'Even I was tricked the first time I saw this joke, there's no way a mere Kaito-kun could see through it...'
"You already told this joke before."
"Eh eh eh?", Anon was stunned, "No way?"
She clearly just saw this joke last night. How could she possibly have told Kaito before?
"You really told it before."
Anon furrowed her brows and thought hard for a while, "Really didn't."
"You definitely did."
Kaito shook his head, glanced at the latest message received on his phone, and stood up to leave, "If you don't believe me, think harder."
'Could it be... my memory got messed up?'
Chihaya Anon sat dumbfounded in her seat, scratched her head, "But in my memory... I really haven't told it before"
'Chihaya-san is still too easy to deal with.'
'Really makes people worry whether she'll be tricked by frivolous bad men in the future.'
But thanks to her, Kaito's mood had indeed improved quite a bit.
On the phone screen, there was still a message from Yumiko, asking him to go to the calligraphy club room. Seemed like she had something to talk to him about.
Kaito didn't delay and arrived at the clubroom, only to find there wasn't only one person inside.
Aside from the familiar blonde girl, even Bocchi was there.
The little girl still had that cautious look, hiding in the corner pretending to be a mushroom.
Hearing movement, she just raised her head and quickly glanced at Kaito who entered, her small face blushing for some reason, then lowered her head again.
Only, Kaito found it a bit strange.
'Unlike usual, this time, the look in her eyes toward me seems to have produced some... strange change?'
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Chapter 175: Yumiko: You and I, Sisters Go Together!
The warm sunlight outside the window was cut into fragments of gold, and time reversed back to that quiet and lingering afternoon.
Gotou Hitori still remembered everything that happened at that time.
"Bocchi-chan, you like the president, right?"
This was the first sentence Yumiko said to her after finding her.
Like thunder on a sunny day, it instantly made Bocchi shiver.
Her most secret inner thoughts were exposed by an outsider. The little social phobic panicked, blushing as if her face was about to drip blood, yet still tried to stutter and deny it.
But Yumiko didn't give her that chance.
The tall girl stood in the light, her smooth golden long hair like the frozen setting sun. As the breeze rose, her lips lifted into a smile that could be called "charming."
"I've actually already been dating the president, you know?"
Her tone was gentle, and her attitude was kind, but the news she revealed was like a sharp sword, stabbing deep into Bocchi's soft heart.
In fact, she should have been mentally prepared long ago.
'The president is such a flawless existence, even the sun is not half as dazzling as him.'
'Yumiko-san is also a super popular social queen standing at the top of the social circle.'
The two standing together perfectly illustrated what "a talented man and a beautiful woman" meant, what "a match made in heaven" was.
'And someone like me, gloomy and plain, more useless than a watermelon bug, yet shamelessly tried to stay by the president's side just because of his gentle personality'
'Clearly, it was nothing more than wishful thinking, overestimating myself.'
"I-I lost", Gotou Hitori was spiritless, like a sewer rat who had strayed into a bustling metropolis, wanting only to flee back to her dark but familiar den underground, "I'll go find Hiratsuka-sensei right now to apply for a leave from school I'll also withdraw from the club I won't dirty your eyes anymore sorry for disturbing you all this time red bean paste privacy Marseille"
"Wait, did you misunderstand something?"
Yumiko was dumbfounded, but quickly stopped Bocchi, who was about to cry, "I said all this not to drive you away, I just wanted to ask Bocchi, do you want to join in too?"
Gotou Hitori: "..."
After a long silence, the pink-haired girl sniffled, her tearful sky-blue eyes still a bit confused.
"Eh?"
'Is this a test by Yumiko-san?'
Like a scene often played in Taiga dramas, the main lord intentionally tests their arrogant subordinates for signs of treachery, and if there's even a hint of rebellion, the cup is smashed as a signal for guards to rush in and chop them to pieces.
Gotou Hitori trembled as she looked toward the direction outside the clubroom, imagining that behind the door, three executioners with swords were waiting. If her words were even slightly wrong, they would rush in and cut her into mincemeat.
"Though I don't know what you're thinking", Seeing her too shy to speak, Yumiko sighed, "But this isn't a test, okay? I'm really talking to you sincerely, Bocchi-chan. Are you interested in joining in?"
"B-but", Gotou Hitori was still dizzy, really unsure what kind of medicine Yumiko was selling in her gourd, and why she suddenly came to say all this.
"To tell the truth, I've actually been dating the president for a while now," Yumiko lightly coughed, "But back then, I was worried it would hurt you, so I deliberately hid the news"
'Then why suddenly confess now?'
Bocchi didn't speak, but her eyes clearly asked that question.
"Of course, it's because someone else already made the first move," Yumiko pinched her chin, making a thoughtful gesture, "Do you still remember Nagasaki-san from the Tsukinomori that day? We only met once."
Bocchi thought for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.
"Now, she's also the president's girlfriend."
Gotou Hitori: "Eh eh eh?"
Although such things are not uncommon in today's society, little Bocchi's face still turned red with a "whoosh," and after suppressing herself for a while, she still asked quietly, "Yumiko-san aren't you angry?"
"Not at all," Yumiko spread her hands like a tiger, no doubt a solitary animal, but when well fed by the zookeeper, it could peacefully coexist with others in the zoo.
Her situation was quite similar. It wasn't about whether she was fed or not anymore; it was a matter of one person being unable to eat it all.
Of course, it must be clarified solemnly, this had nothing to do with her personal fetishes. She simply enjoyed sharing. [T/N: _]
"Actually, I originally wanted to pull you in first. I just didn't expect Nagasaki-san to act so fast," Yumiko stepped forward, placing both hands on Bocchi's shoulders, not giving her a chance to run, "If you keep hesitating like this, even the third spot might get snatched by someone else."
"B-but"
"Don't tell me you want to say you don't like the president?", Yumiko seriously looked into her eyes, "Words can lie, but eyes can't."
"Ugh", Gotou Hitori's brain couldn't handle such a complicated situation and just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
But this was exactly what Yumiko wanted.
'Faced with a timid and socially anxious Bocchi-chan, sometimes you just had to push her.'
'Even a rabbit will bite when pushed. As long as she has no retreat and no chance to escape, maybe she'll rise up right?'
"If you really don't agree, I won't force you," Yumiko paused and then asked, "But are you really willing to give up the spot beside the president and hand it over to someone else?"
This time, the pink-haired girl was silent for an especially long time.
'But'
She raised her head, gathered all her courage, and though her voice was small, it was firm.
"N-not willing!"
The memory ended there.
Even Bocchi herself couldn't believe that she could be so bold, so firm.
Though she quickly returned to her timid and socially anxious self, at least she gave a response.
Seeing her attitude, Yumiko was also happy, patting her on the shoulder with a satisfied look, saying things like "Don't worry," "I'll help you," "You and I, sisters together, the president is nothing to worry about", words that were very embarrassing.
Bocchi didn't know what she was planning.
But for the once unreachable love in her heart, she was willing to cooperate.
"...That's the situation. President, what do you think?", After briefly explaining her plan, Yumiko leaned forward expectantly, her emerald eyes shining.
"No problem, but won't this be too hard on Bocchi?", Kaito frowned slightly and looked at the pink-haired girl beside him.
It was normal for Yumiko to want to invite him out shopping on the weekend, nothing unusual about that.
But Bocchi was also on the invite list. That was a big problem.
With her extreme introversion and social anxiety, asking her to go out to crowded places was basically the same as throwing her into a pit of despair.
He expected Bocchi to object, but the girl unexpectedly changed her usual timid and weak self, glanced at him quickly, and then softly said in a very small voice, "I I'm fine with it."
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Chapter 176: Sakiko: This Round, the Advantage Is Mine!
Although she didn't know why Bocchi suddenly changed her personality.
But since the girl involved didn't seem to mind, Kaito had no reason to insist on objecting, otherwise she might even be mistaken by the little shut-in as someone who disliked her.
"Then let's happily decide it like that," Yumiko clapped her hands and said seriously, "Let's meet at the train station on Saturday morning. As for now... I've made plans to go shopping with a friend, so I won't disturb you two, Club President, and Bocchi, see you tomorrow~"
After she finished speaking, she dashed off in a hurry, and just before leaving, she even winked at Kaito with a meaningful naughty smile, looking just like a lewd middle-aged uncle.
Kaito: "..."
'How did I end up with such a girlfriend?'
However, over time, he had somewhat gotten used to her style. If it's going to rain, let it rain; if a mother wants to marry, let her go, let her do as she wishes.
He looked beside him at Bocchi, who wished she could bury her head in her chest, and after thinking for a moment, Kaito realized that during this period, he had indeed been a bit neglectful of the little shut-in.
Part of it was because Bocchi had to work part-time at STARRY every day, but it also had to do with the fact that there were too many girls around him, which distracted too much of his attention.
Especially after Chihaya transferred in, she enthusiastically chatted with him every day.
Bocchi, by nature timid and introverted, never dared to fight for anything. If this continued, there would inevitably come a day when they would grow distant.
Kaito was the nostalgic type. Toward this earliest member of his club, he wasn't willing to become estranged.
"Gotou-san, do you have any plans later?", he asked.
"Uh"
The little shut-in hesitated for a moment and looked at him carefully, "Later, I have to work part-time at Nijika's live house"
An unsurprising answer.
"In that case, why don't I come along?", Kaito pondered for two seconds, "Just so happens I haven't seen Nijika and the others for a while."
The last time he went to STARRY was specially to support the band's first official live, and he joined in a celebration banquet too.
"Re-really?", Bocchi looked a bit happy, even with a slightly flattered expression, "Wouldn't it be too much trouble for the Club President?"
"Of course not," Kaito rubbed her little head, "As long as Gotou-san doesn't think I'm a bother, it's fine."
'Not a bother at all!', Bocchi said softly in her heart, but the smile on her pretty face unconsciously turned silly, making her look more like a pink hamster that found a nut.
The two left the clubroom, but at the staircase around the corner, Kaito happened to run into a familiar figure.
Blue draped twin tails, a well-fitted uniform skirt, a pair of brown little leather shoes on her feet, and visible dark-colored sock edges.
"Club President?"
The suddenly appearing blue octopus girl brushed the stray hairs near her ear, but her gaze fell on the pink-haired girl beside him, "You two are"
"Oh, it's Sakiko," Kaito nodded at her, "This is Bocchi, a member of my club."
Then he turned to Bocchi and introduced, "This is Sakiko, my neighbor and employee."
"Strictly speaking, I'm the Club President's secretary," Secretary Sakiko was poised and confident. Though she never got too close to the Club President in school, she had heard a bit about a few of the girls close to him, including the name "Bocchi."
"Greetings, Gotou-san."
"G-greetings", The socially anxious girl was a bit unaccustomed to exchanging pleasantries with strangers, especially when the other party was such a beautiful girl with impeccable appearance and manners, like a proper young lady from a noble family.
'But this so-called secretary from Togawa-san's mouth, what kind of position is that?'
"I was originally thinking of reporting to the President on LINE, but since we've run into each other, I'll just say it here," Having worked as a secretary for so long, Sakiko had acquired some office lady composure. Even in her school uniform, she couldn't hide that capable air of a "working adult."
"Recently, I received a suitable commission. The client is very generous, but the situation might be a bit tricky. I've already sorted the intel and will send it to your phone shortly, please take a look," Perhaps life had been too peaceful recently, and Kaito almost forgot that his main profession was still exorcism.
Though money wasn't a problem now, he never minded having more, especially since the virtue rewards after exorcisms were the truly important gains.
As for the "situation might be tricky" mentioned by Secretary Sakiko...
"Got it," Kaito nodded slightly, thought for a moment, then added, "By the way, Sakiko, help me keep an eye out for suitable real estate recently. Nothing particularly special required. Just preferably bigger, with more rooms. As for the budget... there's no upper limit."
"Eh?", Sakiko was briefly stunned, "President are you planning to move?"
"That's right."
Although the current house's environment wasn't bad, it had obvious flaws, it was too small.
The 3LDK layout was more than enough for one person, but as the household grew, sooner or later there would come a day when they wouldn't all fit.
