Hikigaya, the Son-in-law of Three Surnames

Chapter 171: The Second First Kiss at the Sacred Heart Festival

On the football field, even though the applause was not as loud as at yesterday's concert, most of the audience, including students and parents, had satisfied smiles on their faces. This was the satisfaction after appreciating a good work. The applause was not as loud as thunder, but it lasted for a long time, like a bottle of fine wine that had been brewing for a long time and was worth savoring carefully.

"How about it? Do you think you've passed?" Hachiman also stood up and clapped softly at the girl who was giving a thank you speech on the stage.

Yesterday, it was her sister who was here to greet everyone.

However, royal power is not eternal.

Just one day later, on the same stage, everyone welcomed the birth of a new king.

The applause at this moment is all for the girl on the stage.

Yang Nai showed a rare helpless expression: "This is no longer a question of passing or failing. Oh no, after today's stage play video is circulated, other agencies will start to compete for people. Does this count as digging my own grave?"

Even under the eyes of Haruno, the stage play arranged by Nakano Ichika is very complete in terms of concept, acting, emotions, props and the screenwriter's own personal ideas. Especially the final adaptation, although it deviates slightly from Wilde's original grand narrative, it is more in line with the expression of modern works.

At the same time, it is also the screenwriter’s own voice.

"The Happy Prince was willing to sacrifice all the things that were dear to him, but he was unwilling to see the sacrifice of his beloved."

"The little swallow was originally free. The Happy Prince was unhappy, but she was happy. But for the sake of love, she voluntarily bound her wings and accompanied the Happy Prince to his death."

"The Happy Prince and the Little Swallow are actually two in one. They interpret what the author of the stage play wants to express."

"Hey, Hikigaya, is it really appropriate for you to still be standing here?"

"This play is a large-scale public confession."

Yang said calmly.

The success of this stage play is largely due to the immersive and mature acting of the lead actress Nakano Ichika. As a newcomer, she can perform to such an extent, so there is only one possibility, that is, she is an experientialist.

What Ichika Nakano said were what the Happy Prince said, and what the Happy Prince said were the inner voice of Ichika Nakano, but they were expressed through this stage.

I would rather die than live without love.

"Oh, it seems like none of the sisters in the Nakano family is easy to deal with." Yang No said with some mockery.

Hachiman shook his head slightly, then said, "I'll go backstage."

"Ah, he left." May looked at Hachiman who left his seat in a daze.

Yotsuba who was standing by pursed her lips. Compared to the general audience, the girl who knew more of the inside story and understood Nakano Ichika better thought in her heart that perhaps they had always thought that they were too dependent on Ichika.

In the past, when their father forbade them to have any contact with Fuutarou, in order to rebel against his father, the five sisters rented a house outside and lived there, relying entirely on Ichika's acting and commercial work to support them.

At that time, Ichika actually had a crush on Fuutarou, but when she learned that she and Miku were serious, she quietly withdrew and just protected them.

When Miku closed herself off due to emotional trauma, it was Ichika who took the initiative to ask Hikigaya Hachiman to open Miku's heart.

Ichika always, always, always puts her sisters' happiness first.

Now, is Ichika finally going to "abandon" them and pursue her own happiness?

The Happy Prince's act of distributing his precious gems and gold foil to the poor is just like Ichika constantly giving her precious things to her sisters.

It was only at the end of the stage play that Ichika expressed her attitude.

She can give up a lot of things, but from today on, the only thing she will no longer give up is love.

Even if it would cause the relationship between the sisters to break down.

Yotsuba had already clearly felt what Ichika wanted to express.

"But why him, Ichika?" Yotsuba whispered.

*

When Hachiman arrived backstage, Mizuhara Chizuru seemed to have foreseen it and was standing there to greet him early to prevent him from being unable to enter.

Chizuru's eyes were a little complicated at this moment. Even though she was the one who knew best what Ichika wanted to express in the stage play, when Ichika was really immersed in the role, the powerful appeal even drew her in.

He could clearly sense the feelings that Ichika didn't want to give up at this moment.

If she had the courage like Ichika, she quickly shook her head in her heart. Her problem was different from Ichika's. It was not a question of courage or not.

"Ichika, she's waiting for you in the lounge." Chizuru said softly.

"Ms. Chizuru"

"Now, the person who should be talking to you is not me. She is the Happy Prince. My current role is just a supporting role."

Chizuru said this a little firmly. She didn't want to hear anything Hachiman said now. She really didn't want to be shaken anymore.

Hachiman sighed in his heart, nodded slightly, then walked past Chizuru and came to the lounge.

I don’t know if it was a trick of fate or just a coincidence, but this lounge was the one where I kissed Nino yesterday.

A girl who looked the same as the girl from yesterday was standing in the lounge, looking a little uneasy.

After knocking on the door gently and entering, Hachiman said a little embarrassedly: "Is it a bit disturbing to come here now?"

However, the moment Ichika saw Hachiman, she gently covered her mouth with her hands, slowly squatted on the ground, and began to cry softly.

Hachiman suddenly panicked and said, "Sister, why don't you play by the rules? Why do you and your sister react differently?"

The man quickly walked over and pulled Ichika up and said, "What's wrong? This should be a happy day. Did you hear the applause outside? It was no less than yesterday's concert. Your performance was a success."

It was so successful that there was no need to say anything more, and Ichika's feelings were conveyed to him.

"I was worried that you wouldn't come here, wouldn't come to see me. I was worried that you had already decided to choose Nino yesterday, and I was worried that I was too late again."

Ichika sobbed quietly, unable to hide her excitement. From the time she stepped down from the stage to the time Hachiman came to the lounge, Ichika felt that every second was so unbearable. She was worried and afraid. What if Hachiman didn't understand her feelings? What if her feelings didn't get through to him? What if he had already decided to choose Nino, and even if she understood his feelings, she wouldn't come over?

The girl's longing for love was all concentrated in these ten minutes of uneasiness.

That's why, the moment she saw Hachiman, the girl, who always behaved like an older sister, lost control of her emotions.

"Do you know how sad I was every time I saw you and Nino together in the past half month? But I endured it, and endured it. I always endured it and devoted myself to the stage play. Because I want to express my feelings on the stage."

As a discerning person like Yang No said, this is not some "Happy Prince".

Every move that Ichika Nakano makes on the stage is filled with the words "I like you".

There is nothing more affectionate than this, nothing more corny than this, a public confession.

Ichika gently raised her head, looked at the man and said, "Now, I don't want to be patient anymore, and I don't want to ignore the sight of you and Nino together anymore. Mr. Hikigaya, have you accepted Nino's feelings?"

Hachiman shook his head and said, "Nino did confess to me yesterday, but I didn't agree. I can't look at her as a lover yet, and I..."

The man said it truthfully, and even next time, he would reject Ichika in the same way.

But Ichika's eyes, which were sparkling with tears, were smiling: "Yesterday, in this lounge, did Nino give you her first kiss?"

Hachiman hesitated. He didn't want to lie, but if he accepted Nino's kiss, he would reject Ichika. Ichika tiptoed gently and kissed Hachiman on the lips. Compared to Nino's fiery kiss that could melt people, Ichika was more like my gentle flowing water.

At the same place, and almost at the same time, Hachiman took the first kiss of a girl who looked almost the same as him.

"Now, Nino and I are on the same starting line again?" Ichika gently wiped the tears from her eyes and said with a relaxed smile.

Instead, Hachiman seemed a little helpless and at a loss: "You are like this, I am really..."

I really don't have the face to see Mr. Nakano again.

"This is a kiss of thanks." There was a hint of cunning in Ichika's eyes.

"Mr. Hikigaya, I have tried very hard to suppress myself in the past half month. So, please give me some reward, okay? I am just giving Nino the same reward, so it will be enough." Ichika gently grabbed the man's sleeve, and her tone even made people feel a little humble.

It was as if she wanted to make anyone who wanted to reject her feel deeply guilty.

But, don’t you feel any guilt for taking away the first kisses of your sisters repeatedly?

"I think that when I die, I won't be able to go to heaven."

The man's complaining words made the girl's body tremble slightly, and she knew that she had made him embarrassed.

Just saying that, the man held the girl in his arms.

Tears welled up in Ichika's eyes once again, but they were filled with joy from the bottom of her heart.

About ten minutes later, there was another thank you speech by the actors after they removed their makeup.

Ichika left the lounge in a hurry with red eyes, but unexpectedly saw Yotsuba and Mayu standing there.

"Did you see everything?" Ichika said with a slightly red cheek.

Siye lowered her head, feeling somewhat numb. Why did things always develop in the direction she least wanted to see?

Ichika and Nino both nodded blankly. So, to express gratitude, do you really have to do this?

Ichika didn't say anything else, as she had made it clear on stage.

She neither needed her sisters' support nor cared about their disapproval.

Standing on the stage again, everyone smiled when they saw her.

Maybe it's not as intense as a concert, but don't forget that actors are far superior to idols and singers in terms of their status in the industry and social position.

Even though Nino has become a national idol, once Ichika becomes a first-line actress, in the public's value system, the two are not even on the same level.

No matter how popular an idol is, he is just a fleeting shooting star, while excellent actors are evergreen trees that become more and more popular.

And Ichika has proven that she has the potential to be an excellent actor. Or rather, some of this potential has already begun to emerge.

"I am very grateful to everyone in the drama club. I am very grateful to Chizuru Ichinose who plays the role of Xiaoyan. It is because of their hard work and constant practice with me that I can perform today. So, I have a decision here. I will cast all the votes I get for the drama club. I will not participate in the election of MISS Shuchiin as an individual. So if you like my performance, please vote for the drama club."

This familiar behavior caused some discussion among the audience.

Following Nino’s passionate announcement of her withdrawal from the election yesterday, her sister Ichika also withdrew from the election today after the success of her stage play.

It makes people wonder, is the title of Miss Xiu Zhiyuan a hot potato? Is it worth pushing it back and forth like this?

Seeing that everyone was confused, Ichika didn't explain, but just smiled faintly and gently brushed her lips with her fingers.

Nino, I don't need you to give me even a little bit.

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