Toru originally wanted to ask Bocchi-chan out to hang out.
But this kid was a shut in. Even if you beat her to death, she would not go out on weekends, saying that staying at home made it easier to find inspiration.
Crouching inside a dim closet, could Bocchi-chan really write good lyrics?
Toru felt doubtful.
Speaking of it, most of Kessoku Band's songs had lyrics mixed with Bocchi-chan's personal baggage…
That song If I Could Become a Constellation vividly expressed a socially anxious person's envy and longing for the socially fulfilled. Perhaps, for Bocchi-chan, being a social butterfly was an unattainable dream.
Wait.
Was not Hitori already living a socially fulfilled life now?
She had a group of like minded companions and was playing rock music…
Before transmigrating, Toru had never played in a band during high school. The academic pressure in his motherland was far too intense.
Everyone competed inwardly like Michelin tires, layer after layer.
"Toru-kun, what are you thinking about?"
On the road.
Ijichi Nijika noticed that he seemed distracted.
Angel Nijika had deliberately accompanied Toru today…
She heard that Bocchi-chan had hit a bottleneck with lyrics, and Nijika thought she could help.
Knowing that she was coming.
Bocchi-chan would definitely be very happy.
That is right. Nijika did not tell Hitori about this. She came secretly.
Surprise.
"I was thinking about Hitori's lyrics. Every time I see her lyrics, I get this feeling of shock like, how can this kid's writing foundation be this good?"
"That is true."
Bocchi-chan's lyrics were not plain speech.
They had flavor.
Nijika recalled and gave an example. "In Guitar, Solitude, and the Blue Planet, that line [So I'm singing just like the fool I am], I really love it…"
"Mhm." Toru nodded.
Hitori really had skill in writing lyrics.
Even though she scraped past exams with low scores every time.
"When I listen to Kita chan sing, sometimes I think…"
Nijika smiled softly. "It would be great if Bocchi-chan could belittle herself a little less. She is obviously so cute and so talented."
"Did not Ryo say it many times before? Hitori is a rough diamond buried in the soil," Toru said.
"Ah… I feel like what Ryo said was not really praise."
While the two chatted.
They soon arrived at the Gotoh house.
"This is my second time here," Nijika said, reminiscing.
The last time was when they designed the band outfits.
"Ryo chan has not come even once. She does not even know little Nii chan," Toru replied.
Nijika pressed the doorbell.
Ding.
Very quickly, a voice came from the other side…
"H-Hello, this is the Gotoh household."
It sounded completely lifeless, like someone who had not slept all night. One word to describe it would be zombie.
"Bocchi-chan. We are here to help you think of lyrics. Hurry up and open the door."
Nijika replied energetically.
Then, on the other side of the doorbell, Bocchi-chan made strange sounds like [aaaaah, uuuuh], like an appliance that had touched a live wire.
After a few seconds.
"N-Nijika chan, I I will open the door right away."
Click.
Hitori hid behind the door and timidly poked her head out, her movements cute.
"W-Welcome."
"Bocchi-chan, what is wrong?" Nijika saw her strange expression and felt worried.
Could it be that she stayed up late thinking about lyrics recently and did not sleep well?
"N-No, nothing."
Hitori glanced at Toru, then at Nijika, and asked curiously, "Why did Nijika-chan come over?"
What about the promised two person world, sparks flying, a long future ahead, deep rooted feelings, seizing every chance, perseverance, cooking the rice into a finished meal and charging straight to the ending?
Who changed her script?
"Why? Bocchi-chan, that is a strange question."
Although Nijika did not understand why she asked that, she still answered. "Because I am very free. I finished all my homework, and the live house does not operate during the day."
"…O-Okay."
Although Hitori was a little unwilling, with three people together, she still had plenty of time to give away the honmei chocolate.
It could not be that by the end of the day, she would not even have a chance to be alone with him, right?
————
Today, there was only one person at the Gotoh house.
Futari's Nii-chan went out with their parents, bringing her little dog Jimi Hen along.
Hitori originally thought today would be a great opportunity to deepen her relationship with Toru, but she had not expected…
A powerful rival would appear halfway and ruin her chance to sneak ahead.
With a third person present.
Kissing was not allowed.
Holding hands was not allowed.
Sticking close was also not allowed.
Even though around New Year last time, Hitori did many lewd things with Toru, over the past few months, her relationship with him had not progressed at all.
Whether mentally or physically.
Logically speaking.
After holding hands and kissing…
Should it not roll straight into bed?
Kitahara-kun, are you even a man?
These were the words Bocchi-chan desperately wanted to say, but she did not dare.
For a pink tsuchinoko snake that had just evolved to the point of being able to secretly look at Toru with both eyes.
Arguing with Toru was as difficult as Icarus flying toward the sun, filled with the danger of wings melting, and with the slightest mistake, she would be utterly destroyed.
Coming back to her senses.
Bocchi-chan carried juice and opened the door to her room.
"Kitahara-kun, Nijika chan, the juice is here."
"Thank you, Bocchi-chan."
Nijika took the orange juice she handed over.
Because it was winter, the juice was cold and hard to drink. Nijika set it aside, planning to wait for it to warm up a bit.
The room had the heater on, so it could slowly warm up.
Toru also took his drink and thanked her.
No wonder Bocchi-chan said she did not want to go out. With the temperature outside below ten degrees, staying at home really was comfortable and pleasant.
"I heard about it. Bocchi-chan told Toru-kun yesterday that she ran into super big difficulties… can you tell us about it?" Nijika asked with concern.
Kessoku Band was a collective. No matter who ran into trouble, the other members would not ignore it.
"Ah… um."
Hitori's face showed obvious panic. Difficulties? She had already finished the lyrics. She only said that to lure Toru over. Who could have expected that by exaggerating a bit, she would also package in the warm hearted Nijika chan?
Just as Bocchi-chan was thinking about how to lie.
Toru very skillfully opened Bocchi-chan's closet and found the lyrics she finished writing yesterday…
This smooth sequence of actions left not only Hitori stunned, but Nijika was also dumbfounded.
Toru-kun, why are you so familiar with this?
What exactly have you been hiding from me that happened between you and Bocchi-chan?
"These lyrics are written pretty well. The content ties into love, chocolate, and Valentine's Day. It feels very suitable for Kita chan's singing style."
Only after Toru closed the closet did he notice both girls looking at him.
"What is wrong?"
"N-No, I was just curious. Why do you know the lyrics were placed in there?"
"As your manager, knowing this kind of small thing is not a big deal, right?"
"Question. Bocchi-chan's birthday."
"February 21. I gave her a birthday present a few days ago, the latest Apple phone."
"Ryo's birthday?"
"September 18…"
"Last question. Who is the shortest person in the band?"
"Are you sure you want me to say it?"
Toru looked at her.
The shortest one was Nijika, small and petite.
"Why do you know everything?"
"Because I am your manager."
Nijika: "..."
Do not treat manager as an all purpose excuse.
Do not think I do not know you have a simulator, okay?