Uchiha Ryo: "Hey, stop talking for a second. That 'Wise One' you labeled as an idiot just sent another message."
Enyun-chan turned her head to look.
Wise One #1: [What kind of boys does Enyun like?]
Enyun-chan went silent for a moment before typing her reply: [Ones who can dance and pilot Gundams.]
The "Wise One" on the other end also fell into a brief silence, then suddenly sent a message:
[I get it! Dancing means having a good figure, and piloting a Gundam means being strong! Hahaha, I didn't expect to fit your standards perfectly.]
Enyun-chan sighed. She still felt a bit bad about tricking a fool, so she just replied casually:
[Then you guessed wrong. Actually, I like music-oriented guys, like ones who can play the guitar. Strong guys with good bodies aren't my cup of tea at all.]
Once that sentence was sent, the other side went silent for even longer, before eventually making an excuse and logging off regretfully.
Enyun-chan joyfully secured a half-year's worth of game passes. However, she didn't delete "Wise One #1." Who knows, maybe in six months, this idiot still won't have forgotten her!
— Flashback End —
So, it's perfectly fine for Bocchi to lie online. After all, the fans who like "Guitar Hero" aren't there to see your personal life; they follow you for the music.
"By the way, what were you saying just now? Quitting your job at STARRY? Have you finally decided to come work as a full-time maid for me?"
Gotou Hitori: "No no no no no, no!"
"Because Dad gave me 300,000 yen all at once, if I only buy a guitar for around 100,000 yen, I can save a whole 200,000 yen."
If she used that money to cover the ticket quotas their band couldn't fill, it would last them a long time!
During that period, she would never have to work part-time again! Never have to make eye contact with strangers again!
The more Bocchi thought about it, the happier she became.
"Ryo-kun, let's hurry to STARRY. I'm going to tell the manager about my resignation right now."
Uchiha Ryo: "Do you really have the courage to say it out loud? Do you need me to help?"
Bocchi patted her backpack. "Don't worry! As long as I think about finally being able to quit this job, infinite power surges within me. I don't need Ryo-kun's help at all!"
The current Bocchi! Is invincible!!
Inside the STARRY music bar. Since their business hours are mostly in the afternoon and evening, the only people in the bar during the morning were Ijichi Nijika, who was sweeping, and the Manager, who was sitting at the bar.
"Bocchi is here! And Ryo-kun too. Are you guys here to buy instruments together today?"
Uchiha Ryo: "No, I don't plan on buying anything. I'm just accompanying Bocchi to take a look."
Ijichi Nijika nodded, then handed the broom in her hand to Bocchi.
"Man, the Manager made me sweep first thing in the morning. Honestly! Just because I'm her little sister, I have to do unpaid overtime? Bocchi, come and help me out."
Gotou Hitori took the broom but took a deep breath and walked up to the bar, right next to Ijichi Seika.
"Manager, I have something to say regarding my work."
Ijichi Seika: "Nijika, your allowance is your overtime pay, okay?"
After saying that, she turned her tired gaze toward Bocchi.
"And what's with you? What about your work?"
Bocchi: "...."
"Ah... uh... that... I will continue to work hard with all my heart and soul in the future."
Ijichi Seika: "Why the sudden vow of determination?"
The "invincible" Bocchi was instantly cut down to size!
Bocchi awkwardly retreated into a clean trash can that had been newly bought for her. It seemed she still didn't dare mention resignation to the Manager.
Uchiha Ryo didn't plan to help, but he noticed STARRY had actually bought a clean "No Trash Allowed" bin specifically for Bocchi. They were truly... so kind.
Bocchi: "Let me die in this trash can for a while, thanks."
It seemed this "leftover woman" who was close to Hiratsuka-sensei's age also possessed a level of care and tenderness that was completely different from her outward demeanor.
To support her career and her sister's studies, Ijichi Seika gave up her musical dreams and the pursuit of love to focus on running this bar. To remain unmarried at her age for this... it was truly admirable.
Hiratsuka Shizuka, on the other hand, gave up her life as a young lady to run away from her family's marriage pressure and became a teacher at Shuchiin. She's getting older and just can't find a partner... it's truly worrying.
Kita Ikuyo: "Nijika-senpai, Bocchi, we're here!"
Without even a moment to mourn for the Bocchi in the trash can, arriving at STARRY immediately were! Kita Ikuyo and Yamada Ryo.
At the entrance of STARRY, Kita and Ryo waved. Seeing their arrival, Ijichi Nijika went over to the trash can.
"Bocchi, everyone's here. Let's go to the instrument shop to pick out your new guitar!"
Yamada Ryo: "I should pick out a new bass too while we're at it...."
Ijichi Nijika: "Ryo-san, you spend all your allowance on basses. Is it still not enough?!"
As everyone knew, Yamada Ryo's family actually owned a hospital; she came from a wealthy household. But every month as soon as she got her allowance, she couldn't help but buy more basses... leading to a very "impoverished" personal life.
"Ryo-kun, come with us! If you want to buy an instrument, you can take a look too!"
Uchiha Ryo: "No, I'm not interested in instruments."
At a well-known old instrument store in Ochanomizu, Uchiha Ryo shoved Bocchi, who was hesitating at the door, inside.
Then he pressed down on Bocchi's head, which was trying to shake back and forth while she wore her headphones.
"What are you spazzing out for? Go to the second floor and pick out a metal rock guitar."
Bocchi's head was being held down, and she spoke with a whimpering voice. "Um, if I pretend to be wearing headphones and listening to music really intensely, the staff won't try to talk to me, right?"
Uchiha Ryo: "We're all here. Just pick whatever you want. We'll handle talking to the staff for you."
Bocchi: "....But."
"No 'buts'!"
Uchiha Ryo rubbed Bocchi's head. "For now, you are just a doll that only knows how to choose a guitar. Remember, you are a doll! Just focus on picking the guitar."
"Mhm!"
Following everyone to the second floor, Bocchi took a deep breath.
I am a doll! I cannot speak! As long as I don't speak, the staff won't talk to me! I am a doll!
Suddenly, Gotou Hitori realized the staff really weren't looking at her. Even when they did speak, they went to Uchiha Ryo or Kita and the others.
Could it be that I've succeeded! Doing this really prevents the staff from approaching me!
It turns out that by just imagining yourself as a doll, you can avoid being talked to. This is great! She was gradually beginning to understand everything!
[Actually, it was just Uchiha Ryo placing a layer of genjutsu on the staff members....]
However, while everyone was looking at guitars, Uchiha Ryo saw a tall figure also tinkering with a guitar, chatting with a staff member about beginner equipment.
Wait, isn't that.... Kondo Sawa from the Shuchiin Judo Club?
Uchiha Ryo saw Kondo Sawa, and the other party clearly saw him too.
"Yo! Uchiha, you're here to buy an instrument too?"
Uchiha Ryo: "I'm just accompanying a friend."
"A friend?"
Kondo Sawa looked at the four girls—pink, red, yellow, and blue—standing next to Uchiha Ryo, and immediately raised his head to stare at the ceiling.
He wasn't looking for something on the ceiling; he just simply didn't want his tears to fall.
Why! Why?! Why are there only beautiful girls around Uchiha Ryo? He remembered seeing a group last time at the entertainment center, and it wasn't even this same batch!
Uchiha Ryo: "Never mind me. Why is a judo practitioner like you in an instrument shop picking out a guitar?"
Kondo Sawa chuckled. "Let me tell you, hehehe.... Actually, I've recently fallen for a female classmate."
Uchiha Ryo: "Is that so? Good luck. Which class?"
Kondo Sawa scratched his head. "I didn't ask. We met playing games online. She said she's also a first-year student at Shuchiin High. Hehehe...."
Uchiha Ryo seemed to think of something bad, but what if! What if it was just a coincidence! Mhm, it must be a coincidence.
"Cough cough. So what does that have to do with you buying a guitar?"
Kondo Sawa spoke with absolute seriousness. "Because I heard that girls nowadays seem to like music-oriented guys, so I want to learn the guitar or something!"
Uchiha Ryo: "...Impressive "