However, there were too many people in the classroom, and lots of strangers too. The ultimately socially anxious and withdrawn patient, Gotou Hitori, didn't dare step into the Service Club room even half a step, not even daring to sneak a glance.
"Bocchi-chan, this is my good friend Ijichi Nijika, I'm introducing you to her. She formed a band and is currently missing a guitarist. If you want to join the band, I can go with you," Hachiman came in, placed the huddled-up Gotou Hitori down, ruffled her lush and smooth pink long hair, and introduced her in a low voice.
"Ah... He-hello... I'm Bocchi...", The moment Gotou Hitori was put down on the floor by Hachiman, she immediately stood up and hid completely behind Hachiman's body, lowering her head and stammering in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
'So... so many people?'
'Feels like I am going to die!'
Even though she trusted her only good friend Hachiman very much, as soon as she was around many strangers, Gotou Hitori would still panic a lot.
"Ah?", Looking at Bocchi-chan, who hid directly behind Hachiman and whose face she couldn't even see, only hearing her voice, Ijichi Nijika couldn't help twitching at the corner of her mouth.
'This guitar expert from the music program... her social anxiety symptoms are a bit severe, huh?'
'She won't even give me a single glance? I shouldn't be that scary, right?'
———
Among the many problematic girls in the Service Club, socially anxious Gotou Hitori was particularly unique.
Hayase Saki was rather self-conscious and introverted. Sakurase Shino, once she stopped being withdrawn, just didn't talk much. They listened to Hachiman, but could still get along with others.
Only Gotou Hitori's social anxiety would act up extremely seriously. If there were too many people in the Service Club room, she would be too scared to come in. After being carried in by Hachiman, she nearly lost it again.
"What is Ijichi-san's request? It actually requires Gotou to take action?", Yukinoshita Yukino furrowed her brows slightly, casting a questioning gaze toward Ijichi Nijika, Gotou Hitori, and finally Hachiman.
Actually, she was quite dissatisfied with the current state of the Service Club. The Service Club was supposed to be a club that helped people solve problems, not a shelter for troubled girls. The current member composition was too bloated.
Girls like Sakurase Shino and Gotou Hitori, don't even mention helping give advice, they could hardly speak a few sentences and might even need others to take care of them.
However, even if she didn't like problematic girls, she didn't want to throw Gotou Hitori out to complete a request.
This gloomy, shy, and anxious girl probably couldn't even take care of herself, let alone complete a request.
"Nijika formed an underground band and wants to perform outside, but the band lacks a guitarist. Bocchi-chan happens to be good at guitar and has thought about joining a band, so I introduced them to each other. Originally it didn't need to go through the Service Club, but the club needs some club activity records, right? We can't just write that we drink tea and chat every day," Hachiman briefly explained Nijika's request and his reason for assigning Gotou Hitori.
It wasn't really his place to assign, but since the two of them hadn't had a chance to meet, and he happened to be good friends with both Nijika and Bocchi-chan, he figured he'd act as a bridge and help them become good friends.
He liked Bocchi-chan quite a lot, but given her level of social anxiety, it wouldn't be good to force her to integrate. Letting her play in a band with Nijika as a start seemed just right.
"Good at guitar... If it doesn't go through the Service Club, I have no say, but if you want it to go through the club, then I think she's not suitable for the request. She's trembling even when talking to strangers. Can she really perform on stage?", Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the trembling pink ahoge barely sticking out from behind Hachiman and the guitar bag in his hand. She pondered briefly, still feeling his idea wasn't appropriate.
She knew Gotou Hitori was a music-track student, her grades worse than newly enrolled Yuigahama Yui. Without fairly high music skills, it'd be hard to get into Sobu High.
In terms of music skills alone, joining Nijika's band was fine, this kind of interest-based school band often had low standards.
But music skills were one thing. Nijika's band wasn't just for fun, they had to perform in front of an audience. Given Gotou Hitori's level of social anxiety, she seriously doubted Bocchi would pass out the moment she stepped on stage.
"People have to grow. Bocchi-chan lacks confidence. Using something she's good at to build self-confidence and thus overcome her social anxiety sounds perfect," Hachiman shook his head and smiled at Yukinoshita Yukino.
"The Service Club is a mutual-help club, but we can't always be by Bocchi-chan's side. Better to teach her to fish than give her a fish. While we have time now, isn't it better to help Bocchi-chan grow a little?"
"...", Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Hachiman, momentarily stunned.
'This guy actually have such a thought?'
He was the club president yet often didn't show up at the Service Club, even skipping classes every day. Even the disciplinary committee couldn't catch him. She knew for a fact he'd been blacklisted by the teachers.
"If you're really worried, we can go together and check out Nijika's band. Tomorrow is Saturday anyway. Nijika's band is scheduled to perform then. We'll see if Bocchi-chan can handle it," Seeing that Yukinoshita Yukino was slightly moved, Hachiman immediately pressed the advantage and turned to look at Ijichi Nijika.
"Nijika, are the Livehouse tickets sold out? Can we bring a few more people? I'll pay for all the tickets," Although the band was Nijika's thing, and only Gotou Hitori in the club played guitar, making this request into a weekend team-building event and treating it as club activity wasn't bad, helping and having fun at the same time.
He'd met Nijika's older sister once when walking her home late at night, and the sister didn't give him a good attitude. If he brought people to support Nijika's band this time, they might talk better.
"Uh... bringing a few more people should be fine, I'll just talk to my sister," Ijichi Nijika was momentarily stunned and instinctively responded.
But the next second, she looked around at how many people were in the Service Club and instantly felt overwhelmed.
There should be enough room at the Livehouse, this kind of underground band performance usually had extra space.
But the problem was, she didn't expect so many people would come to see her perform.
Her band was newly formed. Though they barely had a vocalist/guitarist, drummer, and bassist, the vocalist was always busy, and they hadn't even rehearsed together once even though the performance was imminent.
If it was just a few friends watching, a slightly poor performance would be okay. But now, more and more people seemed to be coming...
Ijichi Nijika silently counted the number of people in the Service Club. Adding classmates coming to cheer and friends from other classes, sweat started forming on her forehead.
Maybe she shouldn't go to Hachiman's place after school today. She wanted to call in the vocalist/guitarist Kita-san and her childhood friend/bassist Ryou to rehearse first.
Hachiman didn't look at Nijika's expression. He could guess she was feeling unprepared and under pressure.
He had done his research beforehand. Ever since Kita Ikuyo joined the band, she hadn't practiced with them once. Likely she'd be a no-show for the performance.
But in the original story, Nijika pulled in Bocchi-chan last minute to fill in. Now that he had found Bocchi-chan for her early, it was better than having no preparation at all.
"...If Gotou is willing, let's give it a try. This weekend... we'll go together," Yukinoshita Yukino saw that Hachiman and Ijichi Nijika had already talked it over. She sighed slightly and no longer objected.
If this matter hadn't been pushed through the Service Club by Hachiman for the sake of a record, they probably wouldn't have even asked her opinion. Whether she approved or not actually didn't matter.
Still, Hachiman wasn't just stirring trouble. If there was a chance to get Yukinoshita Yukino to acknowledge him and accept his position in the Service Club, he wanted to make the club fully his own.
"Bocchi-chan, I've already worked everything out for you. Will you accept Nijika's invitation and join her band?", After everything was discussed, Hachiman finally turned to the actual person in question, Gotou Hitori, and softly asked for her opinion.
Normally, you'd consult with the person first, especially since both Nijika and Bocchi-chan were here, it could've been discussed directly.
But Bocchi-chan was different. Negotiating with her was very difficult. It was faster and easier for him to talk everything out first and then just get her nod of approval.
"...Join the band... C-can I really...?", Gotou Hitori had been clinging to Hachiman's clothes from behind him the whole time. Seeing him turn around and look at her, and feeling the other people's gazes shift to her, she quickly lowered her face and buried herself into Hachiman's chest to avoid the stares. After a while, his question sounded in her ears again, and she timidly raised her head to look at her only good friend, speaking in a trembling voice.
She had heard everything, how Hachiman argued with Yukinoshita Yukino for her sake. She knew he was doing this to help her.
In fact, she really did want to join a band. Or rather, she started learning guitar in the first place to join a band and make friends.
She wanted friends. She wanted to shine through band activities...
But after practicing guitar at home for several years, she realized she still had trouble making friends. Being a shut-in for so long, even talking to strangers took great courage.
She had thought she could start fresh in high school, make friends, and escape a life where her only social ties were family. Her younger sister would hang out with friends, while she could only play guitar alone at home.
("When I become a high schooler, I'll definitely join a band!")
But who would've thought that determination would dissolve shortly after entering high school?
Sobu High not only had strict school rules that didn't allow free dressing, she also didn't find any like-minded musicians in the music program. Her seatmate even seemed like a violent delinquent who slept all day and skipped class. After many rejections, her high school life looked bleak, so she shut herself off for a whole month.
Until one day during PE class, when she tried to hide in a quiet, remote corner to wait for class to end, she met her now-only good friend: Hachiman.
Although shortly after becoming friends, she encountered a near brain-freezing incident, the elf princess Iris thought she was like Sakurase Shino and had a special relationship with Hachiman, and dragged her into playing games.
But that misunderstanding was quickly cleared up.
Later, it was confirmed that Hachiman truly was her good friend.
He helped her join the Service Club to make friends, and after learning she could play guitar, helped her find a band to join, he was very thoughtful.
Though she herself wasn't quite up to par, still unable to make friends in the club. Whenever the room was full of people, she didn't even dare enter.
"Don't worry, Bocchi-chan, you can definitely do it. And not just tomorrow, I'll go with you to the band until you get used to it. You can call me any time you need," Seeing Gotou Hitori nervously looking at him, full of unease and lacking confidence, Hachiman smiled and continued comforting her.
"Really? But you seem really busy...", Gotou Hitori softly replied. Even though she didn't understand social cues well, just staying in the club, she could tell her good friend was very busy. He often didn't show up.
When Hachiman wasn't in the club, Vice President Yukinoshita Yukino would manage things, her cold demeanor scared both her and Hayase Saki a lot.
"Aren't we friends? As long as you need me, no matter how busy, I'll be there for you," Hachiman raised his hand and gently brushed aside Gotou Hitori's long bangs, lowering his head to meet her uneasy eyes, softly and patiently reassuring her.
With the Empathy Bracelet and Sympathy Wristband, he could've accelerated things, used empathic remodeling like with Ichinose Ayano, or stimulated her like with Sakurase Shino to help her quickly adapt.
But everyone had different personalities. For this gloomy and shy Bocchi-chan, he wanted to take it slow.
It's not like he needed her to do anything right away anyway.
"Mm... then I'll join the band...", Seeing Hachiman nod once again, Gotou Hitori's anxious heart was calmed. She gradually relaxed and shyly nodded with a flushed face.
For some reason, when she talked to others, she always overthought and panicked, but when Hachiman spoke to her, she felt at ease.
Hachiman was someone she trusted even more than her sister and mother, he was her lifelong best friend.
"Nijika, it's settled. Bocchi-chan is willing to join your band. But since you're performing tomorrow, how about canceling today's visit to my place and rehearsing together instead? If it goes well, Bocchi-chan can even perform with you tomorrow," Seeing this difficult, socially anxious patient finally agree, Hachiman let out a small sigh of relief, gently patted Gotou Hitori's head, then looked at Ijichi Nijika.
They'd already endured the popular yellow-haired guys' bullying at school today. Nijika and Marin were probably quite embarrassed too. Better to let them rest for now, sort out the band business first.
"Mm, thank you Hachiman. Welcome to our band, Bocchi-chan," Ijichi Nijika nodded. Looking at Gotou Hitori, who was half-closed-eyed and seemingly enjoying Hachiman's head-patting, she couldn't help but softly ask, "Um... Hachiman, what's your relationship with Gotou... Bocchi-chan?"
So close, so dependent, didn't seem like a regular club member and president relationship.
"My relationship with Bocchi-chan? Very good friends," Hachiman smiled and patted Gotou Hitori's pink hair again, pressing down her right ahoge.
Even though her timid posture made her seem less attractive, her skin and hair were unaffected, her skin was pale, her hair very smooth, it felt nice to touch.
"Mm! Best friends for life!", Silently savoring the warmth of Hachiman's hand, Gotou Hitori nodded hard.
Even though she hadn't made many friends in the Service Club, having just Hachiman was already great.
'Hehe! I'll bring Hachiman to meet my sister and mom someday and show them that I really do have a friend now!'
'Now I can also play games with friends, no longer need to be alone!'
"Just good friends...?", Staring at Gotou Hitori, who became as obedient as a pet with just a pat on the head from Hachiman, Ijichi Nijika's eyes were full of suspicion.
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