Does gravity make me stronger?

Page 238

If you can't speak, then don't speak.

Hachiman thought to himself.

Since I met Yukinoshita, I have rarely seen such an uneasy expression on her face. Her flustered appearance clearly suggests that she is running away from something.

Could it be that Yukinoshita is actually a superpowered person who can see ghosts floating in the air?

just kidding.

Based on the few words I overheard when Yukino left, something must have happened at home.

Noticing Yukinoshita's actions as well, Nagasaki Motoyo quietly stroked her fingernails; this instinctive action effectively eased the unease she had just felt.

"Hachiman..."

"It's too early to talk about further education now, but if you have any ideas in the future, Su Shi, you can tell me, and I will seriously consider your thoughts."

"Ah, um."

Nagasaki Motoyo looked up in surprise, paused for a moment, and then smiled and said, "It's not just my idea; we should also discuss it with Shoko, shouldn't we?"

...

Outside the stadium.

Yukino Yukinoshita held her phone solemnly, her free hand wrapped around her abdomen, and the breath she exhaled from her pink lips was frighteningly low.

"Sister, could you please say that again?"

Unlike the cold, aloof voice under the snow, the voice on the other end of the phone was that of a girl trying to sound lively.

"Sure, it's about Toyokawa's sister."

"Sister, Mother has entrusted all matters concerning Miss Toyokawa to me, so please do not interfere."

Yukinoshita pursed her lips impatiently, and the coldness in her eyes made the staff waiting outside the door consciously avoid her.

"Yes, so what Mother means is that I should help you more, since this is the first time you've done something like this."

"No need, I can manage on my own."

“Yukino, although this matter concerning Toyokawa isn’t that important, and Mother isn’t very confident that we can expand the family’s influence through this matter, it’s very important to you, isn’t it?”

Yukino clenched her fists, her face ashen: "That's precisely why I want to do her job well."

"Then why are you unwilling to rely more on my strength?"

"I understand my sister's abilities and methods, but... please trust me a little more."

As if she was about to cry, Yukinoshita lowered her head and gritted her teeth as she spoke each word clearly.

"Okay, okay, but if you fail, you'll have to take full responsibility. From now on, stay away from family affairs. Do you understand?"

Upon hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita closed her eyes tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably.

After a long silence, he managed to squeeze out a few words: "I understand."

"Then I look forward to your good news. Goodbye, Yukino."

"Goodbye."

With a helpless sigh, Yukinoshita hung up the phone. Her once bright eyes seemed to have been stained with a speck of dust, gradually dimming.

at the same time.

A thunderous applause erupted from the stadium behind them.

The performance has officially begun.

The band will come on stage during the show, so there's no need to rush back now.

"Are you feeling unwell again?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out behind me.

"Hachiman, have you finished your work?"

Yukino quickly adjusted her mood, and when she turned around, she had already transformed back into the strong, cold queen.

Hachiman raised an eyebrow, surprised by Yukino's ability to manage her expression, even though she looked like she was about to die just a few seconds ago.

"Well, I'll be right back. I just came out for some fresh air."

Shikishige covered her mouth with her hand, feigning shock, and asked, "Does Hikigaya-kun need to breathe too?"

"Please, in your eyes am I just a corpse that doesn't need to breathe?"

Hachiman said irritably.

"Rather than calling it a corpse, wouldn't it be more appropriate to call it a zombie? What do you think of the name 'Zombie-kun'?"

"Not very good."

Hachiman pursed his lips speechlessly, inwardly questioning the young lady's skill in giving nicknames.

"Deng asked me to come out and find you. Well, seeing how energetic you are, I know she worried for nothing."

"Really? Isn't it because you wanted to come out and see me? After all, I'm so cute."

Yukinoshita grinned mischievously.

"Hey, don't assume I like you! I already told you I have a girlfriend!"

Hachiman gritted his teeth, but he actually felt a little guilty because his inner thoughts had been exposed.

Although it wasn't much, he did have some extra concern for Yukinoshita.

Also.

Deng did express his concerns, and he used this as an excuse to come out and check the situation.

"Then you'd better treat your girlfriend well. If you change your mind, I really hope Miss Nagasaki can properly kill... punish you."

"You just said 'kill me,' you yandere!"

"Yandere?"

Yukinoshita tilted her head, looking bewildered.

"It's someone who will stop at nothing to be with the person they love. For example, someone who would cut off the head of the person they love and keep it with them forever in order to be with them forever."

"Is that so? Hachiman-kun really knows a lot about things like how to commit crimes."

Yukinoshita rested her chin on her hand seriously, as if she was thinking about something: "Before Hikigaya-kun does something unforgivable, we really should call in the Tokyo police."

"I was just using an example!"

Hachiman's lips twitched, and he said fiercely, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back. Goodbye!"

After watching the man walk away, Yukinoshita clutched her chest and kept telling herself, "I can do it. This time, I must make my mother approve of me."

...

Back on stage, the host is announcing the program.

Ijichi Seika and Hiroi Kikuri had somehow squeezed into the front row, right next to the Goto family.

Kikusato Hiroi, sprawled on the edge of the stage, waved an unidentified alcoholic beverage in her hand and drunkenly said, "Hachigaya, we meet again."

"Ah."

"Why are you being so cold? Come over and talk to your older sister, um—"

"Hey, please don't throw up here!"

Ijichi Hoshika quickly took out a plastic bag, and the nearby audience kept their distance, all prepared to kick the two of them out.

Fortunately, in the end, Kikuri Hiroi managed to swallow the liquid that was about to come out of her mouth.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't worry, senior."

"Coming with you was the worst decision I've ever made in my life."

Ichi Seika covered her forehead with a sorrowful expression.

The first performance of the Xiuhua High School Cultural Festival was a chorus, followed by the usual talent shows by various clubs. Half an hour later, the host announced the name of the last band.

"Next, let's welcome the JK band, and then the band will come on stage!"

Amidst scattered applause, the four members, dressed in their team uniforms, walked onto the stage.

Hachiman slowly opened his camera and pointed it at the four people on the stage.

"Hey?"

Through the viewfinder, Hachiman saw a scene that surprised her.

"Honey, Ichiri-chan didn't let her bangs down."

Goto Ichiri's mother, Goto Michiyo, covered her mouth in astonishment and gently shook her husband's arm.

"Waaaaah, has our Ichiri-chan finally grown up? Everyone in the back, did you see that? This is our daughter!"

Faced with this super doting father, the surrounding audience was bewildered but impressed, while their eyes were also fixed on the pink-haired girl holding the guitar.

Although her face, lightly made up, was somewhat pale, her gaze was fixed on the distance, and her slightly tight short-sleeved T-shirt accentuated Goto Ichiri's fuller figure than that of an average high school student.

Also.

Goto Ichiri has revived her new hairstyle that was ruthlessly abandoned some time ago. Although it doesn't look as harmonious as it did at first because her hair is longer, it is still dazzling.

In this state, Goto Ichiri instantly became the focus of the entire stage.

"That girl is so cute, is she a student at our school?"

"I don't know, why have I never seen it before?"

Please give me her contact information, please!

Hearing the cheers from below the stage, Goto Ichiri gradually lost the confidence she had when she first went on stage, and slowly shrugged her shoulders.

"There are so many people, I'm so scared..."

At the very back, Hongxia, who was adjusting the drum kit, joked, "Pochi-chan is so popular, she's gained so many fans all of a sudden."

"Hey hey hey?"

Kita nodded in agreement: "From now on, Pochi-chan will be a big star at school. Are you happy, Pochi-chan?"

Boqi-chan wasn't happy at all; she was just trembling.

It turns out that being popular doesn't feel so good.

To everyone's surprise, simply using the new look would cause such a huge reaction. The timid Goto Ichiri couldn't help but miss the carefree life she used to lead, alone in a corner, where no one cared about her.

The desire for a fulfilling life collapsed at that moment.

Her delicate, lotus-root-like hand reached out to her soft, pink hair without her even realizing it.

—If I mess up my hair, people probably won't care about me anymore, right?

Thinking this, my fingers had already touched the strands of hair.

Just before she was about to mess up her hair.

"Goto-kun!"

"Oh, it's Hachiman's voice."

Following the sound, she saw a black-haired boy holding his younger sister, Goto Jiri, waving at her not far away.

This guy is definitely planning to give up on himself.

Hachiman was getting anxious.

Goto Ichiri is a complete social phobia.

This is not something that can be changed overnight. Even Yukinoshita herself admitted that it would take her a long time to correct Goto Ichiri's personality.

One of the biggest characteristics of a socially anxious person is the fear of change.

Whether it's the change in how others look at them, or their own changes, even a casual remark from someone else can trigger their overthinking and anxiety.

Conversely, the word that socially anxious people like most is "unchanging".

As long as you live in your comfort zone, you won't get hurt.

After the arrival of Yukinoshita, Goto Ichiri's life underwent tremendous changes, which also subtly altered her personality.