The next morning.
After getting dressed, Yamada Ryo took out her phone and checked the message Toru had sent. Once she confirmed that he agreed to go out together, she finally let out a breath of relief.
In the end, I still won.
The other members of Kessoku Band were nothing worth worrying about.
After all, women who are not even proactive in attacking, what right do they have to win a boy's affection? What are they relying on… could it be looks?
Every one of them was a beautiful girl, just with different styles. It was hard to tell who had the upper hand.
Let me see.
The meeting place is at…
———
Gotoh residence.
"Sis! Time to wake up! The sun is going to… huh? Sis, what are you doing?"
Gotoh Futari realized that her sister, Gotoh Hitori, was acting strange today.
She was already dressed. Not in her usual sportswear, but actual casual clothes for going out.
"Sis, are you going out on a date?"
"Ah…"
Hitori's body stiffened. As if the scene had been slowed down ten times, she slowly turned her head back.
Oh no, no, I've been found out by my little sister.
"Y yes… um, your sister is going out on a date with her boyfriend."
Futari covered her small mouth, not hiding her thoughts at all. "Pfft… Sis, since when do you have a boyfriend? You're joking again, pfft pfft."
Huh? What does a five year old even understand?
Can't a 2D boyfriend count as a boyfriend?
Should I tell you about the story where I fought twelve rounds with Kitahara-kun in the simulation in one night… cough cough, no, kids shouldn't hear that.
Hitori snapped back to her senses and said seriously, "Futari, you need to be a good, well behaved child. Don't ask too much about adult matters."
After saying that, Bocchi-chan pinned on her hair accessory and adjusted her casual outfit.
Hoo hoo~
A sudden gust of wind blew in through the half open window, lifting her pure white pleated skirt.
So cold.
Only then did Hitori remember that girls need to wear safety shorts when going out.
She used to wear pink sportswear every day, and had long forgotten about such unnecessary items.
"Sis, is your boyfriend Big Brother Toru?"
Futari looked up at her sister changing clothes and asked in an innocent tone.
"Mm."
They had even tried kissing already. If you round it up, that basically meant they were dating, right?
Hitori had even thought of the children's names already.
The older one would be Kitahara Yui, the younger one Kitahara Yuu.
"Sis is a big liar~"
"I I didn't lie. Sis will marry Big Brother Toru and bring him home soon."
"Pfft pfft…"
Futari deliberately made mocking sound effects.
In the eyes of this just turned five year old girl, her sister had no chance of chasing after Toru.
Noticing how disrespectful her sister's gaze was, Hitori took out her phone and showed her the LINE chat. "Futari, look, this is Big Brother Toru's chat. He agreed to go on a date with me."
"Buy… gift?"
Little Futari had not learned many words yet.
But she could still understand a simple message like this.
She said in a tender, cute voice, "But Sis's birthday isn't… um, February 21…"
"Mind your own business. Go do your homework. Sis is very, very busy."
Hitori could only be this confident in front of her little sister.
You could only say she was strong in internal battles and weak in external ones.
Very much the type that looked tough on the outside but was weak inside.
———
Morning.
Kita Ikuyo changed into a cute casual outfit, deliberately put on light makeup, then picked up her small handbag, ready to go to her appointment.
She could spend the entire day on a date with Toru today. Yay.
Originally, Ms. Come What May thought she had no chance, but things always turn around. After that simulation, Toru's favorability toward her had risen to above the level of a friend.
Simulator, you really did well.
Win. Today would be a huge win.
"Manager Seika, thank you so much~"
Kita Ikuyo was in high spirits, lightly humming Seika's name.
If not for the excuse of helping pick out a birthday present, she really would not have had an opportunity to ask Toru out.
Tragic Seika, truly tragic.
Reduced to everyone's romance tool.
———
Inside the live house in Shimokitazawa.
"Achoo~"
Ijichi Seika sneezed.
Rubbing her nose, the blonde big sister looked puzzled.
So strange. Who is thinking about me?
That guy Hiroi?
Or old friends from before?
Come to think of it, her birthday was coming up soon. She wondered what gifts everyone would give her.
Last year.
Nijika gave her some animal plush toys. Even though Seika was almost thirty, because she still had a childlike heart, she really liked gifts like that.
"Hm? Nijika, you're going out?"
Holding her bag, Nijika turned back and nodded her small head. "I'll be back in the afternoon."
If nothing unexpected happened, watching a movie in the afternoon would probably be the limit.
Nijika had no intention of going all the way in one step.
Although she had already decided to take the initiative, a girl's reserve did not allow her to be reckless.
Holding hands first, then hugging, kissing, dating, marriage. That order was what Nijika preferred.
Hearing this, Ijichi Seika said nothing more and lowered her head to organize the band's schedule.
Beside her, PA-san revealed a mysterious smile, as if she already knew the purpose of Nijika's outing today.
———
One hour later.
The meeting spot outside the shopping mall.
Yamada Ryo looked at the three familiar faces and could no longer keep her expressionless face under control.
She had actually anticipated this kind of outcome, but…
At certain times, Toru's emotional intelligence was really low.
In the simulation, sweet words came out effortlessly. In reality, he was like a block of wood.
Was he really that dumb, or was he deliberately pretending?
"S-s-such a coincidence."
Kita Ikuyo lowered her head.
So awkward.
She wanted to escape this place.
Sneaking ahead was one thing, but getting caught red handed by love rivals on the spot made the social death level instantly increase by 1000 percent.
Hitori stood in place, completely motionless, like a scarecrow.
But if you got closer, you would find…
This silly girl's eyes were already unfocused, her soul drifting into the sky.
In the end, it was Nijika who spoke up.
"You all asked Toru-kun out to buy things?"
"Mm…"
Ryo quickly thought up an excuse. "He's a boy, so he might have some novel ideas."
One sentence explained the reason and also covered up the sneaking behavior. Gathering ideas to choose a gift was not trying to steal a march.
"What about Bocchi-chan?"
"Ah…"
Hitori came back to her senses and stammered, "I-I don't know how to choose gifts, so Kitahara-kun can help me."
"Why didn't you ask us to help?"
"Ryo-san, I-I don't have money, um, I didn't want to get scammed."
Yamada Ryo felt as if an arrow had pierced her knee.
Fortunately, Miss Ryo was shameless, so she did not take any real damage.
"Kita-chan could help you."
"K-Kita-san already picked out a birthday present."
Ijichi Nijika smiled and said, "I see."
For some reason, a phrase flashed through Hitori's mind.
A smile hiding a blade.
Today's Nijika-chan was terrifying.
"Kita-chan, didn't you already pick out a gift? Then why did you ask Toru-kun out?"
Ijichi Nijika looked at the last person.
"I…"
Uwah, Ijichi-senpai is so scary.
Toru-kun, hurry up and save me!!
As if hearing Kita Ikuyo's silent scream.
Not far away, Toru finally arrived late, still unaware of the terrifying battlefield he was about to step into.