Chapter 168: Gotoh Parents Are Worried 

Gotoh Naoki and Gotoh Michiyo were extremely anxious.

Just moments ago, while they were leisurely strolling through the school Festival, they suddenly realized that their second daughter had gone missing.

Of course, part of the reason was the sheer number of visitors at the open festival.

But the real issue was that they had been too relaxed and let their guard down.

Just as they were about to head to the school's broadcast station and lost child center for help, their eldest daughter, Gotoh Hitori, called them.

Apparently, Futari was with her.

Hearing this, Naoki and Michiyo finally felt relieved.

After briefly discussing a meeting spot over the phone, they hurried over to the agreed location.

"Hmm… Area B… Area B… This should be the place, right?"

Holding a map of the Shuka Festival Visitor Guide,

Gotoh Naoki and Gotoh Michiyo scanned their surroundings.

However, the festival was packed with visitors.

Even after wandering around for quite some time, they still couldn't spot Hitori anywhere.

Just as they were about to call her again to confirm her location—

A clear, youthful voice suddenly sounded beside them.

"Excuse me, sorry to interrupt—Are you Uncle Naoki and Aunt Michiyo?"

"Huh—?"

Hearing someone address them so suddenly, both Naoki and Michiyo instinctively turned around.

A young man was standing behind them.

He had slightly messy black hair, a refined yet calm expression, and strikingly clear black eyes that exuded a certain confidence unique to young people.

However, unlike most youths,

Even though he hadn't said much, Naoki could sense a quiet, unwavering self-assurance from him.

It was hard to describe, but there was an undeniable presence about him.

But…

Why was this refined-looking young man talking to them?

And how did he know their names?

Naoki was confused.

He was certain he didn't know this young man from anywhere.

So, he turned to his wife.

Michiyo also shook her head, signaling that she didn't recognize him either.

This only made Naoki even more puzzled.

Unable to hold back his curiosity, he asked,

"Sorry, but… who might you be?"

"Ah, my apologies. I haven't introduced myself yet."

The young man smiled politely.

"Uncle Naoki, Aunt Michiyo, nice to meet you. I'm Minami Shouji , a friend of Hitori's."

"Minami Shouji ?"

"And… a friend of Hitori?!"

Hearing his words, Naoki and Michiyo's expressions were filled with shock.

The first part was fine.

But the part about being Hitori's friend—

That was something they found hard to believe.

Their daughter's… friend?

The same daughter who was socially anxious, lacked confidence, stuttered when speaking, and couldn't even make eye contact with others—

And yet, she somehow had a male friend?

And not just any friend, but one who looked this… well-put-together?

That seemed impossible.

"Um? Is there something wrong?"

Noticing their astonished reactions, Minami asked curiously.

I mean, what's so shocking about being friends?

"W-Well…"

Naoki hesitated before carefully choosing his words.

"I'm Gotoh Naoki, but… uh… Minami-kun, are you sure you haven't mistaken us for someone else?"

"Hm?"

"I mean, could it be that there's another girl named Gotoh Hitori in your school?

Maybe… you have the wrong person?"

"..."

Minami was speechless.

"Even if I mistook Hitori, why would I get both of your names wrong too?"

Yeah...

What were the odds that there were two Gotoh Hitoris, and both their parents had the exact same names?

That was just ridiculous.

But to Minami's surprise—

After he clarified that he was, in fact, talking about their Hitori,

Naoki—whose bangs covered part of his eyes—suddenly seemed to come to a realization.

With an oddly serious expression, he muttered,

"Then… could it be that Minami-kun is one of those…

'Rental Friends' I've been hearing about online?"

That's it!

It had to be a rental friend!

Otherwise, how could their socially anxious, self-conscious daughter possibly have such a perfectly well-mannered male friend?

It was completely unrealistic!

Naoki and Michiyo exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

"..." Minami.

Minami felt a headache coming.

Futari was one thing—

But he honestly hadn't expected this to be the impression Hitori's parents had of her.

Hitori, just what kind of life have you been living at home…?

How did you manage to make your parents so convinced that you have zero social skills?

He let out a helpless sigh.

Still, he took out his phone and spoke calmly.

"I'm not a rental friend.

If you still don't believe me, Uncle Naoki, Aunt Michiyo—

I can call Hitori right now and let you confirm with her."

He had only come to find them because Hitori couldn't locate them earlier.

Now that he had found them, his job was basically done.

Minami spoke naturally, his tone steady and sincere—

There was no trace of hesitation or deception in his voice.

That, in itself, made Naoki and Michiyo start believing him a little more.

"No need, Minami-kun."

Feeling a little embarrassed, Naoki coughed lightly before saying,

"Since you already know where Hitori is, could you just take us to her?

Futari should be with her too, right?"

"Yes, Hitori is watching over Futari."

Minami nodded with a smile.

As he led the way, he added,

"There are just too many people at the festival,

so I was worried you might have trouble finding your way.

That's why I came to get you.

Ah, this way."

Minami's voice was pleasant to listen to,

And his speech was well-paced and composed.

It was clear that he had a natural ability to command a conversation—

A skill that, intentionally or not, highlighted his impeccable upbringing.

Gotoh Naoki and Gotoh Michiyo were even more astonished.

No matter how they tried to process it, no matter how they imagined it—

A young man as exceptional as Minami Shouji simply did not seem like someone their socially anxious, reclusive daughter could possibly befriend.

Especially when halfway through their walk, Michiyo seemed to recall something. She tugged at her husband's hand and lowered her voice:

"Naoki, I think I've heard the name 'Minami Shouji' before…"

Truly, she was Gotoh Hitori's mother.

Even though she was in her thirties, the way she leaned in and whispered into her husband's ear still carried a youthful, charming playfulness.

"Michiyo, you feel the same way?"

Naoki briefly shifted his gaze away from Minami's figure and murmured,

"Actually, I also feel like I've heard it somewhere before… wait a minute—"

A moment of realization struck.

After some deep thought, he finally said,

"I remember now! Minami Shouji… isn't he the guy who ranked first in the last national mock exams?"

"First place in the national mock exams?"

Michiyo's beautiful blue eyes widened as she turned to look at Minami's back in surprise.

"Yeah. Remember when Hitori first entered Shuka High? There was a public announcement on the bulletin board—

'Congratulations to Second-Year Minami Shouji for ranking first in the national mock exams!'"

As they recalled this, the couple exchanged glances.

And then—

They couldn't help but both turn their heads back toward Minami.

Their expressions were beyond astonishment—

They were completely dumbfounded.

Because they had never imagined that their daughter could have a friend this outstanding.

Just as they were still whispering amongst themselves,

Minami suddenly stopped walking and turned around.

"We're here, Uncle Naoki, Aunt Michiyo."

Only then did they realize—

At some point, Minami had led them away from the crowded sports field and toward a quieter, tree-lined area on campus.

And sitting on a bench nearby—

Were Gotoh Hitori and Gotoh Futari.

"Papa! Mama!"

The moment she saw her parents, Futari immediately abandoned her sister and ran straight toward Michiyo with open arms.

"Honestly…"

Michiyo sighed fondly as she picked up her youngest daughter.

"Futari, remember to thank Big Brother Minami, okay?"

"Mhm!"

Futari nodded enthusiastically before turning to Minami with a bright, innocent smile.

"Thank you, Minami-nii!"

Her soft, childlike voice was utterly adorable.

Minami chuckled and simply nodded in response.

Meanwhile, Hitori, still dressed in her maid outfit, pouted as she scolded her parents.

"Papa, Mama, seriously—! Why did you come so early? And how could you lose Futari?!"

Of course, she had every right to complain.

She had plans today—

And all of them had been completely ruined by Futari's sudden appearance.

That little troublemaker never let anyone have peace!

All of her carefully crafted strategies—

All of her mental preparations for the perfect date—

All gone.

Just preparing for this had taken so much courage as a socially anxious person.

And now?

All for nothing!

Hitori was about to keep complaining when—

Naoki and Michiyo suddenly dragged her aside.

"Eh?"

Hitori blinked, utterly confused.

"Hitori, answer me—are you and Minami-kun really friends?"

"Eh…? Y-Yeah, we are."

Everything was happening so suddenly that Hitori could only answer in a daze.

"Not… a rental friend?"

"What?! How could he possibly be a rental friend?! Minami… Minami has helped me so many times—he's my real friend!"

The moment she heard the phrase rental friend, her sleepy, confused brain immediately snapped awake.

She reacted as if she had just been personally insulted.

"A-And besides, do I look like the kind of person who would pay for friends?! How could you even think that?!"

Yeah.

Wasn't that just humiliating?

Why would she ever do something as pathetic as rent a friend?

That was just… too sad!

She was furious.

Absolutely indignant.

But in the face of her passionate argument—

Her parents said nothing.

They simply stared at her in silence.

And in that oppressive quiet—

Hitori's strong stance… slowly crumbled.

Her lips parted slightly—

And then she dropped her gaze.

Okay.

Fine.

Yes, she was the type of person who might get desperate enough to rent a friend.

"B-But Minami is really my friend! If you don't believe me, just ask him!"

She didn't care what they thought about her—

But this—

This she was sure of.

And she would defend it with everything she had.

Gotoh Naoki and Gotoh Michiyo clearly sensed the conviction in their daughter's words.

And for the first time,

They asked in utter disbelief:

"Hitori… just how did you manage to befriend someone this exceptional?"

Because at home,

Hitori had only ever talked to her imaginary "friend"—her guitar, Kita.

To suddenly have this kind of person as a real friend—

It was just… incomprehensible.

"U-Uh… w-well…"

Hitori fumbled for an answer.

"It's just that… Minami… he's really interested in guitars!

So we started talking… and eventually, we became friends."

She didn't have Minami's gift for smooth talking.

So she could only repeat the same thing he had told Futari earlier.

But the moment she said it—

Michiyo's face instantly softened.

And beside her—

Naoki covered his face with his hands…

And burst into tears.

"Waaaahh! My daughter—!!

My eldest daughter—!!!

She actually made a friend all on her own!

"…Was this really worth such a dramatic reaction?"

Hitori asked hesitantly.

"Of course it was!" ×2

"Ah… okay, sorry."

Hitori lowered her head.

Meanwhile, Naoki turned to his wife with tears still streaming down his face.

"Michiyo, see? Letting Hitori get into rock was the right decision!

It must have been rock music that helped her make such a great friend… wuuuuu…"

By the end, he was sobbing again.

Honestly, his reaction was a bit much.

But could you blame him?

For years, he and Michiyo had worried endlessly about Hitori's future.

What if she never learned how to socialize?

What if she could never function in society?

They never stopped trying.

If she wanted to play rock, they let her practice six hours a day without a word of protest.

If she struggled to make friends, they spent so much effort getting her into Shuka High, hoping it would help.

They even put up talismans to ward off bad energy—

And sprinkled salt in the corners of her room—

They had tried everything.

And now—

Their daughter.

Their daughter had actually, truly, on her own, made a male friend.

For Naoki and Michiyo—

This was nothing short of a historic milestone in human progress.

In his overwhelming excitement,

Naoki suddenly turned to Minami, grabbed his hands tightly, and declared:

"P-Please—! You must continue being Hitori's friend!

This is my lifelong request!

I'm even fine if you call me 'Dad'! Just please—!"

"…Huh?"

Minami was utterly baffled.

What the hell is this middle-aged man suddenly talking about?