A new week.
Monday.
Morning.
After the End group chat.
Gotou Hitori sent a message: I have a fever and have taken sick leave from school, so for the next few days of work, I think…
Ryou: Unbelievable.
Nijika: Bocchi, lying isn't good!
Hakushu: Bocchi, rest at home!
Gotou Residence.
Lying in bed, Gotou Hitori's face was a little pale, and a wet towel covered her forehead. She let out a series of violent coughs.
After a moment,
Gotou Hitori couldn't help but shed tears of emotion.
She hadn't expected Hakushu to be the only one who believed in her.
Then, thinking that all of this was her own doing,
Hitori felt that she really deserved this!
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Gotou Hitori coughed again, then tapped her finger on the screen.
Gotou Hitori: It's true… Hakushu-kun, thank you! I'll repay you for believing in me!
Ryou: Don't believe it.
Hakushu: I believe it! Ryou, wanna bet?
Ryou: Oh?
Hakushu: Let's bet on whether Bocchi has a fever.
Ryou: What's the stake?
Hakushu: Your salary for a week.
Ryou: Heh! Deal.
Just as she arrived in the classroom, Yamada Ryou, who was slacking off at her desk, let out a cold laugh, a smirk playing on her lips.
Regarding Hitori's illness.
Didn't believe it for a second.
She was still full of life just a couple of days ago.
According to her analysis, Hitori was definitely pretending to be sick to avoid working.
She'd done that kind of thing before, and the result was, the shop manager docked her entire paycheck.
While the two were discussing the bet, Nijika had already invited Gotou Hitori to a video call.
Although Nijika also thought that Bocchi-chan might be trying to avoid work,
she still had to confirm it.
Unexpectedly, Bocchi really was sick!
Nijika felt very guilty.
Hitori was both guilty and nervous.
After ending the call and looking back at the group chat, Nijika's face darkened.
Nijika: You two idiots! Don't bet on things like this! And, Bocchi is really sick.
Hakushu and Ryou, in perfect unison, sent apology emojis.
Then, the two of them switched to private chat.
Ryou: Nijika already said as much, so I guess the bet's off. Nothing I can do.
Hakushu: ...Alright.
Hakushu chuckled softly; he didn't mind, he was just messing with Yamada Ryou.
Yamada Ryou in the classroom was stunned, so simple? Could there be a trick?
The final result was that Hitori's part-time job was temporarily canceled, and the band's practice was also postponed.
Gotou Residence,
"Cough...cough cough! ...Heh...cough cough! ...Hehehe..."
Gotou Hitori was coughing and laughing at the same time.
She had already decided to take the entire week off. That way, she wouldn't have to work and could also dodge the monthly exam!
"Onee-san, you're broken again!"
"Woof!"
As soon as he stepped into the classroom, Hakushu couldn't help but feel a little down.
Because Takamatsu Hikari seemed to be radiating a low pressure.
Melancholy, despondency, withdrawn...
I don't really like this atmosphere!
Hakushu felt that this didn't quite fit the lighthearted and cheerful atmosphere of the Houbun World!
Who exactly?
What did they do?
Just one weekend.
And it turned the adorable Hikari into a little shut-in!
Ugh!
Sighing softly.
Approaching Hikari.
Hakushu asked softly, "Hikari, what's wrong?"
Seeing it was Hakushu, Takamatsu Hikari perked up slightly, shaking her head gently, "N-nothing..."
She didn't look alright at all!
And seeing Hakushu's guitar case, Hikari's eyes dimmed again.
"Aah! Hakushu, are you bullying Hikari-chan!"
Hirasawa Yui, carrying her guitar case, entered the classroom.
If you looked closely, you could see the marks of guitar strings on her face, as though she'd slept with her guitar last night.
Hakushu looked at Hirasawa Yui, "I didn't..."
But Hikari did seem more dejected just now. What was going on?
"Yui-san, Hakushu didn't bully me."
Takamatsu Hikari explained anxiously, afraid that Hirasawa Yui had misunderstood.
"Is that so? Then, why does Hikari-chan look so sad?"
"D...do I?"
Takamatsu Hikari looked up at the two of them.
Hakushu and Hirasawa Yui nodded in perfect unison.
Takamatsu Hikari's eyes drooped.
"What should we do, Akushu?"
"I don't know..."
Hakushu shrugged.
Even though they were stumped, they still needed to try to think of a solution.
[Stimulate Takamatsu Hikari's memories of the band, Notes +100]
Suddenly, Hakushu was inspired.
Takamatsu Hikari's dejection was probably band-related.
Maybe we should just have Hikari join the Light Music Club?
Let's chat about music and see if we can find out anything.
So, Hakushu asked,
"Hikari, do you play the keyboard?"
Takamatsu Hikari shook her head.
"How about guitar?"
This time, Hirasawa Yui asked.
Takamatsu Hikari shook her head again, whispering,
"I, I don't play any instruments…"
Then, Takamatsu Hikari's eyes completely lost their luster.
Maybe it was because she couldn't play instruments, and she couldn't sing well either.
She was useless.
Sachi must have left…
When she met Sachi, she didn't even have the courage to apologize.
Hakushu and Yui exchanged a look.
Things seemed even worse.
The two of them wanted to say something more to comfort Hikari.
However, the class bell rang first.
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