Tanaka Masao chatted with Fujiwara Chika for nearly half a class.
In the end, it was Fujiwara Chika saying she needed to study seriously that brought it to a close.
She had been playing for so long, yet at that moment, she claimed she wanted to study seriously.
To this, Fujiwara Chika replied that even if she hadn't paid attention for most of the class, just a little bit of serious study would prevent her from feeling completely lost.
Unlike Fujiwara Chika, who didn't want to be completely lost, Tanaka Masao chose to be thoroughly lost.
He glanced at the time; there were still ten minutes until class ended.
With so much time left, he might as well go and 'favor' Goto Hitori.
"Bocchi-chan, are you paying attention in class?"
Meanwhile, at Shuka University, Goto Hitori, for whom class was like listening to a foreign language, was startled by a vibration from her pocket.
Before this morning, Goto Hitori's phone only had her parents' and sister's contact information.
They would not normally contact Goto Hitori during class, so she didn't have the habit of putting her phone on silent.
Because there was simply no need.
Goto Hitori quickly pulled out her phone, turned off the sound and vibration, and then checked it.
"It's a message from Tanaka. Oh right, I have friends now too."
"I get it. Friends are people who don't listen in class and chat on their phones, right?"
Although she chatted a lot with people online, this was her first time chatting with a friend in real life, so Goto Hitori thought for a long time before sending a message.
"Yes."
"Bocchi-chan, I've waited for you for so long, and you show me this? I'm very dissatisfied."
"Huh? What should I do then?"
Goto Hitori was a little flustered, afraid of losing her only friend due to her own mistake.
"How about this: Bocchi-chan sends me two selfies as an apology."
"Selfies?"
"That's right. Friends apologize by sending selfies. Didn't you know?"
"I… I know, of course. Isn't that common sense? It's just that I'm in class right now, so it's not very convenient. Would old photos be okay?"
"Of course."
Soon after, Tanaka Masao's phone received an image. Opening it, he saw it was Goto Hitori with short hair.
"Oh, what period is this Bocchi-chan from? She looks so pure and cute.
Is that really you, Bocchi-chan? You're not trying to pass off your sister's photo, are you?"
"It's me. I had short hair back then. It's a photo from about two years ago, when I was in junior high. And my sister is only nine, how could I possibly use her photo?"
"In that case, I'll reluctantly forgive Bocchi-chan. But next time, I won't let you get away with such a simple placeholder."
"Ah, there's a next time?"
"Of course. Here, Bocchi-chan, let me show you something good."
Goto Hitori saw that Tanaka Masao had also sent an image.
Fortunately, it wasn't a selfie of Tanaka Masao himself, but a desktop screenshot.
Tanaka Masao: Wait, why should I be relieved that it's not my selfie? Am I some kind of monster?
Goto Hitori looked at the desktop screenshot, a little puzzled.
"What does this mean? Why is my photo your desktop background?"
"Using a friend's photo as a desktop background, doesn't it show intimacy?"
"It does feel intimate, but it also feels so embarrassing. Maybe you should change it."
"You have a point, but I refuse! Because I'm not the one who feels embarrassed."
"Hmph, Tanaka, you're so mean. I… I'm going to get angry."
"Oh dear, I've made my friend angry. Then I'll just have to send a selfie as an apology."
"I don't need that kind of apology."
She wasn't interested in Tanaka Masao's selfies at all.
"How about this: I'm quite good at drawing. How about I draw you a picture as an apology next time we meet?"
Seeing that Tanaka Masao wanted to draw her a picture as an apology, Goto Hitori felt a little tempted.
This kind of mutual display of one's talents felt more like what friends would do.
"Alright, but let me say beforehand, if it's not good, I won't take it."
"Of course. Just trust my skill."
Goto Hitori looked at her phone, a silly smile on her face.
It wasn't because of the apology Tanaka Masao offered, but because she could actually make demands now.
"Hitori, Hitori, you've grown so fast! You're already daring to set conditions with a friend.
If this continues, won't Tanaka have to obey my every command?
Hehehe…"
Just as Goto Hitori was feeling smug, Tanaka Masao sent another message.
"Oh, Bocchi-chan, you know that drawing requires a quiet, stable environment and plenty of time.
We're not in the same school, so we need to find a place and time."
"Ah, yes. How about we go to the park?"
"If Bocchi-chan is okay with being watched by others while drawing, I don't mind."
"Then… then never mind."
Goto Hitori thought for a moment about the most suitable place for her.
"How about my house? No one will disturb us."
"Bocchi-chan actually invited me to her house to play? Of course, I won't refuse."
Goto Hitori had only been thinking of finding her favorite comfortable environment, and only then realized that she had actually invited someone to her house.
"I'm not, I didn't, I just found a suitable place for drawing, that's all."
"Then can I come?"
"If… if there's nowhere else to go, it's not impossible. But I need to contact my family in advance to prepare."
"Okay, Bocchi-chan, once you're ready, I'll pay a visit."
He hoped that when Gotō's family found out she was bringing Tanaka Masao home, they wouldn't beat him to death.
After all, even though their daughter wasn't very ambitious, the Gotou Couple doted on her quite a bit.
Seeing their own 'cabbage' so naive due to her personality, easily tricked with a few words, and finally 'devoured' by a 'pig,' just thinking about it…
It's interesting.
"By the way, Bocchi-chan, your midterm exam results should be out by now, right?"
"Huh? Mid… midterm exams? What are you talking about? I… I don't understand."
"This reaction… could it be that Bocchi-chan did very poorly?"
"I… I won't tell Tanaka."
"Alas, the more Bocchi-chan hides it, the more curious I become. Just tell me, or I won't be able to sleep from curiosity.
Bocchi-chan, this is my once-in-a-lifetime request as your friend. Please fulfill it for me."
"Even if you say that, I still…"