Chapter 100: Rapid Progress
If people could freely control their perception of time—slowing down the moments of happiness and speeding up the moments of agony and boredom—
Then life would probably become much easier.
Hitori was very afraid of the passage of time happening right now.
On the lush green grass, under the bright leaves of the forest, she had been sitting there for a while.
She didn't know when it started, but besides that small, enclosed space, she had gradually grown fond of this vast, uninhabited natural world.
But this slight fondness was negligible compared to her great fondness for the young man currently lying on her lap.
Now, the person she liked had shed his invincible armor and was resting on her, making her feel intensely needed, as if she was doing something for him.
This feeling made her feel like this place was a paradise.
She didn't want time to pass.
She was a bit afraid that Ishikawa Hayato would stand up as soon as their conversation stopped.
Hearing him wish for her to be more assertive, Hitori asked a question that had been on her mind for a long time.
“Then, Hayato, I’m actually very curious, what was the answer you said you couldn't temporarily answer that day during swimming class?”
She didn't understand why such a small question needed to be kept a secret.
The young man lying on her lap remained still, perhaps worried that his hair might prick her.
He asked for confirmation.
“Are you asking about the question whether I want you to attend swimming class?”
Ishikawa Hayato saw Hitori nod her head slightly.
He looked up at the dazzling light and thought for a moment, first confirming,
“Hitori, you don’t want to attend swimming class, do you?”
Hitori hesitated for a long time before answering,
“Mm.”
Ishikawa Hayato looked at the round curves above his head, recalling the Hitori he saw in the changing room that day, and said, “The answer is, I don’t want Hitori to attend swimming class. I want Hitori’s swimsuit to be seen only by me.”
Hitori stiffened.
She was already unwilling to go, and now understanding Ishikawa Hayato’s meaning, she immediately regretted her earlier act of bravely attending the class.
She whimpered weakly,
“Hayato~ please tell the teacher that I’ll never go to swimming class again.”
Ishikawa Hayato remained silent.
...
After school, in the STARRY rehearsal room.
After rehearsing their new song, “That band,” once, Nijika still couldn't help but marvel at Hitori’s performance.
Since the audition day, Hitori’s playing skill had improved to a level close to Guitar Hero.
If you were a fan of Guitar Hero, you would probably recognize it immediately upon hearing it.
It’s just that with outsiders present, she would still revert to her usual ordinary self.
But even so, her change made the others practice even harder.
In just one week, they felt their music was different from before.
Besides Hitori, even Ishikawa Hayato was like that.
It was as if he stopped holding back, and his technique improved rapidly.
He quickly approached Hitori’s level, that kind of superb skill where every note captivated people's hearts.
If Ryo hadn't made him solo a section, she wouldn't have even noticed that he also had a near-professional level.
As for the band’s weakest link, Kita now at least made no mistakes and could steadily play through a song.
They had the skill, and they had original songs.
Nijika felt that their time to soar was approaching.
During the break, she looked at the four people in the rehearsal room.
Kita was asking Hitori for guidance on a part she hadn't played well, Ryo was leaning against the wall with her bass, yawning, and Ishikawa Hayato was watching the two of them practice.
Everything was fine, except for one thing.
Recently, Ryo seemed to be deliberately giving Kita a lukewarm reaction, but she wasn't sure if it was her imagination—after all, Ryo had always been like that.
Nijika pushed those uncertain thoughts aside.
She saw Kita excitedly play the part that had been difficult earlier.
Then, she gently clapped her hands to get their attention and said, “Everyone, are you free this Thursday?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ishikawa Hayato said almost certainly,
“A street performance?”
“That’s exactly right!”
Nijika pointed at Ishikawa Hayato with satisfaction, and looked at the others with a gentle smile.
“Thursday?” Kita hugged her guitar, looked up slightly, thought for a moment, and quickly said with a smile,
“No problem at all.”
“Mm.” Hitori nodded. She was naturally available all the time, basically never busy.
Seeing that everyone agreed, Ryo instructed Ishikawa Hayato,
“Hayato, get ready to exert yourself.”
“Although the result will still be the same, at least give me some leeway to make me feel better.”
Ishikawa Hayato knew what Ryo meant without needing to ask.
After he spoke, he saw Ryo reveal a smug, unyielding smile.
...
Later that evening, after cleaning up and preparing to welcome guests.
Everyone went to their respective posts, but Ryo saw Ishikawa Hayato stop next to Kita, and she directly called out,
“Hayato, come help me at the front desk.”
Ishikawa Hayato looked at her, then turned to look at Kita beside him with a complicated expressoin.
She felt a twinge of disappointment, but said nothing.
Ryo didn't stop, and walked directly to the front desk.
She seemed to exude a low pressure that implied, if you don't do this, don't bother me again.
After she left, Kita looked at the unmoving Ishikawa Hayato and asked,
“Ishikawa-kun, aren't you going over?”
“She calls me over and I go over?”
Ishikawa Hayato left that sentence with a smile before walking towards the front desk.
Kita watched him walk over, always feeling that something wasn't right.
Perhaps because it was a weekday, the guests didn't arrive as early as on weekends.
On weekends, this store would have people waiting for performances as soon as it opened.
Ishikawa Hayato had been here for over a month, and the regulars of the store were already familiar with him.
Some guests came here not just for performances, but out of habit.
Even on days without performances, they would come, habitually order a drink, and watch the bands rehearsing and auditioning using the venue.
Thinking this, Ishikawa Hayato had already walked to the front desk.
He saw Ryo with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall, giving him the front desk seat.
This scene felt a bit familiar.
He suddenly remembered the time when the two of them had worked hard to spread the band's name.
He unceremoniously sat down on the chair and said,
“If you deliberately bully me like this, I’ll be sad too.”
He knew that Ryo wasn't really angry just now, but deliberately put on that act.
Naturally, it was deliberately put on for Kita to see.
“Then why don’t you keep some distance from Kita? She’s not suitable for you and Hitori.”
Ryo’s words came from behind.
Ishikawa Hayato's hearing was excellent.
He didn't hear any movement behind him, so she was still leaning in her original posture.
He didn't turn his head, just glanced to the side.
In the corner of his vision, Kita was secretly observing the situation here.
Then, the way she quickly looked away was absolutely adorable.
He said,
“So these past few days, you’ve been deliberately interrupting my conversations with her, and Kita has noticed it too.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
Ryo seemed to be forcing him to make a choice.
Ishikawa Hayato rested his chin on his hand.
He still didn’t know what Ryo was thinking by acting this way.
The thoughts of a cat-like girl can sometimes be very neurotic, especially for a wild type like her.
He thought back—Ryo must have started rejecting Kita after the day they went to his place together.
Ishikawa Hayato quickly understood.
He turned sideways and looked back at Ryo, asking,
“You don’t think I want to secretly date them one by one, do you?”
Ryo stared down at him.
Ishikawa Hayato saw the answer in Ryo’s eyes and said with a smile,
“Ryo is so kind, to actually think of me.”
“I’m just worried you’ll break up the band.”
“Oh.”
The two looked at each other.
Ryo thought of something, averted her gaze, and said,
“This weekend, I’m going exploring.”
“Alright, you’ll need to bring safety measures.”
Ryo looked at him with disdain and kicked the chair he was sitting on.
Soon it was Thursday.
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