Bocchi was quite worried about Hayato.
Though it was strange, she herself was wearing a drab tracksuit, huddled in the school's storage area, eating her bento alone.
But she couldn't help but worry about that seemingly cheerful and easygoing boy.
If he spent too much time with someone like her, he would also lose his friends.
It's only the beginning of the school year, and not being with friends for so long would be very bad, wouldn't it?
"Could it be that Ishikawa-kun also has no friends?"
Thinking this, Bocchi suddenly broke into a smile so happy it seemed to melt. It was too good to actually meet someone of her kind, but she immediately shook her head in denial.
"No, no, that shouldn't be possible. A character like Ishikawa-kun must..."
In her fantasy, Hayato, with an overflowing, energetic smile, covered in sweat and victory, returned to a cheering squad of girls, taking the drinks they offered with a bright laugh.
With a refreshing, advertisement-like movement, accompanied by them... Gulp.
Her heart couldn't take it anymore!
Her gloomy inner self was going to be scorched to death.
Don't think about it, don't think about it.
Bocchi thought this, but couldn't help but feel a bit more fear towards Hayato. She silently retreated further into the corner.
Thump-thump.
A sound of knocking on the wall.
There was only one person who would use such a playful gesture to alert her, wasn't there?
"Please... come in."
Although this wasn't her home, she still said it, and she herself found it very strange...
Hayato also hid in the corner, but he noticed that today Bocchi seemed to be sitting a bit further in than usual. However, he didn't approach, but continued to sit in his usual spot.
The light from above the stairwell cast horizontally across his shoulders.
"Sorry about the other day, for scaring you unconscious."
He apologized again. That Friday, after Hayato guaranteed his identity as a Pervert, Bocchi's facial features were scared right off, and she then fainted.
It also startled him. Could a human actually do that?
"Ah... no, it's okay."
Bocchi slightly bowed her head and gently shook it, while her hand on the bento box showed no intention of opening it.
She doesn't even dare to open her bento box before others start eating, does she?
Hayato thought, but didn't pay much attention as he opened his bento.
Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, tempura, fried chicken pieces, octopus sausages—various foods were arranged cutely in the bento box.
The coordination of colors and the balance of meat and vegetables clearly showed the family's care.
He silently thanked his mother who woke up early to diligently prepare his bento.
Then Hayato looked across. Bocchi also cautiously opened her bento after him, placing it on her lap, taking out the thermos with soup, and at the same time, pulling out the chopsticks placed beside the thermos. Then, holding the chopsticks, she hugged the bento with both hands.
Her movements were precise and deliberate. Her cautious demeanor had a weak, cute charm, as if she was afraid her lunch would be snatched away.
"I'm going to eat."
After a few bites, Hayato noticed that Bocchi's face was turning pale from nervousness. He looked at her bento.
"Gotou-san, would you like to swap bentos?"
Swap bentos!
This kind of thing just happened?!
Bocchi was shocked.
She knew that on the surface, this was a way for friends to strengthen communication, but in reality, it was a way to confirm each other's status.
The strong could enjoy the most delicious food from the other's bento, while the weak could only eat the wrapping paper to show submission.
Bocchi began to tremble.
She looked. The best items in her bento were fried chicken, tomato fish pieces, and golden egg rolls.
In the other person's bento... there was none! No paper for wrapping.
W-what to do, what to do.
"Swap?"
Hayato asked.
Bocchi nodded heavily.
Hayato pushed his bento forward a bit, letting her start first.
Bocchi tremblingly extended her chopsticks, picked something up, and placed it in her own bento.
Hayato was dumbfounded.
"Why did you take my rice?"
His words instantly made Bocchi's expression fall apart, her hand holding the chopsticks shaking wildly.
"Rice... is rice not allowed either?"
She tremblingly returned the rice, then, as if picking up a piece of air, she put it into her own bento.
Hayato suppressed a laugh.
No wonder Nijika and the others in the story said Bocchi was interesting; indeed, her actions were always unexpected.
Hayato looked at the bento respectfully offered by the other party and unceremoniously picked up a golden egg roll.
Then, as the other party pulled it back, he quickly gave her a piece of fried chicken.
"Eh?" Bocchi froze for a moment, her expression instantly returning to normal.
"Don't be too reserved."
Hayato finished speaking and ate the omelet without hesitation.
Bocchi's bento box must have been made by her mother; it was quite good.
After eating most of their food, the two drank warm miso soup and began to chat, though 'interrogating' or even 'cross-examining' would be a more fitting description than 'chatting'.
"Gotou-san, besides practicing Guitar, do you usually do anything else?"
"N-no."
"Don't you go out to play?"
"Ah, no."
"So you only practice the Guitar by yourself? You haven't performed at all?"
Bocchi, whose face was already pale, coughed up a large mouthful of blood after hearing Hayato's questions.
It seemed the continuous interrogation had dealt her a huge blow, inflicting tons of damage with this direct attack.
She covered her mouth and, as if explaining to herself, spoke in a tone like she was giving her last words.
"I... I have uploaded covers of popular Band songs online..."
Hayato nodded silently in his heart; it wasn't in vain that he spent so much time breaking down her psychological defenses.
He successfully got her to confess.
"Gotou-san, are you alright!"
Although he thought this, he was also startled by Bocchi's exaggerated reaction.
He quickly helped her wipe away the blood that had flowed out and supported her as she leaned against the clean wall to rest.
"If you don't want to, don't say it."
Hayato reassured her with a stern tone.
Ishikawa-kun... Bocchi was so moved she was almost in tears; he really was a very good person!
Then Hayato packed up both his and Bocchi's bento boxes.
"Here."
He returned Bocchi's bento to her, then took out his phone to check the time. There was still plenty of time before lunch break ended, but he remembered that Bocchi only hid here when she was eating.
During rest time, she would still rest at her own seat.
He wouldn't keep her any longer.
"Well, it's about time I went back too."
"Ah... thank you."
Bocchi quickly said.
Hayato, who was about to leave, smiled and waved back.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked.
"By the way, what's the account name Gotou-san uses to upload videos?"
"Guit..."
The somewhat happy Bocchi's words got stuck halfway.
She quickly replayed her account's self-introduction in her mind.
An extremely popular middle school girl—no, now updated to a high school student—whose boyfriend is the ace of the basketball team, has over 1000 LINE friends, and frequents various KTVs, arcades, and other popular venues daily.
Wh-wh-what should I do?
Why did I say I uploaded videos!
"Guitarist Bug."
Bocchi suddenly changed her answer.
As someone with social anxiety, this kind of self-protective deception came naturally to her.
Hayato nodded, then a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.
"Gotou-san, I'm a bit busy with something recently. Hmm, you'd best not approach me, but I'll cheer you on online."
He thought for a moment and gave a specific timeframe.
"It should be fine in about one or two weeks. Let's have lunch together again then."
"Ah... okay."
Watching him leave, Bocchi felt down.
He probably wouldn't have lunch with her again, after all, she was such a strange person.
"Fried chicken is so delicious... I should try learning how to make it."
She let out a soft sigh, quickly opened her phone, and created a new "Guitarist Bug" account on YouTube.