Uchiha Ryo: "Hahahaha, just kidding. Let's head towards the high ground in the northwest. We can find a place with a nice view to rest, and maybe hunt for some food."
Katou Megumi: "Aren't we supposed to be [Robbers] hiding? Why does it sound more like we're going on a picnic?"
Uchiha Ryo glanced at Shirogane Miyuki and the others.
"If they provoke me, I don't mind taking the initiative. Let's see if these guys are smart enough."
[For the second round, please have the three hundred students from Toyogasaki go and change clothes. The ten catchers from Shuchiin, please go to the armory to choose your weapons.]
Kino Karen: [Then, the second round of Cops and Robbers... starts now!]
"Uchiha-kun, please lead our Toyogasaki team!"
"Uchiha-kun, you were so cool just now! With you here, it should be easy to turn the tables on the police, right?!"
Returning to the forest, Uchiha Ryo was quickly surrounded by many students.
Only a fool would lead a large group of people like Shirogane Miyuki did. Not only was it exhausting, but he also had to manage this bunch so they wouldn't get taken out by the police. So he refused on the spot.
Then, he took Takashi, Katou Megumi, and Gotou Hitori towards the northwest.
Uchiha Ryo: "By the way, Bocchi-chan, do you have enough people invited now?"
Gotou Hitori lowered her head. "Ling-kun, Hayasaka-san, plus Dad and Mom, that's only four people. I'm still short one person for the quota of five...."
Katou Megumi: "Sorry, Bocchi-chan, I already got a ticket from Ryo-san."
Uchiha Ryo sighed. "In that case...."
Takashi, who hadn't spoken, looked at Bocchi-chan, then turned to Uchiha Ryo. "I'd actually like to hear what Gotou-san's band is like. So...."
Uchiha Ryo reached out to stop Takashi, then smiled and looked at Gotou Hitori.
"Bocchi-chan, although my gentle little brother wants to help you, Takashi is your classmate after all. And...."
Slowing down his pace, Uchiha Ryo slowly approached Gotou Hitori and whispered in her ear.
"If you want to change, you have to make the effort. Invite someone yourself! And... instead of inviting classmates around you, how about inviting strangers?"
Gotou Hitori: "Invite... strangers?!"
That's impossible! Ask me to invite strangers? Like those pretty older sisters handing out flyers on the street? I don't even dare to talk to strangers! How can I invite strangers?
Uchiha Ryo: "It's decided then. Takashi, you can't secretly help Bocchi-chan. You go buy a ticket from Kita-san or Ijichi-san later. Bocchi-chan has already decided to win over an audience herself."
Bocchi-chan: I didn't decide anything!!
Of course Takashi wouldn't contradict Uchiha Ryo. And he thought it was a good idea. Gotou-san really should be a little more confident.
Katou Megumi: "But if you want to invite strangers, Bocchi-chan! How about I help you ask Eriri-san to draw a flyer?"
Uchiha Ryo: "Mhm, good idea. But just having flyers isn't enough. Actually, the best way is to let Bocchi-chan perform on the street. Since there's no school tomorrow because of the sports festival, let's go to Ginza for an open-air performance."
It's been decided!! Bocchi-chan walked slower and slower. She felt like her soul was about to fly away.
Open-air performance? Oh, right! As long as I call Kita, with her social skills, a mere street performance will be a piece of cake.
Uchiha Ryo: "Then it's settled. But don't notify Ijichi-san and the others. Just say it's to train Bocchi-chan's social skills, so no one else needs to come."
Gotou Hitori: "???"
Is this a prediction? So Ling-kun can read minds! No.... I don't want an open-air performance! Right, I'll pretend to be busy at home tomorrow and not come out.
Uchiha Ryo: "Mhm, I'll visit the Gotou residence tomorrow morning. Bocchi-chan, remember to open the door for me then. Don't lock me out."
He's coming to my house too!!!
It's over... I can't escape at all. Gotou Hitori lowered her head. "Okay...."
Bocchi-chan fell silent. After a long while, she looked up at Uchiha Ryo, who was chatting with Takashi.
He's helping me. Hitori! Ling-kun is so gentle, trying to help me overcome my social anxiety. I have to show some effort too! It's just an open-air performance! It's just... wuwu, open-air... performance.
At some point, Katou Megumi took a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it over.
"Here. What's wrong, Bocchi-chan? Are you worried about the open-air performance? It makes sense. After all, even a non-socially anxious person would feel awkward suddenly performing on the street."
Uchiha Ryo turned his head.
"Don't worry, Katou-san. I guess Bocchi-chan is moved. She must be excited about tomorrow's open-air performance."
.....
In the hills of the northwest part of the back mountain, Uchiha Ryo found a spot in the shade of a rock. No matter what, it was still hot on the mountain in the summer.
"You guys sit down first. It's school clothes anyway, so don't worry about getting them dirty. And with this kind of high-intensity game, even if they get damaged, we probably won't have to pay for them."
Takashi: "Ryo-nii.... the drone is still filming."
Uchiha Ryo turned to look towards the forest. "Mhm.... Found it!"
Watching Uchiha Ryo suddenly run into the forest, Gotou Hitori collapsed on the ground.
"What should I do.... what should I do tomorrow?"
Katou Megumi looked up. "Hey, if Bocchi-chan doesn't dare to make eye contact with strangers, then what about the official performance?"
Gotou Hitori: "....."
Katou Megumi: "Although I haven't seen many band performances, there will definitely be a lot of people in the audience, right? Those audience members will all be looking at you, won't they?"
Bocchi-chan shut down....
In the forest, Uchiha Ryo held a bundle of firewood tied with vines in his left hand, and a wild rabbit in his right.
Bunnies are so cute, they must taste great too. Uchiha Ryo had already decided to make roast rabbit later.
Returning to the high ground, Uchiha Ryo put down the firewood and the rabbit.
"Takashi, let's go find some bigger stones to make a firebreak. Since we didn't bring water, it would be bad if the fire spread."
Takashi stood up. "Okay. But Ryo-nii, did you bring matches?"
Uchiha Ryo pointed casually at a stone not far away. "Isn't that a flint?"
Takashi: "Eh? Is that a flint? It looks like an ordinary stone to me."
Uchiha Ryo smiled. "If I say it is, it is! Alright, hurry up! I can't wait to taste this guy."
As the smoke curled upwards, Shirogane Miyuki, on the police side, pushed aside the bushes and arrived at the foot of the hill.
Then... he froze.
Uchiha Ryo turned his head, a rabbit leg still in his mouth.
"You're here. Want some?"
Shirogane Miyuki: "Are you kidding me! I'm a cop catching people! Not only did you not hide, you actually dared to...."
.....
Uchiha Ryo leaned against the rock and looked into the distance. "Bocchi-chan and Katou eat too little. Takashi doesn't have a big appetite either. I had to give it to you."
Shirogane Miyuki looked serious. "Hmph, I'm doing this so as not to waste food! Not because I'm hungry or accepting your bribe!"
"Yes, yes, yes. Then hurry up and leave after you finish eating, Mr. Police Officer."