Nijika had never believed she would lose.
When it comes to strategy, attacking the city is inferior, attacking the heart is supreme.
From the moment she learned that Toru possessed a simulator just like her own, Nijika lost any desire to take the initiative. She believed victory was firmly in her grasp. She could completely wait until the band's dream was realized before thinking about romance and personal feelings.
Who could have predicted it?
Bocchi-chan actually broke the rules and went straight for the base. No, this was not just sneaking in, this was a full-on home raid.
Fine then. Dating it is.
At most, it is just a matter of who came first and who came later.
The mere status of an official girlfriend, if Nijika truly wanted it, she could have confessed at any random time last year and secured it. Bocchi-chan would not have had any chance at all.
However...
No matter how many excuses Nijika tried to find, this time she really had been careless. She failed to dodge it.
"Is it really okay for you to tell me this directly?"
Nijika began thinking about that.
Hitori did not have the courage to confront her head-on.
Then, telling her about the dating must have been entirely Toru's own decision.
"Hitori's idea is to keep the fact that she is dating me hidden from you, all the way until Kessoku Band disbands."
"Keep it hidden the whole time?"
Then what is the point of you two dating?
"She doesn't want to damage the friendship between you."
No, no, no. The act of raiding the house itself has already damaged the relationship.
No amount of fixing can wash that away, alright?
If Nijika did not know that Bocchi-chan was pure-minded and not full of schemes, she would have slapped the green cap bitch label on her long ago.
Being a bitch while still trying to set up a moral shrine is really irritating.
"Toru-kun, what do you think?"
This was what Nijika cared about more.
"I cannot give up on everyone in the band. I don't want to give up on anyone."
Toru felt this line was pretty scummy, but it was indeed his true inner thought.
Nijika pressed her right index finger against the corner of her mouth and said thoughtfully, "If I am not misunderstanding, Toru-kun does not want to date just one person?"
"I will make everyone happy. Is that not okay?"
"I don't really mind. If Toru-kun can satisfy everyone and stay together forever, it might actually be quite nice."
Nijika gazed into his eyes and said seriously, "However, I want to be the first when it comes to marriage registration and the wedding."
The girlfriend position was gone.
But the position of the main wife, she was still prepared to fight for that.
Whether this counted as winning or losing was really hard to say.
"As long as you are willing. I thought you would not agree." Toru truly let out a sigh of relief.
Now, among the four members of the band, there were already two who were willing to let him open a harem.
Plus the wavering Kita Ikuyo.
The only person who truly still needed to be captured was Ryo alone.
"Toru-kun, do your best. I really cannot read what Kita-chan and Ryo are thinking… you might need to test the waters a bit."
"Ryo-chan might not agree."
Up until now, he still did not know whether Yamada Ryo had memories of the simulation or not. He was completely in the dark.
"Toru-kun, do not worry too much. Maybe everyone in the band, just like me, all have a happy memory too."
"I hope so."
"Oh right, about this matter. After asking for Bocchi-chan's consent, can I tell the others?"
"You mean the fact that Hitori and I are dating? If Hitori agrees, I do not mind."
Nijika revealed a thoughtful expression.
Before the new school term began, she planned to find Hitori and ask about certain things.
For example, whether the other party possessed a simulator.
————
Night.
Hitori discovered that Nijika had sent her a LINE message.
Nijika-chan: There are still quite a few days left in spring break. Want to go out and have some fun together?
"Why would Nijika-chan look for me…"
Bocchi-chan rarely went out alone with Nijika. One reason was that she did not like crowded places, and the second was that Hitori did not dare to actively invite angel Nijika.
Generally speaking, when Nijika invited people to go out, it was usually the entire Kessoku Band going out together for group activities. Bocchi-chan was much more comfortable in that kind of situation.
More than a year had passed, and Hitori's social anxiety had improved quite a bit, but not to the point of being cured.
She had used most of her growth on raiding houses and falling in love. Naturally, the energy she allocated to friendship was much less.
Maybe in another year, she would be able to invite friends out to play like a normal person.
"Let me see if there is anything planned for the rest of spring break?"
Hitori opened the calendar and memo app on her phone, checked for a long time, then scratched her head.
Her head felt itchy. Was she about to grow a brain…
No.
Why is my entire spring break, all 14 days, completely empty with no plans to go out?
Is that not strange?
For a moment, Bocchi-chan began to doubt herself.
A 16-year-old young girl, a female high school student, staying cooped up at home throughout spring break…
And this was even after getting a boyfriend. No matter how you look at it, something felt off, right?
"Nijika…-chan, where, are we, going to play." Hitori spoke while typing.
Send.
Read.
([The other party is typing…])
Nijika-chan: Anywhere is fine. Bocchi-chan, where do you want to go?
"Just… the two of us?"
Type.
([The other party is typing…])
Nijika-chan: There are some things I want to talk to Bocchi-chan about. Something that might concern the band's future, a really big matter.
"A, a big matter?"
Bocchi-chan: "o△0"
Could it be that the band is going to fall apart because of me and Kitahara-kun getting married, I mean dating?
But did I not keep this matter hidden?
Hitori carefully probed again.
"What, matter?"
Type.
Instant read.
Nijika-chan: It is not something hard to talk about. You will know when Bocchi-chan comes tomorrow. This time it is just the two of us. You cannot tell Ryo and Kita-chan. The meeting place is the park in Shinjuku that we went to when we did street performances last time. (Chu~) (Finger heart)
"…So scary, what should I do."
Hitori hugged her phone and began trembling.
Nijika was always able to sense abnormalities in subtle details.
Come to think of it, Bocchi-chan's Guitar Hero identity was also something Nijika had uncovered by digging.
"I-If the dating thing gets, gets, gets…"
Hitori's little tongue got tied in nervousness. "If it gets found out, Kitahara-kun will g-get angry."
Just like that, under anxious and fearful emotions.
Bocchi-chan did not sleep well the entire night.
——
The next day.
Hitori changed into her usual clothes and, after getting lost at Shinjuku Station for over ten minutes, successfully arrived at the agreed park.
"Nijika-chan… g-good, good morning."
Just thinking that she might expose her relationship with Toru today made Bocchi-chan feel like her vision was dimming.
But it was fine. She would not have to worry for long.
Because—
"Bocchi-chan, are you dating Toru-kun?"
The moment Nijika's words fell.
Her brain suffered an unexpected heavy blow.
Hitori looked as if her soul had left her body. Her eyes went black, and she tilted her head back and collapsed onto the ground.