Gotoh Hitori was rather worried about Ishikawa Hayabusa.
It was strange—she herself wore an unfashionable tracksuit, hiding among piles of school supplies, eating lunch alone.
And yet she couldn't help worrying about that sunny, easygoing boy.
If someone like him spent too much time with someone like her, he'd end up losing his friends.
The school year had only just begun—if he was already separating himself from people, wouldn't that be bad?
"Could it be… Ishikawa-kun doesn't have any friends either?"
As she thought this, Hitori's face melted into a blissful smile. To stumble across a kindred spirit—wasn't that wonderful?
But immediately she shook her head."No, no, impossible. Someone like Ishikawa-kun must definitely…"
In her fantasy, Ishikawa Hayabusa wore a dazzling smile, radiant with energy and victory, sweat on his brow as he returned to a fan club of girls. He laughed brightly as he accepted the drink they offered him.
With commercial-like charm, he posed in the middle of the crowd, surrounded by their companionship…
Gulp.
Her heart couldn't take it!
Her gloomy little soul was about to be burned away by his sunshine.
Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about it!
Though she told herself so, Gotoh still felt a touch of fear toward Ishikawa, and quietly shifted further into her corner.
Knock, knock.
A tapping sound against the wall.
There was only one person who would use such a playful gesture to announce his arrival.
"P-please… come in."
Even though this wasn't her house, that was what slipped from her lips. She thought it sounded ridiculous herself.
Ishikawa Hayabusa also slipped into the corner. But today, he noticed, Gotoh seemed to be sitting even deeper in than usual. He didn't approach her, though. Instead, he took his usual spot.
Light from the stairwell above spilled across his shoulder.
"Sorry about the other day—scaring you until you fainted."
He apologized again. That Friday, when he'd jokingly sworn on his "pervert's honor," Gotoh's entire expression had evaporated in terror before she collapsed unconscious.
It had startled him as well. Who knew a human being could actually do that?
"Ah… n-no, it's fine."
Gotoh ducked her head, gently shaking it while pressing her hand against her lunchbox—making no move to open it.
So she couldn't even bring herself to open her lunchbox until someone else started eating first, huh.
Ishikawa thought that, but didn't comment. Instead, he flipped his own open.
Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, tempura, fried chicken, octopus-shaped sausages—everything was neatly arranged in a cute style. The colors and balance of meat and vegetables spoke clearly of his family's care.
In his heart, he silently thanked his mother, who had gotten up early that morning to prepare it for him.
When he glanced across again, Gotoh had cautiously opened her own lunchbox as well. She set it on her lap, took out a thermos of soup, pulled the chopsticks from beside it, then held the lunchbox with both hands while gripping the chopsticks like a ritual.
Her movements were stiff and exact, as if she were terrified someone would steal her food. The timid cuteness of it all made her seem even smaller.
"Itadakimasu."
After a few bites, Ishikawa noticed her face had gone pale with nervousness. He glanced at her lunch.
"Gotoh-san, want to trade lunches?"
Trade lunches!
It was actually happening?!
Gotoh was shocked.
She knew what this meant. On the surface, it was a friendly way to deepen bonds. In truth, it was a ritual—an exchange to confirm status.
The strong got to eat the best parts of the weaker person's meal. The weak had no choice but to gnaw on the packaging in submission.
Gotoh trembled.
She glanced down. The best parts of her lunch were the fried chicken, the tomato-stewed fish, and the golden omelet.
And in his lunch…
No! There wasn't even any packaging!
W-what to do? What to do?!
"Swap?" Ishikawa asked again.
Gotoh gave a heavy, reluctant nod.
He nudged his lunchbox forward for her to begin.
Shaking, she reached out with her chopsticks… and picked up some plain white rice, dropping it into her own box.
Ishikawa blinked."…Why did you take my rice?"
His words sent her into a panic. Her expression scrambled, and her chopstick hand trembled violently.
"E-even rice isn't allowed?"
She hurriedly scooped the rice back, then mimed picking up a slice of air and placing it in her lunch.
Ishikawa stifled a laugh.
No wonder Nijika and the others always said Gotoh Hitori was interesting. Her moves were truly unpredictable.
When she timidly offered her lunch to him, he didn't hesitate—he snatched up a golden omelet.
And before she could retract it, he quickly dropped a piece of fried chicken into her box.
"Eh?" Gotoh froze. Then, in an instant, her face lit back up.
"Don't be so stiff."
Ishikawa said it casually, then popped the omelet into his mouth without hesitation.
Gotoh's lunch was probably made by her mother. It was really good.
As they ate, they sipped hot miso soup and chatted. Though really, "chat" might not be the right word. It was more like questioning—interrogation, even.
"Gotoh-san, besides practicing guitar, what else do you usually do?""N-nothing else.""You don't go out to play?""Ah, no.""So you've only ever practiced alone? Never performed?"
Gotoh, already pale, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood at his questioning.
It seemed his barrage of questions had struck her with massive, direct damage.
Clutching her mouth, she spoke as though leaving her final words:"I-I've uploaded covers of popular band songs online…"
Ishikawa nodded silently to himself. The time he'd spent breaking down her defenses hadn't been in vain—she confessed at last.
"Gotoh-san, are you okay?"
He had been aiming for it, but her extreme reaction startled him too.
Quickly, he wiped away the blood and helped her lean against the clean wall to rest.
"If you don't want to say it, don't."
His voice was firm, but soothing.
Ishikawa-kun…
Gotoh's eyes brimmed with tears. He really was a good person.
Afterward, Ishikawa tidied up both his own lunch and hers.
"Here."
He handed her box back, then checked the time on his phone. There was still plenty of the break left, but he remembered—Gotoh only hid here during lunch. For the rest, she'd be at her desk.
So he wouldn't drag her along any longer.
"Guess I should head back."
"Ah… th-thank you."
Gotoh hurried to reply.
As Ishikawa turned to leave, he waved casually over his shoulder. Then, as if something occurred to him, he asked:"By the way, what's your account name online—the one you upload videos with?"
"Guit—"
Gotoh's face brightened… then froze mid-word.
In her mind, she replayed her account bio at high speed:
Super popular middle school girl. No—updated to high school girl. Boyfriend is the basketball team ace. Over 1,000 LINE friends. Always hanging out at karaoke and arcades.
W-what do I do?!
Why did I ever admit I uploaded videos?!
"Guitar Bug."
She blurted out the name instead.
For a social anxiety sufferer like her, such self-protective lies came too easily.
Ishikawa nodded. Then his expression grew hesitant.
"Gotoh-san, I've got some things to deal with lately. You'd better not get too close to me for a while. But—I'll cheer you on online."
He thought for a moment, then gave her a clear time frame."About a week or two, and it'll be fine. We can eat lunch together again then."
"Ah… o-okay."
As she watched him leave, Gotoh sank into gloom.
He probably wouldn't eat with her again. After all, she was just… strange.
"…The fried chicken was really good. Maybe I should learn how to make it too."
She exhaled softly, then hurriedly tapped her phone—setting up a brand-new YouTube account under the name Guitar Bug.