Chapter 125: A Clear Mirror

Following Nijika’s words, everyone went into the rehearsal room to practice, and at the same time recorded what they considered to be their best performance, preparing to send it to the organizers for review.

And by evening, after the four girls repeatedly reviewed, confirmed, and discussed, they finally found the most satisfactory audio file.

During this time, Ishikawa Hayato smiled as he watched them crowd around the computer, critiquing each of their performances.

The reason it was self-critique was that none of them wanted to hold the band back because of themselves, and they actively sought out their own problems.

It must be said that precisely because everyone valued the group and cherished their friends, they were able to grow and improve so quickly.

Kessoku Band also gradually gained the sense of unity implied by its band name.

Ishikawa Hayato was leaning against the wall, thinking, when Nijika noticed Kita’s sudden, casual glance backward.

She also looked behind her.

Seeing Ishikawa Hayato standing alone behind the girls, she invited him over.

“Hayato-kun, don’t hide alone in the back there, come over and confirm it too.”

Ishikawa Hayato, who was suddenly called, looked at the row of girls sitting across from him, and said with an honored expression.

“Hoh? But all the seats in front of the computer are taken. Does Nijika mean I can choose a seat, pick up one of the beautiful girls, put her on my lap, and then sit in the chair?”

Nijika’s gaze turned blank.

She had originally intended to give Ishikawa Hayato a seat, but now she didn’t want to at all.

“Hayato-kun, come over, and stand!”

Ishikawa Hayato’s momentum deflated.

Looking at Ishikawa Hayato’s pitiful appearance, Hitori said in an extremely faint voice, with a blush on her face.

“Then… Hayato, why don’t you sit here…”

Her intention was obvious.

Ishikawa Hayato painfully refused.

He smiled, waved his hand, and walked over, stopping in the very center.

He placed both hands on Nijika’s and Kita’s shoulders, looked at the computer, and joined the discussion.

“Actually, I think number 9 is more in line with our band’s characteristics.”

Nijika heard what he said and clicked on that recording.

Soon, everyone remembered the situation of that audio.

“Eh, my breathing wasn’t stable enough in that one.” Kita subtly objected.

“I also made a mistake…” Hitori said weakly.

Nijika listened to their self-critiques and smiled.

She felt that those problems were very minor.

These problems were highly challenging to resolve at their current level.

However, seeing their concerned expressions, she clasped her hands slightly and said, “How about we do it one more time?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, it’s almost time to start work, the manager is going to rush in!”

Ishikawa Hayato pressed her shoulder and shook her.

Her head swayed with her body.

Nijika glanced at the others again, then looked up and, in a slightly timid voice, suggested to Ishikawa Hayato,

“Hmm… then tomorrow…?”

It seems that Nijika now always checks with Ishikawa Hayato for his opinion on serious matters like this.

“It’s already been a whole afternoon, that’s enough! This is just the preliminary selection, right? We’ll confirm everyone’s skill level during later rehearsals. There’s no point in nitpicking here.”

Ishikawa Hayato spoke to the four girls looking at him, his voice firm.

His words didn’t satisfy Nijika.

Her cheeks seemed to puff out slightly in dissatisfaction, and she mumbled, “Hmm… that’s true, but it’s good to have one more possibility. If we don’t pass then, Hayato-kun, you’ll have to take responsibility.”

Ishikawa Hayato smiled, listening to her somewhat dependent and somewhat coquettish tone.

“No problem. If we don’t get selected then, whether I have to trick someone or pay out of my own pocket, I’ll find an opportunity for everyone to perform.”

“You don’t have to go that far…”

Nijika said, realizing her tone was a bit off, and quickly changed it, saying hurriedly, “Then that’s it! This is the one. What do you all think?”

“Hmm…”

The three only responded simply.

Nijika, sensing something was amiss, quickly buried herself in operating the computer.

Her slender, fair fingers rapidly typed on the keyboard as she spoke, “I looked into it and found out this year’s event allows registration directly by email, which makes it much more convenient.”

As she spoke, she rapidly typed a very formal registration application into the email’s content field.

But the three beside her, when she wasn’t paying attention, looked back at Ishikawa Hayato with strange expressions.

They were all surprised how he managed to ‘conquer’ this busy person who was constantly working part-time, going to school, practicing, and doing housework.

Ishikawa Hayato smiled slightly at their gazes.

Kita and Ryo looked at each other again, but as soon as their eyes met, Kita quickly looked away.

She then immediately turned to the computer, exclaiming in admiration at the content Nijika was typing, “Ijiichi-senpai writes so formally.”

“That’s the results of diligent studying~”

Nijika said happily.

“Is the fruit of your studies just for this? It feels quite bleak.”

Ryo’s calm gaze seemed to be looking at an incredibly distant future.

Nijika heard Ryo say something strange again.

Her hand dragged the mouse to click the send button, then she turned her head, showing her cat-like eyes, and retorted to her, “You’re just making excuses not to study, aren’t you?”

Seeing that the two were about to argue, Ishikawa Hayato interrupted, “So, the registration is complete, right?”

Nijika responded with a relaxed smile, “Yes.”

...

As time passed, that smile didn’t remain for long.

High school summer vacation is a beautiful time to pour out youth and sweat.

At the height of vitality, alongside our best companions, carrying different goals, striving in the same direction.

The refreshing morning sun, the scorching midday sun, and the lingering afterglow of the desolate evening sun all bore witness to everything.

Every morning, the five of them would gather at STARRY, then happily walk to the rehearsal room.

Practicing, playing music, and frolicking.

One day, two days, three days, a whole week passed like this.

But amidst the merriment, a hint of unease grew with their fatigue.

'Can we perform well?'

The girls worried.

'Will there be any problems? Can we still improve?'

They thought.

And Ishikawa Hayato quietly watched the four who were gradually buried in their instruments, almost losing communication with their friends, and who had been laughing less and less recently.

Compared to the four who were almost unable to pull themselves together, Ishikawa Hayato was the first to erupt.

“I can’t take it anymore! No, no, no.”

As practice was nearing its end, he suddenly clutched his head and lay on the floor, rolling around like a child throwing a tantrum.

The four girls looked at him in momentary shock.

“Hayato!?” Hitori shrieked, running over worriedly, still holding her Guitar.

“Bocchi, you don’t have to worry so much.”

Nijika said with a sigh, but she also stood up from her chair and walked over.

Whether it was a mental illness or a physical problem, Ishikawa Hayato wouldn’t react like this, so she wasn’t worried at all.

Kita had a similar reaction to her, letting out a breath, and walked with Ryo towards Ishikawa Hayato who was sprawled on the floor.

“Hayato-... Ishikawa-kun, hurry up and start practicing.”

She squatted down and nudged Ishikawa Hayato.

Ishikawa Hayato looked up, saw Kita’s secretly relieved face, then looked at the other girls, seeing their faint worry.

He turned and sat cross-legged on the floor, hugging his chest, and said, “A pervert is a creature that cannot live without comfort. It has become too stifling lately with everyone like this, practicing like this is ineffective.”

The words the four hadn’t dared to say were pointed out by him, and their expressions instantly changed to awkwardness and embarrassment.

Nijika had actually noticed this problem, but she thought it would be fine once the results came out.

“But all we can do now is practice…”

Ishikawa Hayato stood up.

He pressed Nijika’s shoulders and said, “Resetting your mindset is very important. Whether it’s resting, going out to play, or a training camp, anything is fine.”

Nijika had originally been seriously considering his idea.

But hearing “training camp” at the end, she felt his fox tail had poked out.

She showed her cat-like eyes and looked up at Ishikawa Hayato.

“Hayato-kun, you just want to see everyone in swimsuits, don’t you?”

Ishikawa Hayato looked at her affectionately, his gaze pure and serious, and he answered clearly, “Yes.”

And he felt no shame about it, continuing, “But my heart and actions are completely pure. I just want everyone to rest a bit, and I’d like to see everyone in their swimsuits while I’m at it.”

“Having the thought of seeing swimsuits already means you can’t say ‘completely unblemished,’ can you?”

“If you’re thinking about wanting to see swimsuits, you can’t really say your intentions are completely pure, can you?”

Ryo retorted.

Nijika seriously considered Ishikawa Hayato’s suggestion.

Indeed, everyone had been under a lot of pressure lately, and it wouldn’t make a difference for a day or two.

Taking a break and changing their mood would definitely be right.

She looked at the others.

“Then let’s vote. If you agree to rest, raise your hand.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ryo raised her hand.

There was no change in her expression. She said,

“If you pull the string too much, it will snap.”

Seeing that Ryo agreed, and Nijika starting to get swayed, Kita happily raised her hand high.

“Me too, it’s been a long time since I went out to play with everyone.”

Seeing that there was finally an opportunity to go out and play, Kita’s long-suppressed radiance instantly bloomed.

Her joyful, sunny, cheerful smile almost created a small sun in the rehearsal room.

And this light sent Hitori, who was slowly raising her hand, flying.

Fortunately, Ishikawa Hayato had anticipated it and caught her in time.

Hitori looked at Kita, still shaken.

Ishikawa Hayato saw that everyone agreed.

He stroked Hitori’s head, who was leaning motionless in his arms, and said,

“Now then, I’ll go look for a training camp location later. Please give this pervert an hour to search for a venue.”

“What do mean ‘now then’…?” Nijika grumbled.

She had only agreed to rest, not to a training camp or anything.

“Ah… I happen to have access to a beach villa.”

Ryo suddenly said, but as she spoke, she glanced at Ishikawa Hayato’s lower half, or more precisely, his pocket.

“But it requires some reservation fees. Hayato, let me see how much money you have.”

Although Ishikawa Hayato was very puzzled why the reservation fees required him to show his wallet first, he was touched to see Ryo being so cooperative and pulled out his wallet.

But before he could walk over, Nijika stopped his hand holding the wallet.

Nijika held Ishikawa Hayato’s hand, looking at Ryo with disdain.

“Ryo, I remember your family has a villa by the sea, right?”

Ryo slowly shifted her gaze, and with an unchanging expression, she said airily,

“I forgot.”

Nijika sighed. Seeing that everyone seemed to agree, Nijika no longer objected.

She said,

“Then let’s all decide when to go.”

At that moment, Kita suddenly suggested,

“Um, Ijiichi-senpai, how about we take a day off tomorrow first.”

Nijika was a little puzzled why Kita used “we,” as if there was some reason for everyone to rest tomorrow.

After Kita winked for a while, she suddenly understood and responded,

“Indeed… Then how about we take a day off tomorrow.”

After getting Nijika’s consent, Kita smiled and said to Hitori,

“Gotou-san, are you free to accompany me tomorrow?”

“Huh!”

Hitori shrieked. Although she didn’t know what they were going to do, she felt it would be very dangerous to be alone with Kita.

She lowered her head, wanting to refuse.

But as she thought about how to refuse, she hesitated for a while, and that missed her only chance to refuse.

Under Kita’s slowly approaching, sparkling gaze, Hitori’s beautiful, azure eyes turned pitifully to the side, unable to say no.

“Ah… okay…”

 Ishikawa Hayato smiled helplessly.