A sense of resonance! Hayasaka Ai was sent to Kaguya's side by Hayasaka Nao at a very young age to learn knowledge and the skills of a personal attendant.
Not receiving much maternal love in her childhood, Hayasaka Ai actually envied Bocchi-chan's gentle mother.
But to be honest, if not for that strict mother, she probably wouldn't have her current abilities and her status as Shinomiya Kaguya's confidante.
The saying "a strict teacher produces a brilliant student" makes sense. Bocchi-chan's mother is too gentle, which leads to Bocchi-chan, who already has some social anxiety, wanting to interact with people less and less.
So Hayasaka Ai, out of some sense of resonance or pity for Bocchi-chan, made herself the other party's strict teacher.
This is also why, although Bocchi-chan is very afraid of Hayasaka Ai, she can't hate her at all. Because even Bocchi-chan herself knows that when Hayasaka Ai is training her, her original intention is to help her.
After dinner, Shirosaki Haruka took the initiative to clear the table and wash the dishes. The lively Hoshino Hinata and Gotou Futari ran into the yard to play, and then Noa took Hana and ran out too.
Uchiha Ryo was a little worried about the four little kids running around in the yard, so he asked Hayasaka Ai to go check on them.
In the living room, only Uchiha Ryo and Gotou Hitori remained.
"Bocchi-chan, I heard you playing while I was cooking just now."
Gotou Hitori: "Ah, um... because Futari and the others wanted to hear, so I treated it as practice...."
Uchiha Ryo's expression suddenly became serious. "To be honest, if you keep playing like that, it definitely won't work for the official performance."
Bocchi-chan lowered her head and didn't dare to speak.....
Uchiha Ryo took out his phone, logged into YouTube, and started searching for a certain Guitar Hero.
"Bocchi-chan, your skills are actually very good. But there's one thing: you're too easily disturbed by the outside world! The tense atmosphere and the expectations of the audience in front of you will mess up your mind."
"But once you immerse yourself in your own world, you can't coordinate with Ijichi-san and the others. So tomorrow's open-air performance is a trial for you to eliminate your nervousness."
Bocchi-chan also understood that Uchiha Ryo was right, but she just didn't dare to look, didn't dare to interact with the outside world....
Uchiha Ryo: "Hey, does Bocchi-chan know this online video blogger, Guitar Hero?"
Of course she knows! And that's me! But.... Bocchi-chan was a little embarrassed to say it. After all, she seemed to have made up a lot of settings online. That was her Gensokyo! Not even Ijichi Nijika and the others knew.
"I've heard of... Guitar Hero. That must be someone who plays the guitar really well."
Uchiha Ryo smiled. "This Guitar Hero, in my opinion, often makes up some outrageous content online pretending to be a normie, but in reality, it's not the case."
Gotou Hitori started to tremble all over, and Uchiha Ryo continued.
"I've looked through many of her videos. The background where this Guitar Hero plays the guitar is very plain, and she mostly wears a tracksuit like yours. So I can make a bold guess."
Guitar Hero is a person with social anxiety who is afraid to go out, so she plays guitar at home. Then she posts it online hoping her talent will be appreciated. At the same time, she doesn't want her real situation to be exposed, so she pretends to be a normie.
Uchiha Ryo voiced his guess, and Gotou Hitori collapsed weakly onto the sofa. Is it that easy to see? Has the normie persona I've been building for a year or two collapsed online?
"Bocchi-chan?"
"Ah! It's not me! It's really not me!"
Uchiha Ryo smirked. "What are you talking about? What's not you? Why does Bocchi-chan's mood start to get weird as soon as I mention Guitar Hero? Could it be!"
Bocchi-chan gritted her teeth, then suddenly turned around and lowered her head.
"Uchiha-kun, please don't tell Ijichi and Kita about this for now. I'm not ready yet... I don't want them to know that the Guitar Hero they once praised is actually someone like me...."
Uchiha Ryo picked up his teacup. "Well, that depends on your performance...."
"I... This is the money my mom saved for my wedding. Please take it....."
Uchiha Ryo waved his hand. "I won't take your money. Speaking of which, you actually carry this kind of thing around with you?!"
Gotou Hitori looked up. "Then Uchiha-kun doesn't want money... What do you want?"
"About that, Bocchi-chan~ Are you free.... this Sunday?"
Bocchi-chan: "Eh?!"
Asking a socially anxious person if they are free on the weekend is like asking an otaku if they have any anime recommendations, isn't it?
Except for school, almost all her time is free time! But now this free time was used by her to practice guitar.
Uchiha Ryo suddenly took a piece of paper out of his bag. "Not just this Sunday, I should say every Sunday. Since your band's schedule is set for Saturday, then give Sunday to me."
Bocchi-chan took the paper Uchiha Ryo handed her. She didn't know what it was. Was it a contract of sale? Uchiha-kun actually wanted her time every Sunday!
Looking closely at the paper in her hand, it wasn't a contract of sale, but Toyogasaki Academy's... report card.
The front was personal grades, and the back was printed with the class ranking list. That's right, Uchiha Ryo had only been at Toyogasaki for a month, and he had taken first place in the year for a month. And her.... wow, so far behind.
Uchiha Ryo: "As the band continues to grow, your time practicing guitar and coordinating with the band will also increase. Guess what your grades will look like in the end?"
"Either dedicate yourself entirely to the band career, or advance on both fronts. Don't fall behind in the band or in your studies."
Gotou Hitori nodded. "But I'm too afraid to ask teachers and classmates when I have questions...."
Uchiha Ryo tapped the table. "That's why I want your Sundays. From now on, come to this cafe every Sunday for a study session. Ask me if there's anything you don't know."
"Of course, if you have questions at school.... you can go ask your classmate Sawamura-san, or go to the club and ask Kasumigaoka-senpai from the second year."
As for the others in the Kessoku Band, as far as Uchiha Ryo knew, because they had been practicing instruments since childhood, their grades weren't particularly outstanding. Kita was okay, but still a bit worse than Eriri and Kasumigaoka.
"Ryo-oniichan! We caught a cat at the door! Hayasaka-oneechan said you raised it."
Suddenly, Hoshino Hinata walked in holding a white cat.
"Mhm, Hana-chan, go find a towel to wipe Enyun-chan's paws, and then let this guy stay in the living room. Hahaha, don't worry, Enyun-chan doesn't bite."
But this guy probably came over today for money. After all, she had helped him farm affinity for several days.
Please, you're a ninja cat of the Uchiha clan, not a money-making maneki-neko. Why do you care so much about worldly possessions?