...Gotoh-san had always known that she was an introverted, socially anxious background character.
Since kindergarten, she always overthought everything, missing countless opportunities to play with friends.
During her elementary school field trip, she couldn't even join her classmates' picnic. She'd only managed to swap side dishes with a kind-hearted teacher.
Sometimes, she'd wonder: Is it really okay to stay like this?
Having no friends, only receiving texts and calls from her parents—or worse, advertisements...
Was she just going to continue like this until adulthood? Would it always be this way?
Doesn't this mean I'll inevitably drop out, become a NEET who mooches off my parents, spend every day either drinking or picking fights online, turn into an infamous internet troll, eventually get doxxed, harassed offline, have strangers ring my doorbell endlessly, until finally my fed-up parents kick me out, leaving me to wander around aimlessly until I get hit by a truck, reincarnated into another world where I get a cheat skill and start a second life?!
Even in her fantasies, she could only imagine rebooting her life through isekai reincarnation. She was finished! (' >ω<)
...That's exactly why she'd finally mustered her courage and made a desperate effort.
During her first week at high school, just like always, she hadn't spoken to a single classmate.
To avoid exposing her embarrassing middle-school history, she'd deliberately chosen a high school far away.
Not only that, the school's name—Shujin (prisoner)—made it sound like all the students were inmates.
So if everyone were prisoners, would some gang leader adopt her as a follower, meaning someone might finally talk to her? Hehehe...~ (⁄ ⁄>⁄ω⁄<⁄ ⁄)
But such delusions had shattered in the very first week.
Shujin turned out to be just a normal school. The teachers were nice… probably?
Her classmates were all bright, outgoing riajuus who'd formed their cliques within two days—some even hanging out together on the very first day.
The school also had a high university entrance rate and placed heavy emphasis on sports clubs.
That meant all her classmates either excelled academically or athletically.
Only a gloomy, introverted shadow like herself sucked at sports and wasn't even particularly good at studying!
This was a disaster!
Once their first test results were announced, everyone would see she was the absolute worst student in class! Then, nobody would ever talk to her again! Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
But just as she'd been panicking about what to do, something huge seemed to happen at school.
Some gorilla-like PE teacher suddenly kneeled down on stage in the auditorium…
That's super rock'n'roll, thought Gotoh Hitori-san, spacing out completely and entirely missing what the incident was actually about.
Yet, the image of that unknown teacher kneeling had given her an epiphany—
That's right! Rock'n'roll!
All she needed to do was bring her guitar to school! Then her classmates would think she was a cool rocker type, and she'd surely make friends! (ง •̀_•́)ง
...Fueled by this naïve fantasy, Gotoh Hitori-san had taken an action that would forever change her life.
In terms of results, her idea had indeed come true.
Because she'd brought her guitar to school, early that very morning, the class's most popular girls had talked to her:
"Gotoh-san, you play music? You know guitar? Isn't this absolutely perfect?!"
Kasumi's eyes sparkled as though she'd just discovered a special local delicacy to offer to her beloved onii-chan boyfriend.
Her sister Sumire quickly grabbed Gotoh's other hand:
"This must be fate! We're planning to start a Light Music Club today. Will you join us, Gotoh-san? We're begging you, it's a once-in-a-lifetime request~!"
"Ah… Y-yes, okay (;∀;)…"
A true social anxiety case couldn't refuse others—especially not the top-of-the-class superstar twins!
Even someone as constantly spaced-out as her knew the Yoshizawa sisters' names.
They were ultra-popular girls at school, super-beautiful athletes rumored to have been national gymnastics champions in middle school—famous enough to have profiles on internet encyclopedias!
Just sharing the same class with people like them already made her feel like she'd melt into a slime every day! (' >ω<)
But now these beauties—straight out of some eroge—had spoken to her and even invited her to join a club?
Could this be her turning point? Was she finally stepping onto the shining path toward popularity?!
In Gotoh Hitori's imagination, she instantly leaped from being a bottom-tier amoeba straight to the apex of the school hierarchy, becoming its undisputed king!
"Ah… I'm so glad, so very glad to be your follower, Yoshizawa-sans! P-please accept this wallet as tribute!"
Instinctively assuming these athletic twins must secretly be pure-looking but aggressively bratty gyaru bullies, Gotoh-san obediently took out her wallet, ready to willingly offer herself up as their bullied underling.
The Yoshizawa sisters exchanged confused glances… then immediately burst out laughing:
"Hahaha~♡ Gotoh-san, you're so cute! Much more amusing than I imagined."
"Now that I look carefully, Gotoh-san, you're actually very pretty. Your bangs are just too long and covering your face… You're definitely premium local produce—Senpai will love you~♡"
Having her bangs lifted by these beautiful sisters, Gotoh-san directly confronted their idol-level looks and instantly burned out into a pure-white pile of ashes.
...Thus, she once again spaced out habitually, completely ignoring what they said afterward.
So now, here they were.
Rinto smiled the radiant, harem-protagonist smile so dazzling that it threatened to evaporate the socially anxious girl before him. He reached out directly and took her hand!
"This is Togawa Sakiko-san, also a first-year. Along with me, Kasumi, and Sumire, that's four people."
"With you, Bocchi-chan, we've finally gathered five members and can officially establish our club. Thanks so much, Bocchi—you being here really helps!"
"Ah… n-no problem at all. It's my honor to offer my worthless life for all you esteemed people…"
Due to excessive nervousness, Gotoh-san subconsciously slipped into old-timey ninja speech from period dramas. She was practically vomiting.
She struggled even to talk with girls in her own class, let alone face this tall, handsome male senpai!
Even she had heard rumors and personally witnessed him last week in the courtyard, intimately cuddling with one girl while another girl watched, clearly a romantic triangle…
…Now that she took a closer look, wasn't the girl clinging onto him at the time exactly this elegant ojou-sama, Togawa Sakiko?!
And now Sakiko was smiling warmly at her! So pretty! So goddess-like! She was the wealthy heiress, the unreachable moonlight of the school—Ahhh~~~?!
Bocchi-san's brain overloaded with nonsensical fantasies. She died on the spot in Rinto's arms, nearly collapsing to her knees.
Luckily, the Yoshizawa twins were quick enough to support her, stopping her fall:
"Oh no, Gotoh-san seems to have lost consciousness. Are there too many people here? Did we make her too nervous?"
"It's my first time seeing someone this shy. She's so cute—why would she have social anxiety?"
Rinto laughed gently, "Everyone has their own personality. Let her rest for now; she'll slowly adjust after spending time together."
Holding Gotoh Hitori's hand, Rinto learned another interesting thing about this strange yet adorable girl.
Her hand was soft and pale but full of calluses.
And those calluses were in very familiar spots—exactly like Momoka's hands.
He'd personally kissed and licked Momoka's calluses before. He'd never forget their exact position.
This girl's guitar wasn't just for show; she'd clearly been practicing diligently for years—truly a professional.
This was perfect news, making Rinto extremely happy.
Among these five initial members, they now had two experienced musicians—Gotoh Hitori and Togawa Sakiko. At least basic activities could be possible.
"Well then, I'll fill out the club registration forms and take them to the student council."
Rinto had everyone present sign their names. Even the still-dazed Bocchi's signature was faked with the Yoshizawa sisters holding her hand—hopefully nobody would suspect anything.
Spotting an opportunity, Togawa Sakiko suggested:
"Senpai, I'll accompany you to deliver it. The Yoshizawa-sans can stay here and look after Gotoh-san—how about it?"
Ohoho…
Kasumi and Sumire didn't even have time to react before they found themselves nodding along under Sakiko's graceful, gentle—but somehow irresistibly persuasive—suggestion.
The sisters watched blankly as Sakiko left together with Rinto, frozen in silence for a long moment.
Finally, they exchanged wary looks, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Kasumi: "Bocchi-chan's cute, so there's no problem there. Plus, she seems super gullible—we could probably trick her into visiting a love hotel with us right away… But that Togawa-san feels a bit dangerous."
Sumire: "Mhm, mhm. Her vocabulary and manners feel very high-class, like the daughters of those noble Kyoto families Dad introduced us to. And she's approaching Senpai so aggressively… Are they already cheating on us? Maybe they've already done it?!"
Kasumi: "Wow, so lewd~( ＞w＜ )! If they've really done it, that's perfect! Senpai will never shake off his playboy reputation. We need to try harder too, or Rinto-nii might get tired of us!"
Sumire: "Also, having more people around to help share the burden is good. I'm still a little scared from last time at the hotel—that was the closest I've ever felt to actually dying… But Senpai was amazing ♡ So manly ♡♡ I want to die in his arms ♡♡♡."
Gotoh Hitori: "…( >'ω`< )"
Actually, Gotoh-san had regained consciousness long ago. Hearing the twins' conversation, she could only desperately roll her eyes and foam at the mouth, pretending she was still unconscious.
...
Meanwhile—
Sakiko hadn't suggested walking alone with Rinto merely to monopolize him.
Rinto, likewise, had something he wanted to ask her privately, so he spoke first:
"Sakiko, have you talked to Tomori yet?"
"…Actually, not yet."
Sakiko let out a quiet sigh, her fair complexion touched with troubled feelings.
Her posture walking beside Rinto remained impeccably graceful, each step causing her soft, wavy hair to bounce lightly, making Rinto feel he could watch her forever.
Sakiko hadn't particularly noticed his gaze—these mannerisms were ingrained into her bones.
Yet, she still pouted her lips slightly, showing a bit of childlike displeasure:
"I was planning to speak with Tomori-san today, but the breaks between classes were too short. I was worried we couldn't talk properly, so I waited until lunchtime."
"But when I got to Tomori-san's classroom, she had already left. Apparently, she joined the Astronomy Club—though she's currently the only member."
It seemed strange that establishing a new club required five members, yet an existing one could continue with just a single person. That rule was unexpectedly accommodating.
In any case, Sakiko hadn't given up and continued searching, eventually tracking Tomori down to the Astronomy Club room.
But just as she approached the door, she heard Tomori talking to someone else.
At this point, Sakiko's jelly-like lips pouted even higher:
"There was a girl with long pink hair enthusiastically chatting with Tomori-san."
"Tomori-san even showed her the lyric notebook. It contained the song our old band—CRYCHIC—created together. Tomori-san wrote the lyrics, and I composed the music."
"I… couldn't bring myself to interrupt that atmosphere. I owe Senpai an apology—I'm still too weak after all… I'm truly sorry."
Sakiko turned gracefully toward Rinto, hands neatly clasped before her, bowing deeply.
Every time she apologized, she was so earnest it felt like she was cutting out her own heart to show the sincerity within.
Rinto shook his head softly, smiling as he gently lifted her up by the shoulders:
"Sakiko, you've already done enough."
"And actually, this is good news. Tomori made a new friend—we should be happy for her."
Although Rinto had only met Takamatsu Tomori briefly, and under very emotional circumstances, he still had the impression that her social difficulties might be even more severe than the pink-haired Bocchi-chan (Gotoh Hitori) they'd just met.
Little Bocchi was clearly just very introverted, anxious around people, a bit insecure… and perhaps prone to excessive delusions.
But Tomori was something else entirely.
Tomori fundamentally wasn't someone who actively sought friendship. She was special—self-contained, isolated from the world around her.
Her imagination was vivid enough to conjure up catastrophic storms capable of dragging whole cities—even worlds—into a whirlwind of fantasy.
Forming bonds with Tomori was therefore extremely difficult. Every opportunity to connect with her needed to be treasured.
Rinto genuinely believed Sakiko had made the right decision not to interrupt Tomori and her new friend:
"Let's leave things as they are for now. Since a nice girl has taken the initiative to approach Tomori, it wouldn't hurt to observe them quietly."
"…Senpai, the way you say that really makes you sound like Tomori-san's real older brother. It's making me jealous."
Though he couldn't quite read Sakiko's inner thoughts, her tone was unmistakably dissatisfied, with a hint of sourness.
This amused Rinto greatly:
"Sakiko, you're jealous now? Don't be upset—I'd never forget about you."
Rinto placed his hand on his petite kouhai's head—nearly 30 centimeters shorter than himself—gently stroking her soft hair:
"I wanted you and Tomori to clear things up not just to help her move forward, but because I especially wanted you to move forward."
"You're my cute, strong, reliable kouhai. Of course, I care about you even more. And now that you know Tomori has a new friend, you can relax too, right?"
"…Mm~♡"
Sakiko allowed Rinto to spoil her just a little longer before finally smiling again.
Though she hated the word "fate" and strongly believed "God is an idiot," at least when it came to meeting Rinto…
She felt immensely grateful toward every single entity she could possibly thank.