Tanaka Masao looked at his photo, glanced into the box, and found many more identical ones.
He looked back at Goto Hitori, who was still giggling, and couldn't help but complain in his heart.
[Bocchi-chan, if you weren't a beautiful girl, this behavior would really be seen as perverted.
Speaking of which, why is it okay for a beautiful girl?
And it's one thing to have photos of other people, but why do I have so many photos of myself?
Could it be that Bocchi-chan likes me, and she can't sleep without seeing my handsome face every day?]
Tanaka Masao thought, shaking his head helplessly.
[Seriously, why would I think that?
Isn't it obvious?
Why question it?]
Tanaka Masao called out to Goto Hitori twice, pulling her out of her fantasy.
"Hey, Bocchi-chan, why are you printing so many photos?"
Hearing the voice, Goto Hitori finally came back to her senses, looked at Tanaka Masao, saw the photos in his hand, and immediately became nervous.
"Um, Tanaka, listen to me, I definitely didn't cover my room with these photos and then giggle at them every day, feeling the sense of being surrounded by friends."
Listening to Goto Hitori's words, Tanaka Masao's eye twitched.
[Bocchi-chan, you're confessing without being asked.]
Goto Hitori's figure was a bit hunched as she whispered.
"Sorry, I know this is a bit wrong, but as an introvert, it's rare for me to make friends, and I really..."
"Alright, Bocchi-chan, no need to say more."
Tanaka Masao quickly stopped her, feeling that if she continued, he would become depressed too.
"I understand you."
Goto Hitori's eyes lit up again, and she asked excitedly.
"Tanaka, you can understand me? Did you do something like this too?"
Tanaka Masao scratched his face awkwardly, revealing a stiff smile.
"Well, I haven't..."
Goto Hitori's eyes lost their sparkle, visibly becoming depressed, and her voice was flat.
"Oh, I see, as expected, an introvert like me should hide in a corner and rot away. Youthful companions, for me..."
"However, my room also has some posters of my favorite celebrities or anime characters.
Most people put up some things in their rooms, and photos with friends are definitely among them.
Putting up photos with friends shows that you value your friends, that you are a loyal and righteous person worth getting to know deeply."
"Deeply..."
Goto Hitori touched her head when she heard the praise.
"So in Tanaka's eyes, I'm such an excellent friend? Eh heh heh~"
Seeing Goto Hitori easily fooled, Tanaka Masao breathed a sigh of relief.
[I wonder if fooling her like this is really a good thing.]
A scene couldn't help but appear in his mind.
Goto Hitori's room was covered with photos of the End Band members, with a few of his own mixed in.
Then she invited them to her house, confidently showing them off, and just thinking about that scene, Tanaka Masao felt...
Interesting.
Leave the awkwardness to others, and keep the happiness for yourself.
[I should tell Bocchi-chan to definitely call me when she invites friends over.]
Tanaka Masao put the photos in the box, solemnly handed them to Goto Hitori, patted her shoulder, and encouraged her.
"Bocchi-chan, go ahead and cover your room with these photos according to your idea, and let your friends see your most sincere and pure friendship!"
"Mhm!"
Hearing Tanaka Masao's encouragement, Goto Hitori became full of fighting spirit, determined to complete this task.
The innocent Goto Hitori, during the handover ceremony, completely failed to notice the evil smile on Tanaka Masao's face.
After completing a trivial little prank, Tanaka Masao began to look around the rest of the room again, and couldn't help but frown.
"Why do I feel like your room is missing a lot of things, Bocchi-chan?"
In his view, Goto Hitori's room only had a desk and a few cabinets with books and miscellaneous items.
The center of the room was covered with tatami mats, making it appear quite spacious.
This layout clearly looked more like a study than a bedroom.
"Bocchi-chan, where are your bed and guitar? I don't see them."
Hearing Tanaka Masao's question, Goto Hitori glanced at the sliding door of the cabinet next to her.
"I sleep directly on a futon on the tatami, and as for the guitar, it's in my secret base. I occasionally sleep in there too; it's a dark, confined space that brings me peace of mind."
"Can I go in? Bocchi-chan's dark, confined space that brings her peace of mind."
"Uh, this..."
Goto Hitori hesitated a bit; this was her own private space, and she hadn't even let her family in.
[If I refuse Tanaka, will I seem a bit petty, like I don't consider him a friend, and what if he gets angry because of it?
Although it's my private space, it's not some place that can't see the light of day.]
After some internal struggle, Goto Hitori nodded gently.
"If Tanaka wants to come in, it's not impossible, but only for a little while, not for too long, okay?"
"Then I won't be polite, Bocchi-chan."
After getting permission, Tanaka Masao approached step by step, smiling. Amidst Goto Hitori's slightly nervous gaze and worried, fearful expression, he extended his hand.
As the closet opened, Tanaka Masao saw everything inside with almost a single glance.
Perhaps because she would spend long periods inside, there was a light in the closet. After closing the door, the dim light would allow Goto Hitori to do what she liked inside.
Guitar, computer, pens, notebooks, and posters of Goto Hitori's favorite bands were also pasted on the wall.
After looking, Tanaka Masao nodded.
"This decorating style really gives off the vibe of a Music girl."
"Huh, really?"
Although she felt a bit embarrassed that Tanaka Masao saw her private space, upon hearing the praise, that embarrassment instantly vanished without a trace.
But as she was feeling proud, she saw Tanaka Masao take his next action.
"Tanaka, what are you doing?"
"I want to go inside and stay for a while."
"Huh, go inside?"
Goto Hitori was a bit reluctant; she thought it might be a bit damp inside.
There might even be a musty smell, and letting Tanaka Masao in would be too embarrassing.