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Chapter 59 — This Time, There’s No Way to Run
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 02:35:35 +0000 UTC"Futari..."
Bocchi's head turned stiffly like a robot, and her bright blue eyes began to tremble violently with emotion.
She couldn't believe that her innocent and adorable little sister would betray her at a time like this!
And she spoke so fast, Hitori didn't even have time to react!
"Uh… F-Futari!"
This time, Hitori really had stepped on her own landmine. Back when she was bragging online and in front of her sister, she had thought that Kazami Haru's cool, extroverted persona was both impressive and convenient.
So, she directly borrowed that persona, even claiming that her boyfriend could play piano and was a super popular, handsome keyboardist in a band—
But she never meant for it to get this far!
Hearing that, Tomori Takamatsu began to feel nervous too. She gently furrowed her brows, her little head bobbing between Haru and Hitori like a rattle drum, and her hands tightly clenched the hem of her skirt to suppress her lightly trembling shoulders.
Even she was quite concerned about this.
She didn't know if Haru still liked her anymore…
Kazami Haru thought for a moment, then slowly knelt down to gently pat Futari's head.
"Your sister is way more amazing than I am. There's a line of people at school trying to chase after her. I wouldn't even stand a chance."
"Really?!"
Gotoh Futari's big eyes sparkled with excitement, making Bocchi stare in disbelief.
As expected, her big sister was super awesome!
Before, she thought her sister claiming to be popular at school was a lie, since Futari had never seen her bring friends home, let alone a "handsome boyfriend."
Now that this cool "big brother Kazami" confirmed it in person, Futari finally believed that her sister had been telling the truth.
"..."
Tomori tilted her head slightly, thinking for a moment before showing a confused expression.
It seemed like Haru didn't mean anything deeper. He probably just wanted to help Hitori look good in front of her little sister.
Right now, he was completely different from the time she remembered him confessing to her.
As for Bocchi—
Eh?! Am I really that amazing?
Gotoh Hitori looked at Kazami in shock.
At school, the only people who could even be called her friends were Haru and Tomori!
When did she become some kind of heartthrob with people lining up to chase her?
Did someone cast a Sharingan genjutsu on her or something?
She suddenly saw Kazami wink at her, and her face flushed bright red as she quickly lowered her head.
Someone like Kazami, so amazing, should be friends with a cheerful, adorable JK like Kita.
The fact that he was willing to be friends with a bottom-feeder like her was already surprising enough, and now he was even lying to help her image in front of her sister?
She had only been able to join the band thanks to his support behind the scenes.
She hadn't done anything to repay him, was that really okay?
Bocchi couldn't help but put her hands together in prayer and nervously rub them like she was begging a god.
For once, the gloom and insecurity left her. She glowed with the fervor of a devout believer.
Naruto!
…
Bocchi soon called her mom to come pick up Futari. As for herself, she planned to go to the Livehouse in Shimokitazawa to practice, just like originally planned.
But she didn't know where she got the courage to ask him a question.
"Um, um... Haru-san, are you... are you coming to STARRY today?"
"Niijika told me they were planning to talk about band stuff today."
"Hmm?"
Tomori blinked, still clearly confused.
"Today's probably no good. I have to walk Tomori home later."
Kazami Haru shook his head gently.
Even though band discussions were important, he was technically a ghost member, it would be better to join.
But since he already promised to walk Tomori home, he decided to skip it this time.
"Um, I'm not in a rush to go home…"
Tomori suddenly tugged on Kazami's sleeve with her thumb and index finger, speaking almost instinctively out of her shy nature.
When she heard the word "band," she panicked.
She pressed her hands against her chest, desperately trying to hide her inner anxiety and fear.
Could it be that Haru… already joined another band?
And she had no idea...
A tidal wave of questions and sorrow flooded her heart. She felt her nose and the corners of her eyes sting, as if tears could fall from her misty eyes at any moment.
Of course, it should be a good thing that Haru found a band that suited him.
But the thought of not forming a band with him in the future filled her with a huge sense of emptiness.
It was like watching the most precious treasure being taken away from right in front of her. Heartbroken, she instinctively wanted to run away again.
But she couldn't, not this time.
She had run away too many times already, whether from confessing to him or from the problems in the band. Constantly avoiding things only led to worse consequences.
And in doing so, she might unknowingly hurt the people around her.
So this time, no matter what, she couldn't run away!
"Haru… um, I want to see your band too…"
"Is that okay?"
…
Of course, he couldn't refuse.
Even though this wasn't a simulation, Kazami Haru couldn't bring himself to say no when Tomori looked at him so seriously.
Now he understood why he fell so hard for her in the simulation. No one could abandon such a cute little penguin, right?
"The Livehouse is just down these stairs."
Kazami brought Tomori to STARRY in Shimokitazawa, an underground Livehouse.
She had never been here before. Her image of a Livehouse was more like "RiNG"—bright and spacious. This was her first time seeing one built underground.
The vibe here felt... suffocating.
With a tense expression like she was entering enemy territory, Tomori gulped nervously and followed close beside Kazami.
She wanted to see for herself what kind of band he joined, and what kind of people the members were!
