The Kaito her daughter brought home had looks that were just too exceptional. Even someone like her, a mature housewife, couldn't help but blush and feel her heart skip a beat.
Since Hitori was willing to bring Kaito home, she clearly had a good impression of him.
It was rare to see her daughter like a boy this much, how could Mama Gotou miss such a golden opportunity?
"M-Mom! What are you even saying!"
But Mama Gotou clearly overestimated her daughter's tolerance.
Hearing her mother's unfiltered matchmaking, Little Bocchi was both shy and annoyed, her face heating up to an unbelievable degree.
'Even though it is true that I have a huge crush on Kaito-kun but someone like me, rustic and not cute at all, should just keep those fantasies inside her head. Blurting them out would only invite ridicule, right?'
In her mind, Kaito's disgusted expression seemed to appear: "I only helped out of classmate friendship. To think Gotou-san harbored such filthy thoughts about me. It's truly disgusting."
'Dame! I don't want something like that to happen!'
Bocchi mustered up her courage and stammered to correct: "I-I and Kaito-kun are just normal classmates."
'Mhm mhm mhm, yes yes yes,' Mama Gotou just smiled without saying a word, but understood her daughter was shy and didn't press further on the topic.
She merely looked toward Kaito beside her and sincerely said, "My daughter Hitori is rather shy. Please take care of her at school, Kurumizaka-kun."
Gotou Futari also blinked her big sky-blue eyes and asked with her childish voice, "Big brother, can you take care of my sister?"
Even though Gotou-san was timid, she had a loving family who cared about her deeply.
Kaito was slightly dazed, but quickly nodded and agreed.
All were happy.
After dinner, Mama Gotou even warmly suggested he stay the night, but since it was the first visit, Kaito casually declined with an excuse.
Mama Gotou didn't insist. She just held Kaito's hand tightly and repeatedly emphasized that he must come visit again in the future.
Mr. Gotou also coughed and solemnly said, "Hitori, Kaito-kun is leaving. Aren't you going to see him off?"
"If Onee-chan doesn't want to, Futari can go instead?", The little loli beside him looked full of anticipation, and Jimihen at her feet barked with his tongue lolling out.
"N-n-n-no need! Let me do it!", Bocchi, who had just been on the verge of backing off, suddenly perked up and stammered at Kaito beside her, "T-then Kaito-kun, I-I'll walk you to the station"
"Then I'll trouble you, Gotou-san," Kaito smiled at her, and the two of them left the house under Mama Gotou's giggling gaze.
It was dusk.
The warm spring sunlight was slowly setting in the west, casting tens of thousands of rays of sunset glow across the earth, dyeing even the sky a shy orange-red.
"Thank you for everything today," After a brief silence, Bocchi summoned her courage and said quietly, "S-sorry for troubling you, Kurumizaka-kun, riding the train for such a long time, just to help exorcise our house"
She really wanted to take out more money to thank him, but she had already given him the piggy bank her mom had set aside for her wedding.
She wasn't completely broke but was indeed pitifully poor.
"I'm eternally grateful! Please, Kaito-kun, don't hesitate to order me around in the future. I-I can do anything!"
'Where did this old-school drama line come from?'
Seeing Bocchi's face turn red, even her ahoge trembling, Kaito gently shook his head.
"'I can do anything' that kind of line is too heavy. Don't make such promises lightly."
"Especially when facing a classmate of the opposite sex, Gotou-san."
'B-but, Kaito-kun is clearly a gentleman, right?'
'A-and someone like me, gloomy and old-fashioned, there's no way anyone would like me'
"Gotou-san, it seems you don't have a clear understanding of your own charm," Kaito actually found it odd, too.
The girl in front of him was clearly beautiful. Even with bangs covering her eyes, he could tell her facial features were delicate, and because she stayed indoors so much, her skin was even fairer than most girls her age.
As long as she dressed up a bit, she definitely wouldn't lose to the class queen Miura Yumiko. In fact, based on Kaito's keen eyes, Gotou-san's figure was even better.
Yet this obvious beauty acted like a sewer rat.
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Chapter 10: Dont Leave After School
'Ugh'
'Kurumizaka-kun, are you complimenting my looks?'
Gotou Hitori felt her cheeks gradually heating up. Hot enough to fry an egg on them.
She couldn't help but feel secretly delighted, yet also a little panicked.
'Could it be Kurumizaka-kun is just trying to comfort me?'
"We've arrived at the platform."
They came to a stop.
Kaito looked at the pink-haired girl still lowering her head, and couldn't resist reaching out to gently ruffle that soft, long hair, "Gotou-san, you don't need to walk me any further."
Suddenly getting head-patted, Bocchi felt the warmth on top of her head and transformed into a steaming girl.
Her brain blanked out, as if short-circuited.
The last thing in her vision was the beautiful boy who looked like a painting, curling his lips into a small smile. Like a star falling into a lake, rippling softly across the water's surface.
The next day, Shuka Academy.
Have to admit, Hiratsuka Shizuka's efficiency really was top-notch. She had said to leave the club stuff to her, and she really handled it all in just one night.
"All the procedures are complete. This will be your club room going forward. I'll be acting as your club advisor, but I still suggest you recruit a few more members as soon as possible. Ideally at least three or four people."
She brought Kaito to a certain office on the sixth floor, pulling out the key while speaking casually, "If you can't maintain the minimum number of club members for too long, there's a risk the club might be disbanded."
"I understand," Kaito thought for a moment, 'The lack of club members is definitely a problem.'
'Maybe Gotou-san can be invited. After all, she has personally experienced a paranormal event and should be familiar with such things, so she probably won't reject me.'
'As for the rest of the members there is no rush. I can take my time picking them.'
The two of them entered the club room together. It was a small room with limited space.
But it was well-equipped: a solid wood bookshelf, a desk, a genuine leather sofa pretty much everything one would expect. A light layer of dust covered things, and many unused cardboard boxes were piled in the corner, making it obvious the place had been abandoned for quite some time.
"What do you think? Not a bad environment, right?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka crossed her arms and looked a little smug, "This room used to be the old location of the Literature Club years ago. It's been vacant since they moved out. A bunch of clubs applied for it, but all were rejected by the principal. I had to really put in some effort to get it."
"Thank you for your help, Miss Hiratsuka."
"Ah, don't mention it, brocough cough, I mean, as your teacher, helping a student with their problems is only natural."
Hiratsuka cleared her throat, almost letting her usual tomboyish bestie energy slip out.
She quickly changed the subject, "Don't forget to keep the key safe. If you lose it, getting a replacement is super troublesome. I won't bother you any longer, gotta head out."
"Goodbye," After seeing her off, Kaito watched the back of the white-coat-wearing teacher vanish around the hallway corner, then returned to the club room.
He then snapped his fingers lightly.
A gentle breeze suddenly stirred inside the once quiet room. Dust in the corners and on furniture seemed to be swept away by invisible hands. In the blink of an eye, the entire club room was refreshed. The wooden floor shining like it had been waxed, reflecting the light.
'A cleaning spell. A trivial little technique, but very practical.'
Not only could it clean rooms, it could wash dishes, clean toilets always useful for house chores, or covering up a murder.
After doing all that, he took out his phone and sent a text message to a certain pink slime.
[Don't leave after school.]
During break time.
The classroom was a bit noisy. Students gathering in small groups, energetically chatting about gossip, food, or hot guys.
As the queen of the popular clique, Miura Yumiko naturally had a crowd of girls around her. At the moment, one of them leaned in mysteriously and gossiped, "Hey hey, did you guys hear? It seems like Kurumizaka-kun is starting his own club!"
As the super handsome guy who'd already become famous across the entire school just days after the term started, "Kaito Kurumizaka" was a name that naturally drew attention, everyone perked up instantly.
Even Miura Yumiko at the center of the crowd subtly twitched her ears, clearly curious.
"Could it be a rumor?"
"Who cares if it's true or not? Hit me with that tea!"
Some doubted. Some were eager for the gossip.
"It's 100% true!"
The girl who spilled the news looked proud of herself:
"My upperclassman happened to overhear Miss Hiratsuka requesting a club room in the principal's office yesterday, and she mentioned Kurumizaka-kun's name."
"And", she lowered her voice, speaking mysteriously, "Didn't you notice? Right after the previous period ended, Miss Hiratsuka immediately called Kurumizaka-kun out."
If that had been the only part, it might sound like a made-up story. But combined with Miss Hiratsuka's behavior earlier, the credibility had definitely gone up.
Many girls looked visibly excited.
"What's the club called?"
"Seems like Supernatural Research Club?"
"Eh? Kaito's into urban legends and stuff?"
"A ten-year horror fan has entered the chat. No way I'm missing out on this club~"
"Is it still too late to catch up on horror movies now?"
Amid the chaos, someone turned to the blonde girl in the center, "Yumiko, are you thinking about joining Kurumizaka-kun's club?"
If you had to pick the prettiest girl in class, Miura Yumiko definitely had the edge.
Not to mention, she clearly had some interest in Kaito. She'd even approached him at the start of term, though she'd been gently rejected.
"Me?", Miura Yumiko hesitated a bit, but eventually shook her head, "I'll pass. I'm not really into ghost stories and that kinda stuff."
She was feeling kind of conflicted now.
On one hand, her first impression of him had been dazzling, still etched in her heart, slowly taking root and growing.
On the other hand, getting rejected after boldly making the first move had embarrassed her. She couldn't swallow her pride. What if she tried again and got turned down? She'd become the class clown.
Not that she didn't feel a little bitter inside.
'So what if you are handsome? You think being good-looking means you can do whatever you want?'
'I, Miura Yumiko, would rather DIE than go talk to you again! I'll jump out this window before I say another word to you!'
Her face-off between 'pretty-boy weakness' and 'tsundere pride' was reaching a boiling point. But clearly, the former was winning out.
'Is everyone talking about Kurumizaka-kun again?'
'Clubs an essential part of the popular high school experience but someone like me probably doesn't belong there'
'Ugh but I still really want to join'
In a quiet corner, a timid pink slime girl lay depressed on her desk, like a mushroom sprouting moss.
Bzzz~
Her phone suddenly vibrated. Gotou Hitori listlessly pulled it out and saw a new message from her "Special Focus" contact.
[Kaito: Don't leave after school]
Gotou Hitori: "???"
Gotou Hitori: 6д9!!!
'Th-th-this is this some kind of weird challenge to a fight?'
Little Bocchi was startled. Visions of creepy, horrifying scenes flooded her mind: whips, stun batons, candles
Maybe some people would enjoy that, but for Gotou Hitori, that kind of art was way too advanced.
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Chapter 11: Sakiko Pays a Visit
'No, no, that's not right! Kuramizaka-senpai is not that kind of awful guy! There must be some kind of misunderstanding!'
Bocchi secretly tried to cheer herself up in her heart, then fearfully replied.
[Gotou Hitori: Kuramizaka-senpai, is there something you need?]
A new message quickly came from the other side of the screen.
[Kaito: There is indeed something important I want to talk to you about.]
[Kaito: Anyway, let's meet later at the abandoned clubroom on the sixth floor.]
'Something important?'
'Could it be a confessionconfessionconfessionconfession.... confession?'
Little Bocchi's face turned red with a 'whoosh'.
If this were drawn in manga form, the girl would probably already have mosquito-coil eyes with visible steam rising from her.
She finally made it through P.E. class and barely endured until school ended.
Little Bocchi, carrying her guitar bag, sneaked her way to a certain room on the sixth floor of the school building like a thief.
Then, she gently knocked on the door.
"Come in," A calm voice came from inside.
"S-sorry to bother you," Bocchi-chan tiptoed into the room sneakily, instinctively keeping her footsteps light.
In the center of the room, a familiar figure was sitting on a leather sofa. On the coffee table in front of him were two cups of black tea, still steaming lightly.
"Um, u-uh Kaito-senpai, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Little Bocchi didn't even dare to lift her head, stammering as she drew circles on the floor with her toes.
"It's not really a big deal," Kaito pushed one of the black tea cups toward her, "But let's sit down and talk."
"O-okay," Bocchi-chan carefully sat on the sofa, only daring to sit with half her butt, her little hands having nowhere to go as she tightly clutched her clothes.
"After the last exorcism, there haven't been any strange happenings at home, right?"
Kaito's tone was very natural, like it was just a casual chat. The nervous pink-haired girl felt a bit more at ease and answered softly, "There haven't been any strange things happening, thank you for helping last time, senpai."
