"Gotoh-san, let's go."
Lucas Amaki carried his schoolbag on his back and waited for Gotoh Hitori, who was still packing hers.
"Okay."
Gotoh finished packing and was about to lift her bag when Lucas took it for her without asking.
Seeing this, Gotoh stood up in a hurry.
"Amaki-san, I can carry it myself—"
Lucas didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the classroom.
Since school had just ended and the halls were still crowded with students, many looked over in confusion as they saw Lucas Amaki holding hands with Gotoh Hitori.
Were they seeing things?
Was the second-highest ranked student in the entire school walking hand-in-hand with a girl?
Lucas Amaki had given a speech at the freshman welcome ceremony, so everyone knew who he was. But no one recognized the girl beside him.
Wait… Lucas isn't single?
The top-ranked student had always seemed unattached, but the second-best student was casually holding hands with someone in front of everyone?
Gotoh noticed the stares. Her expression grew increasingly nervous, and she gently tugged at Lucas's sleeve.
"Amaki… you… um… could you let go of my hand…?"
Lucas simply put a finger to his lips in a shh gesture.
And just like that, they walked out of the school, hand in hand, under the gaze of the entire student body.
Once outside, Lucas pulled out his phone and opened LINE.
He found the contact [Ijichi Nijika] and sent a message:
Lucas: We're out of school. Are you guys nearby?
He hit send and waited for a reply.
Earlier, Nijika had messaged him during a break, asking him to bring Gotoh along to help her get used to the band. Lucas hadn't refused—he said he could do it after school.
A reply came quickly.
Nijika: Almost there. Look behind you.
Lucas turned off his phone and looked over his shoulder—sure enough, Nijika and Yamada Ryo were about fifty meters away.
"Gotoh-chan! And that boy whose name I still don't know—good afternoon!"
Nijika jogged over with a bright smile, waving as she greeted them.
Lucas sighed and covered his forehead.
Of course I forgot to tell them my name…
"I should've mentioned it earlier—my name is Lucas Amaki."
"Ohh, got it," Nijika nodded.
"G-good afternoon, Nijika…" Gotoh greeted timidly.
"Hi. I'm Yamada Ryo," Ryo said flatly.
"Nice to meet you," Lucas replied.
"Since everyone's here, let's go," Nijika said.
It was getting close to dusk, and with a rehearsal planned, there wasn't much time to waste.
"Now?" Lucas asked, slightly confused.
He had thought it was just a quick meetup to talk about the band—not an actual rehearsal.
"Amaki-san, where are we going?" Gotoh asked.
"I forgot to tell you—today's about helping you get used to the band so you can work together more smoothly at the performance."
Lucas explained on Gotoh's behalf, realizing it was his own fault for not mentioning it earlier.
"Ah… ah?"
"Don't worry, Gotoh-chan," Nijika said cheerfully. "It's just a rehearsal. Our first show isn't for another two days."
"O-okay… I understand. I'll do my best."
Gotoh nodded, trying to sound confident.
"That's the spirit. Let's go."
Lucas checked his watch—plenty of time left.
"Okay!" Nijika made a thumbs-up and led the group to the venue.
To Lucas's surprise, their destination was an underground live house. It had been a long time since he'd been to a place like this—last time was back in a Chinese underground mall.
"Let's head in," Nijika said, pushing the door open.
Lucas turned to Gotoh. "Come on," he said gently, then stepped inside.
Gotoh followed close behind, taking in the dim but familiar atmosphere of the underground space.
She murmured quietly, almost without thinking:
"…This is my home."
Nijika, walking slowly beside her, blinked in surprise.
"Gotoh-chan, what did you say?"
Gotoh startled, then shook her head quickly. "N-nothing…"
Lucas, already ahead, glanced back. He saw the way Nijika looked at Gotoh and couldn't help but feel Nijika had a kind, sisterly aura toward her.
Or maybe it was just his imagination.
Just then, a laid-back voice called out behind them.
"You found everyone?"
Lucas turned to see a woman who looked remarkably like Nijika—same hair color, similar face.
He figured this must be Nijika's older sister.
"Yep, all here!" Nijika waved.
"These two?" the woman asked, glancing at Lucas and Gotoh.
"Oh, no—just her." Nijika pulled Gotoh forward.
Lucas realized they were talking about the band lineup and quickly clarified.
"I'm not in the band. I'm not that good with music. I guess you could call me her agent."
He stepped to Gotoh's side.
"Got it," said the older sister.
"There's a band performing here today—you can observe them. There's also rehearsal space over there," she added, pointing.
"Alright."
But just as Nijika turned to talk to Gotoh, she realized—
"Wait… where's Gotoh-chan?"
She looked at Lucas for answers.
"She went over there," Lucas pointed at a large box.
Truthfully, he hadn't seen her move—but based on instinct, he figured she would've found somewhere to hide. In a place like this, crowded and unfamiliar, someone with social anxiety would definitely try to disappear.
And that box? The only real hiding spot.
"…Gotoh-chan, you can't rehearse from inside a box," Nijika said with a forced smile.
Yamada Ryo wandered over.
"Gotoh-san, want a nickname?" Ryo said slyly.
"You're now Little Pochi."
"Little Pochi?" a voice came from the box.
Gotoh popped her head out.
"Y-yes! That's the first time anyone's called me that."
She smiled, just a little.
"Ryo, don't tease," Nijika sighed. "But if you like it, Gotoh-chan, I'll call you Pochi-chan too."
"Still," she added, "Pochi-chan, you can't rehearse from inside the box. Are you planning to bring it onstage with you?"
"…Y-yeah! This is my home."
Gotoh's voice was faint.
Lucas watched the exchange silently. It felt awkward to butt in on such a heartfelt moment between girls.
But saying nothing also felt wrong.
"Gotoh-san," Lucas finally said, "just for today, can you come out of the box?"
He gently lifted the box away and reached out to pat her head.
"Do it for me, okay?"
Something in his tone made Gotoh's heart flutter.
"…Okay!"
"Then let's go, little Pochi," Nijika said warmly, taking her hand and guiding her to the rehearsal space.
"Yamada," Lucas said quietly as he walked with Ryo, "doesn't Nijika kind of feel like a mom sometimes?"
He wasn't that familiar with Ryo, so he still used his last name.
"Yeah… I think so too. Let's go."
Ryo picked up her bass and followed. Lucas trailed behind.
Everyone took their positions. Gotoh was trembling slightly, her guitar shaking in her hands.
"Pochi-chan, don't panic. Just play like you always do," Nijika encouraged her gently.
"…Okay."
Gotoh took a deep breath and steadied herself.
Lucas sat off to the side, where there weren't many seats—right beside Nijika's sister.
"Hi. I'm Ijichi Seika—Nijika's older sister."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lucas Amaki."
"Do you believe in that girl?" Seika asked directly.
"I believe she's special," Lucas answered firmly. "She'll give the perfect answer to her dream."
"Hm… if I'm not mistaken, you're her boyfriend, right?"
"…Something like that. We're in a sort of… fake relationship. Once she reaches her dream, I'll probably step away."
"Young man," Seika said with a knowing smile, "I don't believe that for a second."
"When I came in, I saw how worried you were about her. The way you looked like you wanted to jump up there and give her strength when she was nervous…"
"So, be honest with yourself—and take good care of that girl."
With that, Ijichi Seika fell silent and watched the rehearsal begin.
***
The music gradually stopped, and the three people on the stage were a little out of breath.
Lucas Amaki clapped silently.
Ijichi Seika looked at Gotoh Hitori with some confusion, feeling that the rhythm she played was a bit off.
"Sister Seika, get me a bottle of water and a towel,"
Lucas Amaki said, looking at Ijichi Seika.
"Oh."
Ijichi Seika didn't refuse because she knew what Lucas wanted those two things for.
She handed them to Lucas.
"Thanks."
Lucas took them, stood up, and walked toward the stage.
"Little Bocchi, you play the guitar so well!"
Nijika looked at Gotoh Hitori excitedly.
"It's really good,"
Ryo echoed.
"I… I… don't think it's… that good yet…"
Gotoh Hitori listened to Nijika and Ryo praising her, but she felt that she still hadn't played well.
"Gotoh-san, they're right. You played really well."
As he walked, Lucas opened the lid of the water bottle and took the towel draped over his shoulder in his hand.
"Lu… Lu… Lucas, I really feel like I…"
"That's enough."
Lucas wiped the sweat from Gotoh Hitori's face with the towel.
Nijika, who had just finished chatting with Ryo and was about to call Hitori over to take a break, happened to see this scene.
She suddenly felt that she had come at the wrong time.
Ryo also came over at that moment.
"There will be fun things coming up for the band,"
Ryo said quietly.
"Drink some water and go take a rest."
Lucas held out the bottle of water to Hitori.
"Lu… Lu… Lucas, I can actually open it myself."
"It's just a small thing."
Lucas shrugged.
Gotoh Hitori's hands were trembling a little. She slowly took the water and took a sip.
"Bocchi-chan, Lucas."
Nijika came over.
"What?"
Lucas asked.
"It's dark now. Be careful when you go back."
Nijika reminded.
"Thanks for the reminder,"
Lucas said.
Lucas walked off the stage with them, then came over to Ijichi Seika alone.
"Sister Seika, I understand now what you said before."
"You're welcome,"
Ijichi Seika replied calmly.
"Gotoh-san, let's go."
Lucas returned to Hitori's side.
"O… Okay."
Gotoh Hitori nodded.
"Lucas, Bocchi, byebye~"
Nijika said with a smile.
Lucas and Gotoh Hitori came out of the live house.
"Gotoh-san, I'll take you home."
"No… no need."
Gotoh Hitori was used to going back by herself.
"Hmm, I'd better take you back. It's so late, and I don't feel comfortable letting a girl walk home alone."
After thinking for a while, Lucas decided to walk her home.
But Gotoh Hitori wanted to refuse. She was used to walking home alone, so she felt it was fine to go back so late.
However, she didn't dare to refuse.
Because there was no harm in Lucas sending her back.
"Th… thank you."
Gotoh Hitori still agreed to his proposal.
After a while, they arrived at Gotoh Hitori's house. Nothing happened on the way.
Lucas walked forward and rang the doorbell.
The bell rang inside the house.
The door opened.
"Lucas?"
Gotoh's mother opened the door.
"It's me, auntie."
"Because of something today, Hitori and I came back a little late,"
Lucas explained.
"I see. Thank you, Lucas.
Hitori, come in."
Gotoh's mother said.
Gotoh Hitori entered the room, while Lucas was still standing outside the door.
"Since Gotoh-san's home now, I'll be leaving."
"Auntie, Gotoh-san, goodbye."
"Lucas, be careful on your way back."
"Goodbye, Lu… Lucas-san."
"Okay."
Lucas put his schoolbag back on his back and left.
Gotoh's mother closed the door and looked at her daughter.
"Hitori, tell mom—how are things going between you and Lucas?"
"Mom, you… you… what are you saying…"
When Gotoh Hitori was asked that by her mother, her brain immediately shut down.
She didn't know what to say or think.
Lucas returned home.
Looking at the messages the teacher had sent him on his phone, there were nearly ten of them.
The general content was:
[Lucas, you're second in the entire first-year class. School's already been in session for two weeks. Don't you know which club or department to join yet?]
Speaking of departments, there was one place he wanted to go: the [Disciplinary Committee].
He heard the top student in the school was in the Disciplinary Committee.
And apparently the president, too.
He opened the information about clubs and departments that the teacher had sent.
He directly selected [Disciplinary Committee].
President: Tomoki Nagakuni, top of this year's first-year class.
Vice President: None.
After closing the information sheet, Lucas had already decided to join the Disciplinary Committee.
He wanted to take the position of Vice President.
The next day
Lucas went to school alone because the teacher had asked him to arrive early.
He sent a message to Gotoh Hitori.
Because he arrived early and no one was in the classroom yet, he prepared breakfast for Gotoh Hitori and placed it on her desk, then went to the office to find the teacher.
"Teacher."
Lucas walked into the office without knocking.
"Lucas, why didn't you knock before coming in?"
The teacher asked.
"You're the only one in this office, teacher. What difference does it make whether I knock or not?"
Lucas replied.
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. Did you see the message I sent you yesterday?"
The teacher brought up the topic.
"Yes."
Lucas replied.
"So, what club or department did you decide to join? You're second in the whole grade, and you still haven't picked anything after two weeks. Among the top ten, you're the only one who hasn't chosen."
The teacher said helplessly.
"I've decided. I'll join the Disciplinary Committee."
"Alright, fill in the form."
"No need. I'll go talk to Nagakuni Tomoki myself. He won't turn me down, right?"
Lucas said with a smile.
"Well, you young people should handle that yourselves."
The teacher didn't really want to manage Lucas. He was the second-best student in school, after all, and hard to manage.
The talent and results were there.
"Well, teacher, I'll head to the committee first."
"Go ahead, go ahead."
Lucas took the blank form and left the office.
Soon, he found the Disciplinary Committee.
Lucas first looked around and saw that Nagakuni Tomoki was sitting in the president's seat.
"Nagakuni Tomoki, is it okay if I join the committee without handing you the form?"
Lucas pushed open the door and asked directly.
Nagakuni Tomoki put down the incident log and looked up at him.
"Lucas Amaki. I heard you didn't choose any department or club the past two weeks. Why show up now?"
"The teacher told me I had to pick one, so I had no choice. I thought the Disciplinary Committee seemed alright, so I came here."
Lucas sat down at the long table.
"Since you're here, take out the form and I'll register you."
Nagakuni said.
"Sorry, it's blank."
Lucas replied.
"In that case, you can leave."
Nagakuni said without giving room for negotiation.
"Alright then, I'll go to the student council. I heard the third- and fourth-ranked students are there. I should be able to become president directly."
Lucas shook his head and was about to leave.
"I've filled out your form. You're in. You can leave now."
Nagakuni suddenly stopped him.
Lucas was stunned. That guy changed his attitude faster than flipping a page.
Lucas took out his phone, opened the club directory for Shuka High, and tapped [Disciplinary Committee].
He really was listed there.
As Vice President.
Nagakuni, huh… really changes his mind fast.
"You may go now, Vice President."
Nagakuni said.
Lucas slipped his phone into his pocket and left the committee without saying anything.
Anyway, everything big or small was Nagakuni's problem now. It had nothing to do with him.
He just had to handle the occasional task.
But now he had to return to the classroom.
It was already class time, and he didn't know if Gotoh Hitori had eaten the breakfast he left for her.
After all, she wasn't close with any classmates—she only knew Lucas.