"Haru, I need to talk to you."
Yamada Ryo, usually aloof and cool, now stood in front of Kazami Haru with a striking seriousness.
Normally expressionless, she now showed a completely different side of herself.
She looked him straight in the eyes, unashamed. Being someone who values individuality, she never cared about others' opinions, once she set her mind on something, she'd act on it immediately, charging forward for her goals.
And now was one of those moments.
"This is Nijika's first time performing on stage. She practiced so hard for today."
"I don't want all her effort to be in vain."
Though she framed it as a question, her tone, flat and calm, carried unmistakable conviction.
Kazami Haru was sure, this was the first time the cool, expressionless beauty had ever made a serious request. It was completely different from the lighthearted ones before.
This time, Yamada-san was serious and it added to her unique charm.
When it really matters, Yamada-san knows how to step up.
[Yamada Ryo has asked for your help. Though she hasn't spelled it out, your sharp mind instantly understands what she means. Normally, you'd avoid this kind of hassle, but this time you can sense her sincerity.]
[Faced with her request, your choices are—]
[1. Step up without hesitation.]
[2. Think it's not your thing, and politely decline after some hesitation.]
[3. Accept her request, using it to gain some leverage over her.]
[4. Enter virtual reality and simulate it yourself.]
"So that's how it is, huh?"
Still immersed in the simulation, Kazami Haru noticed it was already lunchtime. His stomach growled, so he paused the simulation to go grab some food.
Rationally, he should be thinking this decision through.
At this point, even Yamada-san had come to him, her good-for-nothing friend, with such a request.
What was there to hesitate about?
"Auntie, I'll take two chocolate conch buns and a bottle of cold MAX Coffee, thanks."
Living alone, Haru didn't bother making lunches, usually relying on the school cafeteria or the shop. The chocolate conch buns were his favorite, sweet, tasty, and just right.
Paired with a bitter MAX Coffee, the sweetness of the buns hit perfection.
Like Coke and classic potato chips, a match made in heaven.
As always, Kazami Haru found a dark corner under the stairs and sat down. Like Yamada Ryo, he liked solitude and planned to slowly enjoy his meal in peace.
Meanwhile, his mind was seriously pondering a mystery: which end of the chocolate conch bun is the top, the thick or the thin side? Where should he start eating?
A soft, pained whimper suddenly came from nearby. Haru quickly turned toward the source of the sound in the shadows.
Oh, a pink tsuchinoko just dashed past.
"I'm terribly sorry, Kazami-kun! For a bent, creepy, gloomy little bug like me to trespass into your territory and even breathe the same air I've contaminated... I've committed a crime worthy of a thousand deaths!"
"But I still have a little sister and a dog to take care of, please, I beg your mercy!"
As soon as Kazami Haru called out her name, he saw the pink tsuchinoko stiffen, then suddenly slide-kneel then a dogeza before him, apologizing with sheer terror in her voice.
"Wait, why is she apologizing to me?"
The girl before him was Gotoh Hitori , future core of the band, and one of Haru's classmates.
Most of their classmates thought of her as the strange girl who always kept her head down, timid and skittish like a frightened rabbit.
Messy pink hair hung down her back, and thick, wavy bangs almost completely hid the upper half of her face. You could barely glimpse her features through the curtain of hair.
She wore a weird combo: a pink tracksuit and a pleated schoolgirl skirt.
With her gloomy, reclusive nature and tendency to sit alone in corners, people often overlooked her entirely. Her dreadful fashion sense and that eerie, silent presence made her feel totally unapproachable.
At least, Kazami Haru had never spoken to her before.
"Hand over the money and I'll forgive you."
"U-um... this is all I have right now..."
Apparently having rehearsed this scenario in her mind, Gotoh Hitori shakily pulled a few thousand-yen bills from her pocket.
Haru could almost swear her entire art style was falling apart in front of him.
Because she reached into her pocket to hand over the money, Gotoh Hitori finally revealed her pale, almost sickly white yet beautiful hand.
Skin so flawless and fair, it seemed like it had never been touched by sunlight.
Never mind what Kazami Haru was thinking, Gotoh Hitori had already conjured up ten thousand tragic outcomes for herself in her head.
After all, in the eyes of someone like her, who believed herself to be at the absolute bottom of the class hierarchy, daring to intrude on a super popular guy like Kazami, one of the top-tier normies was nothing short of a heinous crime!
According to the criminal code of the "Gotoh Household," this offense would demand seppuku as penance!
But it looked like she might be able to buy her way out of trouble, which, for Gotoh Hitori, was already a pretty good outcome.
Still, she worried he might use this against her to extort more money later... and what if she ended up on a path of moral ruin because of it?
Hitori: Ah, my life is over. 6д9
"Really now~ Gotoh, you're such a good person."
"Eh? I'm... a good person? Ehehe..."
Eh! The handsome guy said I'm a good person... I feel so happy!
Seeing the pink-haired girl go from surrendering her money to smiling like a fool over a few kind words, Kazami Haru could only stare at her with the expression one might give a problem child.
Bocchi-chan's personality issues were way too severe. Even when she wasn't at fault, she'd apologize anyway, swallow all the negativity, and couldn't say no to anyone—just kept accommodating them.
Good thing she ran into him.
If it had been some other scummy popular guy, she probably would've been tricked into bed twenty-four times in one night. As for him, he'd stop after a little teasing at most.
"No need, I was just joking."
Kazami Haru slowly shook his head and pushed the thousand-yen bills back toward her.
No matter how cynical he might be, there was no way he'd actually take money from a girl like Gotoh Hitori .
At most, he'd mess with her a little.
Gotoh looked confused for a moment, but once she realized what was happening, she quickly clasped her hands together as if in prayer, her posture devout.
Ah~ Even though he's a super popular handsome guy, Kazami-kun also seems like the type to be a loner like me. He always acts calm and distant in class... who would've thought he was so approachable in private~
Could it be... he's actually an introvert like me?
No, no, no! How dare a pink-suited, moss-living creature like me compare someone like Haru to myself, that's pure blasphemy! Oh Almighty One, please forgive this foolish mortal full of ignorance and delusion...
"I just happened to be having lunch here. Sorry if I disturbed you, Gotoh. Do you mind?"
"N-no no no... p-please, go right ahead!"
He actually asked for the opinion of a water flea like me... is he the God of Goodness himself!?