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"There's no other way..."
Kitahara Makoto's expression was serious, "Hitori-chan, step on my shoulders, I'll lift you up, and then you climb in through the window."
"S-Step on Kitahara-kun's shoulders?!"
Gotō Hitori's eyes immediately widened, her already flushed small face rapidly turned crimson to the point of explosion, one hand covering her chest, the other tightly clutching the hem of her shirt, her small head shaking like a rattle-drum, shaking nonstop.
I can't do it!
I definitely can't do something like that!
Normally it might be fine, I might be able to grit my teeth and agree, but now I only have a shirt on, not even wearing panties, in this state, stepping on a boy's shoulders, if Kitahara-kun looks up...
"Too, too shameful!!!"
Gotō Hitori merely imagined the scene for a moment, and the girl's sense of shame directly exploded, her body swaying, almost unable to stand steadily.
"If there were any other way, I definitely wouldn't make Hitori-chan step on my shoulders, but time is indeed running out."
Kitahara Makoto took out his phone, held it in front of Little Miss Anxiety, and said in a low voice, "Auntie will be back in less than ten minutes; if we don't hurry, we might be seen by Auntie..."
Kitahara Makoto spoke the final straw that broke the camel's back:
"Hitori-chan, you don't want Auntie to find out, do you?"
Gotō Hitori: "..."
Of course, I don't want my mom to find out.
Appearing on the street late at night without clothes would definitely disappoint Mom greatly.
"But, but to step on a boy's shoulder…"
Gotō Hitori's eyes were misty, feeling as if the most difficult choice in the world was before her.
"…"
The air quietly settled.
Kitahara Makoto stood by, not urging her. Ultimately, the decision of how to choose still rested with Bocchi-chan.
To his surprise, after just three short minutes, Gotō Hitori actually made her decision, stammering softly:
"I, I want to go back to my room… I can't let Mama find out…"
To want to return to her room, without a doubt, meant choosing to step on Kitahara Makoto's shoulder.
"Who gave you the courage?"
Kitahara Makoto was slightly astonished. He had thought that with Bocchi-chan's personality, she would surely hesitate until the very last second before making a choice. He hadn't expected her to make a decision in just three short minutes, which couldn't help but make him look at her in a new light.
"No problem." Kitahara Makoto half-squatted, patting his shoulder. "Hitori-chan, step on up."
Gotō Hitori's small face was flushed red like fire, as if it were about to bleed, and she stammered:
"No, no…"
"No what?"
Kitahara Makoto leaned his ear closer.
There was no other way; Bocchi-chan's voice was too soft, completely inaudible.
Gotō Hitori suppressed the shame that made her want to faint, closed her eyes, and gathered her courage, saying:
"Don't… look, look…"
"Don't worry, I won't look up." Understanding Little Miss Anxiety's concern, Kitahara Makoto immediately reassured her gently, "I would never want Hitori-chan to dislike me."
Although he really wanted to look up, reason told Kitahara Makoto that such a thing definitely couldn't be done.
There would definitely be opportunities to look later…
Gotō Hitori immediately breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes filled with gratitude.
She didn't doubt the truthfulness of Kitahara Makoto's words; trust had already been established unknowingly.
If it were normally, words similar to a confession would definitely make Little Miss Anxiety panic and run away, but today's shame was already enough, so these words didn't count for much.
"Come on up." Kitahara Makoto half-squatted again, soothing her gently, "Don't be nervous, I'll slowly stand up little by little. Hitori-chan just needs to hold onto the wall to steady herself."
"I, I know…"
Gotō Hitori took a deep breath, listening to her rapid heartbeat, and unleashed all her remaining courage. Then, she cautiously lifted her right foot and stepped onto Kitahara Makoto's shoulder.
Kitahara Makoto knelt on one knee, his body motionless, supporting Little Miss Anxiety with ease:
"Don't be nervous, hold onto the wall with both hands, and then step up with your other leg."
"…"
Gotō Hitori had no choice but to release the hands covering her body. She was already both nervous and ashamed, and if she only held onto the wall with one hand, she might very well fall with a splash.
Puyo puyo~
As Bocchi-chan removed her arms covering her body, Kitahara Makoto immediately heard the lively thumping sound of the 'Drums of Liberation,' making him almost unable to resist the urge to look up.
If he looked up at this moment, he definitely wouldn't be able to see Bocchi-chan's face, right…
Suppressing the distracting thoughts in his mind, Kitahara Makoto asked in a low voice:
"Hitori-chan, are your hands steady?"
Bocchi-chan's nervous voice quickly sounded from above:
"St-steady…"
"Then get ready." Kitahara Makoto exhaled lightly. "I'm coming in."
"Eh?"
"…I'm getting up."
After confirming that Bocchi-chan was steady on his shoulder, Kitahara Makoto quickly and steadily stood up. With his current physical fitness, supporting two Bocchi-chans would be effortless.
A moment later.
Gotō Hitori's surprised voice sounded from above:
"I reached the window…"
"Keep going, victory is in sight."
Kitahara Makoto stood upright, providing support for Little Miss Anxiety, and at the same time, silently recited the Namu Amida Butsu in his mind.
"The late emperor's great undertaking was half-finished when he passed away…"
Hold it in!
Don't look up!
I absolutely cannot break my promise. There will be plenty of opportunities to look later!
Drip-drop.
Kitahara Makoto suddenly felt some cold liquid dripping onto his face.
"What is it…"
Kitahara Makoto instinctively looked up, and his breathing suddenly stopped.
"As expected of a good best friend, she's just like Kita…"
Thump.
Gotō Hitori successfully returned to her bedroom.
Seeing Bocchi-chan vanish, Kitahara Makoto couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It was truly a test of his resolve. Only he could endure such a test; what other cadre could withstand it!
"Phew…"
Kitahara Makoto relaxed and waited quietly outside.
Not long after, the door creaked open, and Gotō Hitori quietly peeked her small head out from behind the door. She was already fully dressed, but the blush on her small face had not faded, still fiery red.
"Th-thank you…"
Gotō Hitori stammered her thanks, not daring to look up at him, and handed out a white shirt with her head down.
"You're welcome." Kitahara Makoto took the shirt and put it on. "It's almost time. Do we still need to go to the Train Station to pick up Auntie now?"
"…"
Gotō Hitori quickly shook her small head.
She didn't want to go out; she absolutely didn't want to take another step outside today!
"How about this." Kitahara Makoto mused, "I'll go to the Train Station alone and secretly escort Auntie back, just in case. But… Hitori-chan has to give me a universal exchange coupon."
"Eh?"
Gotō Hitori looked up in confusion, clearly not knowing what a universal exchange coupon was.
"Don't worry, it's nothing weird…"
Kitahara Makoto simply explained how to use the universal exchange coupon, feigning pity:
"It's very reasonable for someone to ask for a universal exchange coupon after working so hard to escort Auntie, isn't it?"
"…"
Gotō Hitori's small face was flushed, and she hesitated before nodding, indicating her agreement.
"Then Hitori-chan, you go back first." Kitahara Makoto smiled contentedly. "I'll go to the Train Station, and you can give me the exchange coupon tomorrow."
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