All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Chapter 23: The Master Command

For various personal and environmental reasons,

Gotoh Hitori had become someone incapable of normal communication with others—a "super introvert."

Her personality gradually grew more isolated, with a tendency to develop into an otaku.

She spent all day holed up in her room, playing the guitar.

Gotoh Hitori mother could no longer stand by and watch.

As a result, today, Gotoh Hitori was pushed out of the house to run errands at the supermarket.

On the way, she noticed an empty park with not a soul in sight.

She looked at the vacant swing.

It felt like a place meant for lonely people like her to gather.

For some reason, she ran over and sat on the swing.

"I don't want to go to school anymore; I can't survive anyway."

"It feels like the internet is the place where I truly belong..."

In her mind, she tortured herself, thinking about all sorts of nonsense.

As a result, because she kept her head down, she completely failed to notice someone approaching.

By the time she realized—

"Hello."

Gotoh Hitori was startled and leaned back, nearly falling off the swing.

Yukima Azuma was crouched in front of Gotoh Hitori, at a rather close distance.

It couldn't be helped.

Gotoh Hitori had been bowing her head the whole time.

If one wanted to see her face, there was no other way.

Even so, it was still impossible to see her fully.

Gotoh Hitori hair was far too long.

Her pink bangs even covered her eyes.

Thus, Yukima Azuma still couldn't figure out why the girl in front of her felt so familiar.

"Hello, my name is Yukima Azuma. I live nearby. I've never seen you before; can we be friends?"

Yukima Azuma smiled gently.

This move was incredibly effective.

Perhaps due to the Yuki family genetics, Yukima Azuma had an 8/10 appearance—not just empty words.

To the point that, even with a cold demeanor, countless people would push and shove to get close.

Adding that friendly smile—

Even someone as cold as a block of ice would easily melt before him!

Gotoh Hitori eyes widened.

"Ehh? Ehh!? What!?"

Struggling to keep her balance and avoid falling, Gotoh Hitori had no time to process why Yukima Azuma had suddenly approached and started a conversation.

'Sunlight! This is actual sunlight! Such a dazzling presence, like sunshine! I'm melting!'

These were the only thoughts running through her mind at the moment.

To the point where she forgot to respond entirely.

Yukima Azuma raised an eyebrow.

Oh?

So, there are people immune to this move?

"Did I bother you by starting a conversation? Sorry, I just wanted to be friends with you."

Yukima Azuma slightly bowed his head, wearing an apologetic expression.

Gotoh Hitori was nearly blinded.

The light from the person in front of her—the "light of an extrovert"—was blindingly intense.

It was stronger than all the "popular people" she had ever met at school combined.

'Friends?'

'Ehh, ehh, ehh!?'

'Gotoh Hitori! Say something! Your potential friend is about to leave!'

'This is bad! It's been too long since I've spoken to anyone! I can't make a sound anymore!'

Gotoh Hitori could only let out a faint noise from her throat: "a...aa."

Yukima Azuma observed the girl in front of him, lightly stroking his chin with a finger.

After a moment of looking at her—

He suddenly clapped his hands together.

"Ah, I see! It's not that you dislike me; you're just too nervous to speak."

Gotoh Hitori: !

'Telepathy!? How does he know that!'

"You're thinking, 'How did I know,' right?"

'It really is telepathy! Crab, carrot, watermelon!'

"You've probably started thinking of random abstract words now, haven't you?"

Gotoh Hitori eyes went even wider.

Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.

But this time, it wasn't a gentle or apologetic smile.

Instead, That's the famous smile of Saki Nikaido and Satanichia

It was a grin filled with amusement, as if he had stumbled upon something entertaining.

This girl was so easy to read; nearly every thought she had seemed written plainly on her face.

And her demeanor—it was obvious she was the type of person who could be teased at will.

"Alright then, hand me your phone first."

Yukima Azuma extended a hand toward Gotoh Hitori.

"Uh…" Reflexively, Gotoh Hitori obeyed, handing over her phone before quietly asking, "Why?"

Taking the phone, Yukima Azuma opened Gotoh Hitori Line app.

First, he added himself to her contacts, then casually edited his name in the notes section.

"Your last name is Gotoh, but what's your full name?"

"Hitori..."

"Oh, then from now on, I'll call you 'Bocchi'."

"Eh? Why call me that—"

"Because Hitori means 'alone,' so the nickname 'Bocchi' is easy to remember, right?"

"It's not..."

Gotoh Hitori wanted to point out that she wasn't questioning the meaning of the nickname.

She was wondering why she needed a nickname in the first place.

And why he was using her phone without permission.

Of course, questions like this couldn't possibly be voiced by someone like Bocchi.

If they could, she wouldn't be Bocchi anymore.

"My name is Yukima Azuma. From now on, just call me Azuma-kun, okay?"

"A..."

"Okay!"

"Yes! Yes! Azuma-kun!"

Yukima Azuma gave a satisfied smile.

Gotoh Hitori trembled slightly.

'I… I was just threatened, wasn't I! That was definitely a threat, wasn't it!'

'What do I do now? Is he going to force me to work at a hostess bar to make money?'

'Is this the end of my life from today onward?'

Bocchi quivered internally.

'Pull yourself together, Gotoh Hitori! You've got to fight back!'

"From now on, we're friends."

"Yes!"

Gotoh Hitori offered no resistance at all.

Yukima Azuma stood up, looking pleased, and took a step back.

Just as Gotoh Hitori felt relieved by the increased distance, she heard—

"Bocchi, now stand here and brush your hair aside."

"Face me and say, 'Nice to meet you, please take care of me.'"

Gotoh Hitori's eyes widened in shock.

"Eh?"

This was clearly too much to handle.

But what Yukima Azuma wanted to do was precisely to push her limits.

"Listen, Bocchi, you know this is a 'friend request,' right? You wouldn't want to let me down, would you?"

With a face on the verge of tears, Gotoh Hitori stepped to the spot Yukima Azuma had indicated.

'Is this what friendship is like? This feels less like a "friend request" and more like a "master command"!'