The journey was silent.
After getting off the train, the four continued together.
"Nijika-senpai, Ryo-senpai, you two go back first." Kitahara Makoto took out his key and handed it over, "I'll take Hitori home first."
"N-no need, I can go back by myself..."
Gotō Hitori quickly shook her head.
"Hitori doesn't want to encounter that windbreaker woman again, does she?"
Kitahara Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly.
"..."
Gotō Hitori immediately fell silent.
Last week, when she went home on a rainy night, she encountered that 'windbreaker weirdo' again. She had to admit, she was indeed a little worried and scared.
"Then Ryo and I will go buy some small cakes first." Ijichi Nijika took the key and warned, "...Don't secretly take advantage of Bocchi-chan!"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't."
Kitahara Makoto gave his assurance.
Secretly bullying?
Now, of course, it was openly bullying!
Upon reaching the intersection, the two groups parted ways. Gotō Hitori quietly slowed her steps, preparing to follow behind Kitahara Makoto like a little tail.
However, Kitahara Makoto glanced over, then simply reached out and grabbed Hitori's soft hand.
Because of long-term guitar practice, Bocchi-chan's fingertips were slightly rough, but the other parts were soft and smooth, making it quite comfortable to hold.
Gotō Hitori's body trembled slightly, her small face rapidly reddened at a visible speed, and she stammered nervously in a low voice:
"N-no..."
"Why not?"
"So many people..."
It was 9 PM, and there were indeed many pedestrians coming and going on the street, but to say that holding hands would attract attention was completely Bocchi-chan overthinking it.
In psychology, there's a term called the 'spotlight effect' or 'focus effect'—some people overestimate the degree to which others around them are paying attention to them.
However, the reality is that this world is busy, and most people are already struggling to live. They truly don't have the energy to pay attention to strangers passing by, unless you're a well-known celebrity.
Kitahara Makoto and Bocchi-chan were certainly not celebrities. If they were holding hands on campus, some gossiping classmates might pay attention, but walking on the street, very few people truly noticed them, and even fewer would point and whisper.
"I won't let go."
Kitahara Makoto said self-righteously:
"If I don't even dare to hold the hand of a girl I like, how can I build a harem?"
Gotō Hitori: "..."
"I can let go of Hitori." Kitahara Makoto whispered, looking down, "But Hitori has to promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
Gotō Hitori quickly looked up.
After speaking, she blinked, then suddenly raised her hand to cover her pink lips, saying shyly:
"N-no more pocky, Dad and Mom will find out..."
(You kissed so hard yesterday, Kita's lips were swollen!)
"Don't worry, Hitori, I won't take advantage of you today."
Kitahara Makoto raised his hand to promise.
"Hoo…"
Gotō Hitori secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, the next second.
She heard Kitahara Makoto slowly say:
"As long as Hitori-chan says she likes me, I'll let go of her hand."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?!"
Gotō Hitori opened her eyes wide in panic, completely stunned.
(He… he actually wants me to say I like him?)
(This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!)
(I… I can't possibly say 'I like you' no matter what!)
"You didn't mishear me." Kitahara Makoto said shamelessly, "As long as Hitori says she likes me, I'll let go of her hand."
How to conquer Bocchi-chan?
Being too aggressive won't work; it will make Bocchi-chan feel pressured and scare Hitori away.
Being too gentle won't work either.
Gentleness, along with tsundere, has long been phased out. People who are too gentle lack the courage to burn their bridges and are more likely to choose evasion, then neither initiate, refuse, nor take responsibility.
The best way to conquer Hitori is to find an opportunity to take the initiative and then appropriately assertively close the distance between the two of them.
Like now.
"Hitori, hurry up and say it." Kitahara Makoto lowered his voice and urged, "You just need to say 'I like you,' and I'll let you go."
Gotō Hitori's neck immediately recoiled, as if she were a turtle trying to pull her head into her shell. Unfortunately, Bocchi-chan didn't have a shell, so her small face just flushed hot as she stammered:
"I… I'm sorry… I can't say something like that…"
"Then I'll just keep holding your hand and not let go, alright?" Kitahara Makoto said unhurriedly, "What if we run into Bocchi-chan's neighbor…"
"N-no!"
Gotō Hitori immediately panicked, nervously glancing around. Only after confirming no neighbors were present did she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
(Although I'm a shut-in due to my social anxiety, my mom has a very good relationship with the neighbors.)
(If a neighbor saw me holding hands with Kitahara-kun, they would definitely turn around and tell my mom. And then…)
(Then my mom would definitely prepare red bean rice at home to celebrate me finding a dating partner, right?)
(Dad might even hang a banner outside the house to celebrate me escaping the tragic fate of being single for life…)
(How embarrassing, how embarrassing, how embarrassing! I absolutely don't want that to happen!)
Of two evils, choose the lesser.
As soon as she thought of the terrifying scenario of being discovered by neighbors, the scales in Gotō Hitori's heart began to subtly tip.
Saying 'I like you' was only a temporary embarrassment; being discovered by neighbors was a lifelong humiliation. So…
Gotō Hitori closed her eyes in a panic, took a deep breath, as if summoning all her courage, and her eyelashes trembled as she said:
"I… I like…"
Kitahara Makoto softly said:
"Who does Hitori like?"
"I like Ki… Ki…"
Suppressing her almost exploding shame, Gotō Hitori closed her eyes, steam rising from her head, and finally managed to say Kitahara Makoto's name.
Kitahara Makoto's mood immediately brightened. He had only wanted to try, not really expecting to achieve the goal. If Bocchi-chan was very unwilling, he certainly wouldn't force her.
He didn't expect Bocchi-chan to actually pluck up the courage to say it.
A pleasant surprise.
It was indeed a pleasant surprise!
"Hitori, here you go."
Kitahara Makoto suppressed the urge to kiss Hitori, kept his promise by letting go of her hand, and then directly handed her the small cake he had just bought for Hana.
"Eh?"
Gotō Hitori's eyelashes trembled slightly as she opened her eyes. Just as she was about to return the small cake, she saw Kitahara Makoto open his school bag and take out all several boxes of Pocky.
Seeing the cookie sticks, Gotō Hitori was immediately startled.
"N-no more…"
"These are for you to take home and eat as snacks tonight."
Kitahara Makoto, without explanation, shoved the cookie sticks into Bocchi-chan's hands.
There was a vending machine not far away. Kitahara Makoto turned and walked over to it, buying several cans of drinks in one go, which he also shoved into Gotō Hitori's arms.
"Take these home to drink tonight."
"Too… too much…"
Gotō Hitori's small face was flushed as she quickly shook her head in refusal.
"What? Not enough yet?" Kitahara Makoto pretended not to hear clearly, "Then I'll go buy some more."
"Enough, enough!"
Bocchi-chan quickly shook her head.
"Then let's go." Kitahara Makoto finally stopped, unable to resist reaching out and gently rubbing Bocchi-chan's small head, saying warmly, "Let's go home."