Ijichi Nijika

Akiyama Mio was just as incredulous. "Wait... Ritsu, this—this doesn't seem right..."

At this rate, it seemed like they weren't exactly helping someone in need!

This was bad... Bai Qiu felt that if they kept this up, they'd only make things worse and end up being mistaken for the bad guys.

And if they really called Hiratsuka Shizuka, that'd be such a hassle!

But why hadn't Goto Hitori woken up yet?

He knew she was prone to fainting from fright, but surely she wouldn't be out for this long.

Was she pretending to be unconscious?

Bai Qiu felt like he'd figured out the truth.

"Goto, you're not actually awake, are you?"

Bai Qiu asked, his gaze full of suspicion.

Tainaka Ritsu was starting to get suspicious too...

And Goto Hitori, who was being held by Akiyama Mio...

Finally couldn't keep up the act any longer.

The truth was, Goto Hitori's body had been trembling the whole time.

But Akiyama Mio had been struggling and shaking too. Since they were both trembling, Mio hadn't noticed.

"Ah... um, wait... you've got it all wrong..."

Goto Hitori mustered her courage and spoke in a timid voice.

Tainaka Ritsu looked at Goto Hitori in surprise and confusion.

Seeing Goto Hitori wake up, Bai Qiu let out a quiet breath before saying,

"Goto and I are friends. There was a reason for what just happened. If you don't believe me, ask her."

My only friend!

Goto Hitori nodded again and again, looking ashamed.

"Yes, we're friends. You... you've got it wrong."

However, seeing how timid and frightened Goto Hitori looked—more so than Akiyama Mio—

Tainaka Ritsu gave her a doubtful look, even wondering if she'd been threatened.

"Is that true? You don't have to be afraid."

"Mio and I will protect you."

Though Akiyama Mio was scared, she nodded firmly.

Bai Qiu's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Goto Hitori helplessly.

"Really, nothing happened..."

Although Goto Hitori said that, her eyes kept darting around.

Bai Qiu pressed a hand to his chest, feeling a little heartbroken. Had he expected too much from Hitori?

Goto Hitori: I just can't look strangers in the eye o(╥﹏╥)o

In the end, Bai Qiu had to handle everything himself: explaining... being misunderstood... clearing things up... getting misunderstood again... explaining again, then clearing things up again...

At last, Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama Mio finally believed him.

But the moment Bai Qiu showed them his chat history with Goto Hitori, Tainaka Ritsu nearly called someone again.

The two of them now stood before Bai Qiu with their heads bowed in shame, like children who'd been caught misbehaving.

"Ah... I'm really sorry, Bai Qiu. You should've said earlier that you were one of Teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka's students."

Tainaka Ritsu apologized, rubbing the back of her head, then pressed her hands together.

Then she looked at Goto Hitori, who was shrinking away to one side. This girl seemed even shyer than Mio-chan.

Akiyama Mio's face was flushed with embarrassment as she sincerely said, "I'm terribly sorry, Bai Qiu! We've caused you trouble!"

"Please forgive us!" ×2

The two of them pressed their hands together in unison.

Bai Qiu nodded and accepted their apologies. What surprised him was that the system had rewarded him with Notes for meeting the two of them here, so he didn't have much reason to be angry.

"Besides, have you ever seen a bad guy as handsome as me?"

The three girls had the same thought.

Though they couldn't deny that Bai Qiu was good-looking.

But Goto Hitori still thought that the popular kids who were a little attractive and led the groups in class were often the ones who bullied others.

She didn't dare say that out loud.

"This is all because Mio went around saying 'school bullying'!"

Tainaka Ritsu muttered under her breath, tilting her head.

"What?! Dummy Ritsu, you're the one who suddenly charged over!"

Akiyama Mio immediately retorted.

"Hey, I was helping someone in need!"

"Then you shouldn't have threatened Bai Qiu just now."

"That was a joke! Bai Qiu obviously isn't a bad guy."

Listening to them, Bai Qiu put on a serious expression and waved his hand.

"Well... at least the misunderstanding's cleared up. Don't argue over me."

Goto Hitori watched everyone getting along happily, feeling completely out of place.

"Yeah, yeah! Well, we'll be going now. You really are a nice guy, Bai Qiu!"

Embarrassed and ashamed, Tainaka Ritsu was ready to make a quick escape.

"Goodbye, Bai Qiu. And goodbye, Goto."

Akiyama Mio and Tainaka Ritsu gradually disappeared into the distance, still bickering.

Actually, after Tainaka Ritsu had spotted the guitar, she'd wanted to persuade Goto Hitori to join the Light Music Club and become their guitarist.

But after all that commotion, it would've been awkward to bring it up—and she'd completely forgotten about it anyway.

After the two left, Bai Qiu chuckled softly, while Goto Hitori started feeling guilty again.

"Goto..."

Bai Qiu slowly turned to look at Goto Hitori.

"I'm sorry!"

Goto Hitori looked as if she was about to kneel again.

"Goto, don't kneel again."

Bai Qiu hurriedly stopped her. If Goto Hitori kept dropping to her knees whenever she felt like it, who knew what kind of trouble it would cause?

"I'm not blaming you, Hitori."

In his haste, Bai Qiu had called her by her first name.

Goto Hitori's body trembled as she stood there in a daze. "Y-yes."

"Anyway, tell me why you asked me to come to the park."

After what had just happened, Goto Hitori felt guilty too.

Then Goto Hitori began explaining her social anxiety and how she couldn't show her true abilities in front of other people.

So that was all it was! Bai Qiu understood and offered her some reassurance.

"All right, I already know all that. Don't worry, I won't give up on you because of it."

How did you know?

Though Goto Hitori was puzzled, Bai Qiu's words brought the first smile to her face that day.

"See? You look great when you smile."

Bai Qiu praised her. From now on, he'd encourage Bocchi-chan!

Goto Hitori's face turned red.

"Wow! A guitar!"

Bai Qiu was so happy he could cry.

He didn't even need to turn around.

The owner of that voice—the great angel of Shimokitazawa—

had already hurried over to the two of them.

Chapter 12: Ijichi Nijika

Bai Qiu and Goto Hitori's attention was drawn to the person who'd just arrived.

Unlike Goto Hitori's dowdy outfit,

the girl before them wore a pair of short red boots, a blue-green long-sleeved jacket, and a white skirt.

The red ribbon tied at her neck bobbed with her energetic movements.

Her bright golden hair was tied into a long side ponytail.

Most amusingly, a triangular cowlick seemed to float in the air.

She looked petite, lively, and adorable.

"That's a guitar, right? Can you play it?"

Ijichi Nijika asked Goto Hitori eagerly.

Goto Hitori: "..."

When Goto Hitori didn't answer, Ijichi Nijika blinked in confusion, then turned to Bai Qiu and said apologetically,

"Sorry for rushing over like that. My name's Ijichi Nijika, and I'm a second-year student at Shimokitazawa High School. What about you two?"

Bai Qiu replied, "I'm Bai Qiu, a first-year student at Sakuragaoka Shuwa High School."

Goto Hitori secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Bai Qiu was here.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to handle a situation like this at all.

However, Bai Qiu suddenly turned toward Goto Hitori and smiled. "She's a student too. Goto, make sure to greet her properly."

Goto Hitori didn't dare look Ijichi Nijika in the eye. She stared at the ground and stammered, "Ah, I-I'm Goto Hitori."

"Oh!" Nijika sounded a little excited. "So, Hitori, how good are you at playing guitar?"

"Ah, I guess I'm pretty good..."

Goto Hitori was startled. She's calling me by my first name already?!

"Um, actually, I've run into a bit of trouble. If it's inconvenient, that's totally fine. It's not a big deal, just a little troublesome..."

Ijichi Nijika looked at them and rubbed her hands together as she spoke.

Goto Hitori thought, That sounds really troublesome...

Bai Qiu also thought that if she hadn't run into Hitori, Nijika would definitely have been turned down.

"So, I'll just come out and say it. Please, could you fill in as the guitarist for my band?!"

"We have a performance coming up, but our guitarist and lead singer suddenly disappeared. Please help us!"

Ijichi Nijika pressed her hands together.

"You only need to know a little guitar to play it well."