That said, Yamada Ryō's sixth sense really is frighteningly accurate.
All of the "atrocities" Narumi Tōru committed against Gotō Hitori were never born from genuine malice. They were nothing more than bluffing and bluster.
"I mean, bullying someone just because you like them is way too elementary-school… no, even elementary kids aren't that childish anymore, right?"
If it weren't for the sake of synchronization, he wouldn't bother doing something so obviously annoying in the first place.
On top of that, after experiencing one simulation already, he had become quite adept at identifying who the "key figure" of a simulation was.
This time, without question, it was Gotō Hitori.
In a simulation so deeply entwined with rock music, Gotō Hitori was the only person who had abruptly appeared in his past memories and continued all the way into the present—someone bound to him by countless invisible threads.
There was no doubt about it: Bocchi-chan was the core, soul-level character of this simulation.
Which meant the next thing he had to figure out was where this simulation was ultimately headed.
What did Gotō Hitori want to achieve?
How could he build a deeper connection with her—ideally one that would leave an unforgettable mark?
This time, there was only one ending. He couldn't just act on impulse anymore. He had to think carefully and arrive at the optimal solution.
Stay gently by her side, encouraging her to slowly step out of her comfort zone?
Possible—but it would take too long, might yield little result, and the version of himself in this simulation wasn't exactly capable of being that straightforward.
Charge straight ahead, shower her with sincere, passionate care and affection?
With a tsundere attribute like his, that wouldn't raise synchronization at all—it'd backfire instead.
And so, the simplest yet most extreme—and also the riskiest—idea surfaced in Narumi's mind.
To make it work, he first had to become the greatest enemy in Bocchi-chan's guitar career… and in her interpersonal world.
She wasn't lacking in friends.
As for a lover, that role required time and trust to be acknowledged.
The only vacancy left was the position of enemy.
Worse than being two-faced—yet far more effective than straightforward warmth.
Besides, Narumi already had experience "playing the villain" from the time he'd advised Hayama in the Service Club.
And with that, Narumi Tōru's plan was fully formed.
The first step was clear:
Become Gotō Hitori's enemy—in the eyes of her and her friends.
"You played that note wrong just now, didn't you?"
That was why Narumi made sure to attend every single Kessoku Band performance—waiting until the show ended, then whispering those devilish words into Bocchi's ear as she finally relaxed.
To a guitarist, that kind of comment was as lethal as telling a manga artist, "Your shading is off," telling a student, "You missed a free point on the basics," or telling an athlete, "Your basketball sucks."
"Ugh…!"
As expected, Bocchi's face drained of color. She clutched the collar of her oversized tracksuit, unable to utter a word.
"If you're going to mess up just because you get nervous seeing the audience, how are you supposed to share a stage with me? Ask yourself honestly—can you really do it, Caterpillar?"
"I-I…"
Nijika, who had been walking ahead after the show, finally noticed Bocchi being held back and couldn't stand it anymore. She turned around and stormed back.
"That's enough already—Bocchi-chan being kind doesn't mean you get to bully her like this!"
She went straight to the pink-haired caterpillar sinking into self-doubt and, more firmly than anyone else, grabbed Bocchi's cold hand.
"Let's go, Bocchi-chan."
The blonde girl with the side ponytail shot Narumi a sharp, warning glare, then dragged the pink-haired girl away.
"If you need practice, I'll practice with you as much as it takes—there's no way we're letting someone like that look down on us."
"I-Ijichi-san…"
Hitori let herself be led away in a daze. The warmth from Nijika's palm genuinely spread through her chest.
"But… Narumi-kun…"
Worried that he'd only get angrier, Bocchi nervously turned her head to look back—
—and saw something she hadn't expected.
The curly-haired boy still stood there, unmoving. He wasn't embarrassed or enraged by Nijika's words. Instead, he wore a calm, almost gentle smile, sending them off with a gaze Bocchi couldn't decipher.
If he just wanted to bully her… then why that expression?
Gotō Hitori couldn't understand.
Only after Nijika and Bocchi disappeared beyond the exit did Narumi lazily look away.
Become Gotō Hitori's enemy—and her friends'—but not completely.
Leave behind ambiguous, unresolved edges that would keep her thinking.
"You've been staring at Bocchi-chan and Nijika this whole time. What's up with that?"
The blue-haired girl who had been watching silently for who knew how long finally spoke, taking a sip from her canned coffee. Her tone was as casual as chatting with an old friend.
"What, you got a crush on her?"
She even tossed out a joke that landed with a dull thud.
A classic tsundere would be blushing now, tilting their chin up and protesting, "Hmph, I-I don't like her or anything!"
But really—what era was this, still role-playing a traditional tsundere?
"I like her? Don't make me laugh."
Narumi's lips curved slightly, but his smile was full of cold mockery.
"You'd have a better case saying I like you."
Flawless acting—and regretting it inwardly afterward.
That was the pinnacle of tsundere behavior.
"Is that a confession? I'll give it some serious thought."
Ryō's response was just as offbeat, leaving no obvious way to reply. Then again, Narumi only joked like this because he knew she was this kind of person.
Become Gotō Hitori's enemy—and her friends'—but Yamada Ryō was the exception.
As for why Narumi thought that, he didn't really have any solid reason.
He just believed—without knowing why—that in any future, he and Yamada Ryō would understand each other, even if she didn't remember him.
"Why'd you ask all of a sudden? Was I that obvious?"
"You liking Bocchi? No, not at all—that was just something I threw out."
Ryō set her can down, her gaze steady and uncritical, as calm as ever.
"But you trying to make her hate you—that part's pretty obvious. And I don't get why you'd do that."
Sharp. A little too sharp.
"What you're doing feels more like playing the role of a villain—using bluster and reverse provocation to shake Bocchi-chan's confidence. And then Nijika and Ikuyo step in to give her positive reinforcement, and little Bocchi bounces back in no time. No—having you as an enemy might actually make her grow faster."
Yamada Ryō laid out her analysis without changing expression, while Narumi's face grew increasingly colorful.
What was he supposed to do when someone saw straight through his logic inside the simulation?
"Of course, that's just my guess. Who knows—maybe you're all tangled up in some melodramatic, unrequited love triangle."
Seeing Narumi fall silent, the short-haired girl yawned and wrapped up the topic with breezy indifference. Whether she truly didn't know—or was simply wise enough to pretend otherwise—no one could say.
"After all, you and I… hmm."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"After all, you and I aren't close at all."
Yamada Ryō had already accepted the fact that she couldn't speak her true feelings. Maybe that was the price of living another life.
Or maybe it was simply because she wasn't the heroine of this world—so thoughts beyond her role were never allowed to exist in the first place.