"Finally, the last topic!"
Nijika sounded a little excited.
"Actually, it's not a super important thing."
"I was wondering if Hakushu-kun and Bocchi have any thoughts about getting a part-time job."
"Ryou and I are both working part-time at Hoshifuru."
"A part-time job?!?"
Gotou Hitori let out the loudest sound of the day.
"What's wrong, Bocchi?"
The moment she heard "part-time job," Gotou Hitori's mind conjured images of all the mistakes she'd make while working.
Ultimately, she'd end up on trial in court.
So, there was only one thing to do.
Absolutely, positively, she had to refuse!
Gotou Hitori asked, confused,
"Why do we need a part-time job?"
"Because being in a band actually costs a lot of money, and the money from the part-time job can be used for band expenses."
"Also, we'll need to handle some of the ticket sales ourselves for future performances."
Nijika explained patiently and thoroughly.
Working part-time!
Even though working part-time with the girls sounded like it would be fun.
But Hakushu didn't have any plans to work part-time.
Besides, he also had to go to the Astronomy Club and the Light Music Club sometimes.
And also, he wasn't short on money right now.
So, Hakushu said,
"I won't be working part-time."
"That's a bit of a shame," Nijika said regretfully.
In her heart, she wished everyone could work together. That way, they'd have more time to spend together.
It would help the band members bond.
Hakushu nodded. "I'm not really short on money right now, so there shouldn't be any problems with the band's expenses or targets."
"But it would be even better if I could occasionally come and do some part-time work."
"Eh, really?"
Nijika was pleasantly surprised.
"Aren't you a little short on cash?"
Yamada Ryou perked up at that.
"You don't have to pay me, you know."
"No, I absolutely have to pay you."
"You could give Hakushu's pay to me."
"No way, Ryou, you wish."
Gotou Hitori looked on enviously as Hakushu smoothly turned down the job. She could never do something like that so easily.
"Ah, um…"
Everyone looked at her.
Gotou Hitori's words, which had been on the tip of her tongue, were swallowed back down.
"…"
"This is the Wedding Fund my mom saved for me, so please don't make me work!"
Gotou Hitori swiftly produced her Piggy Bank.
"Ah, Hitori! There's no need to do that."
Nijika was startled.
"Thank you, then I'll gladly accept."
Yamada Ryou didn't expect someone would actually give her money.
"Ryou, stop!"
Nijika shouted.
"Hakushu, please, quickly get it back from Hitori."
Hearing it was something so important, Nijika couldn't let the money fall into Yamada Ryou's hands!
Hakushu swiftly snatched the piggy bank.
"Phew…"
Yamada Ryou looked at her empty hand, a hint of disappointment on her face.
Then, her gaze shifted subtly to Hakushu.
Hakushu-kun... seems to always be at odds with me!
Nijika let out a sigh of relief.
"Hitori, I won't force you to work."
Nijika reassured.
"Really?"
Nijika was about to speak, but Hakushu cut in,
"I think it's better for Hitori to get a part-time job."
"Ah!"
Gotou Hitori clutched her chest, her face filled with disbelief.
She never expected that Hakushu would say something so cruel.
And, what's more, he said such terrifying words with a gentle expression.
"Hitori, you forgot, you have to work hard to overcome your social anxiety!"
"Working part-time is the best training."
"Oh!"
Nijika thought that made a lot of sense, and then looked at Gotou Hitori with anticipation.
"Is it okay, Hitori?"
"I believe in you, Hitori!"
Nijika felt like she'd heard that before.
"This part-time job is nothing you can't handle."
"Okay, I'll do it!"
After calming down, Gotou Hitori crawled under the table, where Yamada Ryou was toying with her using a twig.
Why are there twigs?
Because she ate the leaves.
Gotou Hitori was troubled.
Why did she agree so readily just now?
She was supposed to refuse!
And so, Nijika and Hakushu began to chat.
"By the way, Hakushu, have you joined any clubs?"
Hakushu was slightly startled, and suddenly felt a strange sense of guilt.
"Ah… I joined the Astronomy Club… and…"
"The Astronomy Club!"
Nijika perked up at the mention of the Astronomy Club.
"Does Hakushu like stars?"
"Hakushu might have something in common with my sister."
Nijika said, as Ijiichi Seika also really likes looking at the night sky.
That's why this shop is called "Hoshifuru".
Did I get away with that?
Hakushu blinked, looking at Nijika in surprise.
He'd been wondering how to explain it.
Since that's the case...
Nijika, it's not like I didn't tell you, okay?
You interrupted me!
Yeah, that's right.
Right, the club is the club.
And the band is the band.
So,
regarding joining the Light Music Club, it's not really a betrayal, is it?
Thinking like that, Hakushu's feelings of guilt lessened considerably.
"I see, then I'll get along well with the manager."
"Mhm!"
The result was that the afternoon was spent with them fooling around and chatting.
There was no practice at all.
But there was no need to rush.
As they were parting ways, Hakushu suddenly thought of something.
He remembered in the story that Gotou Hitori had plans to feign illness.
Hakushu thought he should give her a heads-up.
"By the way, Bocchi."
"Huh? What is it?"
Gotou Hitori jumped, her face showing a guilty conscience.
"You wouldn't do something shameful like pretend to be sick to avoid working, would you?"
"N-no, I wouldn't."
Gotou Hitori cried internally.
How did he know what I was thinking?
"That's good, I believe you."
Hakushu smiled slightly.
"Um..."
...
That night.
Gotou Hitori changed into a School Swimsuit.
Her figure?
Couldn't see it!
Because she was completely submerged in the bathtub. The water in the tub was cold, and many ice cubes floated in it.
Gotou Hitori's teeth chattered from the cold.
And, Hakushu's voice kept echoing in her mind.
可耻的行为,可耻的行为,可耻可耻...可耻...
Such a shameful act, such a shameful act, shameful, shameful…shameful…
So, if she were truly sick, it would be okay.
Then it wouldn't be shameful.
She couldn't let Hakushu down!
"Heh heh heh… So cold…"
"Big sis, you're broken again."
A young voice.
Beside the bathroom door stood a little girl who looked similar to Gotou Hitori, but was a hundred, a thousand times more cheerful.
She is Gotou Hitori's younger sister,
Gotou Futari.
Futari was already used to her sister's strange behavior.
Little Futari took out her diary and slowly wrote down what happened.
I don't know how much time passed...
"Mom! Something bad happened!"
"Sister fainted in the bath!"
Gotou Futari shouted downstairs!
Gotou Hitori woke up in her room.
"Achoo!"
"Achoo!"
She sneezed twice, and a stream of snot ran down her nose.
She didn't think it was enough.
So, she sat in front of a fan on its highest setting all night.
She had to get really sick!
A shameful act…
I can't let them down!