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Chapter 4: You and Hitori Gotoh Become "Friends"
🕑 Added 2025-02-03 11:41:19 +0000 UTCFor Minami, starting conversations was never difficult.
As long as the other person responded, he was confident that his humor and refined conversational skills would keep them engaged.
[You spoke to Hitori Gotoh. Confident in your charm and eloquence, you believed that no girl would refuse a conversation with someone like you.]
"Gotoh-san, please wait a moment."
In the golden sunset light, the white curtains in the classroom gently fluttered with the breeze.
The scene took on an indescribable beauty.
Placing his hand on Hitori Gotoh's shoulder, Minami's voice was calm and unhurried, his handsome features as clean and radiant as the midday sun.
He was confident in his appearance.
And he was equally confident in his timing—his approach wasn't abrupt but felt perfectly natural.
He was certain that no matter what kind of girl it was, if she saw someone with a 9/10 appearance rating earnestly and gently speaking to her, she would stop and listen.
Then—
Then, Minami watched in disbelief as the gloomy, socially awkward girl under his hand flinched unnaturally.
Her whole body stiffened.
And then…
She collapsed on the spot.
She was so terrified that she fainted on the spot!
What kind of psychological condition does this girl have?!
As he processed this memory, Minami's face showed complete disbelief.
Was this level of overreaction really necessary for normal physical contact with a male classmate?
[You carried Hitori Gotoh—who had fainted with a terrified expression still on her face—to the infirmary.]
[At the same time, you saw it—the beautiful face hidden beneath her long bangs, far surpassing your expectations.]
Lying on the infirmary bed was a girl in a soft pink tracksuit.
Her bangs had been brushed aside.
Under the warm glow of the setting sun, her delicate features showed no trace of imperfection.
Her long, pale pink hair framed her fair face, like dark clouds encircling the moon.
And hidden beneath those dark clouds—was a moon more beautiful than he had ever imagined.
She was breathtakingly gorgeous.
Too bad she had severe social anxiety.
[The school nurse tells you that Gotoh Hitori fainted due to excessive nervousness and emotional fluctuations, but there's nothing seriously wrong. She should wake up soon.]
[As expected, Gotoh Hitori had only fainted temporarily due to her extreme nervousness. In fact, she woke up while you were chatting with the nurse, but upon hearing your voice, she was now debating how long she should continue pretending to be asleep.]
[However, she didn't realize that her little act couldn't fool you. You decide to—]
[1. Take advantage of the situation and make a move on her.
2. Pretend to be extremely worried and make a big scene, faking a call to an ambulance.
3. Someone with a beauty score of 9, maintain your dignity and silently wait her out.
4. Personally simulate the situation. ]
Minami Shouji chose Option 2.
To be honest, he had to admit that the first option was tempting.
And considering that someone like Gotoh Hitori, a complete outcast, probably wouldn't dare spread rumors even if he actually did something, it wasn't entirely impossible.
But Minami Shouji was a proper, upstanding young man. This kind of choice? At most, he'd just entertain the thought for a moment and sigh in amusement.
It's not like he had eighteen different methods to choose from—there wasn't enough temptation!
As for the third option? Trying to outlast a girl who nearly had a meltdown from mere physical contact with a male classmate?
Ha.
Minami Shouji chuckled coldly in his heart.
[You deliberately express your concern in a loud voice and even take out your phone, pretending to call an ambulance. This sends the 'sleeping' Gotoh Hitori into a panic.]
[As a social outcast, she had always longed to be noticed—but definitely not in this way, not by being sent to the hospital over a tiny bit of physical contact with a boy.]
[Terrified, she bolts upright from the infirmary bed, only to meet your teasing gaze. In that moment, she realizes that everything just now was a setup orchestrated by you—this terrible man.]
[But what she doesn't understand is… why? Why did you, someone so far above her, seek her out? She was nothing but a hunchbacked, dark-circled, moldy-smelling weirdo, while you were a well-known figure in the school. To her, you were like the sun—distant, unreachable.]
[As if sensing her thoughts, you casually pick up her guitar.]
"Teach me how to play."
"Huh?"
Gotoh Hitori instinctively looked up at Minami Shouji.
The boy sitting at the bedside was undeniably handsome. His slightly wavy black hair framed his large, expressive eyes.
Even though he wasn't doing anything special, just sitting there, Gotoh Hitori inexplicably found the sight… pleasant.
So… so bright… A true sunshine character!
Her thoughts started to wander.
If only she could be like Minami-san —composed, intelligent, surrounded by people… how amazing would that be?
"Hmm?"
Sensing her gaze, Minami Shouji looked at her questioningly.
"S-Sorry!"
Gotoh Hitori stiffened and quickly averted her eyes, speaking in a small, nervous voice.
Slipping into delusional fantasies out of nowhere—this was a habit of hers.
"Why are you apologizing?"
Gotoh Hitori lowered her head, unable to meet Minami Shouji's eyes, and stammered, "B-because… having someone like me, a lowly paramecium, stare at you must be really uncomfortable."
Her tone was absolute, as if she had already accepted her identity as nothing more than a microscopic organism.
Her words were drenched in self-deprecation and an overwhelming sense of inferiority.
"Paramecium?"
Minami Shouji raised an eyebrow, clearly catching onto her mindset. Then, unable to help himself, he laughed.
"Since when were paramecia this pretty?"
"H-Huh?!"
The girl, who existed at the very bottom of the school's social hierarchy, was being… complimented?!
By Minami Shouji, someone at the top of the food chain?!
A strange, indescribable joy welled up in her chest.
This… this man… he wouldn't bully her, right? Could he be… an angel?
Emboldened by this fleeting moment of courage, she mustered all her strength to timidly ask in a barely audible voice:
"U-Um… Minami-senpai, is there something you need from me?"
"Teach me how to play."
Minami Shouji repeated himself for the second time, pointing at the guitar.
"H-Huh? Minami-kun… you're interested in the guitar?"
"Yeah. So, Gotoh, would you mind teaching me?"
Of course, the guitar was just an excuse to get closer to Gotoh Hitori. But Minami Shouji, within the simulation, was an expert at lying with a straight face. Without so much as a twitch, he smoothly deceived the incredibly gullible girl in front of him.
…Demon…
The angelic image from earlier vanished.
Gotoh Hitori could almost see the dark aura and little devil wings hidden behind Minami Shouji's bright and cheerful smile.
"P-Practice… I mean, that's fine, but Minami-senpai… your guitar…?"
She asked cautiously.
What she got in return was Minami Shouji's carefree response:
"Sorry, Gotoh, I don't have the money to buy a guitar right now. Can I borrow yours?"
"T-Then… the sheet music…?"
"Hmm, let me think… If you have any guitar sheet music with proper annotations, it'd be great if you could lend it to me for practice."
"I-I do have some…"
"Then it's settled! Just spend three to four hours a day practicing with me."
Minami Shouji cheerfully made the decision for her.
Three to four hours?!
A-A demon…!
Gotoh Hitori shrank back, her pale and delicate face lowering timidly.
Lending him her guitar and sheet music wasn't a big deal, but three to four hours every day…? That was way too one-sided!
"Is there a problem, Gotoh-san?"
Minami Shouji leaned in slightly, feigning the kind of concern one would show a dying patient.
P-Problem?! There's a huge problem…!
I-I don't even have any obligation to teach you…
"Actually, I have a close friend suffering from a terminal illness. Before he dies, his last wish is to hear me play the guitar for him."
As if sensing her hesitation, Minami Shouji suddenly put on a sorrowful expression and spoke with deep emotion.
"H-Huh? But… but…!"
Sure, Minami-senpai was handsome, and he sounded so convincing… but this was definitely a lie! Besides, three to four hours every day? I-I have my own things to do too…!
"Then it's decided. I'm counting on you."
I never even agreed to this!
Watching Minami Shouji's satisfied expression as he made the decision for her, Gotoh Hitori desperately wanted to muster the courage to refuse.
But in the end, she lost to her social anxiety. Lowering her head, she stammered out:
"N-No problem…"
[Clearly, Gotoh Hitori had no concept of how deceitful people could be. After being complimented by you— the top student in the second year— with such sincerity, she already held admiration for you and could no longer refuse any of your requests.]
[You silently regret not realizing how weak-willed Gotoh Hitori was. Perhaps… you could have asked for even more.]
[You and Gotoh Hitori have now become friends.]
