It was fine when Akiyama Mio didn't speak.
As soon as she spoke, Tainaka Ritsu became somewhat agitated.
"What?! Bullying?! How dare you!"
Tainaka Ritsu immediately rolled up her sleeves and charged forward.
Akiyama Mio desperately tried to stop her, but it was no use at all.
"No, Ritsu, he's a boy! We should find…"
Before she could finish her sentence,
Akiyama Mio was dragged by Tainaka Ritsu to stand in front of Tsuchigumo Hotaru.
The two of them stood protectively in front of Gotou Hitori.
Facing Tsuchigumo Hotaru, who was much taller than her, Tainaka Ritsu showed no fear; instead, she spoke with a strong sense of justice:
"Let go of that girl!"
Tsuchigumo Hotaru was slightly taken aback, looking unexpectedly at the two girls in front of him. Aren't these two from the Light Music Club?
One had short brown hair, with her bangs held back by a headband, revealing a bright, fair forehead.
That was Tainaka Ritsu.
The other was a typical girl with long, straight black hair, and hime-cut bangs.
That was Akiyama Mio.
And unlike most girls with long, straight black hair, this one gave off an impression of being introverted and timid.
Upon closer inspection, she was trembling, just like Gotou Hitori?
Ahaha, Tsuchigumo Hotaru suddenly found it a bit amusing.
Gotou Hitori also opened her eyes, looking with surprise at the two not-so-tall figures in front of her.
Was she saved?
No, no, things seemed to have gotten even worse!!
She should just play dead!
Tsuchigumo Hotaru took a step forward, "Wait, this is a misunderstanding…"
Tainaka Ritsu pulled Akiyama Mio back a step.
"Don't come any closer!"
Tsuchigumo Hotaru extended his hand: "I said, this is a mis…"
Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama Mio took another step back, interrupting him.
"If you come any closer, I'm calling the police!"
At the same time, Tainaka Ritsu brandished her phone.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru sheepishly withdrew his hand and stepped back.
Gotou Hitori, slumped on the ground, opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Seeing Tsuchigumo Hotaru's hesitation, Tainaka Ritsu became bolder and whispered to Mio beside her.
"How about that, Mio? You didn't really think I was going to fight, did you?"
Akiyama Mio breathed a sigh of relief in her heart; she had been so nervous just now.
Immediately after, Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama Mio looked back at Gotou Hitori while keeping an eye on Tsuchigumo Hotaru.
To prevent him from suddenly lashing out or running away.
When they saw Gotou Hitori passed out on the ground,
Tainaka Ritsu exclaimed: "What did you do to her!"
Akiyama Mio was equally worried, stepping forward to gently pick up Gotou Hitori.
What's going on?
Tsuchigumo Hotaru was also a bit confused, so he spread his hands and said: "I said I didn't do anything, do you believe me?"
Tainaka Ritsu retorted: "What do you think?"
"Believe it or not, I'll notify Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei from school. You know Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, right? The teacher who can punch a desk in half."
Although a bit careless, Tainaka Ritsu had noticed that they both wore the same school uniform.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru's mouth slightly agape, Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, have you become famous so quickly…
Then Tsuchigumo Hotaru's eyes darted around, and the corners of his mouth turned up; he had thought of something fun.
"No, just don't notify Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei! You can make me do anything."
Tainaka Ritsu's eyes lit up. Is Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei's name that effective?
Is it really that effective just by mentioning her name?
If that's the case, hmph hmph!
"Pay up! Apologize!"
Tainaka Ritsu placed one hand on her hip, holding her phone high.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru's eyes also widened.
Are you serious?!
I was just thinking Hitori fainted, and I'd play along with you guys for a bit!
I wouldn't do just anything!
Akiyama Mio was equally incredulous, "Wait… Ritsu, this, this isn't right…"
If they did that, they wouldn't seem like they were acting heroically anymore!
No more… Tsuchigumo Hotaru felt that if he kept playing along, it might only make things worse, and he'd really be seen as a bad guy.
And if Hiratsuka Shizuka was actually notified, that would be quite troublesome!
However, why isn't Gotou Hitori waking up yet?
Although he knew she was easily scared into fainting, it shouldn't take this long.
Could it be?
She's faking it!
Tsuchigumo Hotaru felt he had guessed the truth.
"Gotō-san, you're not awake, are you?"
Tsuchigumo Hotaru asked with a profound gaze.
Awake?
Tainaka Ritsu also felt a surge of doubt.
And Gotou Hitori, being held by Akiyama Mio,
finally couldn't keep up the act.
Actually, Gotou Hitori's body had been trembling the whole time.
However, Akiyama Mio was also struggling and trembling, both of them shaking, so Mio didn't notice.
"Ah… um, wait… you've misunderstood…"
Gotou Hitori mustered her courage and said weakly.
"Hmm?"
Tainaka Ritsu looked at Gotou Hitori in surprise.
"Phew…"
Seeing Gotou Hitori wake up, Tsuchigumo Hotaru let out a soft breath and then said,
"Gotō-san and I are friends. What just happened was for a reason. If you don't believe me, ask her."
Friends!
Her only friend!
Gotou Hitori nodded repeatedly in shame,
"Yes, we are friends, you… you misunderstood."
However, looking at Gotou Hitori's appearance, she seemed even more timid and scared than Akiyama Mio.
Tainaka Ritsu looked at Gotou Hitori with suspicion, even wondering if she had been threatened.
"Is this true? Don't be afraid, fellow student."
"Mio and I will protect you."
Although Akiyama Mio was scared, she still nodded affirmatively.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Gotou Hitori with great helplessness.
"There really isn't…"
Although she said that, Gotou Hitori's gaze wavered.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru clutched his chest, feeling a bit disheartened, wondering if he had expected too much from Hitori.
Gotou Hitori: I just can't look strangers in the eye o(╥﹏╥)o
In the end, Tsuchigumo Hotaru had to rely on himself to explain… be misunderstood… clarify… still be misunderstood… explain again, clarify again…
Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama Mio finally believed him.
However, the moment Tsuchigumo Hotaru showed their chat history with Gotou Hitori, Tainaka Ritsu almost made the call again.
The two of them now stood with their heads bowed in shame, like children who had done wrong, standing in front of Tsuchigumo Hotaru as if being punished.
"Ah… I'm so sorry, Tsuchigumo-san, you should have told us earlier that you were Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei's student."
Tainaka Ritsu rubbed the back of her head, apologizing profusely, then put her hands together in a prayer gesture.
Then she looked at Gotou Hitori, who was cowering to the side. This child, she seems even shyer than Mio-chan.
Akiyama Mio's face was flushed with even greater shame, and she sincerely said: "I'm very sorry! Tsuchigumo-san, we've caused you trouble!"
"Please forgive us!" x 2
Both of them put their hands together in a prayer gesture in unison.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru nodded, gladly accepting their apology. What surprised him was that meeting these two here also earned him a music note reward from the system, so there was nothing to be angry about.
"Besides, have you ever seen a bad guy as handsome as me?"
Narcissistic!
This thought popped into the minds of all three girls.
Though they didn't deny Tsuchigumo Hotaru's good looks.
However, Gotou Hitori still felt that the popular, good-looking leaders in classes were often the ones who bullied people.
But she didn't dare to say it.
"It's all Mio's fault for talking about school bullying!"
Tainaka Ritsu tilted her head and mumbled softly.
"What! Idiot Ritsu, you're the one who suddenly charged forward."
Akiyama Mio immediately retorted.
"Ah, I was just being a good samaritan!"
"Then you shouldn't have threatened Tsuchigumo-san just now."
"That was just a joke, Tsuchigumo-san doesn't look like a bad person at all."
Listening to their conversation, Tsuchigumo Hotaru, with a serious expression, waved his hand and said,
"Hmm… Well, it's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up. Don't argue over me."
Gotou Hitori watched everyone having a good time, feeling out of place.
"Yes, yes! In that case, we'll take our leave now. Tsuchigumo-san is really a good person!"
Due to embarrassment and shame, Tainaka Ritsu prepared to make her escape.
"Goodbye, Tsuchigumo-san, and Gotō-san."
Akiyama Mio and Tainaka Ritsu gradually walked away, still bickering.
Actually, Tainaka Ritsu had originally wanted to persuade Gotou Hitori to join the Light Music Club as their guitarist after seeing her guitar.
But after all that commotion, in such an awkward situation, she was too embarrassed to bring it up and also completely forgot about it.
After the two left, Tsuchigumo Hotaru chuckled, while Gotou Hitori felt guilty again.
"Gotō-san…"
Tsuchigumo Hotaru slowly looked at Gotou Hitori.
"I'm sorry!"
Gotou Hitori made a move as if to kneel again.
"Don't!"
"Gotō-san, don't kneel again."
Tsuchigumo Hotaru quickly stopped her. If Gotou Hitori kept kneeling down so casually, who knows what kind of trouble would arise.
"I didn't mean to blame you, Hitori."
In his haste, Tsuchigumo Hotaru directly called her by her first name.
Gotou Hitori, in her dazed state, trembled. "Ah, hai."
"Alright, tell me why you asked me to come to the park."
After all that commotion, Gotou Hitori also felt remorseful.
Subsequently, Gotou Hitori began to explain her social anxiety and her inability to perform at her true potential in front of strangers.
So that's what it was! Tsuchigumo Hotaru understood in his heart and offered comfort.
"Alright, I know all this. Don't worry, I won't give up on you because of it."
How do you know?
Although Gotou Hitori was puzzled, hearing Tsuchigumo Hotaru say that, she showed her first smile of the day.
"Doesn't it look good when you smile?"
Tsuchigumo Hotaru praised, "Let's start encouraging Bocchi-chan from now on!"
Gotou Hitori's face turned red.
"Wow! A guitar!"
This voice!
This time it's right!
Tsuchigumo Hotaru was overjoyed.
Tsuchigumo Hotaru didn't need to turn around.
The owner of the voice, Shimokitazawa's great angel, had already jogged in front of the two of them.