The social phobia substitute will not dream of the band girl

Seeing Goto Ichiri suddenly rolling around on the blanket and acting up, her mother Michiyo had a helpless expression on her face. She had originally planned to bring this child here to build a good relationship, but in the end, this was the result...

His father, Naoki Goto, who had also long been accustomed to it, had started drinking free beer and enjoying barbecue, although for some reason he had been slacking off at his workstation when he was suddenly assigned to work in downtown Tokyo.

But the result was that not only did the whole family move to the city, but they also unexpectedly found a cheap and spacious house. Not only were there shopping malls and stations just a short distance away, but there were also great shopping streets and vegetable markets right at their doorstep.

Thanks to this, his status in the family has recently become higher than Jimmy (the dog)——

"Haha, isn't that great? After all, weren't you always worried about Ichiri-chan's commuting to school and Erri's elementary school enrollment? You actually solved it all in one go. Uncle, are you actually surprisingly capable?" Hirashin said with a smile after pouring a glass of wine for Goto Naoki.

"Eh?...Hahahahahaha—you're right, maybe I'm actually pretty good! The company's leaders must have seen my abilities and promoted me, that's it!" Goto Naoki, who was in an overly happy mood, laughed strangely, which was completely different from his usual self. However, no matter who encountered this kind of turning point, they would laugh a few times, right?

"...How can a dad who's always sleeping at the company be so awesome? What do you think, Heishin-sama?"

"Hmm...it's hard to say—perhaps it's because of all the good things Michiyo-san has done, and the accumulated blessings have finally turned into luck. If you think of luck as a part of strength, then perhaps she's quite strong, right?"

Hiranobu didn't care, he just carried Goto Jiri on his shoulders and walked while talking casually.

Normally, this position is occupied by cats and Rakura. Although Nel will also (passively) sit on it, she will definitely be angry afterwards. It is quite refreshing to take care of children occasionally, at least for him.

"...Then the sister who met the older brother is the most 'powerful' one, right?"

"...Shh~ Let's just keep this a secret between us, okay?"

Kids these days are truly amazing. Lianhua, Erli, and the like—maybe they'll even be picked up and brought in to work. If it were someone else, they'd probably be like, "This kid must not be kept," but with me, it's like a future talent +1. Isn't that a bit too far-fetched?

Anyway, after bribing Goto Jiri with a lot of delicious barbecue and desserts, the two of them hooked their fingers to seal an alliance.

"Sure enough, how could my dad, who always sleeps in the office, suddenly become so powerful? Sure enough, if I want to get married in the future, I still have to find someone as powerful as my big brother."

Hey, if your dad wasn’t passed out drunk, he might cry after hearing this, right?

"...But it's a little difficult to say the same thing as me. You'd better lower your sights~" After hearing this overly mature statement, Ping Xin didn't know what to say, but it still felt good to be praised.

But isn't it too early for a kindergartener to be in love? Or is premature love just that early now? Back then, he was basically playing with Toru-kun and Koito...

But maybe the majority of the time he's with Enka after that is...

"Here, Ichiri, barbecue~"

"Ahhhhhh, Arigato..."

"Then I'll put it here. This way my hands won't shake, right?"

Hiranobu placed the skewers on a white plate between the two of them. Originally, it contained some snacks prepared by the Goto family, but in the end, even the mother who was in charge of preparing them did not eat them. They were all eaten by Goto Ichiri who was sitting there.

"...Senior, why are you so nice? No no no... I don't mean to say that I hope you have a bad life or become a bad person, it's just!... It's just... Red Bean Paste Private Marseille!"

"Oh my, what a beautiful Dogeza... But I understand, what do you want to say——"

Goto Ichiri, who had lowered her head, opened her eyes wide in surprise. This was the first time someone had said something like this to her. It wasn't the unconditional tolerance of her family, nor was it the careless words of her younger sister, Erri, who might not even know what she was saying. It wasn't the disregard or pity of some people, but it was truly...

"...Really?"

"Well, I'm wondering why I, who used to claim to be socially anxious, can now host such an event? ... Actually, it's very simple, because I tried to change a little bit -

"But the most important thing is that I met all of you... I definitely couldn't have done it on my own," Ping Xin replied with a smile.

Although she couldn't see his face, she could imagine that it must be a sunny smile.

"Everyone......"

Chapter 94 Good morning, Ping Xin

"Everyone......"

Goto Ichiri was lost in thought when someone suddenly patted her head. She was startled, but at the same time, she felt a sense of relief and a little joy that she herself didn't understand why.

"So go for it... You'll definitely be able to do it, not like me, but like you, the one and only Goto Ichiri..."

"Like me...! No, no, I—"

Goto Ichiri, who was about to enter the self-congratulation (escaping reality) mode after being encouraged by others, was interrupted by herself. Because although she had always fantasized that she could become a star, the focus of everyone's attention, and a big star that everyone would like, she knew very well that it was just a dream.

But before she could utter any discouraging words, Pingxin stopped her with a small finger.

"If you think you can't do it, then you really can't do it... You're so cute and play guitar so well, but if you say you can't do it, others might get angry when they see you... I'm the same way."

"..."

Although he said he was angry, his face did not show any expression of an angry person. He just had a gentle, reassuring smile on his face. Goto Ichiri could see it clearly at the moment.

But when she finally remembered that her lips were still kissing the fingers of the person in front of her, she felt even more embarrassed than before and lowered her head again. After all, people like me...

But this time, her head was lifted up, from her chin, in a position only seen in girls' comics. However, she could not sense any ambiguity, because Ping Xin's expression was serious, and the determination in his eyes told her that he had to speak seriously now.

"You may not have confidence now, but you must have the courage to take that step at the critical moment..."

courage?

"So, I'm going to work a little magic on you now."

magic?

"Goto Ichiri... You may not believe in yourself, but you must believe in me, the me who believes in you."

The black eyes contained not dark despair, but colorful... like a dream... What a beautiful person -

"..."

Goto Ichiri didn't answer him, but Hirashin knew that was enough.

You don't need to use any superpowers, you don't need to leave a mark on people like Geass, just a simple sentence can become an opportunity to change a person.

No one doesn't want to get better, even those who say discouraging things. If someone truly didn't care, they wouldn't even say such discouraging words. But change is hard, stepping out of your comfort zone is difficult, and entering an unknown territory is unsettling and terrifying.

But at the same time, change is also very simple. Sometimes people themselves don't even realize that they already have all the necessary conditions except courage, because humans just can't see themselves clearly...

So he would give them reasons, whether they were people who needed an opportunity or people who longed for a miracle, he would give them reasons, just like Goto Ichiri in front of him——

You clearly have talent and potential, but you give up here. Isn't it a pity?

"But right now, you seem to be lacking a little help... I'll get you something to eat. Just think of it as preparing for that moment. From now on, gather up your courage, Ichiri."

After saying that, Ping Xin stood up and left, leaving her with only his back that could not disappear in the crowd.

“…——”

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but she was still afraid and couldn't say anything. So, Senior, you're wrong. Is someone like me... really possible?

"...Sister, do you like big brother?"

“..Eh?…Ehhhhhhh! Wait, Erli, what are you talking about? How could I!…How could I…”

How could I possibly be worthy of him? He is a dragon flying in the clouds, and I am just an earthworm in the soil.

"Then, Erli, is it okay for me to marry Big Brother in the future?"

“Ehhhhhhhh!? ...W-why, why!?”

Goto Jiri tilted his head in confusion, then replied, "Because big brothers are awesome, right? More awesome than dad, Jimmy Henry, the kids in kindergarten, the teachers...even the amazing people on TV, right?"

"That's what I said...but is it okay? No, no, no, first of all, it's not okay because of your age, right?"

Just treating it as the innocent talk of a child, Goto Ichiri waved his hand and regained some composure after complaining.

"Hmm... Then you can do it when you grow up, right? When you're as old as your sister."

"But...I...you...he...but doesn't Senpai already have a girlfriend?"

"I know. The older sisters are different from the older sisters. They're very gentle and good at talking... Ah, but there's a black sister who seems to be a little bad at talking too, but she's great at cooking."

"..."

Yes, everyone is different from me, cute and sunny, much more beautiful than me, so they are worthy of the beautiful seniors——

“But I asked them just now, and then they said…”

"Wait wait wait!... Erli, how dare you ask such a question!? I'm screwed! I'll be blacklisted and banned from associating with seniors in the future..."

"Why not? The teacher clearly said that if you don't understand something, you should ask and learn, otherwise you will never understand. And everyone is very kind, and even said that if you still think the same way when the time comes, then you can-"

You see, I was rejected after all, after all...huh?

“Kekekekeke…Is this actually possible?!”

If even Erli is OK? Then should I also...

"But sister, your question may not be correct, because you haven't asked, so you don't know."

"!"

It’s not because it’s absolutely impossible, but because I didn’t ask...Is it impossible because I didn’t try?

Yamada Ryoya, who was collecting cherry blossoms under the tree to make snacks for Hiranobu, looked over and said that children nowadays are really interesting.

As expected, every day after following him is very interesting——

......

...

..

“Ha…ha…Tou-Tou-chan! I told you it’s not okay, but you’re still late!!!”

"Ha...haah...sorry, I overslept."

"Ahaha~ This smells really good. Can we have some too, Hina?"

"...Who knows? If the master is generous enough, he probably won't mind the cute girl's request~"

If someone he knew heard this, they would definitely want to complain loudly—

You are too generous!

The four people arrived late at the venue, and Ping Xin, who had received the news of the "insider" in advance, had been waiting there for a long time. When he saw Enka and Koito, he took the initiative to walk over and said, "Oh, you are finally here, I have been waiting for you for a long time~"

"Sorry, Shin-chan, I'm late—"

"...Good morning, Heishin."

Chapter 95 What a coincidence

Wait, what are you talking about?

Ordinary mail... not ordinary mail! ?

A look of surprise appeared on Higuchi Enka's face, something he and Fukumaru Koito had expected. Although they didn't know why this short-haired beautiful girl who looked familiar suddenly called out his name, it was obvious that the focus should be on Enka now.

But beyond everyone's expectations, Enka's expression quickly changed from shock to pain, torment, confusion, and finally to a calmness beyond death.

No one knows what she is thinking at this moment, not even Ping Xin, because neither the emotional perception of Ripple nor the mind reading of the magnetic field power can see through a person who is now empty inside.

"..."

Why, why is it only you, why is it only her——

A momentary emotional fluctuation appeared, but it quickly disappeared without a trace. However, since this happened frequently recently, Hirayuko didn't pay too much attention to it. Instead, he asked Koito, "...Good morning, Koito. I didn't expect you to bring two friends with you besides Enka—"

"By the way, where's Toru-kun? Is he busy today? I was really looking forward to it~"

The reunion of the two young men who had agreed to become harem kings, aside from this strange agreement, is still quite interesting, right? And he really wanted to find his first friend, the precious, irreplaceable first person, and then jump in his face!

"Eh... well, it's right here."

"Eh? Ah... Is this Toru-kun's sister? Same hair color, and even has some highlights? Not bad, not bad, very cute~"

Asakura Toru was a little shocked to find that the other party didn't seem to recognize him, but after being praised, he immediately showed a smile that seemed to be somewhat pleased, which was more obvious than usual.

"Um... Shin-chan?"

Fukumaru Koito looked at Hirayobu with some concern. Could it be that because there were so many women around him, he subconsciously began to crave men, and ended up mistaking his long-lost friend for a man?

Is this the so-called extremes leading to their own opposites?!

Enka was withdrawn, Koito was worried, and Hinana was watching the show. Finally, facing Toru's astonishment, Hirashin knelt on his knees and shouted to the sky: "Why is the first friend I made in my life also a beautiful girl? Give my handsome Toru back to me--!!!"

Furious shouts echoed everywhere, and everyone agreed that this guy was truly embarrassing. Only Asakura smiled even more cheerfully than usual. He was praised for being both cute and handsome. A win-win situation. I won twice.

"Aha, you look really shocked~... But, who is this?"

"Hmm...an important childhood sweetheart, from kindergarten."

"That's the one... Hinana-chan must have seen him once, in the park."