As the part-ti work concluded, LiveHouse was also preparing to close.
Unintentionally, Shin found himself spending another night here – although, chatting with the girls wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
During their conversation, Shin added both Ikuyo Kita and Ryo Yamada's contacts to his phone. They seed to naturally view him as part of their group.
Ryo Yamada even asked if Shin wanted to join their band, but he turned her down. He didn't have the ti to practice an instrunt, though with his current physical control, he'd likely learn quickly.
But joining the band would an frequent rehearsals with the others, which seed like a waste of ti to him.
Though Ryo felt a bit disappointed at his polite refusal, she didn't press the matter. On the other hand, Nijika Ijichi seed visibly disappointed by his response, as if she genuinely wanted him to join the band, even though she wasn't sure if he could play an instrunt.
But given they had already accepted Ikuyo, who couldn't play either, they likely wouldn't mind too much if he was inexperienced.
…
After so persuasion, Ikuyo also agreed to join the band before leaving.
With that, the original four mbers of the band were complete, and judging by Hitori Gotou's happy expression, she was quite satisfied.
As they left LiveHouse, Ikuyo rushed off to catch the subway, leaving Shin and Hitori alone.
Almost predictably, Hitori looked extrely nervous when alone with Shin, too scared to even speak to him.
It wasn't surprising – even when Shin was around others, Hitori seed more comfortable speaking with them. To her, it seed, others were scary, but Shin was scarier.
Yet, strangely, despite her instinctual fear of him, she kept gravitating toward him.
On one hand, she was afraid of his supposed gang background, but on the other, she felt a strange sense of security with him around – her feelings were rather complicated.
"Want a ride? I've got a car," Shin offered, seeing her timid expression, finding the situation amusing.
Coincidentally, Kiryu had arranged for a car for him today, parked nearby. On a whim, Shin decided to offer Hitori a ride.
After all, he already considered her one of his own.
"Huh? Shin… you have a car?" Hitori looked stunned at his sudden offer.
But soon, she seed suspicious, eyeing him with doubt.
"But… aren't you a high schooler? Do you even have a license?"
"…Do you want a ride or not?"
"Y-Yes! I'll go!" she stamred, almost as if forced into agreeing.
Thus, Hitori ended up in Shin's car, half-coerced.
The car Kiryu arranged was fairly high-end, though Shin wasn't much of a car enthusiast – as long as it ran, he was fine.
Although he didn't have a license in Japan, he'd driven before his transmigration. It had been two and a half years since he last drove, but with his reflexes now, he should be able to reacquaint himself quickly.
Originally, Kiryu had also arranged for a personal driver, ready to pick him up at a call anyti.
But since Shin hadn't driven in a while, he decided to take the wheel himself this ti, reminiscing a bit about his life before transmigration.
"Where do you live?" Shin asked, looking at the shivering Hitori in the back seat.
To an outsider, it might look like Hitori was being kidnapped, given how terrified she seed.
Still trembling, Hitori gave him directions.
…
Hitori's house was truly far. Though she had ntioned it before, Shin couldn't help twitching a bit when he realized it had taken him an entire hour to drive her ho.
The subway would've taken even longer, which ant Hitori spent over an hour commuting to school every day…
In a way, she must have a great deal of patience.
"This is my house," Hitori said. Once they arrived, she practically fled from the car, bowing to Shin in gratitude.
"T-Thank you so much for bringing ho!"
Though clearly frightened of him, Hitori was still very polite.
"Your house is pretty far. Commuting every day must be tough," Shin said, looking at her through the car window.
"Have you considered moving closer?"
If Hitori lived this far, Shin would have to wait forever whenever he needed her for sothing.
While she did have the potential to develop a Stand ability, her distance was still a problem.
It would be convenient if her Stand could help her travel faster.
"Uh… I'll think about it." Hitori's eyes shifted evasively, clearly trying to delay the matter.
This was typical of social anxiety; when faced with questions they couldn't answer imdiately, they'd try to deflect with "I'll consider it," hoping to forget about it later.
Shin, though, had only asked casually.
He gripped the steering wheel, preparing to drive back.
But as he did, Hitori hesitantly asked:
"Um… will you be at school tomorrow?"
It was clear that Hitori wanted to have lunch with him and gumi Kato again.
Although Hitori disliked being around others, being with Shin was an exception.
Even though he made her nervous, she liked being near him.
Hearing this, Shin's expression turned a bit odd. How was it that, the more scared she was of him, the more she seed drawn to him?
Had he accidentally given her Stockholm Syndro?
Still, he didn't mind. Though Hitori dressed like a weirdo, she was a beautiful girl – who wouldn't enjoy being admired by a beauty?
"Unless sothing unexpected happens, I'll be there," Shin replied.
Hearing this, Hitori's face lit up montarily with joy – though she quickly reverted to her anxious, fearful look.
"Alright, I'll get going. You should also think about explaining this to your family," Shin said, glancing behind her.
Unbeknownst to Hitori, the door to her house had cracked open slightly.
Through the gap, he could see her parents and younger sister peeking outside.
It seed that tonight, Hitori would likely have to endure a round of "interrogation" from her family.
To be continued…
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