was satisfied with Ishikawa Hayato, as a father, he found it hard to let go of his daughter.

Hitori's expression was a little downcast, and she lowered her head as if deep in thought.

Goto Michiyo, noticing Hitori's reaction, slightly lowered her head, thought for a moment, and said to her husband.

"Honey, once a girl's feelings are set on something, you can’t force her.”

Hearing her mother's words, which sounded like tacit approval, Hitori looked at her mother in surprise.

However, Goto Michiyo then said to Hitori with earnest words.

"But Hitori, being clingy is not love."

...

After they finished discussing, Goto Michiyo got up and walked out, finding Ishikawa Hayato and Futari playing outside.

Upon seeing her mother approach, Futari immediately hid the remaining chocolate behind her back, her small face tense and her big eyes staring fixedly at her mother, expressing her sincerity.

But the chocolate stains around her mouth had already thoroughly exposed her.

Immediately, she also realized her slip-up and stuck out her tongue to lick the corner of her mouth.

Goto Michiyo smiled helplessly and said to Ishikawa Hayato, who had already stood up.

"Hayato-kun, let's talk one last time."

"Mm."

Ishikawa Hayato got up and followed her towards the living room.

Back in the living room, he saw Hitori deep in thought, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

But after he sat down, he heard Gotou Naoki say.

"Hayato, we've considered it. Let Hitori decide everything herself."

Ishikawa Hayato froze, looking at Hitori beside him.

Hitori noticed his gaze.

After looking up and seeing Ishikawa Hayato's eyes, Hitori's expression became very conflicted, even starting to ramble.

"Hayato, please... please let me think a bit more."

"That's how it should be, no need to rush."

Seeing that everything was settled, Ishikawa Hayato stood up, feeling very pleased, and said to Gotou Naoki and Goto Michiyo.

"Then, Uncle and Auntie, I'll be heading back now."

Although Hitori's parents were initially not entirely in favor of Ishikawa Hayato's early cohabitation, they were very satisfied with Ishikawa Hayato's character and behavior.

The recent conversation had not affected the feelings between them in the slightest.

"Hayato, why don't you stay for lunch?"

Gotou Naoki invited him.

After Ishikawa Hayato refused repeatedly, he still couldn't avoid it and finally stayed reluctantly.