Premise summary: Due to conducting a small sprite experiment that destroyed his shut-in apartment, the homeless Dio wandering the streets was picked up by the kind-hearted Hayasaka Ai and brought back to the Shinomiya household.
——Shinomiya Household, Shinomiya Kaguya's master bedroom——
"Mm… That's enough. You may leave."
"Yes, Lord Brando."
The moment he awoke, Dio waved his hand to dismiss the maids who had been massaging him.
Before returning to his hometown this time, Dio had accepted Shinomiya Kaguya's invitation to experience the "perfect service of a personal attendant" she had spoken of.
Since Dio disliked unfamiliar people getting too close, he had simply used spirit summoning to leave during the massage.
"Ah, President, how do you feel?" Shinomiya Kaguya's smiling voice came from behind, reaching Dio's ears.
"Mm~~~ Very comfortable. It felt super good. Shinomiya, you have quite the eye." Dio, who had not actually experienced any of it, gave a false compliment. He slowly rose from the bed as the drowsiness in his eyes quickly faded. "It gave me the same comfortable feeling as if I had just finished soaking in a hot spring. If I weren't thinking of going out for some fresh air, I really would have liked to enjoy it a little longer."
"If the President likes it, you may come experience it every day." Shinomiya Kaguya's fingertips nearly covered her lips, laughter leaking through the gaps between her fingers.
Dio nodded, then suddenly felt his shoulders grow somewhat heavy. He abruptly straightened his back, expanded his chest, and pressed a hand to the back of his neck, applying a little force.
Crack crack crack…
Mm… Much lighter!
"Thanks. As for the massages, we'll talk about it later." Dio waved his hand and left the room without looking back.
"Take care, President."
Behind him, Shinomiya Kaguya maintained that composed smile, the corners of her mouth holding a faint laugh.
Yet the hand stretched out in midair seemed to prove she had once thought of making Dio stay a little longer.
"We'll talk about it later, hehe…"
After Dio left, Shinomiya Kaguya's expression collapsed in an instant. Her calm face turned into flushed cheeks, fine sweat beading on her forehead, eyes slightly narrowed with a smile, ear tips trembling faintly, and the corners of her mouth stretching wider and wider until she looked somewhat wicked.
The "fall into depravity" plan was proceeding perfectly!
Shinomiya Kaguya took out a chart, circled and marked on it, then drew a checkmark.
Step one: Let the President go from simplicity to luxury, gradually becoming dependent on life in the Shinomiya household. (√)
"It's fine if you don't like it yet. Sooner or later you'll grow accustomed to living here." When she said this, Shinomiya Kaguya seemed to return to the past, radiating the same decisive aura that belonged to the Ice Sculpture Princess.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but going from luxury back to frugality is extremely difficult…
What I want, I will definitely obtain!
At that moment, Hayasaka Ai's flat voice sounded. She had appeared behind Shinomiya Kaguya at some point. "Your true nature is showing, Miss Kaguya."
As expected, the young lady is planning something bad again…
"!!"
Shinomiya Kaguya jumped in fright, her expression quickly returning to normal.
Holding a stack of documents, Hayasaka Ai spoke again to remind her. "The culture festival is approaching. The student council still hasn't finished today's tasks. Please make your way to the student council room as well, Miss."
"I understand. I'll head over immediately."
...
A primordial dinosaur would never allow itself to be confined to a small room, and Dio was no different.
After leaving the Shinomiya household, Dio took advantage of the cool autumn breeze and eagerly wandered around everywhere.
As the saying goes, Stand users of the same type attract each other. It did not take long before a flash of pink once again entered Dio's line of sight.
It was Goto Hitori, wearing her twisted tracksuit and carrying a guitar on her back!
"Oh, Bocchi, are you carrying your guitar to go play with Nijika and the others?" Dio quickly walked up beside Goto Hitori, grabbed her hand, and greeted her in a playful manner. "Listen to me, I'm bored right now. Take me with you."
"Ah! Wh-wh-wh-who…!" Suddenly grabbed while walking down the street, Goto Hitori's body trembled. Her mind went blank and the muscles in her arms rapidly stiffened.
N-no way, there are human traffickers even in broad daylight?!
Could it be that my organs matched with some rich person's and they're going to kidnap me?!
Eeeeyaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!
Wuuu, Mom, you're about to never see your daughter again…
"Hey, Bocchi, what are you spacing out for? Don't ignore this Dio." Dio walked in front of Goto Hitori and waved a hand in front of her eyes.
Soon, she rebooted from her frozen state. After recognizing Dio's voice, she quietly let out a sigh of relief.
After spending a long time together, Goto Hitori was still afraid of Dio's overpowering presence, but she was no longer so paralyzed that she couldn't move.
"Ah, it's Dio. Thank goodness… I don't have to have my organs harvested and resold all over the world anymore…" Goto Hitori was immensely relieved. After steadying her breathing, she bowed and explained in a small voice, "Um, I'm not going to STARRY. Big Sis made plans with me for a street performance, so… I'm sorry!"
"I'm sorry, Dio!!"
I… I did it!
Even though Dio always encourages me to overcome trials, I actually refused Dio's request!
I should just count to three and run away at full speed!
Three!
Goto Hitori took off running, leaving behind a completely bewildered Dio.
"B… Big Sis?" Dio rested his chin on one hand, his voice filled with disbelief. "Since when does Bocchi have a big sister? Doesn't she only have a little sister? Don't tell me… this Dio was… rejected?"
Bocchi actually rejected the magnificent and mighty me, and ran off to fool around with some wild woman from who-knows-where…
Hmph. Does she think this Dio can't do without her?
How childish. Plenty of people are willing to play with me. Bocchi refusing me is her loss.
"Rrrgh…"
Dio's expression gradually twisted. A displeased growl rose from deep in his throat.
No, no. What if Bocchi got tricked by someone? I have to follow her and check.
The smile on Dio's face vanished. He began moving slowly, following the scent left behind by Goto Hitori's escape.
In truth, if it had been anyone else who refused him because they had something to do, Dio would not have reacted so strongly.
But the one who refused him was none other than Goto Hitori—the ultimate social anxiety sufferer who couldn't even refuse a stranger's request.
I'm going to see exactly where this Dio lost!
...
When Dio saw Goto Hitori again, she was already surrounded by a crowd. She was performing a street concert with one eye closed, and beside her stood a woman he had never seen before, playing bass to support her performance.
Sniff sniff… sniff sniff…
Dio's nose twitched. A pungent smell of alcohol rushed into his nostrils.
Yue~ Such a strong stench of booze.
WRYYYYYYYYY!!! Bocchi got corrupted by a drunkard without me knowing!!!
At the same time, Dio was seriously listening to Goto Hitori's performance. Although her social anxiety still affected her playing, compared to before, her improvement was considerable.
Bocchi… is properly overcoming the trials that belong only to her.
Doesn't this look like someone who can succeed…
When the song ended, thunderous applause erupted from the surroundings.
"Alright, this child's street performance for today is now over." Hiroi Kikuri, reeking of alcohol, raised one hand and greeted the audience surrounding them. "There's a special performance on the 24th. If anyone's interested, you can buy tickets from her."
As soon as she finished speaking, two girls in kimono walked up to Goto Hitori and asked softly, "Excuse me, may we have two tickets?"
Startled!!
"Eeh… Ah… Okay!" Suddenly addressed, Goto Hitori was badly frightened, yet she also felt happy.
After receiving the yen from the two girls, Goto Hitori respectfully handed the tickets over to them.
"This is my first time watching a live performance. It was really amazing!"
"Please do your best at the performance on the 24th as well!"
Seeing Goto Hitori's nervousness, the two girls smiled brightly and gently encouraged her.
Goto Hitori felt as if she had been purified by holy light and replied, "Ah… Okay, I'll do my best…"
"Na na, that's great, little Bocchi." Hiroi Kikuri, holding her bass, snickered from the side.
Little Bocchi?
What is this woman trying to get close for?
Bocchi is the nickname Ryo and the others gave her. It's not something any random person can call her—especially not some drunkard.
(Dio hates alcohol, and hates alcoholics even more.)
Thinking this, Dio pushed through the crowd and walked toward the two of them.
"But… what do I do? There's still one ticket left unsold." Goto Hitori looked at the last ticket in her hand, her mind in complete chaos, as if dozens of wasps were playing violins inside her head.
Hiroi Kikuri noticed Goto Hitori's stiffness, so she made a move. "In that case, for the last ticket, I'll just…"
Smack…
"Kono Dio... da."
Dio appeared between the two of them. He snatched the ticket and, in one smooth motion, pulled Goto Hitori away, placing himself in the middle like a wall separating them.
"Eeh, D-D-D-D-Dio!" Goto Hitori convulsed violently and turned into a mosaic-like mess.
What do I do? Why is Dio here…
My life is over…
"Eeh, you're going to buy the last ticket? That's wonderful! Little Bocchi, your performance is really popular." Hiroi Kikuri completely failed to notice Dio's ugly expression. She pulled out a bottle of cheap shochu from her pocket and chugged it. "Ah, so satisfying…"
Only at this moment did Dio truly begin to size up this woman.
Short pinkish-purple hair with a playful braid on one side, amethyst-like eyes, and when the corners of her lips curled, faint little tiger fangs peeked out. She was also carrying a bass.
Wait, a bass?
She's obviously a poor ghost! And the alcohol she's drinking is cheap beer too!
If Bocchi hangs around her, she'll definitely get borrowed money from!
Dio's wrist sank. His fingertips unconsciously brushed against Goto Hitori's trembling yet warm nape. His arm suddenly tightened, pulling the distance between the two of them extremely close.
"Probably. I think anyone with even a little taste would know that Bocchi's guitar skills are excellent."
Too close… Even our breathing is tangled together…
Dio's scent smells really good too…
Goto Hitori's cheeks flushed red. This intimate closeness that allowed no escape made her imagination run wild against her will.
No no no, I can't keep thinking weird things. The atmosphere between Dio and Big Sis is really strange!
"Um, Dio, let me introduce you. This is the Big Sis I just mentioned. She helped me sell tickets." Goto Hitori stood between the two of them, trembling as she made the introduction. "Big Sis, this is Dio. He's the band's manager and has helped the band a lot."
"Nice to meet you, Dio. You look really cool!" Hiroi Kikuri extended her hand. She hadn't noticed anything strange about the atmosphere at all and simply felt happy to meet a new friend. In a dazed voice she said, "My name is, um… my name is, hehe, what was my name again?"
There's a saying: one does not strike a smiling face.
Even though the corners of Dio's mouth twitched uncontrollably, he still held back from exploding and politely shook her hand.
"Hehehe, thank you for helping 'our' Bocchi's. You won't have to trouble yourself with this kind of thing next time. I'll take care of it for her." Dio released her hand, deliberately emphasizing the words "our," then "enthusiastically" invited, "By the way, you should come watch Bocchi's special performance on the 24th too. My treat."
"Really? You're so nice!"
"Of course it's true." Dio smiled falsely and lightly tapped the watch on his wrist, his tone vague. "Aah, what bad timing. It's already so late. I have to go now. I hope you two have fun."
A gust of wind blew past and Dio disappeared.
"I swear, I was already planning to leave! This has nothing to do with you at all."
Not long after, in the blink of an eye, Dio appeared in front of the two of them again.
"I can't wait to see you that day~~"
Dio once again used time stop and left.
The drunk Hiroi Kikuri completely failed to notice anything wrong and praised, "Na na, little Bocchi, your band's manager is really interesting. He even knows how to do big magic tricks."