According to the president, Gotou Hitori had also experienced a supernatural event herself, and even awakened spiritual sight on her own.
Anyone chosen by her to be a friend must surely be some kind of elite in this field, right?
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Chapter 17: Kita Ikuyo
Just as she was thinking, the door to the clubroom was suddenly opened.
Gotou Hitori, dressed in an old-fashioned pink tracksuit, walked in. Beside her was a red-haired girl full of curiosity.
"Good afternoon, Gotou-senpai!", Yumiko greeted them with a naturally polite attitude.
Japan is a country with a clear hierarchy. Junior students must address senior students as 'senpai,' and newcomers in the workplace must respect their seniors. Otherwise, it's easy to be targeted.
"Mi-Miura-san, good afternoon," Gotou Hitori answered softly. Hearing the word "senpai," the corners of her mouth uncontrollably lifted.
'Hehe, senpai... senpai...'
'I never thought that even someone as useless as me would one day be called senpai'
'And by Miura-san, who's at the top of the class's social hierarchy! I have no regrets left in life!'
"This is...", Yumiko turned her gaze to the unfamiliar red-haired girl beside her, her emerald eyes filled with curiosity.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Kita Ikuyo from class C next door. I'm Bocchi-chan's friend. Please take care of me!", The girl named "Kita" smiled brightly, like a small sun full of life, radiating light and warmth without restraint.
'What a strong normie aura!'
Miura Yumiko felt a kindred spirit and gave a brief self-introduction in return.
"Sorry for the sudden visit."
Kita Ikuyo clasped her hands together and said with a cheerful smile, "Since I recently formed a band with Bocchi-chan and heard she joined an interesting club, she's been so distracted during practice that I got curious. So I asked her to bring me here to take a look! I hope you don't mind!"
Of course, the curiosity was real.
But the bigger reason was that she was worried Bocchi-chan was being deceived.
Supernatural Research Club just hearing the name makes it sound shady.
Bocchi-chan is timid, shy, and hopelessly introverted. She totally seems like the perfect target to be tricked into some shady business. Even if something happened, she definitely wouldn't resist, just silently endure it. She might even be forced into "support X" and then be dumped into an alley after being drained of every last bit of value, left to become a stray dog's lunch
As a friend, Kita couldn't rest easy. She decided she had to see for herself.
If it turned out to just be a group of ghost story lovers, fine. But if someone had ill intentions. She touched the small bottle hidden under her skirt, feeling more at ease.
Anti Wolf Spray, Tired of those puny single sprays? Introducing the latest anti-wolf spraysix times stronger. A must-have for any single woman who dares to go outside without a personal SWAT team.
'But judging from the current situation, maybe I am overthinking?'
'Miura Yumiko is famous across the entire first-year class. A stunning blonde-haired, green-eyed beauty with countless admirers. Since even she joined this club, it probably isn't anything sketchy.'
'As for the other one that must be the club president Bocchi mentioned?'
'Was his name Kurmizaka? Supposedly an incredibly rare, once-in-a-generation beautiful boy?'
Thinking of how excited her friend was when telling her about him, almost screaming, Kita got curious.
She had heard the name Kaito before, but never seen him in person.
There were a few sneak shots on the school forum, but they were taken from too far away and the resolution was blurry. She could barely make out a silhouette.
Kita's brilliant golden eyes landed on the figure not far away, reading a book.
The warm afternoon sunlight poured through the windows, casting colorful light and shadow on him. A few soft cherry blossom petals floated down with the breeze, landing gently on his shoulder. Even the flowers seemed to be dancing for him.
'But why is it only a side profile?'
Kita felt like a thousand little cats were clawing at her heart, itching to rush forward recklessly.
As if hearing her thoughts, the boy, whose attention had mostly been on the manga, finally looked up. His light chestnut eyes met hers.
CRACK!
"K-Ku"
After zoning out for a full two and a half minutes, Kita finally regained her voice.
"Kita-san, nice to meet you," Kaito nodded slightly at her, "Please take care of me."
"Please take caow! That hurt!", Kita was still a bit dazed, like she had just downed a dozen shots of high-proof sake. She accidentally bit her tongue.
'Ugh so embarrassing!'
Tears welled in the girl's eyes, and the ever-predictable Miura Yumiko laughed to smooth things over.
"I've been meaning to ask. Why does Kita-san call Gotou-senpai 'Bocchi-chan'? Is there some special meaning?"
"Be-because the name Hitori means being alone, right?"
Kita scratched her cheek in embarrassment, "Being alone is lonely, and 'Bocchi' is a phonetic translation of 'alone.' It's a nickname given by a senior in the band."
'That's not wrong but the name "Bocchi" kind of sounds more like a name for a dog, doesn't it?'
Yumiko resisted the urge to roast and looked at Gotou Hitori, who was almost turning into a pink whack-a-mole.
"Sounds like a very cute nickname. Just like Gotou-senpai herself."
"Bocchi-chan, can I call you that too?"
Little Bocchi weakly nodded.
As fellow normies, Yumiko and Kita got along well.
Even though they had just met, after chatting a bit, they quickly became familiar.
When girls talk, the topics always revolve around makeup, food, shopping, traveling, and, of course, handsome guys.
Actually, Kita really wanted to talk about Kaito, but since the person himself was right there, she felt too embarrassed. So she settled for discussing with Yumiko which dessert shops near school were best, and which store made the most well-crafted skirts.
Kaito wasn't interested in the girls' talk.
But seeing Gotou Hitori crouching in the corner like a mushroom, drawing circles with a gloomy aura screaming "I should be under the car, not in the car".
He thought for a moment and waved at her, "Gotou-san, want to come chat?"
After all, she was the first club member he personally brought in. It was important to check on her mental state.
Otherwise, it would feel like one of those scummy guys who pick up a stray kitten or puppy from the street, bring it home, and then completely ignore it.
As if a meat pie had just fallen from the sky and hit her on the head, little Bocchi was flustered but pleasantly surprised as she sat down.
"I heard from Kita-san that you formed a band recently?"
"Y-yes."
"No wonder I haven't seen you around much."
Kaito's gaze fell on the black guitar case on the girl's back, clearly interested.
This world didn't just have a weird gender ratio; its musical scene was ridiculously vibrant too.
All-girl bands were as common as crossing a river, but they were usually just friends messing around. Very few actually made it commercially.
'Could could it be that Kaito is subtly expressing dissatisfaction?'
'Just like how the Shogun in historical dramas would hint at disobedient subordinates ugh, at this point, only a full dogeza (prostration) can express my sincerity!'
"I-I'm truly sorry for neglecting club activities!", Like she had a spring installed, Bocchi suddenly bounced up from her chair and was about to throw herself on the floor.
Fortunately, Kaito had fast reflexes and stopped her. Looking at the girl acting like she was facing a deadly crisis, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"I'm not blaming you," He shook his head, "When I invited you to join, I already said I wouldn't force you to participate in club activities. I just needed the headcount, that's all."
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Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining. You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
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Chapter 18: Bocchi, Lend Me Some Rice!
'Y-yeah'
Little Bocchi also realized and sat back down somewhat embarrassed.
"Having someone you like is a good thing."
Kaito reached out and patted the girl's little head. The soft touch was a little addictive, "Go for it. No need to worry about any club matters."
'Ugh so warm'
The big hand on top of her head carried a gentle warmth, turning Gotou Hitori into a steam princess.
But she didn't show any sign of resisting. She quietly rubbed against it a bit, like a pink-haired puppy in love, and said in a small voice:
"U-um"
"Kaito-kun, are you also interested in bands?"
"It's alright, I guess," Kaito withdrew his hand and picked up the manga on his lap again, which made Bocchi a little disappointed.
He thought for a moment and smiled, shaking his head, "But compared to modern guitars and basses, I actually prefer traditional instruments like the guzheng and konghou."
Back in the Courting Death Sect, there was an inner sect elder who played a fine guqin. It had the effect of calming the mind and expelling evil. He'd sometimes play at the martial arena, always drawing many disciples to watch.
When Kaito had just joined, he also joined the crowd a few times, but as an amateur, he couldn't understand any profound insights. Just thought the melody was indeed beautiful and refreshing.
"If you're interested in bands, then hey hey!", Even though Kita had been chatting with Miura Yumiko, she had actually been secretly paying attention to what was going on over here.
Seeing her chance to jump in, the red-haired girl raised her hand, speaking with great enthusiasm, "Kaito-kun, do you want to come with me and Bocchi-chan to the live house where we perform? It's super fun!"
Bocchi also looked over expectantly.
Though the little social phobic didn't dare invite him herself, Kita had already paved the way.
Summoning her courage, she quietly added, "The ticket money I-I'll pay for it!"
"No need for the ticket money."
Bocchi-chan blinked her big eyes, pitifully staring at him. It was just too cute.
Kaito raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, "After all, I just made a lot recently."
"Besides, didn't you already give me your dowry money? Where would you have any spare cash?"
Last time, he got a piggy bank from little Bocchi. The scattered money inside totaled about 430,000 yen.
It might not sound like much, but for a student who hadn't become financially independent yet, it was practically her entire fortune.
Though Bocchi did make music online, since she didn't have her own bank card, the video revenue was collected by her dad. She didn't actually have much money in hand.
The piggy bank was already her entire savings. After giving it away, she could barely afford food, so she had no choice but to work at STARRY, the shop run by Nijika's family.
'Wait, what the heck is this about a dowry?'
Kita was stunned. Yumiko also froze.
The two of them looked at Bocchi in disbelief, 'She seems like the least aggressive one, but is that just a disguise?'
"I-it was just a token of thanks!", Bocchi's little face turned red under their strange gazes, and she shyly explained in a panic, "Because K-Kurmizaka-kun helped me a lot before, so so"
'That scared me,' Yumiko finally sighed in relief.
After all, she had experienced a supernatural event herself. With a bit of thought, she more or less understood what had happened behind the scenes.
Kita was still half skeptical, but she wasn't going to nitpick over this.
Time quickly passed and school was over.
Since Miura Yumiko had plans to go shopping with friends, she left first.
As for Kaito and the others, they got on a train heading to Shimokitazawa.
Speaking of the name Shimokitazawa, it's hard not to imagine some strange things.
But actually, this place was very popular among young people in Japan. The streets were full of fashion boutiques, secondhand clothing stores, and daily goods shops. Coffee and bars were naturally essential too. The band atmosphere was strong, and it even had the nickname of "music town."
All in all, it was a great place to relax and chill.
The live house where Bocchi and Kita performed was in a basement. Following the stairs down, the walls were covered in rock-style posters, and there was a neon sign that read "STARRY."
Right now, there was a long line at the entrance. Groups of people waiting to check in were mostly schoolgirls in uniform.
"Apparently a really popular all-girl band is performing tonight, so they drew a lot of fans. Even the tickets sold out fast~"
Kita's voice was bright, "But since we're staff, we don't need to line up Ah! It's Ryou-senpai!"
She pointed with her small hand. At the check-in counter not far away sat a blue-haired girl with a blank expression, maintaining order in a bored manner.
Hearing her name, the girl named "Yamada Ryou" turned her head, just in time to meet Kita's eyes.
"Ah, so it's Kita," Though the tone was meant to express surprise, the way she said it felt like she was just reading lines.
She then looked toward the pink-haired girl beside her. Her golden eyes lit up slightly, "And Bocchi!"
"R-Ryou-senpai, good evening"
Being stared at so intently, Bocchi didn't even dare lift her head. She nervously greeted her.
"Evening," Yamada Ryou slightly raised the corners of her mouth and skillfully stretched out a soft little hand, speaking seriously, "Bocchi-chan, lend me some rice!"
"Ah uh uh uh", Bocchi nervously pointed at her finger and whispered, "But I only have 4,000 yen on me"
"That's fine, I don't mind!", Yamada Ryou's eyes sparkled, just about to push her luck further
Smack!
"Ow!", Yamada Ryou held her head, pitifully looking at the blonde girl who had appeared beside her without anyone noticing.
"You little punk, cut it out already!", Ijichi Nijika pulled back her fist and gave her a glare, "Picking on Bocchi-chan the moment you meet her. Hurry up and pay back the money you borrowed last time before anything else!"
After disciplining her unreliable best friend, Nijika finally turned to look at Kita and Bocchi, flashing a radiant smile. "Can't let this idiot run wild. The shop's gonna be busy tonight eh? Who's this beside you two?"
