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After Kitahara Makoto's figure disappeared, Nagasaki Soyo lowered her head, took out her phone from her school bag, and turned it on.
As the boot animation ended, the phone quickly entered the home screen, showing 70% battery.
Phone out of battery and shut down?
This is a lie.
Takamatsu Tomori: "Where are you, Soyo? I'm coming to find you right away."
Nagasaki Soyo: "No need, I suddenly remembered I have other things to do. Let's hang out another time."
Coming to find a friend to play with?
I'm sorry, that's still a lie.
Nagasaki Soyo's purpose in speeding over was only one—to get Kitahara Makoto's contact number in a reasonable and legitimate way.
"First step… complete."
Nagasaki Soyo pursed her pink lips, her fair, slender fingers dancing on the phone screen, quickly saving Kitahara Makoto's contact information, then opening the memo app.
A plan titled "One Thousand Layers of Strategies to Seduce Boys" appeared.
Inside were the one thousand layers of strategies she had written after spending half the morning asking friends and recalling shojo manga:
"First, you must get that man's number in a very natural way, without using frivolous pick-up methods, and without making him wary…"
Togawa-chan is so proud and so smart; the man she fancies definitely won't be too bad. Besides being handsome, he should have other merits, so I can't just directly pick him up and ask for his contact information.
Besides… such frivolous behavior is too embarrassing, I can't do it, absolutely can't do it.
"I've got the contact information. Now I just need to proceed step by step according to the plan…" Nagasaki Soyo put away her phone, her small fists slightly clenched, "If I say three days, it'll be three days. I'll definitely win that man over!"
"…"
At the same time.
Kitahara Makoto arrived at the agreed-upon classroom and quickly saw Bocchi-chan and Miss Fallen Ojou-sama.
"Ohayo~"
Beside Bocchi-chan, an unfamiliar red-haired girl raised her right hand, smiling brightly and saying in a clear voice:
"I'm Kita Ikuyo. Hello, Kitahara-kun. Nice to meet you, please take care of me."
Kita Kita?
No wonder her smile was so bright; she was indeed a 360-degree perfect sunny girl.
"Hello, Kita-san."
Kitahara Makoto greeted her and cast an inquiring look at Little Miss Anxiety.
Kita Kita and Miss Fallen Ojou-sama obviously didn't know each other, so the reason for her presence here was clearly related to Bocchi-chan.
Noticing Kitahara Makoto's inquiring gaze, Little Miss Anxiety quickly lowered her head and stammered:
"Th-that…"
"Let me explain." Kita Ikuyo took over the conversation, her smile bright and sunny, quite dazzling. "Actually, Bocchi-chan and I formed a band a week ago. We had planned to practice together yesterday, but Bocchi-chan said she had other things, and today she missed band practice again. So, I was super curious, and after my persistent questioning, I found out she was going to exorcise… a ghost with Kitahara-kun!"
"I've never seen a ghost in my life!"
Kita Ikuyo clasped her hands in front of her chest, stood on tiptoe, and leaned closer, her beautiful eyes sparkling:
"Curious!"
"Super curious what a ghost looks like!"
"So, Kitahara-kun, can you take me with you?"
"Please, please~"
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
As expected of a max-level social butterfly, she could say so much in one breath even to a stranger she just met. Social phobia sufferers would surely weep with envy upon seeing her.
But Kitahara Makoto did not choose to believe Kita Ikuyo's words.
Normal people generally don't believe in the existence of ghosts in the world. The reason Kita Kita insisted on joining, despite being presumptuous, was most likely for Bocchi-chan.
Bocchi-chan is timid and socially anxious, appearing very easy to deceive. Kita Ikuyo was clearly worried that Little Miss Anxiety would fall in with the wrong crowd and be scammed out of money or worse, which is why she specifically followed Bocchi-chan.
Kitahara Makoto turned his head to look at Miss Fallen Ojou-sama beside him: "Togawa Sakiko, what do you think?"
"Hmm?"
Togawa Sakiko's delicate eyebrows raised slightly.
Togawa Sakiko?
Why did he just call her by her name?
Togawa pursed her pink lips and said calmly: "I'm fine with anything. Kitahara-kun, you decide."
Kitahara Makoto nodded slightly and looked back at the red-haired girl beside Little Miss Anxiety: "Since Kita-san is very interested, then come with us."
Kita's voice was clear, and her smile was so bright it could rival the sun:
"Eh heh~ Thank you, Kitahara-kun."
"…"
Twenty minutes later.
Tsukinomori Academy.
Kitahara Makoto and three girls arrived at the secluded music classroom.
Because it was still early, Ghost-senpai couldn't appear yet, so the four of them could only sit in the classroom and wait.
However, unlike yesterday's quiet wait, with Kita Ikuyo now present, it could no longer be quiet.
"This is my first time at Tsukinomori Academy. I heard it used to be an academy for noble young ladies, how amazing!"
"Togawa Sakiko actually studied here before, super amazing!"
"Wow, Kitahara-kun is still studying diligently at a time like this, how amazing!"
"Bocchi-chan~, Bocchi-chan~ It's still early until evening, let's take a couple of photos together?"
"Eh, you don't want to?"
"Bocchi-chan is so cute, it'd be such a shame not to take a few photos as a souvenir. No, I won't allow it!"
"…"
Looking at the energetic girl Kita, Kitahara Makoto finally understood why she became the class favorite.
It's perfectly normal for a cute girl who constantly praises and compliments you to be popular with everyone, regardless of gender. No one can refuse her.
Time quietly slipped away with Kita Ikuyo's clear voice, and in a blink, it was dusk.
"I'll start."
Togawa Sakiko put away her phone, raised her hand to tuck the blue hair that had fallen to her chest behind her ear, then stepped to the piano and sat down. She gently exhaled, and her slender, jade-like fingers, like green onion stalks, danced like musical notes, falling one by one.
A beautiful melody, like the tinkling of spring water, flowed from the piano.
"Amazing, Togawa Sakiko's piano playing is super good!"
Kita Ikuyo's eyes widened, sparkling brightly.
"Poke poke—"
Bocchi-chan extended a slender, jade-like finger, quietly poked her friend, and whispered:
"Kita, Fukada-senpai is out."
"Eh?" Kita Ikuyo froze, tilting her head in surprise as she looked around. "Where? Why don't I see her?"
Kitahara Makoto reminded her faintly:
"Turn your head and look behind you."
Kita Ikuyo subconsciously turned her head upon hearing this, and saw a transparent figure standing silently behind her. She immediately jumped up in fright, bumping clumsily into Kitahara Makoto:
"Gh-gh-Ghost! There really is a ghost!"
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