Chapter 108: Hitori, I Kind of Want to See You...
When feeling down, thinking of you brings happiness.
When feeling happy, thinking of you makes it even better.
The love between people is truly that simple and pure.
But at some point, Kita Ikuyo realized she had unconsciously overlooked this fact.
Maybe it was because of this materialistic world.
Pure feelings are hard to maintain.
However—
Even if emotions are pure, there's still—
"We have to take action, Bocchi-san!"
This was Kita Ikuyo's decisive and resolute statement.
"...Huh?"
This was Gotoh Hitori's bewildered, slightly fearful response.
"I'm talking about making the first move!"
Kita Ikuyo had made up her mind to support Gotoh Hitori's love life:
"You can't just keep hesitating like this, Bocchi-san!"
"..."
Gotoh Hitori gave her a look that screamed, "What on earth are you talking about?"
"What I mean is, you can't keep being so timid!"
"Ugh!"
Gotoh Hitori felt like she had just been hit where it hurt the most.
Being hesitant and too scared to speak up had always been her biggest weakness.
"Do you really think love is going to fall from the sky like a miracle? That's just wishful thinking!"
"Ugh!"
Kita Ikuyo's words struck Gotoh Hitori right in the heart again.
"To put it simply, do you even realize how popular Minami-senpai is?! I heard he gets love letters from girls in different grades almost every day! If you keep dragging your feet, you'll regret it sooner or later."
"..."
After taking hit after hit, Gotoh Hitori silently collapsed onto her desk with a soft "plop."
If there were a more precise way to describe her current state,
Then calling her a "puddle of Gotoh" would be the most fitting.
"Bocchi-san, now is not the time to collapse."
Having made up her mind to support Gotoh Hitori's love life, Kita Ikuyo decisively pulled her back up, her expression serious.
"Let's carefully think about our strategy. Not just for you, but for me too."
Yes.
Not just for Gotoh Hitori.
Kita Ikuyo also had her own selfish reasons.
Because last time, her beloved Yamada Ryo-senpai had already indirectly kissed Minami.
Even though Yamada Ryo might not have cared, Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but take it to heart.
If she could successfully pair up Gotoh Hitori with Minami...
Then she and Yamada Ryo could naturally get closer too!
Absolutely perfect!
"S-Strategy?"
Gotoh Hitori, whose mind was already muddled, clearly hadn't heard the last part of Kita Ikuyo's words and just stared at her blankly.
"Exactly! If we want Minami-senpai to like you, the first step is to make sure he interacts with you, right?"
Kita Ikuyo gave her suggestion: "When boys and girls interact, developing feelings is completely normal. The upcoming Shuka High school Festival is the perfect opportunity!"
She paused for a moment, then took out her phone.
"So! Our first step is to invite Minami-senpai out!"
"..."
Gotoh Hitori stared blankly at Kita Ikuyo.
She was envious of how effortlessly the other girl could speak so fluently and confidently.
But what caught her attention even more were the words that followed.
"I-I have to invite Minami-senpai?!"
Gotoh Hitori's voice suddenly changed, like a goose being strangled, her entire face turning bright red.
Asking someone out first...
That... That was way too advanced for her!
"It's fine, Bocchi-san, I'll handle the contact."
Kita Ikuyo waved dismissively, taking out her phone.
She had at least greeted Minami a few times before.
And for someone as naturally social as her, getting Minami's LINE ID had been effortless.
Since Gotoh Hitori was too shy to ask, she would do it for her.
Opening LINE—
Seeing Minami's panda avatar, Kita Ikuyo, under Gotoh Hitori's watchful gaze, naturally sent the invitation.
[Eek! Gotta be the sunniest person: Minami-senpai, do you have time for the Shuka High School Festival? If you do, please make sure to check out our class's activity! (Attached: A chibi girl with a shy expression)]
So... So impressive!
Gotoh Hitori widened her eyes as she watched Kita Ikuyo type out a long message effortlessly with just one hand.
And more importantly, the invitation sounded so natural.
If she had to message Minami herself, she would probably type something like:
"It has been some time since our last interaction. I hope you have been well. If it is not too much trouble, may I humbly invite you to our class's activity..."
Seeing Kita Ikuyo's confidence, she felt both admiration and disbelief.
Curious, she leaned in closer to see how Minami would respond.
The two girls sat there waiting.
And then—
"...Why hasn't he replied yet?"
Kita Ikuyo scratched her head in confusion.
It had already been fifteen minutes since she sent the message.
But Minami hadn't just failed to reply—he hadn't even read it.
Even now, her previous message remained "unread."
She opened her mouth slightly in surprise and asked, "Bocchi-san, does Minami-senpai not carry his phone around?"
"...He...probably does."
Gotoh Hitori answered softly.
Based on her memories, Minami wasn't all that different from other young people.
Aside from his disciplined studies, he also watched interesting videos online.
His phone was an everyday necessity, so he should have it with him.
"Hmm... This makes things a little tricky..."
Kita Ikuyo tilted her head as she stared at her unanswered message. Then she proposed a new idea: "How about we go directly to Minami-senpai's class and invite him in person?"
"Eh?!"
Not online, but in real life?!
As a socially anxious person, Gotoh Hitori's eyes instantly widened, and her voice turned shaky: "I-I think maybe we could try waiting a little longer..."
"Wait a little longer... Uh... Even if we do, Minami-senpai doesn't seem interested in replying at all."
Kita Ikuyo pointed at her phone and then looked at Gotoh Hitori.
"Then, how about you message him instead?"
Even as she said this, she didn't have much hope.
Minami might have set his phone to silent mode or was busy with something else, unable to check his messages.
Otherwise, why wouldn't he reply?
There was no way that if Gotoh Hitori messaged him, he would suddenly respond, right?
Kita Ikuyo had no expectations, but she still encouraged Gotoh Hitori to try.
Compared to her, Gotoh Hitori's LINE message was much more restrained.
She carefully took out her phone, which she had been using for a long time, then clicked on Minami's panda avatar.
With trembling fingers, she typed out an overly simple message.
[Probably Dead: Are you there?]
No emojis, and the content was as simple as it could be.
No good… This really won't work at all, Bocchi-san.
Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but shake her head as she grabbed Gotoh Hitori's hands, seriously imparting her wisdom:
"This won't do, Bocchi-san. When chatting on LINE, you have to show a cute and endearing side!"
"Eh? Is that so?"
Gotoh Hitori, who had never really chatted much on LINE, froze at those words.
"Bocchi-san, your message is way too dull. 'Are you there?' just sounds so… un-cute, right? And your LINE username is totally not cute either. I think you should change it."
Kita Ikuyo analyzed the situation for Gotoh Hitori: "If I were a guy, I definitely wouldn't want to reply to a girl who texts like this, let alone someone like Minami-senpai..."
She hadn't even finished speaking when—
Ding!
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: I'm here. What's up?]
"Huh?"
Kita Ikuyo froze, staring at the notification on Gotoh Hitori's screen, her face full of shock.
Instant read? Instant reply?
Wait a minute…
She glanced at Gotoh Hitori's phone, then quickly pulled out her own.
Her chat with Minami was still completely empty, a desolate void.
Looking at her own message, still marked as "unread,"
She couldn't help but wear an expression of pure disbelief.
She didn't know how to feel…
Even though she didn't have romantic feelings for Minami, as a social butterfly with a cute face, being treated so differently by a guy…
Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but feel a little conflicted.
But…
At least he responded, and that was a good thing.
Regaining her energy, Kita Ikuyo quickly strategized:
"Since he replied, don't hesitate! Invite Minami-senpai now!"
"I-I still have to invite him?"
Gotoh Hitori's mouth opened slightly, looking completely lost.
Just messaging a guy on LINE was already a terrifying breakthrough for her.
And now she had to go a step further and invite him to the school festival?
Just picturing that scene made her head spin.
"Don't be scared, Bocchi-san! You got this!"
Beside her, Kita Ikuyo cheered her on enthusiastically.
"Ugh!"
On the verge of tears, face full of distress, it was as if Gotoh Hitori had a knife held to her throat.
Even so, she forced herself to type out a message, struggling every step of the way.
[Probably Dead: Um… Do you have time lately?]
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: Yeah.]
Another instant read, instant reply.
Kita Ikuyo couldn't help but glance at her own phone again.
After confirming that there were still no messages from Minami, she finally gave up all hope.
[Probably Dead: If you're free, could you come to our class…? Our class is holding an event too, and it'd be great if you could stop by.]
Tap!
Her fingers stopped.
She hit send.
Gotoh Hitori let out a deep breath.
Just completing this simple action…
It felt like it had drained all her energy.
Now…
It all depended on Minami's response.
Both Kita Ikuyo and Gotoh Hitori stared at the screen, feeling unexpectedly nervous.
Unlike the previous messages,
This time, Minami didn't reply immediately.
Instead, after Gotoh Hitori's message turned "read," there was about a minute of silence.
And then—
Ding.
A new message arrived from Minami.
Both Kita Ikuyo and Gotoh Hitori looked over.
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: Kita-san is next to you, isn't she? This was her idea? You're actually inviting me to the school festival on your own?]
"Uh…"
Kita Ikuyo and Gotoh Hitori exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss for words.
Because Minami's guess… was just way too accurate.
Kita Ikuyo suddenly felt as if Minami had completely seen through her, inside and out.
"W-What should we do next, Kita-chan?"
Staring at Minami's reply, Gotoh Hitori opened her mouth slightly, completely unsure of how to continue the conversation.
The fact that Minami had seen through her immediately made her too scared to act rashly.
But before Gotoh Hitori could even reply—
Another message arrived from Minami.
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: Don't overthink it. You're just not the kind of girl who would take the initiative to invite me to a school festival, that's all.]
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: As for the festival day, once I finish helping out with my class's event, I should have some time. I can go with you guys then. Oh, by the way, is Kessoku Band performing together?]
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: I remember there's a music event in the gym that day. If you register, Kessoku Band can also participate. Do you want to perform on stage, Hitori?]
Gulp—
A string of messages.
A long string of messages.
Kita Ikuyo barely had time to process them all.
She had never imagined that Minami, who always seemed indifferent when talking to others, would actually say so much to Gotoh Hitori.
But among all his words, one particular line stood out to her the most—
That was—
"A music event at the gym during the festival, huh..."
Kita Ikuyo tilted her head.
She had actually heard about that before.
As long as students submitted a form to the student council, they could perform on the gym stage during the festival.
To be honest, she was quite interested in this kind of event.
So, Kita Ikuyo spoke up: "Performing at the gym… What do you think, Bocchi-san?"
"Eh...?"
Gotoh Hitori was still staring at Minami's messages when she heard Kita Ikuyo's suggestion. She instinctively shrank back.
"A performance… at the festival?"
Celebrating youth?
Celebrating academic diligence?
That kind of stage…
Gotoh Hitori lowered her head timidly. "I… I don't think I can do it..."
She had only gotten halfway through her sentence when—
[Tokyo's #1 Pretty Boy: To be honest, I'd really love to see you shine on the gym stage, Hitori.]
Plop.
Kita Ikuyo watched as Gotoh Hitori's phone slipped from her fingers.
Then—
Her hand was suddenly grabbed by Gotoh Hitori, whose expression had turned serious, her face almost glowing.
"Let's start practicing for the festival performance today, Kita-chan!"
"Huh? B-But Bocchi-san, the festival is still two weeks away… Isn't it a little early to start practice today…?"
"No problem! As soon as we get to STARRY, we'll start—no, actually! Let's start practicing right now, just the two of us!"
As she spoke, Gotoh Hitori was practically drooling, laughing "Heh heh" to herself.
Heh heh…
Heh heh…
You want to see me shine on stage…
Minami…
Heh heh… Heh heh…