Chapter 33: Party Ronin · Hitori Gotou
With Togawa Sakiko's grades, she could actually go to a much better university.
It's not that Shuka is bad, but compared to those top-tier first-line universities, it does fall a bit short.
The reason Sakiko chose this place is very simple: the scholarship is very high.
Shuka was formerly a noble academy, wealthy and generous.
Take this test as an example. The top three can receive scholarships of 200,000, 150,000, and 100,000 yen respectively.
To Sakiko now, this money is very important.
Not only can it improve her living conditions, but also free up more part-time job hours, which she can use to scout for band members.
Right now, Kaito is not short on money. Just the commission earned from Yumiko hasn't even been touched yet, let alone the 100 million yen later transferred by Ms. Mizusaki. [T/N: I changed the comission to 100]
Going to school is just for life experience; he isn't really concerned about exams.
But while he may not care, others can't afford not to care.
Ever since hearing the news about the upcoming exam last night, Bocchi had been restless.
Since middle school, her grades had always been less than ideal.
It wasn't that she didn't try. Bocchi had once worked hard, neglecting sleep and food, burning the midnight oil, but in the end, she could only barely pass.
Even getting into Shuka wasn't through academic merit, but because of her guitar skills, via the special admissions route.
Although her parents didn't have high expectations for her grades, if she were at the bottom of the class, wouldn't she become a laughingstock to the others?
She might even get pointed at…
Just imagining that terrifying scene of being at the bottom of the class made Bocchi lose all color, as if a gust of wind could turn her to ashes under the sunlight.
—-—-—
"Hey, hey, Bocchi-chan."
[After School, In the Clubroom]
Yumiko looked at the pink-haired girl in front of her and couldn't help but complain, "It's just a regular test, right? Even if you do badly, there's no punishment. No need to be this scared, right?"
Bocchi-chan still maintained her slumped, despairing posture, facing the wall like a cold statue.
Getting closer, you could faintly hear her mumbling, "I'm a mushroom… I'm a mushroom… I'm a mushroom…"
Yumiko couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, alright, stop shutting down."
She pulled Bocchi up and coaxed her like a child, saying, "The test is next Tuesday. There are still three days left. During this time, how about I help you review a bit?"
"R-Really?", Bocchi held her hand excitedly, and in her sapphire blue eyes, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope.
"Why would I lie to you?", Yumiko was full of confidence.
Though she couldn't compare to study elites like Yukinoshita, back in high school, she had always ranked within the top ten of her class.
Tutoring a single Bocchi-chan was more than manageable.
"Uwuu, Miura-san…", Bocchi teared up with gratitude.
Her goal wasn't high; she'd be happy if her grades were just average.
In a class, the most inconspicuous people are usually those whose grades are neither good nor bad.
Not good enough for teachers to be proud of, nor bad enough to make them shake their heads.
For Bocchi, that was the perfect ecological niche.
The tutoring location was decided to be the Gotou residence.
After some thought, Yumiko turned and looked at Kaito nearby, and extended an invitation, "By the way, President, you should come too."
"I don't really need to, right?", Kaito didn't look too interested.
He didn't care about grades, but as a cultivator, his senses were sharp and his thinking was more agile than most. Photographic memory was practically a basic skill.
Even if he didn't pay much attention in class, just rote memorization was enough to get decent grades.
"Of course you have to come!", Yumiko put her hands on her hips and righteously declared, "The Supernatural Research Club is a collective. We advance and retreat together, even tutoring is no exception!"
"And besides, you being there can also serve as supervision, to keep us from slacking off."
Bocchi also looked hopeful and softly said, "W-Welcome, Kaito-kun… to my house…"
Ever since their last meeting, her parents and even her sister had asked several times about Kaito.
Bocchi had also wanted to invite him over again, but every time the words reached her lips, she would shrink back, and could only cheer herself on in her heart, ["Next time for sure, next time for sure…"]
And then it got delayed until today.
Faced with the girls' sparkling, expectant gazes, Kaito couldn't bear to let them down and nodded.
"Yay!", Yumiko happily pounced forward, like a friendly golden retriever.
—-—-—
[Saturday Morning]
A rare day off, the train station platform was a bit quiet.
Kaito was waiting for someone.
They had agreed yesterday morning to go to Gotou-san's house for tutoring, but that night, Yumiko sent another message, saying she wanted to meet in Ikebukuro first and then ride the train together.
Ding~
With a crisp chime, the train quickly arrived at the station.
A familiar blonde figure got off and looked around for a bit before quickly spotting the person she wanted to see.
Her pretty face bloomed into a big smile as she ran over, "President, good morning~"
"Morning."
Kaito greeted her and paused before adding, "That outfit suits you well."
The girl in front of him had clearly dressed up carefully.
A pale yellow shirt, matched with a beige coat, and a stylish gray pleated skirt on the bottom, paired with slightly sheer black thigh-highs, together forming an irresistible absolute zone.
"Hehe~", Yumiko grinned proudly like a smug little fox, glad she woke up early to do makeup and pick clothes.
Very naturally, she stepped closer and hugged Kaito's arm. Her earlobes turned a little red, but she pretended to be calm, "Let's go!"
.
.
.
.
[Two Hours Later]
This wasn't Kaito's first time at Bocchi's house, but the sight before him still made the corner of his mouth twitch.
In front of the ordinary single-family home, a huge horizontal banner with black letters on a white background hung high on the wall.
[Warmly Welcome the Members of the Supernatural Research Club for Guidance!]
Below that was another line in smaller text: [We hope everyone can enjoy a moment of healing here…]
"This is… too over the top, right?", A few black lines appeared on Yumiko's forehead, "It's just simple tutoring, come on…"
Kaito also thought it was a bit much but didn't say much. He just looked at Yumiko who was still tightly clinging to his arm, "More importantly, when do you plan to let go?"
It was one thing to be clingy on the train, but they were about to be guests at the Gotou household, so it was time to show some restraint.
Yumiko understood this well, but even when she let go, she still looked reluctant.
The doorbell was pressed, and not long after, a panicked voice came from inside.
"J-j-j-j-just a moment! I'm coming to open the door!"
As the door opened—
BANG!
A burst of party poppers exploded before them, and colorful confetti rained down.
Bocchi, dressed in a pink tracksuit, stood at the entrance, looking like a completely different person.
She wore a Santa hat, glowing star-shaped glasses, and a fake black beard.
She also had a sash that said "One-Day Patrol Captain" slung diagonally across her chest.
Party Ronin · Hitori Gotou, grand debut!
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