Social Anxiety and the Rock of Loneliness

After that, as Bocchi was getting Ishikawa Hayato slippers, Knock, knock, knock.

Bocchi's parents, both with flustered expressions, rushed out in their slippers.

They stopped at the entrance, instantly stunned by the sight of Bocchi handing someone slippers.

Their faces showed an expression that was a mix of joy and emotion.

Then, they shifted their gaze to Ishikawa Hayato, who was about to enter.

"Uncle, Aunt, good afternoon."

Ishikawa Hayato said with a polite smile, then held up the fruit he was carrying and handed it over.

"A small gift."

Bocchi's mother, Gotouu Michiyo, took the gift blankly, sizing up Ishikawa Hayato.

Handsome, cheerful, polite, and looking confident.

Then she glanced at her daughter, in her utterly unfashionable tracksuit, bangs covering her eyes, and a bit hunched over.

Finally, she met the eyes of Bocchi's father, Gotouu Naoki.

The two began a telepathic exchange.

Gotouu Naoki: Hitori has finally gone down this road.

Gotouu Michiyo: She's stooped so low as to deceive her family...

She communicated with her husband in her mind, but in reality, she was already silently wiping away tears.

Bocchi's father couldn't bear to watch any longer.

Although he also felt that something was off, given his daughter's personality, handing slippers to someone unfamiliar, especially a man, would never be so natural.

But based on his many years of knowing his daughter, this! This must be a rental boyfriend!

He scratched the back of his head, wondering how to phrase things without hurting his daughter.

"Well... Hitori, there's no need to deceive your family like this."

Bocchi's mother echoed.

"Yes, Mom will be sad."

Seeing her parents making fools of themselves and undermining her, Bocchi couldn't help but shout.

"Mom, Dad, what are you talking about!"

At this moment, Ishikawa Hayato put on the slippers, walked to Bocchi's father's side, crossed his arms, and joined her parents' camp with an experienced air, lecturing Bocchi.

"Yeah, Hitori, it's better not to continue with this kind of thing."

Hearing his words, Bocchi blinked twice, then fell into self-doubt.

Even Hayato is saying that?

Could Hayato really be someone she hired?

Were those memories something she wrote in using some method to deceive herself?

Yeah, thinking about her bringing a man home is strange.

Even she feels something is off.

Seeing Bocchi looking like she was doubting her entire life, Ishikawa Hayato patted Bocchi's father's shoulder, sighed, and said to him as if he were a longtime drinking buddy.

"Let's drink, just go have a drink and you'll feel better."

Hearing these familiar words that were etched into the bones of every office worker, Bocchi's father nodded with a gloomy expression.

"Yeah... let's drink."

The two walked into the living room with their arms around each other's shoulders.

And although Bocchi's mother also had things she wanted to say to Bocchi, now that there was a guest in the house, she had to entertain him as well.

She just said to Bocchi with a sorrowful expression.

"Let's talk later."

Watching her mother walk into the living room after speaking, Bocchi was filled with question marks.

But she remembered what she had to do, and went upstairs to her room to get her guitar.

But after she got her guitar and came downstairs, "What! He's really Hitori's friend?"

Her father's scream was like a bolt from the blue, exploding in her house.

39. Family

Hearing this scream, Bocchi hurried down the stairs towards the living room.

As soon as she reached the living room door, the first thing she saw was Ishikawa Hayato with a calm expression, sitting politely on the small sofa.

On the sofa next to him were her father, leaning forward in surprise, and her mother, holding onto her father.

She panicked, wondering how to mediate.

"Ah, I was really surprised, is it true, Hitori's friend?"

Her father leaned back on the sofa, seemingly unconcerned, and asked again with a smile.

Ishikawa Hayato, with a smile as warm as a spring breeze, said to the relaxed couple.

"Yes, Uncle and Aunt's reactions were so interesting that I couldn't resist teasing you a bit, I apologize."

Her mother seemed happy, but said with a hint of apology.

"No, it's us who assumed you were Hitori's rented boyfriend."

After easing the awkwardness, Gotouu Naoki sat up straight and casually asked Ishikawa Hayato.

"How did Ishikawa-kun and Hitori meet?"

Ishikawa Hayato didn't play around and answered straightforwardly.

"Hitori and I are classmates and friends in the same band."

"Band?"

The Gotou couple exchanged surprised glances.

At this moment, Bocchi quickly walked in, flustered and trying to stop her parents, saying to them.

"Mom and Dad, don't keep asking Hayato questions."

"Hayato!"

The Gotou couple exclaimed in surprise again.

And then.

"I see, I see."

Gotouu Naoki nodded happily with a smile.

Feeling teased, Bocchi shouted in embarrassment and anger.

"Dad!"

Ishikawa Hayato and Bocchi didn't stay at Bocchi's house for long before leaving.

Although there was still plenty of time before the band's gathering, Bocchi seemed a little bothered by her family's interaction with Ishikawa Hayato.

Seeing them chatting so happily, and occasionally revealing some of her embarrassing past, she felt jealous and uneasy.

But she didn't dare to say anything to Ishikawa Hayato, so she kept looking at her parents.

However, her parents rarely saw their daughter bring a friend home, especially a male friend, and completely ignored her increasingly pitiful gaze, chatting more and more happily with Ishikawa Hayato.

In the end, Ishikawa Hayato, unable to stand it any longer, got up and said that it was time for the band to gather, and bid farewell to her parents before leaving.

As they walked to the door to put on their shoes and prepare to go out.

"You're welcome to come over and play anytime."

The Gotou couple said goodbye to Ishikawa Hayato at the door.

"Yes, definitely."

Ishikawa Hayato nodded with a smile.

Walking on the way to the station, Bocchi understood what a "riajuu" was.

To be able to get along so quickly with other people's parents, and even chat so enthusiastically.

According to the social ability analysis chart.

The lowest level is being able to chat with toddlers, then being able to chat with weak, young people, then ordinary young people, ordinary peers, arrogant young people...

Step by step upwards, and being able to chat happily with a friend's elders is an existence in the tenth level!

That's a level close to God.

By the way, she is in a state where she can barely reach the lowest level.

The difference in combat power between them is like heaven and earth!

Bocchi glanced at the boy next to her, humming a song casually, and felt great awe for him.

Boarding the train, the two went straight to STARRY.

Walking down the sunken stairs in front of STARRY, Ishikawa Hayato saw the half-open door and said to Bocchi beside him.

"It seems everyone's here."

Bocchi, who had become inexplicably reserved, replied a beat late.

"Ah... yes."

Ishikawa Hayato didn't pay much attention. He opened the door, wondering how to make a stunning entrance, and walked inside.

Bocchi followed behind him.

But just as the two of them entered, they happened to hear Kita's voice.

"Ryo-senpai, I'm very sorry, I lied about the type of music I liked that day."

Ishikawa Hayato heard this voice, a satisfied smile on his face. He walked around the corner, jumped over the railing.

After landing steadily on the ground, he spread his arms and congratulated Kita with a proud expression.

"Very good, Kita, you've grown!"

"Whose fault do you think that is?!"

Kita heard the voice of the culprit and immediately turned to complain to him.

Ishikawa Hayato showed a thoughtful expression, pinching his chin as he said, "That's a good question."

"It's you, Ishikawa-kun!" Kita cried, on the verge of tears.

Ishikawa Hayato, having his act ruined, laughed, then greeted the others in the room.

"Good day, everyone~"