Social Anxiety and the Rock of Loneliness

When walking beside Ishikawa-kun, she was clearly in a much better mood than usual, even sneaking glances at Ishikawa-kun's face from under her bangs.

A cute blush colored her cheeks, definitely not from the streetlights or the lights nearby.

It wasn't like this yesterday.

Did something happen after that?

In such a short time?

As they walked, getting closer to where she needed to part ways, Kita felt she couldn't just do nothing.

Her heart began to clench.

Should she make a move? How should she make a move?

But seeing Gotou-san, so timid and shy, looking so happy, she couldn't help but feel that for Gotou-san, Ishikawa-kun was truly the best boyfriend.

He would carefully protect Gotou-san.

Yet, as she thought this, she felt a pang of resentment.

"Kita is very quiet today," Ishikawa Hayato suddenly said.

Startled by the sudden voice, Kita, who was lost in thought, looked up when she noticed Ishikawa Hayato's gaze. She smiled vaguely, playing it off.

"I was just thinking about my guitar, you startled me, Ishikawa-kun."

"Really?" Ishikawa Hayato asked meaningfully, "Weren't you thinking about something… inappropriate?"

"What do you mean!"

Kita flustered, feeling like her thoughts had been seen through, and retorted defiantly.

Ishikawa Hayato shook his head, chanting like a mantra.

"Like running away, running away, running away, or something like that."

Although her embarrassing past was brought up, Kita let out a relieved sigh, then feigned annoyance as she explained.

"I only did that once, okay? And I'll never do it again."

As she spoke, she slowly lowered her head. It suddenly occurred to her that joining the band had been an impulsive decision.

And it was that impulse that led her to do something that embarrassed everyone. Although it was resolved perfectly that time, luck isn't always on your side.

Was she going to make another impulsive decision this time and regret it later?

She glanced at Bocchi.

She looked at the bangs covering Bocchi's eyes and her unfeminine tracksuit.

Gotou-san might not even be Ishikawa-kun's type, and she'd only known Ishikawa-kun for a month.

What should she do… she'd just wait and see for a while longer.

46. Ice

After parting ways with Kita, who was much quieter today, only Ishikawa Hayato and Bocchi were left walking towards the station.

On the crowded street, walking alongside a timid, tracksuit-clad beautiful girl—no, she could only be considered a raw gem right now—

This feeling was quite interesting.

Ishikawa Hayato playfully lagged half a step behind her, perfectly matching her pace.

Bocchi, having lost her reference point and feeling conflicted, slowed down at times and then sped up anxiously.

As she walked, her mouse-like eyes kept darting towards him, secretly observing the reactions of the man beside her.

When Ishikawa Hayato felt her gaze, he looked down. Their eyes met.

Bocchi then shyly averted her gaze immediately, lowering her head.

A lot happened today, Ishikawa Hayato thought.

A date with Bocchi in the morning, going to Bocchi's house at noon, a band meeting in the afternoon, and then going to Ryo's house.

It was a busy day, but also a day surrounded by various girls.

The harem king is almost formed.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly, then said to Bocchi, who was lowering her head and slowing her steps.

"Bocchi, is working part-time okay?"

Bocchi's steps stopped. Ishikawa Hayato also stopped in place, looking at her.

After a moment, her weak voice came.

"Mm..."

Ishikawa Hayato didn't pry, saying casually.

"Let's just go with that. Come on, Bocchi, you don't want to stay here forever, do you?"

Bocchi shuffled over. Ishikawa Hayato looked at her head, which was lowered, whether in disappointment or habit, and couldn't help but reach out and pat her head.

The pink-haired girl, clad tightly in a pink tracksuit, tensed her body slightly before relaxing.

Amidst the noisy, surging crowd, Ishikawa Hayato heard her soft murmur.

"I'm not scared when Hayato's by my side."

Ishikawa Hayato said nothing. He lowered his hand, took her wrist, and walked towards the station.

"I'm home."

As Bocchi greeted her family upon returning home, she heard quick footsteps approaching from the living room.

"Hitori, welcome home."

Her mother emerged with a smile, glancing at her before looking at the now-closed door. Her smile faltered slightly.

As if disappointed in her daughter, she let out a quiet sigh.

"Mom!"

Bocchi, understanding the meaning behind her expression, called out in protest.

But her mother ignored her, walking back into the living room as if talking to herself.

"Hayato-kun is such a good child. Why doesn't Hitori bring him home..."

Bring him... bring him home?

Where would Hayato rest? He wouldn't stay in her room, would he?

Besides, Hayato had visited their home today. Were her parents really that comfortable with their daughter's friends?

Bocchi pondered, her gaze growing more pitiful.

She dejectedly changed her shoes alone and entered her house.

Once back home, she seemed to get back on track.

Amidst her father and sister's playful chatter and her mother's occasional interjections, she silently finished dinner. Afterward, she returned to her room, entered her closet, and began playing popular songs, recording videos.

Afterward, she practiced guitar for a while.

Finally, lying on the tatami mat, she stared blankly at the familiar ceiling, reflecting on the day and planning for tomorrow.

The girl in the tracksuit, with her unsightly black socks, first curled up with a smile, then rolled over to the other side.

She then twisted back and rolled around on the tatami.

But after thinking about the happy things, she felt the unpleasant ones quickly surface.

Work.

Tomorrow... working at STARRY... work...

She abruptly sat up, her eyes wide with terror, and scrambled down the stairs, rushing down with rapid thuds.

She didn't want to work, absolutely didn't want to work!

And working at a live house meant facing all sorts of people.

Bocchi's mind conjured images of a man with a mohawk, wearing a studded jacket, and a woman in similar attire, wielding a whip.

She had told Hayato she wasn't scared, but that was when he was there. Now...

Let her escape for a bit.

Bocchi hurried downstairs and, amidst her parents' confused expressions in the living room, left the house.

A moment later, as they considered whether to cook red bean rice, Bocchi returned, carrying a bag that made a hard, grinding sound, like stones.

Confused, her parents got up from the sofa and looked out into the living room.

They saw Bocchi carrying the bag into the bathroom.

Before long, Bocchi emerged from the bathroom again, her expression resolute, and headed for the refrigerator.

In front of her curious parents, she opened the refrigerator, took all the ice cubes from the ice maker, put them in the bag, and went into the bathroom.

Her parents followed her to the bathroom.

Seeing Bocchi pouring bag after bag of ice into the bathtub, they exchanged a silent glance and sighed in unison.

Bocchi's parents were quite open-minded and didn't interfere much with her decisions.

Besides, their daughter already did many strange things, so there was no need to specifically stop this one.

However, today.

"We can only do this, I guess," Gotou Michiyo said, looking at her husband.

Her husband nodded, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hello, Hayato-kun? Ah, you guessed right. Hitori is indeed doing something strange. Yes, I'll hand the phone to her. Thank you for your trouble. No, no, we're happy Hitori has a friend like you."

After speaking, he walked towards Bocchi, who had just come out of the bathroom and was preparing to go upstairs, holding the phone.

"Hitori, the phone."

As Bocchi, who was preparing to change clothes and race against a cold to the death, looked at her father handing her his own phone, she was taken aback.

She then took the phone with a puzzled expression, but as she held it to her ear, unsure of what to say.

Ishikawa Hayato's voice came from the phone.

Ishikawa Hayato: "Bocchi, it's Ishikawa Hayato. What are you doing?"

Hearing the voice from the phone and the direct question, Bocchi's eyes widened.

"Ahhh..."

She looked at her father in confusion, then at her bathtub where she had already placed ice cubes. Her mouth opened and closed, completely unable to speak.

She had never imagined that her father would report her to Hayato.

When did their relationship become so good!

Is this the power of a normie?

A while later, with no response from Bocchi, the person on the other end of the line said.

Ishikawa Hayato: "I won't take up Uncle's phone time anymore. Bocchi, let's talk on your phone."

Bocchi: "Ah... Okay."

After hearing the sound of the call ending, Bocchi stiffly returned the phone to her father, then, as if heading to an execution ground, she dejectedly walked step by step towards the stairs.

Seeing Bocchi like this, her parents broke into smiles.

Time returned to an hour earlier, before Bocchi had come home.