Night.
"Coming back so late, did you go on a date... Daughter, are you... are you okay?"
It was already night when Little Bocchi returned home. Her parents wanted to tease their daughter a bit more, but they quickly noticed the even more gloomy aura emanating from her. Her eyebrows were deeply furrowed, and the face beneath her bangs was pale and withered, as if her entire being had been burned out.
"What happened, Sis?" her sister, Futari, asked cautiously.
"I... I went to work."
Little Bocchi had mentioned going to work with friends, but... Friends? Work? Did she really go to work? Based on their understanding of their daughter, neither of those things seemed possible for her, but now... it seemed like she genuinely had gone to work.
As an obscure band, their performances not only didn't earn money but cost them money. Nijika and Ryo Yamada went to work there every day after school. Selling drinks and tickets wasn't dirty or exhausting work, and they could still use the stage for various practices when there were no performances. Their wages were actually quite decent. In Nijika's words, this was her sister Seika's way of looking out for them, but her tsundere sister simply wouldn't admit it.
Even with that level of care, Little Bocchi... working? And a job that required interacting with people? Wasn't that essentially asking her to die?
However... Little Bocchi really couldn't—or rather, didn't dare to—refuse others. Besides... she had finally made friends and joined a band. What if they disliked her for refusing? After countless internal monologues visualizing the miserable consequences of refusal, Little Bocchi bit the bullet and went, resulting in her current state.
Although it was only her first day of work, she was already... burnt out. Her whole being was completely burnt out.
So scary. The person handing over the drink ticket with a blank face was so scary. The person smiling while waiting for her to make their drink was so scary. The person who nonchalantly told her to give them just any drink was so scary.
So scary, so scary, so scary!!!! Work is so scary, society is so scary, graduation is so scary!!!!
Right now, it was only after-school part-time work, but what about after graduation? After graduation, she would have to work all day, every day.
I don't want to work, I don't want to work, I don't want to work... I wish I could be a pet kept in a cage, never having to go out or work!
Although it was just a regular part-time job, in Little Bocchi's eyes, it was like battling a demon lord. Despite the customers being very polite, in Little Bocchi's mind, they were like evil spirits.
"I don't want to work anymore... It's so scary, society is too scary..." Little Bocchi looked at her mother with pitiful eyes. "Is there any way to not have to work after graduation?"
Frankly, as parents, they were also very worried about their "failed project" that was Little Bocchi. Fortunately, her sister seemed to be growing up well and could take care of her older sister when they got old. Otherwise, they couldn't imagine how their daughter would live with her level of social anxiety.
It wasn't a matter of income. Little Bocchi's online income from uploading her guitar covers should be enough to support herself; the tracksuit Little Bocchi wore cost hundreds of thousands of yen. But they were worried about her life and her mental health. Humans are social animals and can't completely stop communicating with others... They could already picture a disheveled Little Bocchi living in a house filled with garbage.
The only thing that brought them some comfort was that she seemed to have made band friends these past two days, went to work with friends, and was even sent home by a male friend yesterday. Their talk about her marrying him this morning wasn't a joke; at least then, someone would take care of her in the future.
"Well... Didn't you make friends recently? You have to try your best."
After her parents' successive attempts to comfort her, a disheartened Little Bocchi returned to her room. Only when she was back in her own small space did Little Bocchi let out a brief, sorrowful cry.
Sniffling, Little Bocchi took out her phone and searched for "ways to make money without working." A few forums popped up. Curious, Little Bocchi clicked on one and opened the door to a new world... as long as she was supported by a rich man, she wouldn't have to work! And not only would she not have to work, but she could live in the apartment the man rented and live like a pet!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!!!!
But... where could she find a rich man?
And... with her looks, who would be willing to support her?
The moment this idea occurred, Rin Ito's image popped into Little Bocchi's mind... The reason was simple: besides relatives and teachers, Rin Ito was the only man Little Bocchi knew. Should I ask him to support me?
With this bold idea, Little Bocchi took out her phone and opened her chat with Rin Ito. Since becoming friends, Little Bocchi had never spoken to Rin Ito. Little Bocchi took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, typed in the chat box.
[Can you be my sugar daddy? This is my life's request!]
The words were typed, but Little Bocchi hesitated before sending. No, no, no, no, no. How could he possibly be interested in me? Marin and Misaki... they have great bodies, cheerful personalities, and know how to dress well; they are Gals at the top of the school food chain! My hair is a mess, I have dark circles, I always wear a tracksuit, and I don't know how to dress up. I always hear about who got a love letter at school, but I haven't received a single love letter, or even been approached by a boy!
He wouldn't want to support me. The thought instantly brought up a scene in Little Bocchi's mind where she begged him to support her, only to be harshly mocked... No, he's such a nice person; he should politely decline. But... the result would be the same.
Just like every time Little Bocchi mustered the courage to approach someone, she gave up at the critical moment. Forget it, I shouldn't humiliate myself. Little Bocchi, relieved, wanted to delete the message, but her finger slipped.
Little Bocchi: [Can you be my sugar daddy? This is my life's request!]
"!!!!" Little Bocchi's mind went blank. I... I sent it!?
Recall! Quickly recall!!!
Little Bocchi pressed her trembling finger tightly onto the sent message. When the "Recall" option popped up, she immediately pressed it. After successfully recalling, Little Bocchi breathed a sigh of relief. It was only ten seconds; he probably didn't see it... Why would a girl like me be supported?
My future is indeed bleak.
I should just go to sleep. Everything exists in dreams.
Just as Little Bocchi was extremely disappointed, her phone vibrated. Little Bocchi closed her eyes, not daring to look at the screen, and prayed it was just an advertisement text message. After a while, she cautiously opened her eyes and looked at the screen.
Rin Ito: [Sure.]