Bocchi The Rock [Is It Okay This NEET To Have A Bands Friends?]

Chapter 6 [How Dense You Are!?]

"Sis!!! It's morning already!"

As always, my sister wakes me up every morning.

"Ugh... I don’t want to go to school today," I groan, pulling the blanket over my head.

"I'm going to call Mom if you don’t get up!" she threatens.

"Go ahead, do what you want." Does she really think I’m scared of that? No way!

"Hmph! Mom, Nee-chan doesn't want to go to school!" I hear her stomping down the stairs to call for Mom.

A few moments later, there’s a knock on my door. Mom and Futari walk into my room.

"I'll handle this, sweetie. You go eat your breakfast," Mom says calmly.

"Okay, Mom!" Futari, ever the obedient child, heads downstairs to eat with Dad.

Mom sits beside me, her voice gentle. "Why don't you want to go to school today, honey? It's not like you to skip."

"I think I have a fever," I lie, trying to sound convincing.

Mom places her forehead against mine. 

"E-Eh?" I’m surprised. It’s been so long since she’s done that. Maybe because I haven’t been sick in ages.

"You’re not that warm, sweetie." She gazes at me, clearly not buying it.

"...."

"Why are you lying?" she asks, crossing her arms over her chest.

"...." I'm doomed.

"Is someone bullying you at school?"

Oh no, she's going to jump to conclusions!

"I’ll call the teacher," Mom says, standing up, ready to march downstairs.

"N-No, Mom! No one’s bullying me!" I throw off the blanket and grab her skirt, stopping her.

"Then what’s wrong?" she asks.

I know I can’t keep hiding it, so I explain everything about what happened with Naki-kun.

"Ohh... I see." Suddenly, Mom smiles. 

"...." Why does she look so... smug?

"Are you jealous?" she asks, her eyes twinkling.

"W-What?! Why would I be jealous!?" My face heats up as I shake my head in denial.

"If that’s the case, then go get ready and head to school," Mom says, standing up.

"I-I can’t!" I protest, my face now fully red.

"Why not?" She turns to face me.

"It’ll be so awkward seeing him after what happened yesterday!" I explain.

"It’s okay. I’m sure he understands what happened," she says, still calm.

"B-But—"

"You know, if you don’t go today, you’ll make him worry. You don’t want that, do you?"

I can’t argue with that. If I don’t go, Naki-kun *will* worry.

"...No."

"Then go get ready, okay?" Mom smiles and leaves the room.

I sigh, heading to the bathroom. I comb my hair and brush my teeth like any other day. Nothing exciting. Then, I join my family for breakfast before heading off to school.

---

"Ah, g-good morning, Gotou-san!" Naki-kun greets me, like always. There’s no sign of worry on his face at all.

"M-Morning..." I reply, sitting at my desk.

For a moment, it’s awkwardly quiet between us. Then, Naki-kun breaks the silence.

"A-About yesterday... I’m really sorry, Gotou-san!" His sudden apology catches me off guard.

"D-Don’t worry, I’m fine," I reply quickly, trying to sound casual.

"I didn’t really understand what I was doing yesterday..." Naki frowns, grasping his chest. "But now, I think I get it." He looks straight at me.

D-Don’t tell me he realized—

"N-Naki-kun! It’s not what you think—" I start to explain, but he cuts me off.

"You’re worried about getting fat, right?"

"W-What?!" How can he say something like that so casually!?

"When you suddenly ran off that night, I wondered what happened. So, I Googled it and found that some girls jog at night because they’re self-conscious about people watching them during the day," he says, explaining his absurd theory.

'H-How dense can you be, Naki-kun!?' I scream internally.

"G-Gotou-san, why is your face so red?" he asks, clearly confused.

"Naki-kun! You shouldn’t talk about a girl’s weight!" A group of girls nearby swoop in, scolding him.

"A-Actually, I don’t mind," I mutter, trying to defuse the situation.

"You *should* mind, Gotou-san! Our weight is a secret! We can’t just tell boys!" one of the girls insists, her face way too close to mine.

"Y-Yes!" I reply, nodding quickly.

"You hear that, Naki-kun? Apologize to her right now!" the girl demands.

"G-Gotou-san, I’m really sorry," Naki says, slumping over and covering his face on the desk.

The girls finally leave.

"Naki-kun, don’t worry. I’m not mad at all," I whisper, smiling at him.

Naki slowly lifts his head, and his face turns bright red.

"Why, Naki-kun?" I ask, confused.

"N-Nothing!" He quickly hides his face again.

He’s acting weird, but I’m just happy that everything’s okay between us. I can’t stop smiling with relief.

The bell rings, signaling the start of class.