After Bocchi entered STARRY, she ran down the stairs as if fleeing, then, without hesitation, threw herself onto the floor in front of her friends, who were staring at her in surprise.
In a dogeza position, she tried her hardest to convey her sincerity, raising her voice to hide her fear.
"P-please, please forgive me."
The already lively shop, stirred up by Ishikawa Hayato, was swept by an even stranger gust of confusion.
The four of them stared blankly at Bocchi.
"Gotou-san?" Kita called out in surprise.
"Huh? What, what happened?" Nijika was so flustered she had no idea what to do.
Sensing that the atmosphere was different from what she had imagined, Bocchi raised her head and looked at them with unease and confusion in her clear blue eyes.
In a timid yet rapid voice, she said, "Didn't you call me out here to burn me at the stake because I got carried away and completely failed to write any lyrics?"
"We'd never do something that sadistic!"
Nijika couldn't help crying out.
Once he understood the situation, Ishikawa Hayato stepped forward and held out a hand to Bocchi, smiling. "Bocchi's wild ideas really are fascinating."
"Mm."
Ryo, sitting by the table, looked at Bocchi and gave a quiet response.
Kita suddenly seemed to realize something, her gaze flicking between Ishikawa Hayato and Ryo.
Meanwhile, Bocchi took Ishikawa Hayato's hand and stood up. Once she was on her feet, she looked at him for quite a while, seeming both expectant and happy.
As Ishikawa Hayato was watched like that, he thought for a moment before looking over her changed outfit for the day—especially her exposed, snow-white, rounded legs—and said, "Don't tell me you wore a skirt specifically for the burning."
Feeling his gaze openly inspecting her exposed legs, Bocchi's face