My Romance Simulation with Them

[He's probably dead (Goto Ichiri): I'm so sorry! I'm truly terrified that this has caused you any discomfort. Tomorrow I will bring my wedding expenses with me, please accept them.]

[Tokyo's most handsome boy: That's not what I meant.]

[Probably dead: But...isn't my lifetime wedding expenses enough?]

The chat history ends here.

The three girls present fell into a long silence.

After a long while—

"I'm so sorry! We came without warning and gave Nanxiang Sang a hard time. We really apologize!"

Filled with remorse, Ichiki Nigatsu bowed and apologized.

No matter how you look at this chat log, it doesn't seem like Nango was bullying Goto Ichiri.

As for those embarrassing videos?

Ryo Yamada's phone has a bunch of videos about ending the band's dark history, which can only be considered a joke between friends.

"We are so sorry! We were so rude to Little Lonely's friend."

Ignoring Yamada Ryo's voice, "Huh? Why do I have to bow my head and apologize too?", Ichiji Nigatsu pulled her over and bowed her head to Nango Toki.

"It's alright, I'm happy to have friends like you all, Goto-kun."

Nanxiang Shi's handsome face broke into a smile, and he waved his hand.

His seemingly nonchalant demeanor made Ichiji Nijika even more convinced that he was a good person.

A sense of guilt welled up inside her, and she couldn't help but mutter a small complaint: "Really... Nango-san is such a good friend of Kotori, why didn't she say so sooner?"

Meanwhile, on the other side...

"Ah!"

Hugging her knees and curling up in a ball, Goto Ichiri sneezed forcefully. She couldn't help but shrink her head and look around in fear.

Who...who is talking about me?

Chapter Twenty-Seven. Goto Ichiri didn't expect this—

Originally, Goto Ichiri did not want to run away.

but--

Her body acted before her thoughts could even process them.

When she came to her senses, she found herself sitting at the entrance to the back courtyard of the school building.

Even though Nijika and the others came to Ocha High School for their own sake and confronted the Great Demon King Nango, it was all for their own sake.

As it turned out, he had run away first.

Isn't this just causing trouble for Nijika-chan, Ryou-san, and Kita-chan?

"Yes, we really can't continue like this!"

Goto Ichiri clenched her hands tightly over her chest, trying to muster all the courage in her body.

She couldn't just watch as Ichika and Kita Yudai helped her handle everything.

And the opponent was none other than Nango Toki—

Goto Ichiri couldn't help but shrink back when he thought of Nango.

She thought of her conversation with the other person on LINE the previous night.

But his guitar was no longer enough for Nango Toki, and it seemed the other party didn't value the wedding funds he had saved up...

Ugh... How terrifyingly greedy people are.

Goto Ichiri pulled his feet back.

But this time it's okay! I still have Nijika, Ryo, and Kita-san to help me!

I have so many encouraging friends around me!

Goto Ichiri felt his resolve slowly returning.

That's right! As long as we all work together, we'll definitely be able to defeat the Great Demon King Nango! And get my guitar back!

"Go, go! One mile!"

This was the first time Goto Ichiri had ever cheered herself on so loudly.

Yes. She wasn't afraid!

As long as I'm with Hongxia and the others, with their support and help, I'm sure I can break free from the bullying I experienced in Nanxiang!

She took another deep breath.

This time, she felt it.

Something I'd never felt before was churning in my chest.

Goto Ichiri knew that this was probably what was called courage—this was the first time she had ever felt this way in her life.

Before this courage dissipated, Goto Ichiri finally took the first step forward.

Although she kept her head down and dared not look directly at others, Goto Ichiri's steps were not at all confused as she walked towards the central courtyard of the campus.

As long as I can be with Nijika and the others... as long as they're with me, then maybe I really can face Nanago Toki—

"Hey?"

Goto Ichiri stopped at the entrance to the courtyard, completely stunned.

She had imagined countless scenarios of Nango making things difficult for and bullying Ichichi Nijika and the others, but she never expected the scene before her to happen.

The 'Great Demon King of Nango,' who had put down her novel, was chatting and laughing with Ichiji Nijika, on whom she had placed high hopes, while Kita Ikuyo would occasionally chime in.

Even Yamada Ryo, who is usually quiet and aloof, was now resting her chin on her hand, listening intently.

"Why...?"

Goto Ichiri once again uttered a sound of incomprehension from the scene before him.

This makes it seem as if Nango Toki was the guitarist who ended the band's run.

But...but...

"Then...shouldn't that position belong to me?"

When Goto Ichiri looked at Nango, who was being actively surrounded and interacted with by the band members, her pretty, fair face, hidden under her overly long bangs, was full of blankness and question marks.

Why... has she become the excluded outsider instead?

The courage I had just mustered melted away like snowflakes in spring.

Goto Ichiri had no idea that she had only been gone for a short while.

It feels like I've been gone for a whole year.

Just as Goto Ichiri was at a loss for what to do, Iji Chi Nikka, who was still communicating with Nango Toki, had already keenly noticed her.

"Ah! It's Little Loneliness!"

Ichiji Nijika took cute little steps and ran up to Goto Ichiri: "Seriously, little lonely one, where did you go all by yourself? I was so worried about you."

"what..."

Ichika Ichi's magnanimity in not caring about her desertion at the last minute made Ichiri Goto feel extremely guilty.

Before she could speak, Ichiji Nijika grasped her hand.

"Forget it, there's no point in saying all this. I never expected that you, Little Lonely, would be such good friends with Nanxiang Sang."

"what?"

"Little Lonely, are you still trying to hide it?"

Seeing Goto Ichiri's blank expression as if she didn't know what she was talking about, Ichiji Nijika grinned and put her finger to her lips, looking like she had seen right through her: "I already know that you and Nango-san are good friends, and what happened yesterday was just a misunderstanding."

"Hey?"

No... what are you talking about, Nijika-chan?

Why is it that even though all the words are Japanese words that I can understand, I can't understand a single word when they are put together into a sentence?

Was Nanxiang my good friend?

In which world does this story take place?

How come I had no idea?

No, no! Now is not the time to think about that!

Although Goto Ichiri didn't understand what was happening, if things continued like this, it seemed that even his own band's little world was about to be invaded by Nango Toki.

So Goto Ichiri tried desperately to explain: "No... Nijika-chan, you must have made a mistake somewhere, it's not like that."

Her voice was stammering, and you could tell she was really trying her best to explain.

And she had just said that sentence.

On the other side, Nango Toki also sighed with 'regret' at the opportune moment, seemingly understanding Goto Ichiri's words and continuing along with her:

"That's true. I think Goto is right. Just because you've talked to Goto a few times, you're already considering yourself a friend. That's just being presumptuous."

After saying this, he earnestly apologized to Goto Ichiri: "I'm so sorry I didn't consider your feelings, Goto-kun."

"Why…?"

After hearing what the other person said, Goto Ichiri didn't know how to respond.

"Southern Mulberry..."

Ichi Nijika was somewhat touched. It was rare to find a boy in high school who was so understanding, easy to get along with, and had such a gentle personality.

She couldn't help but speak up for Nanxiang Shi in a gentle tone:

"Little Lonely, there's no need to be so harsh in your denial... Now that we've already talked several times, Nango-san can definitely be considered your friend."

“I think so too.” Kita Ikuyo nodded. “Although I don’t know what happened, Goto-san, having another excellent friend like Nango-san is definitely a good thing.”