"These guys had done plenty of bad things too. They weren't good people."
Tsukikawa Shu kicked one of the corpses on the ground, and quite a few items fell out of the school uniform pocket.
Two phones with pink cases, two small wallets, and some jewelry. They clearly belonged to girls.
The others were also carrying plenty of valuables, including phones, watches, and some cash.
They had obviously collected these things to sell after returning to the original world.
"Judging by the number of phones, at least two women and three men fell victim to them."
"Compared to monsters of the same level, killing players gave more Experience Points, faster."
Tsukikawa Shu analyzed the situation.
Once people discovered that killing players gave more experience, it would drive even more people to hunt players outside their own teams.
(Is anyone even reading this? Please give me some votes! QWQ)
Only those with some advantage in level would consider hunting others for higher experience. That showed these guys must have been relatively high-level among the players.
This also showed that the people transported into the Inner World were not actually very high-level. The monsters were too vicious, so most people probably just wanted to hide in a safe corner and wait three days to be sent back. After all, starving for three days would not kill them.
After staying in the Inner World for three days and farming plenty of experience and materials, Tsukikawa Shu quickly reached Level 20.
[You have reached a bottleneck. The following materials are required for a breakthrough.] [Werewolf Teeth x2, Spiked Porcupine Spikes x5, White Soul Orb x5] [Recommended material sources: Werewolf Settlement (Level 20), Spiked Porcupine Cave (Level 15)]
Looking at the system prompt, Tsukikawa Shu chuckled.
The Level 15 Spiked Porcupines were still manageable, but the Level 20 Werewolf Settlement would not be easy to deal with.
Werewolves in the Inner World liked living in packs. To deal with them, a group had to work together, controlling them while dealing damage to obtain those precious materials.
As for fighting alone, obtaining the materials was completely impossible.
At this bottleneck, one either had to find people to form a team with or trade with others for materials.
"The breakthrough materials at Level 20 are already this difficult. The later levels will probably only get harder."
However, this was not a problem for Tsukikawa Shu at all. With his current coordination with Goto Hitori, plus the newly acquired Green Gear Weapon, they could completely challenge enemies above their level.
Under Goto Hitori's group curse, all the monsters lost their will to fight, and Tsukikawa Shu smashed their heads one after another.
"It's about time to head back."
Tsukikawa Shu smashed the last werewolf's head and put the bloodied hammer into the system storage.
"Mm." Goto Hitori nodded as well.
Goto Hitori's weapon was now a Magic Wand, which could enhance the power of her formations.
Whether in terms of strength or the materials they possessed, the two of them now absolutely crushed the other players.
"Um... can I come find you after we go back?" Goto Hitori asked, smoothing down her ahoge.
Tsukikawa Shu looked at her shy expression and smiled.
"What are you thinking? I'm your boyfriend. Of course you can come find me." Tsukikawa Shu flicked her forehead.
"Ugh..."
Goto Hitori blushed slightly.
Everything still felt somewhat unreal to her, and she had not figured out how she would explain having a boyfriend to her friends and family after returning to the original world.
The three days came to an end.
Tsukikawa Shu opened his eyes in the classroom.
The bald, middle-aged teacher at the podium was still lecturing, while the students around him were still preparing for the great exam that would determine their futures.
Tsukikawa Shu checked his watch and discovered that although they had spent three days in the Inner World, no time had passed in this world.
When school ended, Tsukikawa Shu packed his things, left the classroom, and headed toward another class.
At the classroom at the end of the hall, a familiar tuft of pink ahoge appeared by the door. Then a girl in sportswear with a guitar case on her back cautiously poked her head out.
Goto Hitori had been hesitating over whether to go find Tsukikawa Shu after school, but she had never found the courage to take the first step.
The severe hesitation unique to social anxiety.
She had even... forgotten which class Tsukikawa Shu was in...
People with social anxiety did not have particularly good memories either.
Fortunately, Tsukikawa Shu had come to find her. Otherwise, Goto Hitori would not have known what to do.
"Want to get some coffee together?"
Tsukikawa Shu smiled and took her small hand.
"...I-I still have band practice..." Goto Hitori stammered.
Before joining the band, the only places Goto Hitori ever went were home and school. Only after joining Kessoku Band did she gain a new place to go.
"Just tell them you can't make it today," Tsukikawa Shu said.
"...Like that? Then, okay."
Goto Hitori, who was bad at refusing people, was dragged away just like that.
Some of Goto Hitori's classmates watched the two of them leave in astonishment.
"When did Goto get such a handsome boyfriend?"
Everyone was extremely confused.
They arrived at a café near the school and sat facing each other.
Tsukikawa Shu casually ordered a coffee, while Goto Hitori casually ordered a glass of iced water.
There were still many things about the Inner World that they had not figured out, and many matters he needed to discuss with Goto Hitori beforehand. Tsukikawa Shu kept searching and taking notes on his phone.
Meanwhile, Goto Hitori fidgeted restlessly.
What do I do, what do I do? It's my first date with my boyfriend. What should I say? What should I do?
Think about the scenes where the male and female leads date in the dramas I've watched... Ugh, I can't think of anything at all. I hardly ever watch that kind of thing anyway. What's so entertaining about a bunch of damn normies showing off their affection?
Goto Hitori blankly stared at the cup in front of her for a moment, then turned aside and took a drink, then looked out the window again. Her feet had nowhere to go, and she fidgeted like a hyperactive child.
Fortunately, after five minutes, Tsukikawa Shu had roughly sorted everything out.
"What are you doing?" Tsukikawa Shu asked.
"Ah... nothing!"
Goto Hitori gulped down all the water in her cup and quickly sat upright.
Tsukikawa Shu looked into her eyes, then stood up and sat beside Goto Hitori.
Goto Hitori's tense body went stiff.
"You won't be nervous like this, right?"
Tsukikawa Shu took Goto Hitori's small hand.
"..."
Goto Hitori became even more nervous.
Tsukikawa Shu did not care about her bashful little expression as he gently squeezed her hand.
"I checked Seaside Comprehensive High School's forum. A Student Council member really did die. The cause was listed as sudden death."
Tsukikawa Shu said, "Those who die in the Inner World will probably die in the real world in some inexplicable way."
"Mm." Goto Hitori nodded.
"Also, we need to make full use of the resources we obtained during this exploration. There are many ordinary people entering the Inner World. We can use these resources to build a team and have those who need resources work for us," Tsukikawa Shu said.
"Just leave it to you..."
Feeling the warmth Tsukikawa Shu's hand transmitted to hers, Goto Hitori nervously curled her fingers around his.
She had never had much of an opinion of her own because of her social anxiety.
Tsukikawa Shu understood that clearly. He merely smiled, then explained the resource distribution plan to Goto Hitori. As expected, Goto Hitori had no objections at all.
Tsukikawa Shu had his own calculations when it came to resources.
For example, he needed to reserve a considerable portion of them for Widely Recruiting Virtuous Wives in order to farm system missions.
Most of those resources were earned through Tsukikawa Shu's efforts, so Goto Hitori would not object if he used them.
However, such matters were still difficult to accept in this monogamous society. Even with Bocchi, he had to take things step by step—first guide her patiently, then make her accept it in the end.
Of course, Tsukikawa Shu had definitely reserved enough resources necessary for Bocchi's advancement and growth.
After discussing things with Goto Hitori, Tsukikawa Shu walked her directly to her front door.
"Um..."
Goto Hitori pinched the corner of her clothes and shyly asked, "Would you like to come inside for a while?"
"No one's home?" Tsukikawa Shu revealed a meaningful smile.
"They are. Dad, Mom, and my little sister. Oh, and the dog." Goto Hitori counted on her fingers.
"You're bringing me to meet your parents already?" Tsukikawa Shu smiled.
"Ah... um..." Goto Hitori panicked.
She had not thought that much about it just now. Her band friends often came over to her house, so she had simply grown used to inviting Tsukikawa Shu as well.
But now that she thought about it, inviting her boyfriend over meant they were at the stage of meeting the parents, didn't it? Didn't that mean they were planning to get married...?
Though she really had married him in the Inner World.
Waaah! I haven't figured out how to explain this to my family at all!
"Maybe after some time."
Tsukikawa Shu saw her embarrassment and smiled. He waved his hand. "I'll be going, then."
"Mm, bye-bye."
Goto Hitori stood at the door and waved to Tsukikawa Shu as well.
Only after Tsukikawa Shu disappeared from sight did Goto Hitori lower her hand and withdraw her gaze.
An oddly pleased grin suddenly appeared on her face.
"Hehe, boyfriend. I have a boyfriend."
Now she was certain that the Inner World had not been a dream, and getting a boyfriend had not been a dream either.
Bocchi's emotions changed that quickly. One moment she was still shy, and the next she was already feeling smug.
Even while eating dinner at home, Goto Hitori held her rice bowl and could not help smiling—or even laughing aloud—whenever she thought of everything that had happened between them these past few days, along with their intimate actions.
She had already begun imagining the sweet moments of their future dates.
"Hehe... boyfriend, hehehehe..."
Little did she know that everyone in the family was looking at her. At that moment, Goto Hitori was grinning foolishly like a complete idiot.
"Big sis is acting crazy again." Goto Nijika looked at her sister and swung her short little legs.
Before you continue