44: Double the Friendship Fee, That’s Common Sense

Chisato didn't understand what was going through her mind, but he figured a gentle and natural approach wouldn't hurt.

"You don't need to be so formal. We're classmates. The note I left was pretty clear, right? I just wanted to be friends with you."

"I-I see…"

Her tone and words made Gotoh Hitori feel a little more at ease. After replying weakly, she cautiously lifted her head to glance at Chisato again. 

This time, she managed to make eye contact with him.

His eyes seemed to have a magical quality, with a deep, captivating sparkle in his brown irises. Even though he was standing against the light, his eyes still shone brightly. 

The distance between them was just over a meter, yet she felt like she had been struck by lightning, her mind freezing for a moment as she stared in a daze.

"... Classmate?"

"S-sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Gotoh Hitori snapped out of her trance and immediately offered a deeply sincere apology. This time, she even pressed her head and hands to the floor in a full-on bow.

"Having someone like me stare at you must have made you feel disgusted, right? I'm sorry for being so unaware of myself!"

Is she really apologizing just for staring?

"It's not... disgusting, not at all. And you don't need to apologize. Also, could you please lift your head and talk to me?"

"This is my way of making amends! And... I'll soon give you the money for taking me to the nurse and the friendship fee, so... please spare my life!"

Friendship fee? What is she talking about?

Chisato was a bit confused.

"Hold on a minute, when did I ask you for money?"

Gotoh Hitori cautiously lifted her head and spoke softly,

"Well, didn't you give me your LINE account so I could add you as a friend and then send the money?"

"...I told you, I just wanted to be friends with you."

"Yes, and I'll be your friend and then give you the friendship fee... Since the school nurse can't know about this, I understand why you didn't write it so clearly on the note."

Chisato closed his eyes and gently pinched the bridge of his nose. The same feeling of sadness he had felt yesterday began to well up inside him again.

To have such a distorted way of thinking... What kind of life has she been living?

"I... I'm out of pocket money right now, so I was planning to transfer the money to you in a few days." 

"I have no intention of not paying... so please give me a little more time. Here's the first payment..."

Gotoh Hitori trembled as she took out a small wallet from her pocket, hesitantly pulling out a 500-yen coin. 

After reluctantly looking at it for a moment, she placed it in the middle of her palm and offered it to him.

Seeing her like this, Chisato couldn't help but feel like he was watching a poor old lady being extorted by a gang.

After a moment of silence, Chisato spoke, "...Didn't you say you were out of pocket money?"

"This isn't pocket money. I took it out of my piggy bank, using a hairpin to get it out bit by bit..."

"..." Chisato raised an eyebrow and decided not to say anything more.

He quickly finished the rest of his rice ball and then took the 500-yen coin from Gotoh Hitori's hand, putting it into his wallet.

Gotoh Hitori's expression showed a mix of disappointment and relief. She was sad to lose the 500 yen but relieved that Chisato had accepted her apology. 

That meant he was satisfied and wouldn't cause her any more trouble, at least for now.

"I've received the thank-you money for taking you to the nurse and the friendship fee. The 500 yen is more than enough, so you don't need to give me any more money."

'Huh?' The words Chisato spoke were completely unexpected for Gotoh Hitori.

But before she could let her mind wander, Chisato pulled out a 1,000-yen bill from his wallet and held it out to her.

"And this is my friendship fee for wanting to be friends with you. Please take it."

From his interactions with Gotoh Hitori so far, Chisato had learned that she was extremely socially anxious, withdrawn, and lacked confidence.

He remembered his own childhood, facing unpleasant experiences as an orphan. Even though those times were in the past, the memories still brought back negative emotions.

He saw a bit of his younger self in Gotoh Hitori. His original intention of approaching her just to earn points gradually faded, replaced by genuine concern.

She was so deeply insecure that she had withdrawn from normal school life, unable to have regular conversations with others. 

Her habit of hiding under the stairs during lunch showed just how severe her situation was.

Since it would take time for her to return to normal thinking, Chisato figured the solution was simple—he would adjust his own thinking to meet her where she was.

Instead of making her leave her familiar space, he would step into her world.

He needed to eliminate her fear and anxiety first. Only when she fully accepted him could he begin to help her change her unhealthy mindset and stop her from constantly apologizing.

"Don't just stand there, take it."

Chisato spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, moving the bill closer to her.

Gotoh Hitori stared at the crisp bill in front of her, her emotions surging once again.

She felt a mix of fear and disbelief—could someone like her really receive a friendship fee from someone else?

Chisato seemed to understand what she was thinking. Without hesitation, he took a step forward and pressed the bill into her hand.

"Like you, I don't have many friends either. It makes sense for two people with no friends to exchange friendship fees and become friends, doesn't it?"

'Oh, so that's how it is? It kinda makes sense?'

"Even so, you don't need to give me so much!"

Persuaded by his reasoning, Gotoh Hitori raised her voice more than before, not knowing if it was out of happiness or nervousness.

"A friendship fee from a boy to a girl should be double. That's common sense."

Chisato said with a completely serious expression, making up a rule that didn't exist.

'Oh, so that's common sense. I didn't know that before. I've learned something new.'

Gotoh Hitori stared at his outstretched hand. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly reached out and shook it.

"So, from now on, we're friends. And for a long, long time. I'll be counting on you."

"Yes..."

'F-friends!'

'Hehe…'

Gotoh Hitori felt a warm, fuzzy happiness inside her, and a smile spread across her face.

Chisato slightly opened his mouth in surprise.

He wasn't surprised by Gotoh Hitori's smile but by the string of messages from the Pure Love System.

[Gotoh Hitori feels happy. Affection +40.]

[Gotoh Hitori feels touched. Affection +20.]

[Gotoh Hitori feels satisfied. Affection +20.]

[Gotoh Hitori's affection has reached the maximum value. Current affection level: ?]

[New points: 1500. Total remaining points: 1800.]

[Ding! Temporary mission activated...]

'This girl…'

It's truly a testament to the goodness in the world that she's grown up safely without being tricked or sold off somewhere.

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