Bocchi-chan: 6д9

[You met the bassist Yamada Ryo near the bridge. Current relationship: ... ?]

Kitahara Toru looked at the message that appeared in the system and the striking question mark at the end, feeling happy.

Yamada Ryo is truly adorable and fun, to the point that even the simulator couldn't handle her.

Kitahara Toru didn't continue with the development plan but instead first clicked on the "bonds" button on the side.

There were very few characters in it, currently only Yamada Ryo.

The number didn't matter; one virtual wife was enough—he couldn't handle more. After all, this was a life simulation game, not a love simulation.

Kitahara Toru had always adhered to the concept of career first and love as a complement.

Clicking on Yamada Ryo's avatar, which looked like a beautiful girl with a serious and cute style, Kitahara Toru examined her information.

[Yamada Ryo]

[Current Favorability: 68]

[Adorable Traits: Shy Girl, Rocker, Manipulative, Narcissistic, Tear Mark, Ice-Cold]

[Existing Skill: Bassist LV.4]

[Talent: Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity]

[Love Experience: None]

Not bad, not bad. At this rate, we'll be dating in half a year.

The virtual waifus of the 2D world are great—having such a high affection level from the first meeting, I love it!

There were many options in the bonus bar: Giving gifts, going on dates, confessing, asking for advice...

Kitahara Toru decisively chose to ask for advice, and naturally, the topic was about playing the bass.

There was a fierce LV.4 master who drained his blood, and her skills and experience would definitely increase rapidly!

———

[Your caretaker asks you for advice on the skill: Playing the bass, twice a week, for a year, with a monthly salary of 100,000 yen. Do you accept?]

Yamada Ryo sat in the chair and noticed that a message had suddenly appeared in the simulator.

Time inside the simulator passed quickly, and she could split her consciousness to organize plans, so even during her break while practicing, she could play a little without affecting her real life.

"Yamada-senpai, what's wrong?"

Yamada Ryo, with the bass in her hands, paused for a few seconds, then shook her head and replied to Ikuyo Kita: "It's nothing."

She was just surprised that the person who was supposed to be absorbed was now "absorbing" back—nothing more.

Should she accept?

It seemed that Yamada Ryo had no reason to refuse. The stronger the target, the stronger Yamada Ryo would become. Anyway, it was just a simulation, and nothing would be lost.

After briefly thinking it over, Yamada Ryo agreed.

[You have set your plan for this quarter, activating the management function. From now on, the simulator will only notify you of special events.]

Yamada Ryo was very satisfied; she liked this feature, as it allowed her to handle both things at the same time.

"Ijichi-senpai, is Gotoh-san really okay?" Ikuyo Kita looked at Bocchi-chan, who was playing the guitar while hiding in a cardboard box beside her, and felt a bit worried.

The first audition was coming soon. If they failed, Kessoku Band could dissolve...

At such a critical moment, Hitori Gotoh didn't even dare to show up.

Woohoo, it's over.

It's over.

Big sister, third younger sister, let's pack our things and go home!

"Ah... there's still sound, so she should be fine, right?"

However, Bocchi-chan's playing was much better than yesterday.

The drumsticks in Nijika Ijichi's hands spun wonderfully.

She couldn't understand.

Inside the dark box.

Hitori Gotoh's eyes were blank, as if she had entered another world.

This was indeed the case. She was running a love simulation.

This box was Bocchi-chan's disguise, just like a hermit crab's shell, a snail's house, and an urn... cough cough.

Because she was so distracted, Bocchi-chan was now playing from memory. Without the disadvantage of social anxiety, her skill level had risen to LV.5, which was the limit an average person could reach.

No wonder the little angel Nijika was surprised—it was too strange.

A teammate who was an average player one day had suddenly become a great player the next.

For this simulation, Bocchi-chan had deliberately activated full-simulator mode. Unlike last time's rough text simulation, this time she could be inside that virtual world, watching the events unfold. (PS: Almost like a soul watching its other self in the game.)

[One month after classes started, you and Kitahara Toru still had no contact. After rejecting his attempt at conversation, Kitahara Toru, discouraged, gave up on the idea of becoming your friend. You feel guilty. Empathy Attribute +1]

Wait, why?

Bocchi-chan had just realized that real-world events affected the content of the simulator.

On the simulator screen, she was sitting in the classroom alone, as if there was a strange aura around her.

Hitori Gotoh knew that this was the emotional barrier created by her social anxiety, also known as the "heart's AT field," which constantly blocked those who wanted to talk to her...

How lonely she felt.

Even though she knew that the person in the simulation wasn't really her, Bocchi-chan still felt identified.

Cancel... delete this image.

I want to use text mode!

After some operations.

Hitori Gotoh let out a sigh of relief.

Phew! That sense of peace—that peace exclusive to those suffering from social anxiety...

These black-and-white words are so comforting.

[One day in mid-May, you passed by the music room after school and suddenly heard the sound of musical instruments being played inside...]

[The more you listened, the more familiar it became, and you quickly judged that it was the sound of a bass. Since you often listened to Yamada Ryo play, it sounded familiar. Curiosity led you to peek through the window, and you discovered that the person inside was actually Kitahara Toru!]

Hitori Gotoh looked at the message while her hand sped up, moving along the guitar strings.

A chance encounter! How wonderful!

My youthful love story is being reborn!

Hitori Gotoh's story is a guaranteed success! Season two! It's finally going to be published!

"Heheh, hehe, Slurp~"

Thinking about the bright future, Hitori Gotoh let out that peculiar sound that only those suffering from social anxiety can make.

"Bocchi-chan? If you go too fast, the rhythm gets messed up... Wow, this solo is amazing!"

"Gotoh-san's strumming is incredible!"

[You deeply regret it. Because you rejected Kitahara Toru's friendship invitation, he actually started learning the bass. Originally, you were going to gather the courage to talk to him about the guitar, but at this moment, your plan was in vain, and you felt depressed.]

Eh eh eh?

Wait, why is Kitahara-san practicing the bass? Hitori Gotoh discovered a blind spot.

[Listening to the bass playing inside, you, as shy as a marmot, abandoned the idea of going in to chat. You hate it—you hate yourself for being so weak! You can't do anything! Courage +3]

What the hell is a marmot?

Why is it always rodents? Last time it was a mouse, and now a marmot!

I am not a marmot!!

Bocchi-chan got angry, and the guitar in her hands sped up again—the frantic and violent strumming echoed throughout the Live House.

"Bocchi-chan? What's wrong?"

"Bocchi is mad," Yamada Ryo's calm voice sounded. "She's like a marmot screaming."

"Marmot, pfft hahaha... Sorry, sorry, Bocchi-chan." Nijika laughed a little, recalling a meme.

Hitori Gotoh didn't respond.

Hmph, I am now an emotionless playing machine.

[Where is my husband?! Is it over?!]