"By the way, how did you and Minami-san beco friends, Bocchi-chan?"
After helping the troubled-looking Bocchi sit down, Nijika looked at her with curiosity.
"Well... that..."
Rather than saying how I beca friends with him... I don't even have a mory of becoming friends with him at all...
Bocchi opened her mouth but didn't know how to answer Nijika.
However, she soon heard Minami-san's voice from the side, speaking up on his own:
"Well, it was after school. I noticed Gotoh-san with her guitar, and since I'm also interested in guitars, I took the initiative to strike up a conversation with her."
"Huh?"
How terrifying, how is this person able to lie without changing his expression at all?
Bocchi gaped at Minami-san, who was smiling brightly and casually talking about how they beca friends.
His ability to lie without even preparing for it was sothing Ichiri, as a person with social anxiety, could never imagine.
Moreover, Minami-san's voice was calm, and his gaze appeared sincere. With his naturally cheerful and unpretentious smile, it was impossible to detect that he was lying.
If it weren't about herself, Bocchi probably would have believed Minami-san's words too.
"Huh? Minami-san is interested in musical instrunts too?"
Kita Ikuyo asked curiously.
"Yeah, the reason I borrowed Gotoh-san's guitar is because of that," Minami-san said with a smile, then turned his head as if seeking Bocchi's approval, "Right, Gotoh-san?"
"Ah... yeah..."
Bocchi originally wanted to directly refute Minami-san.
But when the words were on the tip of her tongue, her social anxiety instinct took over, and she ended up muttering in a low voice, head bowed.
Sorry... if I could just speak up, I wouldn't have to be so troubled by relationships... The real social anxiety is not having the courage to say no.
"That's nice, Bocchi-chan, you have friends you can talk to at school."
"Ah... uh... yeah."
Bocchi kept her head down and responded softly.
It's... it's okay!
Even though things have turned out very differently from what I expected, at least I have the band mbers with .
Bocchi took a deep breath, clenched her small fists, as if trying to cheer herself on.
Yeah—
It's okay!
As long as everyone is with , I'll have the courage to face Minami-san!
They've always been giving courage!
I'll definitely be able to—
"Ah, I'm a bit thirsty. Bocchi-chan, you can talk to Minami-san for a bit. I'll go with Ryo and Ikuyo to get so drinks. By the way, what do you want to drink?"
"Huh?!"
When she heard this, Bocchi, who had finally managed to muster up the courage, widened her eyes in shock.
Then, she saw Nijika wink at her, and even with her extre social anxiety, Bocchi could understand the implied aning—You've made a friend, so talk with Minami-san properly, Bocchi-chan.
Ah—why is Nijika-chan being so gentle with right now?
Bocchi opened her mouth, wanting to stop Nijika and the others from leaving, but the words turned into, "Ah... okay."
I'm such an idiot! Is there anyone else as foolish as in the world?
All I had to do was explain things clearly!
Bocchi repeated this in her mind.
I was thinking that with my friends around, I could sohow get through this, but now I'm alone with Minami-san!
Her fingers nervously intertwined, her gaze timidly darted at Minami-san from under her long bangs.
What... what should I do?
So... awkward.
I can't think of anything to say... and to be honest, can I really find common ground with soone who bullies ?
No way, right?!
What's going to happen next?
I guess I'm going to get bullied, right?
Bocchi was full of inner turmoil.
She thought of the common trope from TV dramas, where bullies pretend to be friends with their victims, just to bully them more effectively.
That way, even if soone talks about it afterward, they could easily dismiss it by saying, "What? and XXX are friends. I was just joking around with them."
Ah—
It feels like I can already see my tragic future, and Bocchi beca even more uneasy.
Just as she was thinking about how to start speaking...
She heard Minami-san's voice.
"Gotoh-san."
"Ah? Yes!"
For so reason, Bocchi instinctively straightened her posture.
So this is it, right?
The most common part of bullying...
And then—
"Why, even though you're clearly troubled, you still won't speak the truth?"
"Huh?"
Bocchi, who had already prepared herself to be bullied or extorted, was surprised by Minami-san's words.
"Huh, what huh."
Minami-san gave her a slightly amused glance. "We're not really friends, right? Why don't you just directly tell Nijika and the others about this?"
"Well... that..."
Bocchi didn't know how to respond, so she just lowered her head. "If you only rely on others to take the initiative, things won't always go smoothly."
Minami-san propped his face up, speaking again.
As soon as he said that, Bocchi's expression showed surprise.
"Relying only on others to take the initiative is never the best way" — this was sothing she had always believed in.
She knew this principle very well, but she still couldn't find the courage to interact with others.
But...
"Why does Minami-san know this phrase?"
Bocchi was speaking for the first ti, and although her voice was still small, her words were clear.
How does he know this?
Minami-san shook his head.
"Isn't this common sense? We've already done a second-round simulation. What's sothing I don't know about you? Even your favorite posture for the night, I know it—cough, I got off-topic."
After a mont of thought, Minami-san said, "I have a friend who often worries about relationships."
"She's very similar to you, Gotoh-san. She gets troubled by relationships, overthinks other people's opinions, loses her sense of direction, and struggles with not being able to refuse others."
"Really?!"
Bocchi's interest was piqued.
There's soone else in the world who's like ?
"May... may I et Minami-san's friend?"
"I'm very sorry."
Minami-san's handso face showed an indescribable sense of regret and sadness.
"She's no longer in this world."
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