Amidst the grateful farewells of the Komi family.
Hiratsuka Shizuka drove the SUV, gradually moving away along the road.
Inside the car... the post-battle settlement was underway... "Miko, this is the commission I promised you."
Lu Ren held a thick stack of money, pulled out two bills, and handed them to Miko behind him.
"President! Hooray!"
Miko happily took the money, tears welling up in her eyes with excitement.
She earned so much just by completing one request.
A full twenty thousand yen!
If... she could earn more money... perhaps the financial pressure at home would be much less...
"Goto-san, this is yours."
Lu Ren pulled out another bill and handed it to Goto Hitori in the back seat.
Although... she didn't do anything, and didn't even know what happened.
"Ah... huh?"
"No... no need... no need..."
"I... I had a lot of fun today, and... and I made friends..."
Goto Hitori kept waving her hands, her cute little face shaking like a rattle!
She felt very fulfilled today!
Her body felt light!
It was her first time going out with such a joyful mood!
She was already fearless!
...Seeing that Goto Hitori absolutely refused to accept it.
Lu Ren had no choice but to turn his head and look at Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"I'll pass..."
"I don't lack this little bit, don't try to bribe me."
"By the way, it's already one in the afternoon, shouldn't we be heading out soon?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka tapped the car's display screen, reminding Lu Ren to check the time.
Camping in the back mountains was not a joke!
Firewood!
Tents!
Camping cookware!
Barbecue grill!
And so on and so forth!
All of these needed to be prepared in advance!
If they dragged it out any longer, everything would probably be done by the time it got dark!
The conversation between the two also reached the ears of the others.
"Ca... ca... camping?!"
Goto Hitori clutched her heart, trembling with a look of terror on her face.
It was as if she had just finished a victory speech, only to have her head bitten off by a monster!
"Goto-san, aren't you coming with us?"
"As for your parents, I can explain to them."
Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the student in the back seat, asking about Goto Hitori's thoughts.
She hoped to deepen her relationship with this socially anxious student through camping.
And thereby find a way to treat her social anxiety.
"But... but..."
"Tonight... Mom made my favorite fried chicken..."
Goto Hitori mumbled softly, tears of grievance streaming down her face!
She had severe social anxiety, and camping was definitely not something she could do!
She would definitely make a fool of herself, definitely be a hindrance, and be disliked by others!
..."I see..."
"Then I'll drop you off at the station, can you take a taxi home by yourself?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka did not insist.
For the socially anxious Goto Hitori, camping was still too early.
She still needed a little time to adapt, starting with making friends, and absolutely couldn't rush it.
"Mm... mm..."
Kessoku Band (Nickname) nodded, her heart just relieved.
Lu Ren turned back again and handed her ten thousand yen.
"Fare."
"If you don't accept it, we'll feel guilty."
"Goto-san, you don't want us to have a bad time, do you?"
Lu Ren mimicked a villain's tone, teasing the cute and innocent Kessoku Band (Nickname).
"Ah... oh, this..."
Goto Hitori held the money, unsure what to do for a moment.
She looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka for help, hoping her teacher could assist her.
However... "Just take it as... hush money..."
"Goto-san, you can't tell anyone about today's events, okay?"
Click! Click! Click!
Hiratsuka Shizuka said, clenching her fist.
The threat was self-evident.
"I... I promise!"
Goto Hitori quickly covered her mouth, her small face responding in a panic.
"Good girl~!"
"As expected of my student, ah ha ha ha!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed happily, her mood incredibly refreshed at that moment.
Lu Ren gave her a look, preserving her last shred of dignity in front of the students.
"Miko, what about you?"
Lu Ren looked at Miko, asking for her thoughts.
"My mother's company is rushing progress this month."
"She won't be back tonight; she messaged me."
"I... I'm fine with anything..."
Miko lowered her head, seemingly hiding something.
She could see Yokai and possessed a spirit-attracting constitution.
Her home was constantly roamed by Yokai.
And those Yokai were all brought home by her.
Today... she saw Komi-san's parents tied up in the kitchen by a ghost doll.
She began to worry that a similar tragedy would befall her mother!
The sad thing was... the only way she could think of to prevent the tragedy.
Was for her to move out of the house, keeping the Yokai away from her mother.
But the problem was... if she left home... where would Miko go, and who would be willing to take her in?
The sadness on the girl's face did not escape the notice of an observant person.
Lu Ren saw through Miko's lie but did not expose her.
He wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Miko properly about this.
Tonight... taking advantage of this camping trip, find a suitable time... At the station... Goto Hitori got off the car, swaying.
Because of her nervousness, she got carsick again.
Fortunately... there was a small park near the station.
"I have friends now too..."
"Lu Ren is such a good person."
"He even invited me to go camping, hehe... hehehe..."
Kessoku Band (Nickname), with unsteady steps, carried her heavy guitar case and chuckled foolishly.
"I even exchanged phone numbers with Komi-san."
"Hehe... next time, I'll try to ask her out to play."
"And Lu Ren..."
"With him around, nothing will go wrong."
Kessoku Band (Nickname), in a good mood, sat on a swing, savoring the happy moments from before.
Suddenly... a surprised cry echoed from not far away!
"Ah—!"
"Guitar!"
"Hey, hey! That thing on your back, that's a guitar, right!"
As the voice sounded... a beautiful girl with golden side-swept pigtails, carrying a backpack, joyfully rushed towards the terrified Kessoku Band (Nickname).
"Um..."
"It's... a guitar..."
Goto Hitori took a few steps back, explaining haltingly.
"Sorry for suddenly bothering you..."
"I'm Nijika Ijichi, a second-year at Shimokitazawa High School!"
"Um..."
"I'm facing a huge predicament right now..."
"Please!"
"Can you be the guitarist in my band today!"
"Please!"
"We're about to perform, but our guitarist ran away!"
Nijika Ijichi clasped her hands together, like praying to Buddha, pleading with the girl in front of her.
"This song isn't difficult!"
"Please!"
"Please become a guitar hero, this is my lifelong request!"