The days, in Bocchi's agonizing wait, finally passed... five days.
It was Saturday.
There was still one week until the date.
Watching the slow progress of time on her phone.
Bocchi felt so distressed she couldn't calm down; her mind constantly thought about the day of the date arriving soon. To calm herself, she opened a science video.
"The universe has a beginning, but no end—infinite."
Yes, her heart now was also like the universe, infinite.
That's just weird!
She didn't even feel like watching the video anymore. She threw her phone aside, saw the cabinet next to her, and rolled over.
Thump, thump, thump.
Her head hit the table a few times.
Her thoughts slightly calmer, she stared blankly at Hayato's photo on the ceiling.
Although her mother had asked her to tear down the photos in other parts of the room, after seeing the photos on the ceiling, her mother thought for a moment, and with a strange smile, said,
"This depends on Bocchi's choice."
So only the photos on the ceiling remained.
What was Hayato-kun doing now?
Bocchi's clear eyes quietly gazed at the ceiling.
Suddenly, an idea came to her.
How about... asking Hayato-kun out?
She reached out, picked up her phone, opened Line, and her gaze lingered on the interface.
For a long time.
"Bocchi, time for lunch~"
Her mother's voice came from downstairs. Her eyes seemed to lose their color, and she stood up, swaying.
Two hours had passed without her noticing!
She finally realized.
How could someone with social anxiety have the courage to ask someone out? If she had that courage, she wouldn't be socially anxious. Inviting someone out when you can't even see them, that's too terrifying.
After lunch, she put on her Guitar and headed to STARRY.
Sitting on the train, her gaze rested on a small corner in front of her.
Although she had changed a lot recently, in reality, she still hadn't made any progress.
Working, serving customers, all of it was only possible with Nijika and the others' company. Without them, she would probably still be the same water flea-like Bocchi.
Progress... and Hayato-kun's hope for her efforts, what exactly would count?
At this moment, the sky outside the train was like her mood.
Overcast clouds covered the sunlight; the world still looked bright, but not warm.
A cold palette, an uneasy environment, as if trying to steal away all the warmth from a person.
Bocchi sat on the side of the train where the light was even weaker. This girl with long pink hair reaching her waist and bangs covering her eyes, seemed to have a wall separating her from everyone else.
'Ding-dong.'
The girl, hunched over with her head down, paused, then pulled out her phone from her pocket.
Recently, she had been communicating frequently with everyone on Line, and Bocchi no longer took a long time to realize her phone was ringing like before.
It was a message from Hayato.
"Bocchi should be on the train about now, right?"
After hesitating, she replied.
"Yes, still 40 minutes until I arrive."
"40 minutes? What a coincidence, I'm about the same. I was just thinking Bocchi was probably spacing out on the train again, so I came to chat with you. You were spacing out just now, weren't you?"
Bocchi was a little surprised; was Hayato-kun also on the train?
Feeling as if she had company, she quickly typed on her phone.
"How did Hayato-kun know?"
Hayato's reply was a voice message. Bocchi glanced around; the train was very quiet with few people.
She adjusted the volume, picked up her phone, and after pressing play, brought it close to her ear.
Hayato's exaggerated and laughing voice came through.
"All things in the world are within my sight!"
Bocchi paused, then smiled faintly. A lovely smile appeared on her face. She put her phone on her lap, and as she was thinking about how to reply, Hayato sent another message.
"Speaking of which, the others in the Band don't know that Bocchi is Guitar Hero, do they? Do you want to tell them?"
"Um, maybe not. The strength I can currently display is still…"
"Mm-hmm, then I'll be the only one in the Band who knows Bocchi's true identity. If Bocchi doesn't want me to expose her, please bribe me."
...After getting off the train, she arrived at the exit.
After the crowd in front dispersed, Bocchi saw a young man standing by the wall, hands in his pockets, looking up at the sky.
Under that gloomy sky, which showed no trace of warmth, his figure carried no hint of dejection; instead, he seemed to be full of anticipation for something.
Soon, he noticed her gaze and turned his head. Seeing Bocchi, he smiled and raised his hand in greeting.
"Let's go, Bocchi."
...Inside STARRY, the five of them sat around a table, chatting.
They had originally planned to start practicing as soon as they gathered, but a certain scoundrel seemed to be plotting something. Just as they were about to enter the practice room, she suddenly said,
"Nijika's birthday is in two days."
Nijika, who was cheerfully stepping towards the practice room, was startled by the sudden announcement. She turned her head and exclaimed,
"Wait... what are you suddenly talking about?"
"Ijiichi-senpai's birthday, I'll prepare well."
Kita didn't hesitate at all, smiling as she joined the conversation.
Her smile made Nijika helplessly release her grip on Ryo's hand.
She sighed.
"I didn't want to say it so early…"
"Why?" Hayato asked, puzzled, "If everyone only finds out that day, they won't be able to buy presents."
Ryo's ears perked up at the mention of presents, revealing her true intention. She earnestly instructed the three younger boys and girls, who were a year younger than her, saying,
"Please buy food as gifts, or a bass and easily sellable luxury items."
"Ryo, shut up!"
Nijika yelled at Ryo, then noticed something and looked worriedly to the side.
The other three also followed the gaze of the birthday girl-to-be, only to see Bocchi, who was lagging behind, had already melted into a sticky blob.
The four were already accustomed to this sight.
The three girls looked at Hayato, and he, without hesitation, walked over.
He walked behind Bocchi, clapped his hands together, stretched them out forcefully, and shouted,
"Ha!"
Instantly, Bocchi returned to normal, but still looked dazed.
A moment later, she suddenly snapped back to reality and apologized profusely.
"I-I-I'm so sorry, I've never attended a friend's birthday party before."
Hearing these moving words, Nijika and Kita's expressions changed slightly, as if they were about to cry for her.
"Then you must come to the birthday party in two days."
Ryo, as if she were the one having the birthday, invited very naturally, and at the same time reminded again,
"You must bring a gift."
"That's right," Hayato said, raising his index finger in a solemn warning.
"Remember, Bocchi-chan, it's gifts other than food, a bass, and luxury items."
Ryo's gaze quickly turned to Hayato, her eyes seeming to hold a hint of sharpness and a trace of 'What about our agreement as accomplices?'
Hayato showed no fear, meeting her gaze squarely.
Nijika, seeing the scene, also let go of her concerns and smiled, inviting the three to come to STARRY in two days for a birthday party.
The five of them weren't in a hurry to practice for now, so they sat in the hall chatting about topics related to the birthday party... "At this time, the cream splattered all over the ceiling..."
As Kita was telling a funny story about a previous birthday, someone came down from the store's entrance.
Besides Hayato, the others, who were chatting happily, didn't notice.
Hayato secretly glanced at the blonde tsundere sister-complex over there.
She didn't try to hide her footsteps as she came down the stairs from the entrance, looked over a few times, seemed unable to find an opportunity to interject, but touched the envelope she had taken out of her wallet, and her momentum grew.
"Alright, everyone, this is your long-awaited salary!"
She unfolded the envelope in her hand and said with a beaming expression.
The girls turned their heads in surprise at the sudden voice, quickly reacted, and exclaimed,
"That's great!"
Meanwhile, Hayato stared intently at the blonde tsundere's face.
Seika noticed Hayato's gaze, and her expression faltered.
After the girls politely took their money one by one and thanked her, it was finally Hayato's turn.
He stood in front of Seika.
Seika looked like she was smiling as she handed over the money, but behind her, a ferocious, three-headed, six-armed Asura appeared.
It was as if she had already figured out how to deal with this guy.
But it was only for a moment.
The money in her hand was already in Hayato's hand; Hayato politely said thank you, turned around gracefully, and left, leaving Seika looking utterly defeated.
She couldn't even force out this person's true form!
On the other side, amidst the revelry,
Nijika's apologetic voice rang out.
"Although I'm sorry to say this at such a time, we need to collect the performance fee."
At this moment, Hayato, who had turned his head, saw tears suddenly welling up in Bocchi-chan's excited eyes.
She pulled out her Guitar from who knows where and suddenly started playing and singing.
"Please listen to my new song, 'Goodbye, Yukichi.'"
"I'm really sorry, I'm also very heartbroken!"
Nijika clasped her hands together and apologized to her pitifully.
However, just as Bocchi-chan was about to hand over the envelope, Hayato smiled and went over to stop her.
"This is Bocchi-chan's first money from a part-time job; she must have something she wants to do with it. This time, I'll pay for her."
He said, taking money out of his wallet, and also handed over his own share to Nijika.
Bocchi-chan was startled upon hearing this and waved her hands frantically, refusing.
"Uh, no, it's fine!"
Hayato said firmly,
"Just consider it a loan; you can pay me back tomorrow."
Nijika, standing by, looked at the two of them deferring to each other with a blank expression.
"I feel like I've become a very bad person..."
But just as she was considering whether to refuse the money, Hayato firmly pushed it into her hand.
Looking at Hayato's gaze, she hesitated for a moment, then looked at the conflicted Bocchi-chan, and with a light smile, she took the money and walked towards Kita.
Meanwhile, Bocchi-chan lowered her head, looking at the money she had earned through nearly a month of hard work, filled with mixed emotions.
She had come up with a bunch of ideas for how to spend the money before, but now she suddenly didn't know how to use it.
It felt as if the money had become heavier, and it now held another, different kind of preciousness.
Hayato looked at her, and after a moment, said casually,
"Then Bocchi-chan, buy me a bottle of mineral water during lunch break the day after tomorrow. That's the interest."
"Okay!"
And Ryo, catching the scent of money, silently walked over to Hayato and asked nonchalantly,
"Hayato, how did you suddenly get money again?"
Hayato's heart suddenly pounded. He slowly turned his head and saw Ryo's calm expression.
Immediately, his heart pounded, then pounded again, and then violently pounded.
Finally, after a fierce internal struggle, he still lost to the rules he had set for himself and said sorrowfully,
"My manuscript fees came in recently..."
"Oh."
Ryo didn't ask further, just gave him a meaningful look that made his wallet feel cold.
At this moment, Bocchi-chan, who was somewhat puzzled by their reactions, heard Nijika and Kita talking next to her.
"Eh! Does it cost that much to make an album?!"
"Well... after making the songs, I want to turn them into an album to sell at performances, and shooting a music video will also cost a lot of money..."
"Then we'll have to find some other part-time jobs during the summer!"
Kita's cheerful voice sounded like a demon's to Bocchi-chan.
Her approving tone also made Nijika a little giddy. Nijika said excitedly with anticipation,
"That's right~ How about we all go work at the beach?"
"The beach! That sounds good."
...While Bocchi-chan was listening to the situation over there, Hayato and Ryo stopped their conversation and quietly watched the wonderful changes in her expression.
From shock, to disbelief, to her features collapsing, then returning to normal, but her eyes were filled with chaos.
But when they saw her pull out her phone, her eyes ferocious, looking for various loan methods online,
As Hayato was about to step forward, Ryo was a step faster. She walked over and called out to Bocchi-chan,
"Bocchi-chan."
Bocchi-chan reacted extremely strongly. She frantically put away her phone, suddenly pulled out her Guitar, and knelt on the ground, holding it up as an offering.
"Please, please take the Guitar as collateral! Please spare me from part-time work! Please don't make me go to the beach or the amusement park!!!"
"No, I was just going to say that the song is finished."
Ryo looked at her exaggerated reaction, her expression without a single ripple.