Hitori Gotoh lifted her head.
The fluorescent lights overhead were blindingly bright.
But even more dazzling than the harsh white glow,
Were Minami's eyes—
So pure, so clear, that she couldn't look away.
Under his gaze,
Hitori's heart was flooded with self-doubt and overwhelming guilt.
She had nowhere to hide.
"Anything?"
The black-haired young man finally spoke,
His tone tinged with amusent.
And at that very mont—
Hitori felt like she couldn't even breathe.
Because just a mont ago—
She had done sothing unforgivable.
She had—
She had kissed Minami!
Not just a light peck—
She had thrown her arms around him and stolen his lips!
And she, of all people—
A gloomy, hunched-over, unattractive nobody—
Had dared to do such a thing...
Minami, on the other hand,
Was popular, admired, desired.
A guy with countless girls chasing after him.
Soone completely out of her league.
There's no way he isn't disgusted.
The more Hitori thought about it,
The more her heart sank.
Her shoulders drooped,
Her head lowered.
Yeah...
What does it even matter?
Even if she had kissed him—
It wouldn't change anything.
If anything—
It probably just made him hate her.
Hate...
Then what cos after that?
He'll probably cut ties with .
After all—
Who wouldn't if they were kissed by soone they didn't even like?
The more she thought about it,
The more hopeless it felt.
She could already feel her eyes welling up.
And then—
SMACK!
"Ow—!!"
A sudden sharp pain jolted Hitori out of her spiral.
She instinctively clutched her head.
"M-Minami-senpai...?"
She winced, looking up at the boy who had just karate-chopped her head.
"You looked like you were about to overthink yourself into oblivion,"
Minami sighed, retracting his hand.
"I couldn't help it. Sorry."
"I-I wasn't overthinking!"
Hitori muttered in a small voice.
She couldn't let him think she was so weird girl who got lost in her own head all the ti.
"Really?"
Minami glanced at her sideways,
His gaze sharp, as if he could see right through her.
"I thought for sure you were just imagining that I was about to cut ties with you."
"...!!"
Hitori's mouth fell open.
W-what?!
Is he a mind reader?!
Hitori stared at him, dumbfounded.
How—
How did he know?!
"I'm not a psychic,"
Minami chuckled, shaking his head.
"And don't worry.
I already understand why that happened,
So I'm not really upset about it."
He said it so casually.
So naturally.
Like it was nothing.
And the more nonchalant he was,
The more flustered Hitori beca.
I-I an...
He really isn't mad?
He really doesn't hate ?
That ans...
This is...
A victory?!
Hitori relaxed.
A wave of relief washed over her.
But then—
A voice cut in.
"Wait, what do you an by 'what happened earlier'?"
"Minami-san, what exactly happened between you and Bocchi-chan?"
Nijika Ijichi squinted,
Her curiosity piqued as she glanced back and forth between the two.
And in that instant—
Hitori froze.
Oh no.
She got asked.
She really got asked.
What—
What do I say?!
Do I make sothing up?
But—
Making sothing up on the spot...
That's way too hard for a socially anxious person like !!
Uhh... ahhh... ummm...
AHHHHHHHH!!
"I-I...!"
"W-We were in the kitchen earlier, and, um... I-I did sothing with Minami-senpai, and—"
Hitori squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out sothing completely nonsensical.
"A-and in the end... I-It's nothing!!"
She had no idea what she just said.
Her brain and mouth had completely different thoughts.
She wanted to die.
She wanted to lt into the floor and never exist again.
YOU IDIOT, HITORI!!
That's not covering it up!!
That's just making it sound even more suspicious!!
And sure enough...
Through the strands of her bangs,
She could see Nijika's expression darken.
Her eyes narrowed in even deeper confusion.
I'M SCREWED.
Her heart sank.
She could already see it.
Nijika was going to keep pressing.
She was going to dig.
She was dood.
But then—
A voice cut through the tension.
"Yeah, we talked about sothing.
But for Hitori, it's probably a bit embarrassing to say out loud."
Minami spoke up, smiling.
And just like that—
Nijika's attention shifted to him.
"Oh? Is that so?"
She tilted her head.
"Mhm.
Actually, she's been struggling a bit with her studies.
So she asked if I could tutor her."
"Ohhh!
So that's what it was?"
Nijika's expression cleared up.
It all made sense now.
Not everyone was comfortable admitting they had trouble in school.
And for soone with social anxiety like Hitori,
Just bringing it up must've taken so much courage.
She nodded in understanding.
But then—
"Y-YES!
That's right!
We were just talking about tutoring!
A-And definitely NOT about anything weird, Nijika!!
N-NOTHING WEIRD AT ALL!!!
MMMPH!!"
Hitori clamped her own hands over her mouth.
"..." Nijika.
"..." Minami.
Minami, who had just barely salvaged the situation,
Turned to look at her in absolute disbelief.
Hitori-san.
Please.
I'm begging you.
JUST. STOP. TALKING.
Seriously.
Please.
With Nijika Ijichi now eyeing him suspiciously again, Minami had no choice but to speak up once more.
"Actually, Hitori and I were also discussing the idea of including Yamada-san in our study sessions.
Since, well... Yamada-san's grades aren't exactly stellar, right?"
"Oh... is that so?"
Should he say that Nijika was easily distracted?
Because the mont Minami ntioned Yamada Ryo,
Her focus completely shifted.
And sure enough, Nijika nodded, lost in thought.
Yamada Ryo's grades really were abysmal.
Her brain was like a single-core processor—
All of her ntal capacity poured solely into playing bass.
Her academic scores were consistently near the bottom of the class.
And every ti a big exam approached,
She would cram at the last minute.
But the mont she started focusing on studying,
She would sohow forget how to play bass.
It was a constant struggle.
So, upon hearing that Minami was willing to tutor Ryo,
Nijika couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.
After all, the Shuka High School final exams were coming up.
But—
"Still, if Yamada-san truly wanted tutoring,
Wouldn't she be better off paying for an expensive prep school?"**
Minami chuckled, speaking naturally.
"Honestly, I don't think she really needs ."
Tutoring Yamada Ryo?
That was a complete joke.
This was just an excuse to help Hitori cover up her awkwardness.
He had already suffered enough trying to get her to upgrade from a single-core processor in the simulation.
And besides, from a practical standpoint—
Private tutors were professionals.
They'd definitely be better than him at teaching.
After all, Minami was a genius at learning.
But in terms of teaching?
He was still a complete novice.
So, logically, Yamada Ryo should be reaching out to professional tutors.
Not him.
[Your "Lies" skill has slightly increased. Current Level: LV3.]
Hiss.
What?!
Minami glanced at the simulation interface.
Was it seriously labeling that as a lie?
Co on—
He was just coming up with a reasonable excuse to smooth things over!
He was an honest guy.
There was no way he was lying!
Minami sighed and decided to just ignore the system notification.
But then—
"Minami, will you tutor ?"
A cool, indifferent voice.
"Huh?"
Minami blinked.
He turned his head,
Only to realize sothing.
At so point—
Yamada Ryo and Kita Ikuyo had arrived behind them.
Ryo's amber-colored, glassy eyes stared straight at him.
She spoke again—
"Minami, will you tutor ?"
"Uh..."
Minami cleared his throat.
"W-Well... I an, it was just an idea."
He forced a smile,
His voice full of sincerity.
"But honestly, considering your family's financial situation,
I think you'd benefit more from a high-end prep school.
It would be better for you."
"No."
Ryo shook her head.
"I don't want to go to a prep school.
Minami, tutor ."
Hiiisss—
Minami felt a sharp sting in his chest.
Ryo was approaching.
Her expression was blank,
But she was completely unwavering.
She was like a fortress.
Unaffected by logic or reasoning.
Now he understood.
This was the consequence of lying.
But Minami wasn't giving up yet.
If he accepted this job,
It was going to be actual hell.
So—
"If you really want to tutor you,
Then I'll have to charge a tutoring fee.
It's only fair, right?
After all, it's cutting into my own study ti.
I can't just be working for free."
As soon as he finished speaking—
Minami felt completely confident.
Because the Yamada Ryo he knew...
Was the greediest person in the world.
Trying to pry money out of her hands
Was next to impossible.
This was his win.
She was definitely going to reject it.
"I'll pay.
How much?"
"..."
Minami.
Completely.
Shut.
Down.
What?!
Are you serious?!
Yamada-san?!
Ryo?!
Are you actually serious right now?!
Minami stared in disbelief as Ryo casually pulled out her wallet.
Her expression remained cool and unbothered.
She wasn't joking.
Minami froze.
His lips parted slightly, struggling to form words.
But before he could—
"I-I'll pay too!
Minami-senpai... how much?"
A soft voice interrupted.
Minami's face twisted in agony.
No.
No, no, no—
Hitori-san.
Please.
Just stop talking.
Minami had literally said that just to cover for her!
And yet she had to go and say that?!
She was making it worse!
Hitori-san—
I am begging you.
Please stop ruining my life.
A single Ryo was already exhausting enough.
Add one more Bocchi, who was born with zero talent for studying?
Minami felt a chill run down his spine.
He could already see his future drowning in endless tornt.
His lips parted, just about to speak—
Then—
"Eh? Minami-senpai is going to tutor Yamada-senpai?"
With a dazzling aura bright enough to blind, Kita Ikuyo burst into the conversation.
Her golden-red eyes sparkled as she looked at Minami with excitent.
"My grades aren't great either!
Minami-senpai, if it's okay, could you tutor too?
Of course, I'll pay as well!"
"..."
Minami.
Absolutely.
Speechless.
What kind of nightmare scenario was this?
Kita-san.
Why are you joining in?!
Minami could already feel a headache creeping up.
He glanced at Kita again.
And in that instant—
He understood everything.
This woman never cared about tutoring.
She only wanted an excuse to spend more ti with Ryo after practice!
Good lord.
She even used tutoring as an excuse for that?
Minami's headache worsened.
And before he could even recover,
Another voice joined in—
"If everyone else is doing tutoring... um... can I join too?
I don't mind paying upfront, either."
"..."
Minami.
Completely.
Shut down.
Bocchi, Ryo, Kita—
They all had their own excuses.
But why Nijika?!
Minami turned to her, utterly baffled.
Sensing his gaze, Nijika smiled awkwardly.
She rubbed the back of her head, letting out a nervous "hehe" before mumbling:
"It's just... if everyone else is doing it...
And I'm the only one left out...
It'd feel kinda... lonely, you know?"
Ah.
Minami suddenly rembered.
In his previous life, he had seen sothing similar in Bocchi the Rock!
The Kessoku Band girls once visited a music store,
But there were no drum kits there.
Feeling left out,
Nijika suddenly wanted to try playing the guitar too.
That scene had already perfectly captured her fear of being left out.
Now it all made sense.
But—
This whole "Kessoku Band group tutoring" scenario?
Minami was getting serious déjà vu.
He had seen this before.
In the simulation.
In Bocchi's happiest ending.
There was a choice to tutor all four band mbers.
And when he chose that option?
The end result—
All of Kessoku Band fell for him.
Minami's face stiffened.
Every single one of them... falling for him?
That's too much.
No, seriously.
That's way too much.
But if he refused...
Minami glanced at the four girls before him.
All of them gazing at him expectantly.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
It already felt like rejecting them wasn't even an option.
Just as Minami was trapped in a dilemma—
"If it's really too much for you, Minami-san, then don't worry about it.
Please don't force yourself."
That one line.
Coming from Nijika, who had always been thoughtful of him.
But instead of relief—
Minami suddenly felt completely cornered.
"DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT MAKES IT EVEN HARDER TO REFUSE?!"
Minami let out a silent scream of frustration in his heart.
Yes.
Refusing now would only make it seem like he had been forcing himself the whole ti.
That would just make the atmosphere even more awkward!
And more importantly—
Minami let out a long, heavy sigh.
That one single sentence from Shimokitazawa's Guardian Angel...
Had hit him right in his weak spot.
He had always been soone who gave in to kindness.
Harshness never worked on him.
"Fine, fine."
Under the various excited gazes of the four girls, Minami gave in.
"We'll do the tutoring."
He swore.
From now on—
He would never tell another lie again!
Better believe it!
---
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