Chapter 151: Quiet Sound (Part 1)
Quite some time passed.
After completing the transaction, Ishikawa Hayato looked at Ryo again and found she was still listening.
He then walked in.
The midday sun streamed in from the window, casting sharp, clear-edged shadows on the floor and shelves.
The silhouette of the sunlight was dazzlingly white.
Ishikawa Hayato only now realized there were chamomile flowers planted under the shelves when he entered the CD store.
The snow-white petals reflected the sunlight, seemingly watching him silently.
He smiled at the flowers, walked through the shelves, circled around, and approached Ryo, who was still listening to a CD from inside.
He tried to start an afternoon, beginning with a chance encounter and romance, as per their original agreement.
Of course, Ishikawa Hayato knew romance was probably out of the question.
He kept his distance, waiting quietly a few steps away from Ryo, who seemed oblivious, listening with her eyes closed.
The sweet scent of chamomile was very calming.
After a long while, when Ryo opened her eyes, Ishikawa Hayato finally asked.
"First time here, any CD recommendations?"
Ryo saw him, was startled for a moment, then gave a slight smile.
It was a very cute, very sweet smile that made one's wallet feel a chill.
...
In Ryo's line of sight, three steps away from her, a handsome young man stood by the shelf.
His long, slender fingers lightly tapped the shelf, as if confirming what he was looking for.
His slightly long bangs didn't cover his eyes.
He was tall, so tall he looked quite lean.
He stood in the shadows of the shelf looking at her, his eyes illuminated by the sunlight from outside.
Like a worried, innocent boy.
But Ryo knew very well that this guy, when stripped, was incredibly muscular and an absolute pervert with a heart as savage as a prehistoric crocodile.
Ryo watched him for a while before coming back to her senses, then withdrew her gaze.
"For you..."
She calmly began to search for music she thought would suit Ishikawa Hayato. In this CD store, she knew everything by heart, like the owner of a magic wand shop.
She walked a few steps, her slender finger lightly tapping a CD cover, and quickly pulled out a CD to give to Ishikawa Hayato.
She looked into his eyes and said in a calm tone.
"The various instrument combinations in this album are very clever, the saxophone ensemble is an absolute highlight, you'll definitely like the jazz and funky fusion, and the producer of this album is Mitsuno..."
Ishikawa Hayato watched Ryo, who he had initially thought would just chat for a bit, spoke as her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
She started talking about the composer's career from one album, then moved on to music from various periods.
Her rapid speech made him wonder if Ryo was possessed by something.
But watching her eyes sparkle as she began to preach, Ishikawa Hayato found it both cute and interesting.
He listened attentively.
In the CD store, filled with the scent of flowers and sunlight, Ryo spoke non-stop, her gaze slightly raised, looking at Ishikawa Hayato, who occasionally nodded, his eyes serious.
Her quickened pace blended into the midday stillness, like milk mixing into dark coffee, and then starting to latte art unsteadily.
Until a sudden stutter, she began to slow her speech, but still finished the history.
After speaking, she lowered her head and rubbed her belly, which she didn't know how flat it was, and asked Ishikawa Hayato casually.
"Hayato, how much money did you bring?"
Ishikawa Hayato watched her actions, thinking that the abs he saw on the beach earlier must have been due to hunger.
He thought this, but his mouth said.
"As long as we don't go to places like Jojoen, I can still make sure you're full."
He had already gotten used to her 'your money is my money' attitude.
She showed a satisfied smile, then turned and walked out.
However, Ishikawa Hayato stopped her.
"I'll listen to it first."
Ryo stopped and turned back.
Her gaze swept from Ishikawa Hayato's face to the CD in his hand, as if to say, "What are you waiting for? Go listen."
Although she gave that impression, she didn't verbally rush him.
Ishikawa Hayato was no stranger to old-fashioned players.
He deftly pressed the open button and inserted the CD.
While waiting for it to play, he suddenly asked mischievously.
"By the way, what if I didn't bring any money either?"
Ryo said without hesitation.
"I'd make you borrow money from the other three."
Ishikawa Hayato's hand trembled.
He pretended not to hear, put on his headphones, and thought that if he didn't have some capital when he was with this person, he would sooner or later become a dreaded deadbeat.
...
Ishikawa Hayato was still holding the CD and hadn't put it into his sling bag, but Ryo, seeing that he had already paid, walked out without waiting for him at all.
He quickly caught up, but the store manager's teasing comment still echoed in his ears.
"I didn't expect Yamada to bring customers to my old shop, and a guy at that."
It seemed that the girl beside him was indeed very popular among girls, but fortunately she only lures in those she knew well, otherwise, he wouldn't know how much debt she'd be in.
The two were now walking in the direction they had come from.
Ishikawa Hayato saw Ryo's gaze fixed straight ahead and her determined steps, knowing that she was reluctant to leave the new shop they had just visited.
But he still asked.
"Where are we going?"
Sure enough, Ryo turned her head and said.
"There's a new shop over there, the food is really good; my gourmet radar detected it."
"Is that so? I haven't had lunch yet, so let me see how good your gourmet radar is."
Ryo hesitated as if thinking, then showed a puzzling smile.
"Mm."
...
Inside the restaurant, the two sat down.
Ishikawa Hayato put the CD he had been carrying in his hand, along with its packaging, into his sling bag.
The waiter happened to come over.
"May I take your order?"
Ryo showed no restraint, completely unlike someone being treated, and extended her hand to the waiter.
After taking the menu, her demeanor changed from lazy to a focused intensity, as if she had dollar signs in her eyes.
Various dish illustrations quickly flashed through her golden eyes.
Looking at her expression, Ishikawa Hayato knew she wouldn't be saving him any money.
"I'll have a seafood gratin with cheese, a codfish rice, a sashimi salad, tempura sushi, and two glasses of water. That's all."
The two glasses of water were her last act of mercy.
Ryo ordered quickly, as if holding back her drool.
As she handed back the menu, her stomach also let out a pitiful rumble, as if in agreement.
The waiter heard the sound as she took the menu.
With excellent service, she largely suppressed her surprise and bowed, saying.
"Please wait a moment."
After she left, Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but laugh.
"The food should come out pretty quickly, right?"
Ryo didn't respond to his words, changing the subject and asking.
"You don't have practice today, why did you come here?"
Ishikawa Hayato looked up at the sky with a melancholic sigh.
"Perhaps a Pervert's instinct reminded me that I forgot to carry out an important tailing mission."
Ryo looked at him who was making things up again, and slowly said.
"Following me isn't cheap."
Ishikawa Hayato turned to look at the restaurant.
He had already seen the so-called 'not cheap' starting price.
"What if it's not tailing?"
Ryo tilted her head slightly, looking a little confused.
"Actually, I did have something to do here today."
Ryo looked at Ishikawa Hayato, waiting for him to continue.
"But all the other things are taken care of. It's just that Kita's singing skills are still too basic, so I wanted to find some study materials for her."
Ryo nodded, but then asked, "What were the other things?"
Ishikawa Hayato didn't intend to hide it, but he felt a bit awkward talking about other people's affairs one by one when he was with Ryo.
He gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Next semester, I and Hitori will be renting a place to live here."
Ryo had no reaction after hearing this.
She turned to look out the window.
"It's developed to this point, huh."
Ishikawa Hayato looked at her beautiful profile, sensing a hint of resentment from her overly calm expression and faint tone.
"Although I'm not sure what 'point' Ryo is referring to, I don't think it's reached that point yet."
Ryo sat up in surprise, her expression subtly changing, finally smiling mischievously and saying.
"I was talking about sex..."
Ishikawa Hayato played along, feigning flusteredness from being teased, waving his hand and whispering.
"Ryo, please maintain your mature and elegant side as a beautiful girl!"
Ryo rested her chin on her hand, a hint of amusement in her large, bright golden eyes.
"It's been so long, and you haven't even gotten Bocchi yet. You're too weak."
“If Ryo-neechan likes that love hotel, we’ll go there now.”
Ryo closed her mouth, no longer speaking to him.
The two were silent for a moment, then the waiter brought out their food and side dishes.
“The cod rice and sashimi salad are mine, the other two are his.”
Ryo quickly assigned each dish.
The rice and side dishes were placed in front of Ishikawa Hayato.
The steaming hot food and the enticing aroma, along with the very appealing colors, were quite tempting.
Ishikawa Hayato was about to say something, but Ryo put her hands together, signaling to start eating, and picked up her chopsticks.
Thinking of how her stomach had just growled from hunger, he smiled and didn't disturb her, picking up his fork as well.
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