"It's really great to be invited to join a band."
Tanaka Masao raised his eyebrow at Goto Hitori.
Goto Hitori said a bit awkwardly, "It's… not bad."
"Why didn't you just agree then?"
"This…"
Without Goto Hitori having to answer, Tanaka Masao provided the answer for her.
"Were you too nervous and didn't react in time?"
Goto Hitori's eyes widened, looking at Tanaka Masao in disbelief.
"How did he know?"
"Are you thinking, 'How did I know?'"
Goto Hitori's eyes widened even more.
"How did he know again? Could he be a mind reader?"
"Are you thinking, 'How did I know again? Am I a mind reader?'"
Tanaka Masao smirked.
"Are you very shocked and want to know how I knew?"
Goto Hitori nodded.
"It's actually very simple, Bocchi-chan is too innocent, almost all her emotions are written on her face, I can easily see them.
Bocchi-chan, you have no secrets from me."
Tanaka Masao's words, coupled with his appearance and expression, made him look like a villain at first glance.
Goto Hitori also tensed up and shrank back a bit, feeling nervous and scared.
"It feels like I've been seen through, I have no sense of security."
At this moment, Goto Hitori really wanted to find a small, enclosed space to hide in, to avoid Tanaka Masao's penetrating gaze.
"Want to hide? There's still a long time until you get off the train, I won't let you escape."
Facing the approaching Tanaka Masao, Goto Hitori's large, watery eyes were wide, and she shook her head helplessly.
…
Finally, Shuuka University station arrived.
Goto Hitori, her face flushed and clothes slightly disheveled, fled the train in a panic.
"Bocchi-chan, I have a feeling Ijichi and the others will definitely contact you again to join their band. Make sure to seize the opportunity.
Also, if you need anything, you can contact me. We are friends, after all."
Hearing the word 'friends', Goto Hitori paused.
Although this friend was a bit mischievous and liked to tease her, since he was her only friend, she should be able to ask for help if she encountered a difficult problem.
She nodded at Tanaka Masao and then got off the train.
…
On the other side, Tanaka Masao first went home to change into his school uniform, grabbed his bag, and then rushed to school.
When he arrived at school, it was only 8:30 AM, meaning there was still half an hour until class started.
Tanaka Masao shook his head helplessly at this.
No wonder the high schoolers… ahem, university students here in Neon have time to save the world; it turns out they have too much free time.
If you were in the neighboring country, with classes starting at 6 AM and ending after 10 PM, you'd be lucky to get enough sleep every day, let alone have time to save the world.
When Tanaka Masao arrived at school, he found it very lively.
Listening to the discussions around him, he realized that today was the day the test results were posted.
Arriving at the exhibition hall in the school corridor, Tanaka Masao saw the huge notice board pasted on the wall.
When he saw the rankings on it, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
…
Meanwhile, at Shuchiin Academy.
Today was also the day the midterm exam results were announced, and for an aristocratic school, grades were naturally very important.
Almost as soon as the results were posted, people crowded around to check them.
The student council members were no exception.
Shirogane Miyuki nervously checked for his name.
"Shirogane Miyuki: 499"
Seeing that he didn't get a perfect score, he was a bit flustered.
"I actually lost one point? Where could it be? Damn it, I clearly drank coffee beforehand to stay awake. Did staying up all night to study still affect my condition?"
He bit his lip and looked at Kaguya's score.
"Shinomiya Kaguya: 498"
"Phew, that's good, I won by one point, right? I've kept my position as first in grade…
Hmm, wait, isn't there someone above me?"
On the other side, Kaguya was also gritting her teeth.
"Damn it, just one point short, did I lose to the President again? Am I stuck in second place…
Hmm, wait, I don't think I'm second."
Just as the two were wondering, that woman appeared.
"Ah, I actually got first in grade, how lucky, hehe…"
Fujiwara Chika was beaming with excitement, as if a thousand flowers were blooming around her.
Fujiwara Chika was very popular, and seeing her achieve good results, her friends around her offered their blessings.
Hearing everyone's praise, she scratched her head and said a little shyly.
"Hehe, actually it's not that great, I just put in a little effort, and I didn't expect to get such good results."
Unlike the sunny atmosphere around Fujiwara Chika, the atmosphere where Shirogane Miyuki and Kaguya were was extremely oppressive.
Shirogane Miyuki clenched his fists, feeling a bit unwilling.
"What, I actually lost to Fujiwara student? She really is amazing, I need to work even harder."
Unlike Shirogane Miyuki's unwillingness, Kaguya looked at the giggleing Fujiwara Chika with dead and hollow eyes.
"Fujiwara student, you just studied a little and got first in grade. What does that make me, who put all my energy into studying?
If I remember correctly, I was the one who tutored you before the exam, right? Is this how you repay me?
You're just a little bit well-built, have good grades, and are popular, that's all. In the end, you're just a beast in human skin.
Explode, Fujiwara student."
Kaguya was completely unable to accept being defeated by Fujiwara Chika in terms of intelligence.
How could any diligent student accept that someone who usually seems silly can just study a little and get better grades than them?
Kaguya had completely fallen into a state of blackening.
"That's right."
Kaguya seemed to have thought of something, and a chilling smile appeared on her lips.
"Doesn't Fujiwara student have a good friend named Tanaka Masao? It's time to let her know her friend's true identity.
The moment you learn the truth, Fujiwara student, your expression should be quite spectacular.
Hehehehehehe…"
Ishigami Yu, who was in the corner and had very little presence, happened to see Kaguya's smile and instantly felt a chill down his spine.
"Kaguya-senpai is so scary. The school is definitely going to stir up a storm of trouble recently. I should just take a leave of absence and hide at home for a couple of days."
…
During lunch break, Tanaka Masao hummed a tune and arrived at the Service Club.
He saw Yukinoshita Yukino sitting in the room and greeted her.
"Yo, isn't this Xuezhixia Classmate, the second in grade?
Should I call you Miss Yukinoshita the Second now?"