Goto Hitori hesitated for a moment, thinking that the idea of live-streaming was good, as she could interact with her fans well.
Moreover, she was now a normie with friends, so she was completely qualified to stream.
"Okay, then if I need to interact with fans, Tanaka, you have to help me."
"No problem."
Tanaka Masao imagined what the live stream would be like.
Goto Hitori would be wearing a mask, with her eyes pixelated, looking a bit reserved and shy, while he would have a gentle (and lecherous) smile, putting his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.
This heartwarming scene would surely attract many people who came to see them.
If combined with his (Takeda's) reputation, it would definitely bring a lot of traffic to Goto Hitori.
However, this was Goto Hitori's live stream, so he wouldn't do anything extra.
"Bocchi-chan, even though you're a big star now and capable of earning your own money, you still need to study. At least make sure you can graduate smoothly."
"I know, I'm studying hard, but I just can't learn it."
Goto Hitori also felt a bit helpless about this; perhaps she was just a useless idiot.
"Don't be discouraged, Bocchi-chan. In this day and age, even 'dumb beauties' are very popular."
"Dumb beauty? Are you talking about me? Am I considered a beauty?"
"Bocchi-chan, have some confidence. You are an out-and-out beauty.
At least among the friends I know, you rank…."
Tanaka Masao thought for a moment and realized that all of his friends seemed to be great beauties.
How do I feel so much like a novel's male protagonist?
No, I am a man with a system, of course I am a novel's male protagonist.
It was only at this moment that Tanaka Masao suddenly realized he was unique.
"Tanaka, why did you suddenly stop? I know my looks can't compare to other girls.
After all, I'm so gloomy, I must have a musty smell, and I definitely can't compare to those youthful and beautiful girls.
It's okay if you don't comfort me."
"Bocchi-chan, don't be self-conscious. It's mainly because I just realized that all the friends I know seem to be beautiful girls, so I was comparing them for a moment."
"Do these friends include me?"
"Of course, see for yourself."
With that, Tanaka Masao sent another photo. It was a picture he took with a few people when they went to the Zoo two days ago.
Goto Hitori just took one look and sent a message.
"Alright, Tanaka, I get it.
But it's enough to lie to me about this kind of thing; don't lie to yourself too."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"Seriously, Tanaka, don't play dumb with me. As someone who's been there, I understand."
"What do you understand? Tell me clearly."
"Oh, do I really have to say it?"
"How will I understand if you don't say it?"
"You should understand even if I don't say it."
"Say it!"
Goto Hitori shook her head helplessly and continued typing.
"Alright, I'm going to say it. Don't get angry when I do."
"I promise I won't get angry."
"Actually, Tanaka, you don't have any other friends, do you? These pictures are all from the internet.
You just want to maintain an image of being popular and having many friends, am I right?"
"Where did you get that basis?"
"Of course, it's because you can't see Tanaka in this picture at all.
Even if I'm an idiot, I can see it at a glance.
You really don't have to be like this. I also don't have friends and I also pretend to be a normie with many friends online. This is all vanity at play. Between the two of us…"
Goto Hitori was still talking animatedly when she noticed Tanaka Masao sent another picture.
The picture was similar to the previous one, still those beautiful girls, but this time Tanaka Masao was in it, wearing a panda mascot costume, but he had taken off the head to reveal his face.
"Bocchi-chan, is there a possibility that the person in the panda costume is me? And what were you just saying?"
"Ding, Bocchi-chan retracted a message."
"Playing this trick on me? Good thing I was prepared."
Tanaka Masao sent a screenshot, which was none other than Goto Hitori's just-now righteous speech.
"I'm sorry, Lord Tanaka, please forget what I just said, and can you delete this picture? I'll never dare to do it again."
"Oh ho ho, oh Bocchi-chan, what's wrong with you? Suddenly so humble. I still prefer your defiant look from earlier."
Goto Hitori, being mocked, dared not show any temper. There was nothing she could do; after all, she had said so many embarrassing things, and he had them in his hands.
"This is so interesting, I really want to share it with my friends."
Looking at the message from Tanaka Masao, Goto Hitori's eyes widened in horror, and she could already imagine the scene in her mind.
A group of normie-like beautiful girls whispering around her.
"Oh, look at her, she's Goto Hitori, the one who pretends to have many friends online but actually has none."
Then everyone in the world would know, and her life would be over.
"No, Lord Tanaka, if that happens, I'll really have no face to live on."
"Kukuku, Bocchi-chan, you're an adult now. You need to be responsible for your words and actions."
"Ugh~, is this what the adult world is like? It's so scary. I'd better hide at home and never go out for the rest of my life."
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."
Tanaka Masao saw that if he continued, Goto Hitori would break down, so he quickly stopped.
Goto Hitori stared with her big, watery eyes, feeling a sense of relief after a narrow escape.
"Really? My embarrassing moment won't be known to the whole world?"
"Bocchi-chan, you're exaggerating too much. How could such a thing be known to the whole world?
If it really were known to the whole world, then Bocchi-chan would truly become famous."
"Phew, that's great. So, Tanaka, can you delete the screenshot?"
"Of course…."
"No."
"Why?"
"This is a beautiful memory between me and Bocchi-chan. How can I easily delete it?"
"But this isn't a beautiful memory for me."
"Don't be so pessimistic, Bocchi-chan.
Think about it, years from now, when we're idle and happen to find this picture, reminiscing about the old days, isn't that a very romantic and heartwarming thing?"
It's like when the school organized writing a letter to your future self when you were a child; it didn't feel like much at the time.
But then, years later, one day you suddenly dig it out from some corner.
Almost everyone would sit down and read it carefully, recalling that childhood time, and a smile would surely appear on their lips involuntarily.
Then they couldn't help but exclaim,
"The handwriting is so ugly."