Three days had passed since returning to the original world, and Goto Hitori had visited quite a few more places.
Every day after school, Tsukikawa Shu would come find her on time, then take her around to have fun, helping her become familiar with many places.
And today, Goto Hitori was once again heading toward school as usual, skipping along as the pink cowlick on her head bobbed up and down.
Having a boyfriend had clearly put Goto Hitori in a much better mood. She had even changed her view of this world somewhat.
She still hoped the world would not be destroyed.
"Bocchi-chan!!!"
At that moment, a voice called out to Goto Hitori from behind.
A girl with a yellow side ponytail came running toward her.
"Nijika?" Goto Hitori asked in surprise.
Ijichi Nijika was a lively girl, a member of Kessoku Band, and one of Goto Hitori's few friends.
The two attended different schools, so they rarely ran into each other on the way to school.
"You haven't come to practice these past few days. I was afraid something had happened to you." Ijichi Nijika put her hands on her hips and pouted unhappily.
"But I already sent a message on LINE," Goto Hitori said.
"Bocchi-chan's emotions are really unstable. I was so scared something had happened to you. I worried all night," Ijichi Nijika said.
"Hehehe, it's nothing really."
Goto Hitori scratched the back of her head, somewhat embarrassed but also a little proud, wearing that same silly smile.
"Something definitely happened to Bocchi-chan!"
Ijichi Nijika crossed her arms and spoke unhappily. Then she pointed at Goto Hitori's hair. "You properly combed your hair today! And you definitely trimmed your bangs too!"
"Also, you're actually not wearing a tracksuit today—you're wearing your school uniform! And there's a new bow in your hair!"
"Hehe, you noticed."
Goto Hitori embarrassedly touched her hair and the white bow on it, then smiled again.
She had gone out with Tsukikawa Shu several times already. Every time, she had dressed so unfashionably that even Goto Hitori herself had felt embarrassed. So she had resolved to change her image, bought a white bow online, taken off the tracksuits she always wore, and changed into her school uniform, trying her best to look like a youthful, pretty high school girl.
She had originally wanted to put on some light makeup, but after trying her mother's equipment, she found that she had absolutely no experience with that sort of thing and had no choice but to give up.
Though the changes were not major, for an ultimate case of social anxiety who had worn the same accessories and clothes for years, it was already enormous progress.
"Tell me, what good thing happened?"
Ijichi Nijika asked impatiently.
She had specifically taken a detour to come here today. Seeing Goto Hitori acting so secretive only made her even more curious.
For little Bocchi, who had always stayed quietly inside a cardboard box in the corner without anyone noticing her, to have something good happen was rare in itself.
"It really isn't anything. I just got a boyfriend."
Goto Hitori desperately wanted to hide the excitement she felt at the prospect of showing off, but that silly grin completely betrayed her.
"And he confessed to me first."
"If I have a boyfriend, I can't keep wearing tracksuits all the time. JK uniforms are more attractive... I need to dress up properly, and of course I have to take good care of my hair too."
Yet Ijichi Nijika did not believe her at all. She stared into Goto Hitori's eyes, trying to spot some sign that she was lying.
"...Really?"
"Why are you staring at me? It's true!" Goto Hitori shrank back and stressed.
"How could Bocchi-chan possibly have a boyfriend?" Ijichi Nijika said.
She did not even have one herself.
"It's true," Goto Hitori said.
"Impossible, impossible." Ijichi Nijika shook her head.
"It's true!" Goto Hitori grew anxious.
"If he's your boyfriend, then tell me what kissing feels like." Ijichi Nijika put her hands on her hips, wearing an interrogative expression.
"Uh... well..."
Goto Hitori could not answer for a moment.
"We haven't kissed yet... but he kissed my cheek!"
"Bocchi-chan." Ijichi Nijika sighed. "I know you want people to pay attention to you, but it's not good to lie like this."
"It's true, really! Why won't any of you believe me!"
How am I supposed to show off if you don't believe me? How am I supposed to brag?
Only then did Goto Hitori realize that reality was vastly different from what she had imagined. Rather than becoming jealous after hearing the news, her family and friends all refused to believe it. Some even suspected that she was sick.
"Bocchi-chan!" Suddenly, Ijichi Nijika grabbed Goto Hitori by the shoulders and stared directly at her.
"W-what is it...?" Goto Hitori panicked.
"Tell me the truth. Did something happen to you? Did someone harass you? Did you run into some human trash?" Ijichi Nijika asked seriously.
Ijichi Nijika cared deeply about this friend.
And Goto Hitori was exactly the sort of person who was easy to deceive. She usually dressed unfashionably and had a withdrawn personality, so naturally nobody pursued her. But if she dressed herself up properly, she was actually quite cute.
Just like today!
Goto Hitori had practically been transformed.
"No, no, he treats me very well."
Goto Hitori shook her head so hard it resembled a rattle drum.
Ijichi Nijika still did not believe her and stared at her for a long while longer.
"If someone tries to take advantage of you, tell us. We'll help you crush him!" Ijichi Nijika warned.
"Oh, no, that won't happen," Goto Hitori said.
Goto Hitori continued to insist, and only then did Ijichi Nijika leave, still half-convinced.
No one believes I have a boyfriend, huh? Then I'll find a chance to get affectionate in front of you and see if you still refuse to believe it!
Watching Ijichi Nijika's departing figure, Goto Hitori mulled over the matter in confusion.
Tsukikawa Shu had one hand hooked around his schoolbag as he browsed his phone, slowly making his way toward school.
The girls from his school who passed by all showed looks of surprise and admiration when they saw him, then either walked away with flushed faces or whispered to their friends.
When it came to looks, Tsukikawa Shu was absolutely at heartthrob level in school. It was just that he was too lazy to date and had no desire to deal with troublesome women.
Bocchi-chan was the exception, of course.
Goto Hitori's cheeks were soft, she was easy to fool and easy to coax, and he could pinch her a few times whenever his hands got restless. Even simply strolling around the streets could strengthen their bond.
She did not constantly send pointless messages, did not spend hours on the phone, and he did not need to worry about being manipulated by PUA tactics. She would not tag him all day to watch boring videos and jokes either.
More, more, more importantly, she was absolutely genuine—the real deal. He did not need to worry about some fake restoration job.
For someone like Tsukikawa Shu, who liked to slack off and lie flat, she was simply the ideal girlfriend.
And Tsukikawa Shu was not actually looking at his phone right now. He was looking at the system prompt before his eyes.
[Time until the Inner World opens: 23:00] [Time until the Inner World opens: 23:00] [The players entering the Inner World for the second time are:] [Players who have previously entered the Inner World and successfully survived] [When the Inner World opens, it will absorb more new players. Fifty percent will be selected at random, while the other fifty percent will be people connected to Veteran Players] [Connections include but are not limited to: relatives, friends, enemies, and so on]
Looking at the countdown on the system interface, Tsukikawa Shu did not feel nervous at all.
As for the Inner World absorbing people around him, Tsukikawa Shu was not worried either.
After browsing the forums and personally fighting players face-to-face in the Inner World, Tsukikawa Shu estimated that more than ninety percent of surviving players were probably still at Level 1. Of the small remaining group capable of leveling up by hunting monsters and players, their levels would not be particularly high either.
Someone like Koda Ken, whom he had killed before, would have been impressive if he had reached Level 7 or 8.
Time flowed separately in the Inner World and did not affect time in the original world. If someone was transported in at a certain time, they would return at that very same time.
He could drink when he wanted, play when he wanted, and not worry about it affecting reality.
Of course, if he died in the Inner World, that would be a different matter.
On the other hand, the Inner World could affect reality.
Tsukikawa Shu opened his palm, and a bloodstained hammer appeared in his hand without anyone noticing.
This was the weapon he had obtained in the Inner World, the [Skull Crusher Hammer]. Things from the Inner World could be brought into the original world, and the powers and skills gained there could also be used after returning.
It was just that he still did not know how many people had entered the Inner World in total. But judging from how stable Japan currently was, the number could not be too high. Otherwise, Japan would already have become Gotham reborn, and Arkham University would soon be overflowing with talent.
Upon arriving in the classroom, Tsukikawa Shu did as usual, took out his textbook, then lazily reclined against his chair.
The surrounding students were still bent over their books, studying diligently.
Tsukikawa Shu draped one arm over the back of his chair and took out his palm-sized notebook. With practiced precision, he flipped to the section he needed to review. Just as he was about to read a few pages in that utterly unconcerned posture, a mature, curvaceous figure approached him.
"Tsukikawa Shu."
Hearing someone call his name, Tsukikawa Shu raised an eyebrow slightly. He saw a pair of legs wrapped in black stockings, followed by a tall figure dressed in a black business suit.
Hiratsuka Shizuka was Tsukikawa Shu's Japanese language teacher. She was also a very young woman with a hot figure, and she was immensely popular among these energetic young men.
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"I have a task for you." Hiratsuka Shizuka braced one hand against Tsukikawa Shu's desk and leaned down slightly.
Her expression was somewhat languid, and a faint body fragrance lingered around his nose.
"Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei."
Tsukikawa Shu did not change his posture. "Do you think it's reasonable to waste the time of someone standing at a turning point in life?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka was the advisor of the Service Club, and speaking of the Service Club inevitably brought to mind that icy, sharp-tongued beauty, Yukino Yukinoshita.
Even if he possessed a cheat that allowed him to constantly grow stronger only by taking wives, that did not mean Tsukikawa Shu was controlled by his lower half and would pursue every girl he saw.
If he was going to pursue someone, it had to be someone like little Bocchi. Not for any other reason—she was easy to fool, hassle-free, and they got along well. The system rewards were also quite good.
As for Yukino Yukinoshita... Tsukikawa Shu did not dislike her, but he would not deliberately approach her either.
If he really had to make a choice, he would rather pursue her older sister, Haruno Yukinoshita, or this teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"You still need to worry about getting into the university you want? You're looking down on the University of Tokyo now, aren't you?"
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