"Want to go grab a coffee after school?"
Anon didn't know that her cherry pink long hair had triggered a certain socially anxious pink-haired girl as if facing a mortal enemy, to the point she even called for backup.
The girl was still full of enthusiasm, waving the phone in her hand, "I know a super great café nearby. Tons of people recommended it on social media~ Want to give it a try? My treat~"
Anon came from a good family. Maybe not a true heiress of a wealthy clan, but with a Land Rover at home and the money to study abroad, being middle class was no problem.
With both parents present, never lacking in money or love since childhood, it was no wonder she had grown such a personality, like a radiant little sun, full of vitality.
Kaito didn't dislike this kind of girls. Although Anon's behavior bordered on being overly friendly, in his eyes she was more like a pink-haired retriever that loved people.
'Is it a bit rude to think that way?'
Still, seeing the girl looking at him full of anticipation, as if an invisible fluffy tail was wagging madly behind her, Kaito pondered for two seconds and then shook his head, "No need to treat me, I've got some things to take care of today."
"T-that so…", The expression on Anon's pretty face visibly dimmed, but she didn't insist. Whether Kaito was politely refusing or really had things to do, it wasn't a good time to push.
After all, it was just the first day meeting, plenty of time ahead.
Being classmates and desk neighbors, there'd be plenty of chances.
Anon quickly regrouped, bypassed the matter, and started chatting excitedly about other topics.
Like a chirping lark.
Kaito half-listened to her casually while sweeping his gaze across the classroom.
Yumiko wasn't in her seat. Probably went out with her friends. As one of the top normies in class, her desk was usually surrounded by girls after class. Having too many friends was its own trouble, more social interactions to handle.
In contrast, Bocchi in the corner was completely alone.
Gotou Hitori thought she was stealthily observing things here, but she wasn't some professional agent. Naturally, she couldn't escape Kaito's senses.
The little social-phobe looked too pitiful peeking over, so Kaito thought for a moment and decided to call her over for lunch together.
Little Bocchi still couldn't open up. Even though they'd already had lunch together in the clubroom more than once, she still couldn't muster the courage to sit beside him in class.
But since the president personally invited her, of course the little social-phobe didn't have the guts to refuse, nor did she want to. She nodded like a pecking chick.
By the time she slung her guitar bag over her shoulder and came over with her lunchbox, Anon was very welcoming, even greeted her proactively, "Nice to meet you, I'm Chihaya Anon~ Please take care of me~"
"I-I'm… G-Gotou Hitori…", Bocchi lowered her head and instinctively scooted a bit closer to the president's spot, clearly unaccustomed to her enthusiasm.
"Gotou-san, is that a guitar on your back?", Anon looked curiously at the pink-haired girl in front of her, dressed in a plain pink tracksuit, seemingly timid. Only the black guitar bag on her shoulder stood out.
'Come to think of it, on the way here I did notice quite a few girls at Shuka carrying instruments to school. Is this some unique trend?'
Bocchi weakly nodded and said in a small voice, "B-because… I'm in a band…"
"So that's it!", Anon understood and smiled, "I also joined a student council band back in middle school and even played the guitar."
At this point, she actually felt a bit guilty.
She had indeed joined the student council's band and did play guitar.
But ever since graduating middle school, Anon hadn't picked up a guitar again… The little music theory knowledge she had was long forgotten.
At her current level, she was no better than a beginner.
Bocchi, however, didn't know this backstory, all alarms blared in her head.
For someone like her, timid, plain, and useless, the only skill she had to show off was guitar…
'Yet even that, Chihaya-san has experience with!'
'Add to that my similar pink hair…'
'Isn't even my last advantage gone now?'
The thought that her place in the president's heart, even her position in the band, might be perfectly replaced by Chihaya sent Bocchi into soul-departure mode, twisting into an unnameable puddle of pink slime.
"Um… Gotou-san? Are you okay?", Chihaya Anon had no idea what was going on. Just a second ago, Bocchi was a bit shy, and now she looked like she'd burned out, as if about to drift away in the wind.
She glanced worriedly at Kaito, who was calmly eating his lunch, just about to say something when suddenly a vibrant voice called out, "Hi~ Kaito-kun, and Bocchi-chan, I came to have lunch with you guys… Eh? What happened to Bocchi-chan?"
"Kita, huh?", Kaito glanced at the newcomer, her bright red long hair was very recognizable, "Nothing. Just Bocchi's usual shutdown."
Having spent enough time with the little social-phobe, he'd seen this many times.
Though easily shaken by the outside world, Bocchi had strong self-recovery. She was practically unbreakable. Even if you left her alone, she'd console herself just fine.
"Ohhh!", Kita nodded obediently, then looked at the unfamiliar pink-haired girl beside her, "And this is?"
"Chihaya Anon, just transferred to Shuka today. Please take care of me~"
"I'm Ikuyo Kita from the class next door, also a friend of Kaito-kun and Bocchi-chan. Nice to meet you~"
Like Stand users attracting each other, the two sunny-type girls clicked instantly on their first meeting and got along shockingly well.
Kita was originally brought in as Bocchi's backup, yet she hit it off with Chihaya, soon calling her just "Anon."
Upon learning that Kita and Bocchi would be going to a livehouse after school, Chihaya Anon clearly showed great interest, "Can I go watch too?"
"Of course," Little Kita agreed without hesitation, then turned to Kaito with an expectant face and invited, "Kaito-kun, want to come too?"
"Even though I'd really like to," Kaito raised an eyebrow and glanced subtly at a certain message on his phone screen, "I've got something to take care of after school. Can't make the time."
It was a message from secretary Sakiko.
Mori Minami wanted to see him once more.
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