Chapter 67: Something Is Wrong with Gotoh-san
"..."
Haruka and Shoko passed through the school gate, chatting and laughing together.
Then, at the classroom door, they spotted a certain figure huddled behind a trash can.
?
Shoko glanced over in confusion, then her eyes widened slightly.
The corners of Haruka's mouth twitched involuntarily.
'Ugh... this is really familiar...'
A scene that felt like deja vu.
At a loss for words, Haruka walked over.
With one swift motion, he grabbed the huddled ball of pink and hauled her out.
Hitori Gotoh was terrified.
'Why?!'
'How could I possibly be discovered?!'
'Who is it? They're so strong...'
'Should I struggle?'
'I'm so scared...'
Shivering uncontrollably, she didn't even dare to open her eyes.
"..."
"Gotoh-san?"
"Not Gotoh. I'm not Gotoh. Gotoh isn't me. I don't know Gotoh. Gotoh has nothing to do with me."
A rapid stream of denials spilled from her mouth.
She still hadn't opened her eyes.
"Open your eyes and look at who I am. It's only been a weekend; don't tell me you don't recognize me?"
Shoko leaned in as well, extending a finger to gently poke Hitori's cheek.
Hitori shuddered again.
It was obvious. She was genuinely terrified.
Even then, she still refused to open her eyes. Instead, she covered them with her hands, as if believing that as long as she didn't see anyone, she wouldn't have to be afraid.
With a helpless sigh, Haruka could only drop her back into the trash can.
!!
Her eyes snapped open.
Looking at Haruka and Shoko, Hitori offered a trembling, pathetic smile.
"So, Gotoh-san, do you recognize me now?"
"Mm-hmm." Hitori nodded repeatedly.
"Kasugano-san, Nishimiya-san."
"Um, could you... pull me into the classroom?"
Hitori asked, looking embarrassed as her fingers tangled together in a knot.
It was clear that asking this was extremely difficult for her.
"Gotoh, you mean... drag you in?"
Haruka pointed at her, then at the trash can.
Hitori nodded vigorously.
Then, seeing Haruka's darkening expression, she trembled all over.
"S-sorry, I'm sorry! I... my request was too much..."
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, and she shrank back into herself.
Meanwhile, her internal monologue was running a full-blown chaotic meeting.
'Ah, I was so presumptuous. Just because we became friends, I thought I could ask for help...'
'That makes sense. Kasugano-san is like Hayama-san—a riajuu, a sunny extrovert! How could a gloomy introvert like me be friends with a sunny extrovert...'
'What do I do... we're having a class meeting. Everyone has to go up on stage. I can't do it! If I don't bring the trash can in with me...'
Thinking about standing up to speak while radiating her usual gloomy aura...
'I'm finished... my life is over... wahhh...'
Thud, thud, thud.
A knocking sound interrupted her spiraling thoughts.
Hitori peeked her head out cautiously.
Only to see Haruka looking at her with a grin, and the surrounding environment had changed.
It was the classroom!
And they were right at the back, near their seats!
'So... was it Kasugano-kun?'
Hitori looked at the grinning Haruka with gratitude in her eyes.
Haruka raised a finger and wagged it at her.
?
"Gotoh-san, although we are friends, the favor you asked was honestly a bit dirty. So, it's only reasonable to pay a small price, right?"
???
Hitori's small mouth opened slightly. She felt like maybe, possibly...
Beside them. Shoko was struggling to hold back her laughter as she watched the scene. She had just helped Haruka push the trash can into the classroom.
Haruka had told her earlier that he wanted to provoke Gotoh-san a little, to see if he could get her to come out of the trash can on her own.
'Haruka-kun is really gentle...' Shoko thought to herself subconsciously.
Haruka completely failed to anticipate that his casual actions would unintentionally reveal a glint of his "shining qualities" to Shoko.
Perhaps this was Fate at work?
Who knows.
***
'Price?'
Hitori's brain subconsciously drifted toward some not suitable for children territory.
'What... n-no... it couldn't be?'
'No, definitely not. A gloomy creature like me, with a bad figure... who would have thoughts like that...'
'Even though… even though I hoped Kasugano-san would just be a friend... I didn't expect there to be a price...'
"T-t-then... what... what price do I have to pay?"
Haruka's grin widened.
"Gotoh-san, you wouldn't want there to be no one to push your trash can into the classroom in the future, right?"
"Eh? But I only need it today—"
"No need to explain." Haruka interrupted her forcefully.
"I understand."
"As the price—as payment for my labor—shouldn't you give me some money?"
Then, Haruka named a figure that was definitely beyond a normal student's pocket money.
"You don't have it, right? If you don't have it, then come out of the trash can. I can't just bring you in for free... Huh?!"
Haruka's voice cracked in surprise as he stared at the hand extending from the trash can—and the stack of bills resting on it.
"...I... I only have this much on me. I'll bring more tomorrow."
"..."
Poke, poke.
Shoko gently poked Haruka's arm from behind, then shook her head at him.
Was she afraid he would actually take the money?
Haruka's smile vanished completely. His powerful medical instincts, inherited from the simulation, kicked in automatically.
Although he hadn't delved too deeply into psychiatry.
He had paid some attention to it.
In a case like Hitori's, something was probably wrong.
He hadn't noticed it before. Although she was bad at communicating and even needed a trash can to play the guitar, he had assumed it was just severe social anxiety, maybe a bit eccentric. But now, it seemed this wasn't just simple social anxiety.
'Has it really not developed into a physiological pathology?'
Haruka frowned, then suddenly spoke. "Gotoh-san, we are friends, right?"
The pink head popped out. "Y-yes... right?"
"Good. Then hand over this month's friendship fee."
???
Behind him, Shoko's eyes widened.
Even Hitori looked dazed.
She seemed to be pondering: Is "friendship fee" really a thing?
A second later.
Hitori shrank back down and started patting herself down, searching for more cash.
"..."
"S-sorry, I really don't have any more on me. Tomorrow... I'll bring it tomorrow." Hitori said, looking nervous and scared.
Watching her, a look of curiosity appeared in Haruka's eyes.
Haruka was now thinking: What exactly is this condition in psychological terms? It seems a bit unique?
He was genuinely curious about that.
Just then…
"Kasugano-kun, I don't recall your parents raising you to become scum who extorts his classmates."
A voice rang out from behind—cheery on the surface, but radiating a terrifying, murderous aura.
Slap.
A strong, powerful hand landed on Haruka's shoulder.
Shizuka Hiratsuka's terrifying face, wearing a smile that didn't reach her eyes, appeared in front of him.
At that moment, the three of them suddenly realized.
Class had apparently started, and the homeroom meeting was underway.
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