"Ding-a-ling…"
The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru slowly opened his eyes, feeling much clearer. Most of his dark circles had also faded.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru felt fully recharged.
"Tsuchigumo is awake," Hirazawa Yui looked over, smiling with a hint of pleasant surprise.
"You sleep even more than I do. It's already lunchtime, you know."
Lunch?
He had actually slept straight until mealtime.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru was slightly surprised; no wonder the classroom had far fewer people.
Fortunately, there was no Japanese class this morning.
Otherwise, it would definitely ruin his image in Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei's eyes.
"You shouldn't sleep during class, Yui, and you too, Tsuchigumo-san."
Manabe Nodoka, holding her bento box, sat in the seat in front of Yui and advised the two with a helpless tone.
Her dark red-brown short hair, coupled with red rimless glasses, gave her the impression of a good kid from next door, an excellent student in the teacher's eyes.
And that was indeed the case.
Unlike Tsuchigumo Hotaru, who self-proclaimed himself as excellent in both character and academics, Manabe Nodoka was genuinely excellent in both. She was currently the class president of Class 3 and also a member of the student council.
Hirazawa Yui stuck out her tongue, took out her bento box, and opened it.
"It's Nodoka, but… I get sleepy as soon as I hear the teacher's voice… my eyes just close on their own."
Tsuchigumo Hotaru, on the other hand, said sincerely, "Ahem, this was just an accident, it won't happen again."
Hirazawa Yui nodded repeatedly.
"I hope so…"
Even Manabe Nodoka couldn't help but roll her eyes at their replies, then sighed silently.
This wasn't the first time she had given such advice.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru was still somewhat manageable, but Yui was a handful…
To prevent Manabe Nodoka from dwelling on the issue, Yui skillfully changed the subject:
"Tsuchigumo, do you want a meatball?"
"Yuichan made them herself, you know."
Hirazawa Yui picked up a meatball with her chopsticks; its aroma wafted over, tempting Tsuchigumo Hotaru.
Ui, Hirazawa Yui's younger sister.
Her bento was incredibly delicious, and Tsuchigumo Hotaru had tasted it before.
If only she were my sister, Tsuchigumo Hotaru thought.
However, this time Tsuchigumo Hotaru shook his head and refused, "No, you eat it yourself."
"Mmm…"
Hirazawa Yui looked a bit regretful, so she just enjoyed it herself with a blissful expression.
Afterward, Tsuchigumo Hotaru stood up and bid them farewell.
He wasn't someone who brought a bento to school.
He usually went to the school cafeteria for lunch.
Queuing up, buying bread… the super rare extra-long red bean paste bread in the cafeteria was naturally long gone.
Then buying a can of cola, and eating…
…
Tsuchigumo Hotaru walked back to the teaching building, refreshed after a good sleep, a full stomach, and enough to drink.
As the saying goes, after the storm comes the rainbow.
Hard work pays off.
After finishing all of Gotou Hitori's videos, he already had over 5000 notes.
However, Tsuchigumo Hotaru only exchanged for one [Basic Music Theory Knowledge].
As someone preparing to play music, how could he not have some solid knowledge in his head?
For now, there was nothing else he particularly needed.
So, Tsuchigumo Hotaru planned to save up 6000 notes first to exchange for a Level 2 skill.
Otherwise, what if Level 1 was too weak and he got looked down upon?
Now he was going to do something big.
That was to find Gotou Hitori.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru had noticed that starting a few days ago, Gotou Hitori had begun carrying her guitar to school.
Therefore, the current Gotou Hitori was at her most desperate for someone to talk to her.
The timing was just right…
In the sunniest places, you could see Kita Ikuyo.
In the darkest places, you could find Gotou Hitori.
…
Teaching building, a certain staircase.
Stairwell.
It was usually a place used to store discarded tables and chairs.
It was somewhat dim here, with only a few faint rays of light reflecting in.
It was originally a very quiet place.
Now, however, occasional strange noises and guitar sounds emanated from this stairwell.
It turned out that a pink figure was hiding inside.
Her name was Gotou Hitori.
On the first day of school, Gotou Hitori, relying on her ultimate social anxiety perception ability, found this excellent spot.
Hehehe…
This is truly a safe place!
Here, Gotou Hitori felt completely secure.
During lunch break, almost no one would pass through here.
Even if someone did come, they wouldn't pay attention to this inconspicuous stairwell.
They would never imagine that she, Gotou Hitori, would hide in this place to eat.
No one can find her!
Hehe… no one, no one…
Ah, yes, no one would ever pay attention to a gloomy girl like her.
Gotou Hitori began to emit a dark aura.
This made the already dim stairwell even darker and colder.
Wuwuwu… even the food in her mouth didn't taste good anymore.
Gotou Hitori began to collapse.
"Thump, thump, thump…"
For some reason, junior high school ended just like that.
She couldn't participate in the cultural festival.
She couldn't find band members.
And, she didn't even have a single friend!
"Thump, thump, thump…"
Gotou Hitori strummed the strings, venting her emotions.
"Ah, I found you."
The guitar sound stopped abruptly.
With the stairwell as a clue, plus the sudden guitar sound, not to mention that the current Tsuchigumo Hotaru was particularly sensitive, extremely sensitive, to Gotou Hitori's guitar sound.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru easily found this place.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru observed the stairwell and frowned slightly.
The environment here was truly a bit concerning!
It was a stairwell after all, filled with dust.
In the corner, one could vaguely see cobwebs.
He then shifted his gaze to Gotou Hitori, only to see her trembling constantly.
Her originally cute school uniform, on Gotou Hitori, was worn in a unique style.
Her upper body was covered by a pink sports jacket.
Under her skirt, she wore pink sweatpants.
How conservative… Gotō-san.
Such a distinctive outfit made Tsuchigumo Hotaru break out in a cold sweat.
Because her head was bowed, he couldn't see her expression.
But Tsuchigumo Hotaru could imagine Gotou Hitori's terrified look.
"Ah… ah… yes… yes…"
Gotou Hitori dared not look up at all, and her mouth wouldn't open.
She could only make grunting noises.
It was impossible to hear what she was trying to express.
Apologize, watashi… apologize, watashi, quickly apologize, me! What am I doing…
If I don't apologize quickly, I'll definitely be killed!
Wuwuwu, I don't want to die yet!
Mom, Dad, farewell!
Niri, big sister has to go first…
Hearing Gotou Hitori speak, Tsuchigumo Hotaru actually felt a hint of anticipation…
Unfortunately, Gotou Hitori didn't say anything coherent.
Had she not spoken for so long that she lost her ability to speak?
Ah, how pitiful.
Let me help you.
Gotō-san.
"Please look at me, Gotō-san," Tsuchigumo Hotaru said softly.
It's over, it's over.
He's angry.
This was Gotou Hitori's last thought before she fainted.