socialphobia ^2

Bocchi

(The performance is over but there are still so many people here! I need to become a guitar stand and blend into the background...)

Tomoko

(That guitarist is totally living the dream! Look how everyone loves her performance! If I join a band, I'll definitely become popular like her and have friends throwing themselves at me!)

Tomoko

(This is my chance! I'll just ask her how to become a cool musician and instantly solve all my social problems forever!)

Bocchi

(Someone's coming toward me! Why?! What did I do?! Is my existence bothering them?! I need to become invisible RIGHT NOW!)

Tomoko

H-hi! You're the g-guitarist, right? Y-you must be really popular now that you're in a b-band! C-can you tell me how to... um... get popular too?

Bocchi

P-p-p-popular?! M-me?! I-I-I just hide behind my guitar and h-hope no one notices I exist!

Bocchi

I'm s-still working on basic human communication!

Tomoko

(Wait, she's WORSE than me?! This cool band person is even more socially broken than I am?! My whole plan is ruined!)

Tomoko

But you play on stage! I thought performing in a band automatically makes you cool and popular!

Bocchi

It's... it's actually helped a little. Before the band, I couldn't even leave my room. Now I can... sometimes... talk to people. When I absolutely have to. Or just play guitar while staring at the floor.

Bocchi

You also have... trouble with people?

Tomoko

Yeah. I've tried everything to get popular. Dating sims don't prepare you for real social interaction. At all.

Tomoko

(So there's no instant fix, huh? But she did say it helped a little... maybe baby steps are better than my usual delusional schemes.)

Tomoko

Maybe I should try learning guitar too. Not to get instantly popular... just to, y'know, have something to hide behind while standing near other humans.