"Although it was certainly very effective—"
Miura Yumiko didn't understand why Ishikawa Hikaru had done all those things to her today. However, his method of diverting her attention had been undeniably effective.
After everything he had put her through in that Chinese restaurant, she genuinely no longer had the mental energy to keep dwelling on questions like "Did Hayato reject me?" or "Since when did Hayato have someone he likes?"
Right now, her mind was completely filled with the information Ishikawa Hikaru had revealed about himself, along with the ridiculous arguments he had thrown at her:
"So what if he likes someone?"
"Temporary failure is not lifelong failure, and temporary success doesn't mean eternal success."
"The essence of love is a battle royale where only the one who survives until the end wins."
"…That guy definitely did that on purpose, didn't he?"
Even leaving on his bike without listening to her response had clearly been intentional.
He had deliberately kept her too busy to think about her own problems with Hayato. First he used alcohol to shift her focus, then he dumped a flood of confusing topics on her.
And unfortunately…
It had worked perfectly.
Even now, she couldn't fully shake off the influence of everything he had said. She couldn't return to quietly brooding over her relationship with Hayato.
This method had effectively eliminated the possibility that her conflict with Hayama would cause their friend group to collapse.
"Damn it!"
Miura clenched her fists tightly, grinding her teeth in frustration.
"That guy must have been enjoying watching my reactions… he kept provoking me on purpose just to amuse himself—"
---
64. So, Will the Problem Child Make His Mother Worry?
"Today is such a good day, such a good day~"
Humming an old Dennis song, Ishikawa Hikaru rode his bicycle home with one hand on the handlebar. With the other hand, he casually took out his phone, opened his contact list, and dialed Hikitani.
The call connected shortly afterward.
"Hello—"
"Is Ebina Hina next to you right now?"
"…Hello, Ebina. Ishikawa is looking for you."
A moment later, Ebina's voice came through.
"Ishikawa-sensei?"
"I have successfully completed the mission assigned by General Ebina," Hikaru said cheerfully. "So please remember to reward me with experience points next week. Increasing my faction favorability would also be acceptable."
Ebina laughed.
"In my records, Ishikawa-sensei's reputation with the Neutral Faction has already increased from 'Friendly' to 'Respectful.'"
"But how is Yumiko doing? There shouldn't be any major problems, right?"
"No problem at all!"
Hikaru answered confidently.
"I confused her until she was completely dizzy."
"General Ebina, have you ever heard how to stop a crying baby?"
"You distract the baby with something new!"
"I used the same method on Miura-san. It worked perfectly! Even if she goes home alone, she won't keep brooding over her broken maiden heart anymore."
"Oh?" Ebina sounded curious. "Then how exactly did you do it?"
"It would be better if you asked Miura-san about that yourself," Hikaru said with a grin. "I said a lot of things. By next week you and Chef Yuigahama will definitely hear the whole story from her."
"That will make for some interesting gossip within your group, won't it?"
"If I spoil it now, the fun will be gone."
"Then I'll look forward to it."
"Have Hikitani send you and Chef Yuigahama my phone number and email. If anything urgent happens, you can contact me directly."
"I'm riding home right now, so I won't talk for long."
"Be careful on the road."
"Got it, General Ebina."
"My life is too wonderful—I have no intention of getting reincarnated into another world as the protagonist of toilet paper."
"Well then, goodbye. I wish you and Chef Yuigahama victory in your battle against the Hikitani weirdo."
"Alright. Bye-bye."
After ending the call, Hikaru slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued humming a popular Chinese internet song as he cycled home.
---
When he arrived home, he parked his bicycle in the garage and locked it. Then he walked into the house, changed his shoes, and hurried toward his room.
He intended to seize the moment.
His current state was stacked with three buffs:
Good mood
Creative inspiration from alcohol
Fresh writing material
If he started writing immediately, he could produce a large amount of content.
He was so focused on this that he didn't even say the usual "I'm home."
However—
"Hikaru."
His mother's voice stopped him.
He turned around in confusion.
"Ah? What is it?"
"Mom, I have a lot of inspiration right now. I need to go write before it disappears."
Ishikawa Yukio looked slightly melancholic.
"I feel like there is a lack of necessary communication between us."
"…Huh?"
Hikaru blinked in surprise.
"Is there?"
"I think we should talk."
"…Okay."
Although he really wanted to rush back to writing, family matters obviously took priority.
So he sat down on the sofa, still confused.
"…Why do you suddenly think we lack communication?"
"Our family is quite well-off," Yukio said slowly.
"Taishi has a high-paying job in Shanghai, and you became famous at a young age writing light novels."
"In just two years, the money you earned exceeded what Taishi earned in four."
Hikaru blinked.
"That sounds like a good thing…"
"But as your mother, all I do is stay at home, watch TV dramas, cook meals, and chat with neighbors."
She sighed.
"Sometimes it feels like whether I exist in this house or not makes no difference."
Hikaru stared.
"…Sudden midlife crisis plotline?!"
He immediately realized that was a bad thing to say.
"Mom, I absolutely rely on you!"
"If you weren't helping me, I'd constantly be distracted by daily life. I wouldn't be able to balance writing and normal life like this."
"I'm still a minor. Many things are inconvenient without you."
"But you would find a way to solve them anyway," Yukio replied gently.
"You've always been that kind of child."
"Even though you're a minor, you're more reliable than many adults."
"You've achieved things others can't reach."
"You're not arrogant or reckless."
"You already have the ability to control your own life."
She sighed again.
"But you're growing up too fast."
"As your mother… that sometimes makes me feel a little defeated."
Hikaru blinked again.
"…That's a very unusual perspective."
Yukio suddenly covered her face dramatically.
"After all, you can even take a high school girl out drinking!"
"I suppose after you graduate and get married, my only role will be babysitting your children!"
"Waaah!"
"Pff—"
Hikaru finally understood.
---
65. So, Will the Problem Child Cause Regret?
"That girl wasn't my girlfriend," Hikaru said helplessly.
"And I'm only seventeen. Isn't it a little early to be thinking about marriage?"
"There's a Chinese proverb: 'Pulling up seedlings to help them grow.'"
"If you rush things too much, the result is the opposite."
Yukio immediately switched to a calm lecturing tone.
"You've already achieved more than most adults."
"What's wrong with thinking about marriage?"
"Ambition has nothing to do with age."
"Without ambition, even living a hundred years is meaningless."
"You're only young legally."
Hikaru sighed.
"…Mom, that's still too rushed."
"I haven't even graduated high school."
"I want to focus on writing novels."
"I want to see how far I can go as a creator."
"I don't have time to think about those things."
Yukio sighed.
"You're so independent that I feel both proud and lonely."
"You could balance both love and ambition."
"You simply don't want to."
"If I meet someone I truly like, I will," Hikaru said.
"But right now the world is huge."
"I haven't seen much of it yet."
"If I make a choice now, I'll limit my future too early."
Yukio shook her head.
"Don't lose a watermelon while picking up sesame seeds."
Then she changed the topic.
"Your father and I talked."
"You're already capable of managing your own life."
"So I'm planning to go to Shanghai to live with him for a while."
"You can visit us whenever you want."
Hikaru nodded.
"I fully support that."
"You and Dad should pursue your happiness."
"And if possible… maybe give me a little sister."
Yukio laughed.
"Now you're the one nagging us."
"I'm almost forty. That would be dangerous."
"You're only thirty-seven."
"That's normal."
"If I have another child, I'll become a withered old lady."
She then spoke seriously.
"I've already booked my flight to Shanghai tomorrow."
"How you live your final year of high school…"
"Whether you stay in Japan or go abroad…"
"We will support your decisions."
"But we won't interfere."
"You can already control your own life."
She smiled gently.
"Like your name—Hikaru."
"Be the light that warms people and illuminates their path."
"I will."
She sighed again.
"But I still have regrets."
"You grew too fast."
"Sometimes I wish I could still teach you things."
Then suddenly—
"So when do you plan to get married?"
"I knew it!"
Hikaru laughed.
"That was your real goal!"
"That's why I hate how fast you grow," Yukio sighed.
"Go write your novel."
"I'm going to pack."
"Yay!"
Hikaru jumped up.
"Time to write!"
---
66. So, Will the Problem Child Receive a New Main Quest?
The next day at school—
For once, Ishikawa Hikaru carried a backpack.
He sat down, placed it on the desk, took out his laptop, and immediately started writing Volume Seven.
After about ten minutes—
Someone suddenly slammed his laptop shut.
"!"
His hand was caught between the screen and the keyboard.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's annoyed voice sounded beside him.
"Sobu High School rules do not allow laptops."
"But I'm not using it during class," Hikaru protested.
"I brought it for work."
"Once class starts, I'll go to the clubroom and continue writing."
Hiratsuka sighed and patted his head.
"Don't push your luck."
"Then I'll just request leave."
"Don't even think about it."
She pointed toward the hallway.
"Take your laptop."
"Come to the office with me."
Hiratsuka turned and walked away.
Hikaru reopened the laptop, quickly finished the paragraph he was writing, then packed it up.
A few minutes later, he arrived at the teacher's office.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was sitting at her desk, calmly drinking tea from a thermos.
"Shizuka-sensei?"