Chapter Text
[2 WEEKS UNTIL KITA'S BIRTHDAY]
[Nijika and Ryo meet up with Hitori at her house’s entrance after she sends a panicked message]
Hitori: T-thanks for coming! Especially on such short notice.
Nijika: No problem, Bocchi-chan!
Ryo: Are you doing alright? That text worried me a bit.
[Hitori starts to feel ashamed and shuffles around a bit]
Hitori: S-sorry. I’m okay now, it’s just- [shakes a little] Lets go inside, its cold here!
[Ryo and Nijika settle themselves into Hitori’s room]
Hitori: W-well, Kita-chan’s birthday is coming up, and I don’t know how to celebrate it for her!
Ryo: You can just buy her flowers, or anything really, you know Ikuyo would love whatever you give her.
Hitori: I know that, but Kita-chan has done so much for me since we started dating, and I r-really want to repay her…
[A lightbulb lights on top of Nijika, and suddenly got the best idea she’s had]
Nijika: Bocchi-chan! Have you made any plans with Kita yet?
Hitori: N-no, actually. I texted you guys because I realized what month it w-was
Nijika: Spoil the absolute heck out of her! Like, take her out all afternoon after school! Got any idea on where she’d like to go?
Ryo: Why don’t you text her where she’d like to go?
Nijika: Ry-yo-chan! Where’s the fun in that? Wouldn’t it be sweeter if Bocchi-chan completely surprised her special woman on her special day?
Ryo: Point taken.
Hitori: I'm j-just very overwhelmed
Ryo: Why don’t we go around scouting for possible date locations?
Hitori: Th-there’s a mall s-somewhere around here that h-has some stores she’ll love. Solomochi, I think.
Nijika: Now you two are speaking my language! Who knows, you’ll maybe find a perfect gift for her! Commencing, Operation Birthday!
[Hitori doesn’t say anything but the facial expression she’s making perfectly conveys that she’s fine with the idea. A mall, huh? Not the most comfortable place for an introvert with crippling social anxiety, but she really needed to do this. For Kita.]
Hitori: [thinking] I usually hate places like these. But goddamn it, I’m not letting my girlfriend down.
Hitori: F-for Kita-chan’s birthday!
———————————————————————
[Hitori, Nijika, and Ryo arrive at Solomochi, its way bigger than Hitori anticipated. There’s many trendy stores and restaurants. Perfect for an extrovert and her introverted girlfriend!]
Hitori: [thinking] Oh dear god, this mall is huge! Remain calm. For Kita, my sweet and loving Kita.
Ryo: Hey! Take a look at this arcade! Girls looove to go to-
[Nijika grips Ryo’s shoulder as she attempts to enter]
Nijika: You just wanna play Mario Kart, don’t you?
[Ryo childishly pouts and dramatically looks away from Nijika in an attempt to look cutesy]
Hitori: [thinking] She’d actually love to go there, still gotta look around. Actually, she'd like to go just about anywhere here. Oh, but I still can't think of a gift!
Nijika: Still thinking about the gift, Bocchi-chan?
Hitori: [thinking] Huh, how does she- FOCUS! A ring? too early. Flowers? too basic. An outfit? Like I have any taste.
[Hitori starts to spiral down into a much familiar anxiety attack, but then she miraculously figured it out.]
Hitori: [Thinking] A necklace? I'm unto something, but what kind? One with stars in it maybe, a- A CONSTELLATION NECKLACE!
Hitori: G-guys! Is there a j-jewelry store around here?
Nijika and Ryo: YOU’RE GONNA PROPOSE?
[Hitori freaks out, then starts flailing her arms around]
Hitori: N-NO! NO NO NO NO NO! N-not yet at l-least. I meant like a n-necklace-
Nijika: Haha we figured! We were just teasing you, Bocchi-chan!
Ryo: There’s one all the way down there, see it?
Hitori: Oh yeah. I do!
Nijika: Let's go inside, then! We’ll help you find the perfect necklace for your girl!
———————————————————————
[The three musketeers enter the jewelry shop, and are immediately bombarded with many options for…. Literally anything! It overwhelms Hitori, unfortunately]
Hitori: [Thinking] Holy god, there’s so much in here! Don’t look at the rings, look at the necklaces, don’t jump the shark and buy-
Jeweler: Hello ladies, welcome to our store! Anything I could help you with?
Nijika: Yes ma’am! We’re looking for necklaces! Our friend here is looking to buy her partner a gift [gestures towards Hitori]
Jeweler: Oh that’s so sweet! [turns to Hitori] Know any kind of design that your partner would like?
[Hitori always hated talking to store employees, but social anxiety can torment her later. For Kita]
Hitori: O-one with stars in it, p-please.
[Nijika and Ryo shoot an approving glance at each other. They understood the reference]
Jeweler: Then I may have the finest one for you!
[The jeweler hands her a silver 3 stranded necklace, covered in stars. It’s perfect. Hitori beams at the divine piece of jewelry and is already imagining Kita wearing it. The perfect gift in the palm of her hand]
Hitori: It’s perfect! How much would that be?
Jeweler: That would be…. 10,000 yen!
[Nijika and Ryo are taken back by the expensive price. They gave Hitori a pained expression, but Hitori doesn't seem very concerned.]
Ryo: Can you really afford this, Bocchi?
[Hitori ignores Ryo as she pulls out her 10,000 yen bill and hands it to the clerk]
Jeweler: Perfect! Have a nice day you three, hope your partner enjoys her gift!
Hitori: T-thank you very much!
[Hitori power walks out of the store with all the confidence she could have. The drummer and bassist have never seen such a victorious face on the introvert]
———————————————————————
[The three girls are on the train back home. Hitori enjoyed her little adventure, surprisingly enough. Especially after buying such a beautiful gift for the love of her life]
Nijika: You made a good choice, Bocchi-chan! She’ll definitely love it!
Hitori: Y-yeah!
Ryo: Any places you found that you’ll take her to?
Hitori: I don't think I n-need to worry about that. She’ll d-definitely want to go all around the mall!
Ryo: Makes things easier, doesn't it?
Hitori: Yeah. T-thanks for a lot for helping me out.
Nijika: No problem, Bocchi-chan!
[Ryo nods at Hitori, acknowledging her thankfulness]
[Hitori’s phone buzzed. It was a LINE message from Kita]
Kita ❤️: Hello, Hitori Chan! Doing well today, honey?
Hitori: Hey my love! Sorry for not texting back, and yes, I'm doing fine. How are you?
Kita ❤️: It’s okay, and good! Just enjoying my dinner! Wish you were here! You’d love it!
Hitori: Hey, what would you like to do for your birthday?
Kita ❤️: I don’t know yet, why? Got something planned for me?
Hitori: Yes. Wanna go to Solomochi mall?
Kita ❤️: HECK YEAH ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THERES SO MANY COOL STORES AND FUN THINGS TO DO THERE! YOU’RE THE BEST, HONEY!
Kita ❤️: Brb, my parents are getting annoyed that I’m using my phone. Ttyl, my love!
[Yes. It’s all set! Kita Ikuyo’s epic Birthday will be set in Solomochi mall. She can already imagine the date! All that spoiling for hours until she reveals to her the expensively beautiful gift, then Kita swooning about it. Hitori was still very nervous, but unlike a few hours ago, she has an idea, and a gift. Operation Birthday phase 1 was a success, but there's still a lot to do before it's truly successful.]