"Ask Yamada Ryo for help?"
Kita Ikuyo suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
"If my combat power is one hundred points, Bocchi-chan's combat power is only five points, but for Yamada Ryo, her combat power is at least ten thousand points, or even higher… If I ask Yamada Ryo for help, a mere punishment challenge can be completed one hundred percent, without any surprises."
"But… should I ask Yamada Ryo for help?"
A hint of hesitation appeared on Kita Ikuyo's small face.
Looking at Bocchi-chan, who was nervously looking up with her eyes tightly closed and her earlobes already red, Kita Ikuyo's face showed even more hesitation.
Bocchi-chan is so shy and socially anxious. If the person proposing the punishment wasn't Kitahara Makoto but someone else, she would have long since fled without a trace and wouldn't have come to a place like the storage room at all.
In other words.
It seemed Bocchi-chan was being forced, but in reality, Bocchi-chan was willingly being taken advantage of.
"And myself…"
Kita Ikuyo endured the shame and faced her true feelings.
Although she didn't want to admit it, if it weren't for her liking Kitahara-kun, how could she have gone this far?
Even for a close friend, there would definitely be limits to how much help she would provide.
If she asked Yamada Ryo for help, Bocchi-chan might not be happy and might even feel disappointed…
"So… maybe I shouldn't ask Yamada Ryo for help for now?"
"In two more days, maybe Bocchi-chan and I will be able to complete the challenge."
"Besides, this kind of thing is too embarrassing to talk about…"
"…"
At the same time.
Seeing Hitori with her eyes closed, like a dumb goose unable to move, Kitahara Makoto naturally wouldn't be polite. He sped up eating the Pocky stick, crunching it down, and then brazenly taken advantage of Hitori.
(Why isn't Kita Ikuyo saying anything?)
Bocchi-chan nervously held her breath, expecting Kita Ikuyo to speak up and stop him, but she waited and waited, and didn't hear Kita Ikuyo say a word. In a daze, she suddenly remembered a famous saying:
When others are taken advantage of, I don't speak up, and when it's finally my turn, no one will speak up to help either…
Several minutes later.
Kitahara Makoto wiped the corner of his lips with satisfaction:
"Hitori-chan, thank you for the treat."
"Hoo… hoo…"
Steam billowed from Bocchi-chan's head, and she melted into a soft puddle like ice cream, unable to even speak.
"Kita." Kitahara Makoto turned his head, his gaze burning, "Are you rested?"
"…You need to know when to stop!"
Kita Ikuyo's small face was flushed, both ashamed and angry.
He kissed her, then went to kiss Bocchi-chan, and now after kissing Bocchi-chan, he wants to kiss her again… How shameless is this guy anyway!
"That's enough for today!"
Kita Ikuyo decisively hung up her 'no-fight' sign, ready to slip away:
"Bocchi-chan and I still have work today!"
Remembering the important matter, Bocchi-chan barely managed to prop herself up, transforming from a melted ice cream into a solid one. She hugged her guitar, her voice like a mosquito's hum:
"S-Sorry, I really have to go to work with Kita today…"
Kitahara Makoto asked curiously:
"Do you have a performance today?"
"No," Kita Ikuyo lightly hummed, "Final exams are next week, and Nijika and Yamada Ryo are both busy studying. They don't have time for practice at all. Performances won't be until summer vacation."
"How have you considered Ms. Shiraishi's invitation?"
Kitahara Makoto recalled the college student he met at the store last time.
"Still considering…" A hint of hesitation appeared on Kita Ikuyo's small face as she voiced her concern, "The pay is so high, could it be a scam?"
"Don't worry, I've already had someone investigate Ms. Shiraishi's background," Kitahara Makoto said softly. "She is indeed the young lady of a wealthy family."
Kitahara Makoto had earned 15 million yen directly from exorcising at the Sato family's home. He also received a large sum for helping ghost Senpai reunite with her parents. Then there was the weight loss business, where the income from a single session could even match a fresh graduate's annual salary.
It was no exaggeration to say that Kitahara Makoto's current income already surpassed ninety-nine percent of Japan's office workers.
So, two days ago, he specifically paid an investigation agency to inquire about Ms. Shiraishi's basic information. He just received the news this afternoon: she was indeed the young lady of a wealthy family, rich and powerful, and not a swindler.
"That's good." Kita Ikuyo breathed a sigh of relief, but still hesitated, "But I've never acted in a movie before. What if I don't do well? Will I disappoint Ms. Shiraishi?"
"That's Ms. Shiraishi's concern," Kitahara Makoto said softly. "The reason she chose us must be based on her own considerations. We just need to do our part; we don't need to worry about the director's job."
"That's true…"
Kita Ikuyo nodded subconsciously.
Her gaze shifted, and she suddenly caught Bocchi-chan staring at her with wide, curious eyes. Kita's small face flushed, and she quickly stepped back, putting distance between herself and Kitahara Makoto:
"Bocchi-chan, let's hurry to the store!"
"Mhm, mhm."
Gotō Hitori quickly stood up, hugging her guitar.
"I'll go with you."
Kitahara Makoto followed them out of the storage room.
"Eh?" Kita looked at him in surprise, "Kitahara-kun, what are you going to do there?"
"It's been a long time since I've seen Nijika and Yamada Ryo. I'm going to have some drinks and chat."
Kitahara Makoto said lightly.
Kita's expression was suspicious: "Just going to chat?"
"Absolutely."
Kitahara Makoto's gaze was frank.
It was true that he missed Nijika and Yamada Ryo because he hadn't seen them for a long time.
Of course, if there was a chance, he also wanted to tease someone.
"Hmph~"
Kita hummed softly, placing her hands on her hips:
"Bocchi-chan and I will be watching you. Don't even think about bullying Nijika and Yamada Ryo!"
"…"
The journey was silent.
Kitahara Makoto followed Bocchi-chan and Kita, taking the train to the live house opened by Nijika.
"Welcome…"
Yamada Ryo's listless voice rang out.
Just like last time, Yamada Ryo was still sitting behind the ticket booth, her right hand propping up her chin, in charge of selling tickets.
"Yamada Ryo, good afternoon," Kita Ikuyo's voice was clear. "We're here!"
"G-Good afternoon…"
Gotō Hitori hid behind Kita, mumbling a quiet greeting.
"Ah, good afternoon." Yamada Ryo lifted her pretty face, her gaze sweeping across Kitahara Makoto's face, her tone indifferent, "Nijika is almost overwhelmed alone. She just asked when you two would arrive."
Hearing this, Kita Ikuyo waved her hand decisively:
"Then Bocchi-chan and I will go in to help first, Yamada Ryo. We'll chat later."
Kitahara Makoto stood at the back and was not in a hurry to enter:
"Yamada Ryo, long time no see."
Yamada Ryo propped her chin with her right hand and looked up:
"Well, Kitahara-kun, how long have you been in the Otherworld?"
Yamada Ryo had been addicted to games recently. She didn't see Kitahara Makoto last night and sent several messages asking about his situation.
After returning from the Otherworld today, Kitahara Makoto saw the unread messages and naturally explained his whereabouts immediately, but there were many things going on at the time, so he didn't elaborate on the specific details.
"Roughly speaking, about a week," Kitahara Makoto said gently. "So I really missed Yamada Ryo."
"Ah…"
Yamada Ryo raised her hand to cover her chest, lifted her pretty face, and blinked continuously:
"Wait a moment."
Kitahara Makoto asked in confusion:
"Yamada Ryo, why are you blinking so much?"
"In shoujo manga, when the boy you like returns from a near-death experience, the girl should be so emotional that she sheds tears at this moment." Yamada Ryo raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye, but unfortunately, there was no moisture at all. "Wait, let me try to squeeze out some tears…"
You're enough!
Hurry up and give back the move!