Chapter 99: Reliance (Part 2)

In the woods at the edge of Shuka High School’s sports field, there stood a massive oak tree—whether it was a remnant of the past or planted by someone related to the school, it had an intimating presence.

Walking in from the neat row of beech trees around its perimeter, one could immediately catche sight of this oak tree, which seems to overshadow the entire grove.

Its thick trunk supported dense green leaves, allowing only scattered, weak rays of sunlight to filter the scorching June sun above.

The warm summer breeze, without a moment’s rest, rustled through the leaves.

Many people felt a sense of dread towards such giant ancient trees, fearing they might be swallowed or crushed at any moment, but Ishikawa Hayato did not feel the same.

He only feared one thing: multi-legged insects (including arthropods).

Sitting on the waterproof tarp, he cautiously glanced around, and only after confirming there were no insects did he open his bento box.

He peeked at Hitori, seeing her trying to suppress a smile while thinking about something.

He guessed she was feeling happy because of her discovery in his fear of bugs.

He decided to tease her.

“I’ve wanted to bring Bocchi here for a while now. The corner in that classroom is too small. Sometimes it’s inconvenient when I want Bocchi to give me a lap pillow.”

Just as he expected, Hitori was inexplicably delighted to learn that Ishikawa Hayato actually had a weakness, especially since it was something she wasn’t afraid of at all.

She felt unusually joyful, and her movements when opening her lunchbox became a bit more animated.

But then she heard Ishikawa Hayato mention a lap pillow… a lap pillow!?

She looked down at her own legs and said in a flustered voice, “Eh… Ah, that, do you want it right now?”

As mentioned earlier, Ishikawa Hayato brought up the lap pillow to deliberately tease her.

It wasn’t something he had actually considered.

That was the truth.

The absolutely truth.

He looked at Hitori’s sweatpants and refused with righteous indignation.

“No, I still prefer a lap pillow directly on bare thighs.”

Hitori clearly wanted to try getting Ishikawa Hayato closer to her.

She looked down at her sweatpants and suddenly had a moment of inspiration.

Thinking that she was still wearing a skirt, it would be perfectly normal to take off her pants. She said hurriedly,

“I—I can take them off right now!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she eagerly stood up, pulled up her skirt with both hands, tucked her hands into her waistband, and started to pull down her pants.

Ishikawa Hayato stared at her, dumbfounded.

He paused for a moment before stopping her.

“Wait!”

But it was too late; Hitori took off her pants very quickly, pulling them all the way down in one go.

In an instant, two pale, slightly plump legs were exposed. Only then did she realize something was wrong, and she stood bent over, frozen.

She then realized that even though she was wearing a skirt, she had directly taken off her pants in front of a man, and in an outdoor setting no less.

Even with a skirt on, it was still an extremely inappropriate behavior!

Her face was flushed, her eyes darted around in confusion, and her expression was flustered in panic as she slowly looked up at Ishikawa Hayato, completely unsure what to do next.

Although Hitori didn’t reveal anything inappropriate like Kita had done before. With her pants off, she was now dressed in a very ordinary tracksuit top with a pleated skirt.

Her skirt even had a standard length that reached close to her knees.

But watching her decisively take off her pants and revealing her white legs, Ishikawa Hayato still felt a sense of immense pleasure.

After looking for a good while, he said to the still-frozen Hitori, “How about we just forget it?”

Hitori hesitated for a moment, her face growing redder and redder like a crab gradually getting boiled, but unexpectedly, she didn't completely break down.

She slowly lifted her foot, which was encased in a black ankle sock, and took off her pants.

She then neatly folded her pants and placed them beside her, silently sitting back down.

However, her sitting posture was different from her previous duck-like crouch.

She was now kneeling properly, and she even slightly adjusted her skirt, pulling up her overly long skirt a bit.

Facing her silence, Ishikawa Hayato looked at her dazzlingly white legs.

He clasped his hands together.

“I’m going to eat.”

After saying that, he picked up his bento and quickly shoveled rice into his mouth.

Hitori flinched at his voice.

After realizing what was happening, she also clasped her hands together, then picked up her bento and quickly ate.

Ishikawa Hayato quickly finished eating, and while sipping his miso soup, he watched Hitori eat with unusual speed.

She held the bento box close to her mouth, quickly picked up the rice and side dishes, and stuffed them into her mouth.

She looked both elegant and adorable even when eating.

Aside from her slightly long bangs and tracksuit top, she was a top-tier demure young lady.

But after watching for a short while, he started worrying that Hitori might get distrated from his gaze and choke, so he averted his gaze.

He looked at the lush green leaves and the sunlight being filtered by the foliage.

He thought about the reason he first joined the band, but now, he wasn’t acting according to that goal.

If he were to pursue that goal, he would have to quickly learn various instruments and then, in turn, teach them. Otherwise, his other choice would be to simply leave this band—which was only for fun—and move on to a more professional stage.

Ryo and Nijika must have been worried about this too, back then.

But this is good too.

His goal had always been to have fun, and to have those around him join in.

As he thought this, his mood began to calm down a little.

When he heard Hitori place her bento box down on the tarp, he looked over to find that she had finished eating and was timidly lost in thought about something.

And when Hitori saw that he hadn’t moved, she paused for a moment, then quickly grabbed the thermos cup beside her, took a big drink, put it back down, and sat up straight and proper.

Her nervousness and anticipation also affected Ishikawa Hayato.

He looked at Hitori’s overly fair thighs, which appeared plump due to being pressed against her calves.

He hesitated, then got up and walked over.

Hitori cooperatively cleared her bento and thermos to the side, and at the same time, shifted her legs, turning sideways so Ishikawa Hayato could lie on the waterproof tarp.

Ishikawa Hayato lay down and leaned back, his head not yet touching Hitori’s leg.

He said worriedly,

“Ah, my hair is a bit short, it might poke.”

“It’s… it’s fine,” Hitori said slowly, softly.

He smoothed the hair at the back of his head, carefully lay down, rested his head on Hitori’s leg, then gradually relaxed, leaning fully onto her.

A few seconds later, he felt that although it was slightly high, the wonderful sensation on his head was enough to make up for everything.

Soft yet elastic thighs, smooth, delicate, and slightly cool skin. He closed his eyes and immersed himself for a good while before opening them again.

The dazzling summer sunlight pierced through the dense leaves, illuminating a corner of the woods.

The scattered rays of light gathered again, brightening the shaded area beneath the trees.

But the dazzling light did not enter Ishikawa Hayato’s eyes.

Most of it was covered by the body of a pink-haired girl.

She was bent over, head bowed, her long hair falling like a delicate waterfall, with a few strands softly resting on her shoulders.

Her cheeks were flushed, and she wore an unnatural smile, but her gaze held unreserved affection.

But as soon as their eyes met, Hitori’s pupils contracted, and she let out a shy whimper, looking up and frantically averting her gaze.

She abandoned her safe, head-down posture, turning her head to look left and right, but felt uneasy no matter where her gaze rested.

Hitori’s mind was working at lightning speed at this moment.

She suddenly leaned her upper body backward, almost forming a 145° angle with her legs, while supporting herself with both hands behind her.

What Ishikawa Hayato had just seen was that as Hitori leaned back, her chest in front of him suddenly swelled up, becoming large and rounded, and then quickly disappeared from his sight.

It felt like Hitori was enduring great torment maintaining that posture.

She was even trembling after just two attempts.

Ishikawa Hayato hesitated, then asked,

“Bocchi, are you feeling very uncomfortable?”

“No!” Hitori insisted defiantly.

“You’re trembling.”

“T-This is a warrior’s excitement!”

"If you don't snap out of it, I won't be able to keep lying here."

Hearing Ishikawa Hayato’s words, Hitori didn’t hesitate. She suddenly exerted her waist and bent herself back into position.

But after making eye contact with Ishikawa Hayato at close range again, her expression became strange due to her flustered happiness.

Just as she was about to break down again, Ishikawa Hayato raised his hand, touched her cheek, and, with his hand on her cheek, said,

“Bocchi, sit up straight, chest out.”

“Okay.”

Hitori, like a soldier, acted immediately upon Ishikawa Hayato’s words without even needing to process them.

After a short while, he asked,

“Are you calm now?”

After a slight hesitation, Hitori replied,

“Mm…”

Ishikawa Hayato remained in place with his head on her lap, his hand still touching her face, and said with a smile,

“Then let’s chat like this for a while.”

“Mm…”

Hitori nodded gently, a blissful smile on her face, and held Ishikawa Hayato’s hand that was on her cheek.

Enjoying this peaceful moment, Ishikawa Hayato looked up at the curves of her breasts and said,

“But I still want to say first, Bocchi, your chest is quite large, and it’s very satisfying to look at. Don’t hide it.”

“Eh!!”

Only then did Hitori realize she had puffed out her chest.

She cried out in surprise, covered her chest, and hunched her back.

But she immediately heard Ishikawa Hayato’s disappointed sigh.

Coupled with what Ishikawa Hayato had just said, she hesitantly straightened her back little by little.

After sitting up straight, she explained,

“That… no, ah…”

At this moment, she suddenly felt clumsy with words, but Ishikawa Hayato waited patiently for her.

Feeling the steady hand on her cheek and Ishikawa Hayato’s calm presence resting on her lap, she organized her thoughts and said, “It’s not that I don’t want Hayato to see, it’s just that I’m a little self-conscious… My classmates used to look at me strangely, and other girls weren’t… weren’t as big as mine.”

Ishikawa Hayato said, “Anyway, I like it.”

“Mm…” Hearing this, Hitori shyly, and subtly, pushed her chest forward a bit.

Ishikawa Hayato spoke casually, “I’ve wanted to bring Hitori out here for quite a while. I even got the keys to the rooftop of the club building, but I’ve been very busy recently, and now it’s getting too hot recently.”

“Mm.”

As soon as Hitori replied, she felt her answer was perfunctory, so she added, “Hayato, I’ll go anywhere you want.”

“Bocchi.”

“Hmm?”

“While men like obedient women, being too compliant can easily become boring.”

Hitori shuddered.

Ishikawa Hayato knew he had scared her, so he quickly jumped straight to the point.

“If you like something or dislike something, just say it. It’s exhausting to keep reading minds.”

After he finished speaking, he still looked up.

Although he couldn't see Hitori's face, he could feel that Hitori was letting his words sink in.

Only after a long time did he hear Hitori's slow, firm, and solemn voice.

“I will agree with any of Hayato’s ideas, because there is nothing I dislike more than opposing Hayato.”

Ishikawa Hayato was a bit happy, but he couldn't help but feel regret.

Could this situation still not be avoided?

He could only change the subject and say, “Then Hitori, make a promise with me: from now on, you must tell me about things you dislike. If you don’t, you’ll be opposing me.”

“Eh~!?”

Hitori exclaimed, looking troubled.

Ishikawa Hayato chuckled softly, as if in triumph.