Mio and Ritsu

On the way, Nagasaki Sosei gracefully and politely found things to talk about, avoiding any awkwardness.

When they reached the train station, the two of them said their goodbyes politely.

Nagasaki Sosei's gentle demeanor reminded Bai Qiu of someone else.

Shimokitazawa's great angel, Nijika.

He really wanted to see Nijika soon...

Goto Hitori had spent the previous night feeling both excited and anxious.

She wondered whether Bai Qiu would message her.

What did people usually talk about with newly added Line friends?

Should she be the one to reach out and greet him first?

Goto Hitori's excitement began to fade.

Once she calmed down, Goto Hitori started to panic.

Because she had thought of a serious problem.

Now that she was in a band, that meant she would have to go to a live house and perform live.

That meant standing on a high stage, with hundreds or thousands of eyes fixed on her.

Oyster Oyster Oyster... There was absolutely no way she could do something like that.

Besides, when other people were around, her guitar skills became absolutely terrible.

Once Bai Qiu found out, he would never forgive her.

So, shouldn't she come clean as soon as possible...

Goto Hitori began to worry about what might happen.

Yesterday she had been so happy; today she was just as sad.

Shimokitazawa Park.

Goto Hitori sat alone on a swing.

She didn't even dare to swing, her eyes vacant.

After a whole day of struggling through school, Goto Hitori finally worked up the courage to send Bai Qiu a message on Line.

Then she waited here for the verdict that would decide her fate.

Bai Qiu looked at the message Goto Hitori had sent him.

[Lord Bai Qiu, I'm very sorry to bother you. Could you come to Shimokitazawa Park after school? There's something I need to report.]

He found Goto Hitori's wording pretty baffling, but Bai Qiu immediately replied that he'd come.

Meanwhile, Goto Hitori looked at an office worker sitting on a bench and thought darkly:

You must be lonely, just like me.

His career must be going badly, and his family life must be a mess...

A cute little girl threw herself into the office worker's arms.

The man smiled and gently stroked the child's hair.

"Sorry we're late."

The girl's mother walked over and spoke gently.

"No worries! Let's go get something to eat!"

Under the sunlight, the three of them held hands, cheerful and content.

What a harmonious, heartwarming scene.

Ah... A loving family...

But to Goto Hitori, the sight was devastating.

I'm sorry! I assumed you were one of my kind without asking...

Goto Hitori shed sorrowful tears.

"Goto!"

Goto Hitori was the only one left in the park. Bai Qiu spotted her from a distance and waved as he called out.

Before Bai Qiu could reach her,

Goto Hitori slid across the ground at lightning speed and dropped to her knees in front of him.

At the same time, she held out a Piggy Bank.

"I-I'm sorry! Lord Bai Qiu, I... I lied to you. This is the money Mom saved for my wedding. Please, you have to take it. Please don't hit me..."

Goto Hitori squeezed her eyes shut, raised both hands high, and trembled.

She looked ready to be slaughtered.

Bai Qiu was at a loss. Why did she keep dropping to her knees at the slightest thing?!

And could she teleport or something?

Bai Qiu wondered, "What did you lie to me about?"

"Also, get up..."

Bai Qiu felt rather helpless.

If he hadn't known what Goto Hitori was like, his poor heart would never have been able to take this.

Luckily, nobody else was in the park. If some passerby had seen them, he wouldn't have known what to say.

"Whoa! A guitar!"

An astonished, lively voice came from behind him.

An angel appeared in Bai Qiu's mind, but you might have picked a bad time to show up...

Then Bai Qiu turned around with some difficulty—and saw two unexpected figures.

They were both wearing the same school uniform as Goto Hitori.

"Wait, Ritsu, that's School Bullying..."

Akiyama Mio grabbed Tainaka Ritsu and clung to her side, trembling slightly as she whispered.

That might have been fine if Akiyama Mio had stayed quiet.

But her words made Tainaka Ritsu worked up.

"What?! School Bullying?! The nerve!"

Tainaka Ritsu rolled up her sleeves and charged straight over.

Akiyama Mio tried desperately to stop her, but it was no use.

"Don't, Ritsu, he's a boy! We should find..."

Before she could finish,

Tainaka Ritsu had already dragged Akiyama Mio over to Bai Qiu.

The two of them stood protectively in front of Goto Hitori.

Facing Bai Qiu, who was much taller than her, Tainaka Ritsu didn't show the slightest fear. Instead, she declared with a strong sense of justice:

"Let that girl go!"

Bai Qiu paused, surprised, and looked at the two girls in front of him. Weren't they in the Light Music Club?

One had short brown hair, with a headband holding back her bangs and revealing a bright, snow-white forehead.

The other was a typical girl with long, straight black hair and hime-cut bangs.

And unlike most girls with long, straight black hair, this one gave off a shy, timid air.

Look closely, and she seemed to be trembling just like Goto Hitori?

Ahaha, Bai Qiu suddenly found this rather amusing.

Goto Hitori opened her eyes too, staring in surprise at the two small figures before her.

Was she saved?

No, no, things seemed to have gotten worse!!

She'd better play dead!

Bai Qiu took a step forward. "Wait, this is a misunderstanding..."

Tainaka Ritsu pulled Akiyama Mio back a step.

"Don't come any closer!"

Bai Qiu reached out. "I'm saying, this is a misun—"

Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama Mio took another step back, cutting him off.

"Come any closer and I'll call the police!"

As she spoke, Tainaka Ritsu raised her phone.

Bai Qiu sheepishly drew his hand back and took a step away.

Goto Hitori, sprawled on the ground, opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Seeing Bai Qiu hesitate, Tainaka Ritsu grew bolder. She whispered to Mio beside her:

"So, Mio, you didn't think I was going to fight him, did you?"

Akiyama Mio breathed a sigh of relief. She'd been so nervous just now.

Next, Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama Mio kept looking back at Goto Hitori while watching Bai Qiu warily.

They didn't want him to suddenly attack or run away.

When they saw Goto Hitori lying unconscious on the ground,

Tainaka Ritsu cried out, "What did you do to her?!"

Akiyama Mio was worried too. She went over and gently lifted Goto Hitori into her arms.

Bai Qiu was a little confused too, so he spread his hands and said, "If I tell you I didn't do anything, will you believe me?"

Tainaka Ritsu shot back, "What do you think?"

"Want me to tell our teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka? You know Hiratsuka Shizuka, right? The teacher who can punch a desk to pieces."

Though Tainaka Ritsu was a little scatterbrained, she had noticed that the two of them were wearing the same school uniform.

Bai Qiu's mouth fell open slightly. Had Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka already become so famous...

Then Bai Qiu's eyes shifted, and the corners of his mouth turned up. He'd thought of something fun.

"Don't! As long as you don't tell Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka, I'll do anything you want."

Tainaka Ritsu's eyes lit up. Was Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka's name really that powerful?

Just mentioning it was enough to make him fold?

If that was the case, then heh heh!

"Pay up! Apologize!"

Tainaka Ritsu put one hand on her hip and raised her phone high.

Bai Qiu's eyes widened too.

You're serious?!

I only thought Hitori had passed out, so I'd play along with you for a bit!

There's no way I'd do just anything!