Does gravity make me stronger?

Page 181

"Um, is this the reason you came to the department office today?"

"What do you mean, 'just for this'?"

Sawamura Kaze clutched his chest, feigning grief, his voice heart-wrenching, "This is a major issue for the record company, and your attitude is devastating."

"..."

"Ahem." Shoko coughed lightly and cleared his throat. "Hikigaya-kun, Sawamura-goro, actually I joined a band."

"Oh, that's great."

Upon hearing this, Sawamura Kaze's attitude immediately underwent a complete 360-degree reversal: "When is the performance? I'll come and support you then."

"What I'm going to talk about today is actually this matter."

Xiangzi solemnly took out two tickets from his schoolbag, on which were written in dark gold lettering: Masquerade Ball.

After reading it, Hachiman felt a pang of anxiety.

I don't think I need to prepare a tuxedo to attend this high-class ball.

Seemingly seeing through Hachiman's thoughts, Sawamura Kaze said with a grin, "Hachiman, do you need me to lend you a suit? My dad used to wear it, but he doesn't need it now."

"It shouldn't be that bad, right?" Hachiman forced an awkward smile.

He was determined to go and support Xiangzi at his first performance, but the issue of what to wear was a real headache.

Fortunately, Xiangzi quickly explained, "No, it's called a dance party, but it's just a regular music performance. It's just that the venue is a theater, so everyone attending will dress more formally."

Xiangzi's implication was that it was a high-end version of a LiveHouse, with dress requirements, but not many.

As long as it's not outlandish clothing, it's fine.

This point still needs to be clarified.

After all, there are many oddballs in bands, and it's not uncommon for people to watch performances naked.

"Oh, right."

Almost forgot the important matter, just as Sawamura was about to announce the disbandment, Hachiman asked in time: "Speaking of which, does our club have any group activities during the summer vacation? I don't think so."

"hiss--"

Upon hearing this, Sawamura Kaze stroked his chin and gasped.

Seeing that expression, Hachiman realized that he had spoken out of turn.

It wasn't there originally, but now it's hard to say.

After hesitating for a while, Sawamura Kaze suddenly had a flash of inspiration: "That's a good idea!"

Hachiman: "Actually, it's okay if I don't have any. During summer vacation, I plan to go home and stay there, so I don't have much time."

"Well, we'll talk about that later. Everyone, let's focus on the exams for now."

"Minister, are your grades bad?" Hachiman asked instinctively.

"Not good? I've never fallen out of the top five in my grade."

Sawamura Kaze gave a thumbs up and did Vegeta's signature move of quickly lying down, while Shoko nodded slightly: "Me too."

"What?!"

Unexpectedly, the two people in front of him were both top students, which instantly shattered Hachiman's newly gained confidence.

Forget it, doing well on the final exams is useless anyway. His future goal is just to get into an ordinary national university, so there's no need to compete with the top students.

...

The day after the holiday.

The weather took a sharp turn for the worse, changing from bright sunshine yesterday to dark clouds in an instant.

Thick, dark clouds covered Tokyo like a blanket.

Who is undergoing tribulation here?

"The typhoon is about to make landfall, so please stay indoors as much as possible and don't wander around. If you need anything, please contact your teacher immediately!"

Before school ended, Miyami Sen gave her special instructions.

Hachiman gazed solemnly at the wind and rain rushing past the window, his feelings a mix of emotions.

In the afternoon, it was the End of the Band's second performance, which in a sense was the band's first official performance since its formation, and it might be canceled.

Generally speaking, whether it rains or not will not have a significant impact on passenger flow.

However, this does not apply to severe weather.

Especially during typhoon season.

Most people don't have the XP to run wildly in a storm; normal people will either go home as soon as possible or stay where they are to take shelter from the rain.

"I wonder how Boqi and the others' performance will go this afternoon?"

Aine gazed sadly out the window, pondering the same thing as Hachiman.

"Pochie and the others will definitely be fine."

Despite feeling somewhat powerless, Takamatsu still cheered them on.

then.

The two turned to Hachiman together: "Hachiman, are you going over this afternoon too?"

"Hmm." He nodded. "But I'm on the night shift, so I'll be a little late. Aren't you coming?"

“My dad came to pick me up and told me to go home early.”

Ai Yin sadly held up her phone, which contained the chat history between the father and daughter.

As for Takasatsu Akari, she couldn't go to the Starry Night Performance Hall for the same reason, but her mother came to pick her up.

"Hikigaya-san..."

"Hachiman..."

Meeting the worried gazes of the two girls, Hachiman rested his chin on his hand and exhaled a slight breath.

"I will try my best to take good care of them tonight."

---Cut line---

The previous chapter has been revised; please refresh the page to view it.

Chapter 191, Chapter 188: The Timid Xiangzi

At this point, there was nothing he could do but pray for the band's demise.

Amitabha Buddha, Amen, may this be done hastily!

My mind was racing with a jumble of thoughts, and I don't know which phrase had any effect, but the dark clouds outside the window seemed to have actually dispersed a bit.

Just as Hachiman was overjoyed, the dark clouds that had just dissipated gathered again, and were even more oppressive than before.

They stretched out in a dark mass, resembling warships that had flown in from outer space.

Did the water droplet arrive on Earth four hundred years earlier?

"Ding dong!"

As soon as the school bell rang, Hachiman packed his schoolbag and prepared to walk towards the entrance of the Second School. When he arrived at the area where he changed his shoes, he bumped into Shoko, who had also just finished school.

"Hikigaya-san!"

Upon seeing Hachiman, Xiangzi was both surprised and delighted, and immediately went over.

Good afternoon, are you going home?

"Hmm...hmm~" Xiangzi nodded first, then quickly shook his head: "I have to go to the office today."

"Is that so?" Hachiman glanced at it indifferently, then looked away and took out a pair of sneakers from the shoe cabinet. "I remember, aren't you having a performance soon?"

"also?"

"Ah, the End Band that I introduced to you before, today is their first time on stage."

"Then I hope they succeed," Xiangzi said gently.

Xiangzi was neither interested in nor disliked the four girls who had left the band; he was indifferent to them.

However, considering that the other party was a friend and colleague of Hachiman, and that they might still have contact after getting married in the future, she sincerely wished the band's performance a smooth success.

Wait, isn't it too early to be thinking about marriage now?

"Toyokawa-kun, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"

To Hachiman, who hadn't yet opened up about his feelings, Xiangzi's changing expressions were undoubtedly signs of physical discomfort.

Faced with Hachiman's concern, Shoko just waved her hand haphazardly and shyly denied it, saying, "No, no, I'd rather say I'm in a very good mood right now."

"is it?"

Hachiman continued changing his shoes without commenting, muttering to himself, "But in this weather, I wonder how many spectators will show up."

"It'll be fine."

"It's probably best to avoid using that sentence structure?"

"Okay, sure..."

Xiangzi's shoe cabinet was on the other side, so she spent some time going around to it, changing her shoes, and then coming back.

"Shall we walk together for a bit?"

"Ah."

The two were going to take a tram and a bus respectively. Although their destinations were different, part of their routes were on the same line.

Just as the two were preparing to leave with their umbrellas open.

The rain suddenly intensified, splashing huge sprays of water onto the ground, making the already difficult roads even worse.

Hachiman stared intently at the road surface, which was almost completely submerged, his brows furrowed.

The moment he looked up again, the surroundings suddenly darkened as if the lights had been turned off. Before he could react, a bolt of lightning tore through the entire sky!

The next second, a deafening roar of thunder resounded!

"Boom!"

The students around them who were still changing their shoes froze in place, and some of the more timid girls even screamed.

In the parking lot, some old electric vehicles were beeping their alarms, seemingly complaining about the bad weather.

"Damn, the sky has cracked open! There are four emperors fighting!"

"Flame Eight Trigrams!"

"Ape God Spear!"

The sudden thunder did not frighten these energetic high school students. Some clueless kids shouted out the names of moves from anime to each other and charged into the torrential rain with fearless spirit.

They look like the monkeys' offspring who bravely ventured into the Water Curtain Cave...

In such a noisy environment, Hachiman stood still, without moving an inch.

This was certainly not because he was frightened by the lightning.

Instead.

"Toyokawa-kun..."

His hands hung limply in mid-air, his head bowed, unsure of what to say to comfort the trembling girl nestled in his arms.

"Are you afraid of thunder?" After thinking for a long time, Hachiman finally came up with this dry question.

"Um..."

Xiangzi buried his head in his chest, his voice trembling slightly.

"It's alright, it's all over now."

Hachiman took a breath, calming his agitated emotions, and his previously useless right hand gently stroked the girl's soft hair.

"sorry..."

"Well, everyone has things they're afraid of. Speaking of which, the haunted house back then was... painful!"