Standing before her was a boy with a very handsome face, who looked somewhat shy.
"I'm Tsukikawa Shuu. I'm in the class next to yours," he said with a smile.
"Oh…"
Goto Hitori's mind was still a complete blank.
Huh? Next class over? Never heard of him… Is there really such a good-looking guy next door?
Well, come to think of it, she barely even knew half of her own classmates.
Even though an entire semester had already passed...
Aaaaah! He introduced himself, so shouldn't I say something too? Oh right, self-introduction...
"I'm Goto Hitori…"
Her voice was so soft, it was barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
Seeing Goto Hitori's behavior, Tsukikawa Shuu wasn't surprised at all.
A hardcore social anxiety sufferer suddenly being talked to—especially by someone of the opposite sex—would usually be at a total loss, flustered, blushing, and unsure what to do.
They usually don't have any close friends, and during their school years, the only places they go are school and home. Their understanding of the outside world, especially human interactions, is extremely limited.
In other words, people like this have no experience with love—making them the easiest to win over.
The moment he saw Goto Hitori in the inner world, Tsukikawa Shuu had already decided—
He was going to trick her into becoming his wife.
Goto Hitori was the main character from Bocchi the Rock, the ultimate socially anxious girl who could do funny faces on demand.
Though she often wore that outdated tracksuit and looked plain, she was actually quite pretty—and beneath that thin athletic wear was a surprisingly ample chest.
"Conversation… I need a conversation topic… But… but he's looking at me!!"
Even though the guy wasn't saying anything, Goto Hitori's brain instantly went into overdrive. And yet, it still completely crashed into blankness.
It was that painfully familiar silence of not knowing what to talk about again.
"…Actually, I've been paying attention to you for a long time. I've always wanted to get to know you," Tsukikawa said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
To approach someone with social anxiety, you not only have to take the initiative—you also need to make them feel like you're the same kind of person. Someone who can resonate with them.
"R-Really?" Goto Hitori asked, disbelief in her voice.
Someone with such a gloomy and withdrawn personality like hers—could she really catch someone's attention? Even though deep down, she always wished someone would notice her…
"I heard your band's performance. From the first time I saw you, I was already captivated. You must have practiced the guitar really hard—every performance of yours was outstanding," said Tsukikawa.
"Ehehe… Not really, it's more like… you know… practice makes perfect…"
Goto Hitori scratched her head bashfully under the weight of his praise, her spirits lifting without her even realizing it.
People with social anxiety often live in a strange contradiction: they crave attention, yet fear being seen too much.
They're like soft-bodied animals curled up in shells, hiding their embarrassing past and vulnerable sides, only showing their best features in hopes of receiving just a sliver of recognition.
But the problem is, their strengths are usually too niche—or just not noticeable compared to others. And because they're so rarely seen, even the smallest compliment can send them flying on cloud nine.
"So, would you be willing to team up with me?" Tsukikawa extended his hand.
"O-Of course!" Goto Hitori stammered, then quickly reached out and grasped his hand tightly.
It was her first time holding a boy's hand… Goto Hitori couldn't help but blush.
He helped her up, and the two of them left the school building together.
In this strange and unfamiliar world, both moved cautiously.
[Current Area: Oborozuki Prefecture]
[Difficulty: E]
Tsukikawa pulled up the system map again.
Right now, the unlocked area centered on an abandoned city, surrounded by larger uninhabited zones. Beyond those lay a dark, unknown expanse.
Though monsters and dangers existed within the city, it was relatively safe compared to the outer regions—the farther you went, the more perilous it became.
"If the map doesn't change each time we enter the inner world, then this city must be the beginner zone. Before long, players will start building their own settlements and trading systems here, turning the place into a safe zone."
Tsukikawa walked ahead while pondering their next steps. Goto Hitori trailed behind him by half a pace.
As she looked at Tsukikawa's handsome face and the serious look he wore while thinking, Goto Hitori found herself a little dazed. But she didn't know what to say to deepen their connection.
She'd fantasized before about a cool guy approaching her out of nowhere, and a sweet and sour romance blooming from there…
But now that it was actually happening, she was at a loss.
"We should look for some low-level monsters to train on and level up quickly," Tsukikawa said, turning back to her.
"Y-Yeah! Okay!"
Goto Hitori responded almost reflexively.
People with social anxiety rarely have decision-making power in group activities—and they usually have no strong opinions.
Meanwhile, Tsukikawa was focused on how to complete his system-assigned mission—convincing Goto Hitori to become his wife.
Though Goto was bad at saying no, something this important still had to be handled carefully. He needed her trust and emotional connection first.
You can't rush a steaming hot tofu.
They continued onward, eventually reaching a ruined restaurant.
Through the dust-covered glass doors, they saw a huge rat the size of a suitcase sleeping soundly on the counter.
It was a low-tier monster—only level 1.
"Let's start with this one. Let's find some weapons."
Tsukikawa glanced around and pulled a rusted crowbar out from a pile of rubble nearby.
[Physics Sacred Sword]
[Quality: White-tier]
[Durability: 70/100]
[Bonus Effect: Chance to inflict Tetanus damage]
The quality wasn't great, but it would be more than enough to deal with a level 1 monster.