Does gravity make me stronger?

Who is Ni Gouba?

This is the meaning that Hachiman interpreted on his own while observing from the side, and Aine also asked him about it when she saw Hachiman sighing.

Obviously.

Such words cannot be said, otherwise one will be labeled as having "low emotional intelligence," so Hachiman simply returned a smile.

"Uh, Kimo~ Why is Hikigaya-kun grinning at me like that?"

"..."

Mad, Puxin Jurchen Shrimp Head.

After the little farce, they quickly arrived at their destination. It was the week before summer, and the air was quite humid and hot.

"Has Soyo not arrived yet?"

"almost."

Nagasaki Motoyo led the way at the front, checking the map on her phone, while Hachiman walked at the back of the group with Takamatsu Akari, who was not in good physical condition.

Although Hachiman assured him that he hadn't done anything, Shiina Tatsuki would still glare at him with a strange look from time to time.

"Are you feeling alright?"

Hachiman asked with concern.

"fine."

Gao Songdeng wiped the sweat from her forehead with her delicate hands. Although a girl in a wet state was very attractive, it wouldn't be good if she got sick.

"If you don't mind, then take my bag."

He stretched out a strap on his back and handed it to Gao Songdeng, who was stunned for a moment before giving a sweet smile.

"Thank you, Hachiman."

"..."

"arrive!"

Nagasaki Motoyo's delighted voice came from ahead, and Kitauji High School, which they had been searching for for a long time, came into view.

The entrance to Kitauji High School is an uphill slope with a gentle incline. After persevering and completing the final stretch, the group took a short break in the security room.

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Taki will be here soon."

The security guards brought everyone some cold water, and after waiting inside for five minutes, a handsome man appeared at the door.

"Nagasaki-kun, it's been a long time."

"Taki-sensei, it's been a long time. These are my bandmates. Everyone, this is Mr. Taki, the advisor of the Kitauji High School brass band."

Everyone greeted him, and Aine poked Hachiman's ribs: "Hachiman, you're a handsome guy!"

"Oh."

Hachiman answered expressionlessly. This young teacher named Taki was not only handsome but also very well-mannered. In the past, Hachiman had always considered such people as enemies of the popular.

After a brief greeting, Taki led everyone to the door of the brass band's room.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you all to come from so far away, but this is the time for club activities, so please be patient while we wait."

"Sigh, it's the weekend now?"

Taki smiled slightly: "Well, I can only say that this is something to be proud of."

Hachiman later learned that the Kitauji Brass Band's performance this year seemed quite poor, and they even had the potential to compete for the national gold medal. The fact that a national-level advisor was guiding their band, even if it was temporary, was a great blessing.

As Taki entered, the room was filled with the clear yet harmonious sound of orchestral music.

Apart from the piano, Hachiman couldn't identify any of the other instruments, and the only two people here with musical knowledge, Shiina Tatsuki and Nagasaki Motoyo, showed no intention of introducing them at all.

After waiting for half an hour, the training finally came to an end. When the members of the brass band saw the five people waiting outside the door, they were all quite excited.

Fortunately, Taki quickly came out and calmed down the excited students.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Please come in with me."

"Yes!"

After entering the clubroom, Taki first tested everyone's musical skills, while Hachiman and Takamatsu Akari stood by and watched.

After a moment, Taki clapped his hands and said in a gentle tone, "Not bad, the bassist's basic skills are very solid, and the drummer's drumbeats are also very stable, but do you only have one guitar?"

All eyes turned to Chihaya Aine. As a girl who had just started learning guitar, it was already her limit if she could not affect her teammates' performance.

When Taki said that, Chihaya Aine blushed immediately: "The other guitarist had something to do at home and couldn't come, but her skills are amazing, unlike mine!"

"I see. I'll try my best to help you with the drummer and bassist questions, but the guitarist needs to get proficient as soon as possible."

"that!"

Aine raised her hand somewhat timidly: "Taki-sensei, is there any shortcut?"

"Shortcut? The shortcut is to be down-to-earth and diligently complete every training session. That's what I think, both for you and for my club members, right, Huang Qian?"

Taki's gentle gaze suddenly turned to the doorway, and the blonde girl peeking through the crack in the door exclaimed "Oh!" and awkwardly greeted him before running away.

"I'm sorry, you must have found this amusing."

"But we don't have much time left." Ai Yin clenched her hands. She was the one who was slowing the team down the most, and the anxiety in her heart made her uneasy.

"Adjusting your mindset is also part of success, Chihaya. You are very talented on the guitar, so you have to work hard."

Ai Yin was taken aback for a moment: "Am I that talented?"

Taki smiled and nodded, and for some reason, he felt that Taki's calm words were very convincing: "Yes, so please don't underestimate yourself."

"I see!"

Aiyin regained her confidence.

Whether Kitauji's guidance was useful or not, Hachiman didn't care for the moment, but he did know that everyone's training became much more diligent after that day.

Through their daily collaborations, the band also acquired a new name – Mygo.

At the end of the second year and the beginning of the senior year, Mygo had become one of the most popular bands in RiNG. However, it was also at this time that posters of AveMujica appearing at the Budokan spread throughout the streets and alleys.

"It failed."

On a cold winter day, Hachiman and Takamatsu Akari walked on the road to RiNG.

"I'm sorry," Hachiman couldn't help but apologize.

“Hachiman did nothing wrong, and I’m not sad at all.” Takamatsu Akari placed her hand on Hachiman’s face, the warm feeling making one feel somewhat attached.

"Because of Hachiman, Mygo has always been united, and I've been very happy these past two years."

Hachiman looked away, feeling a sudden lump in his throat: "But it was supposed to be for a lifetime."

After the deal was finalized, he had no reason to stay in the band any longer, and today was the day he said goodbye.

"Even if Mygo loses the match against Xiangzi-chan, it won't disband. Hachiman knows that better than I do, doesn't he?"

The girl's gentle voice made Hachiman's heart ache even more.

"Yes, I understand."

"So, can Hachiman stay by my side like before, for the rest of my life?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I'm qualified." After his initial shock, Hachiman shook his head and rejected Takamatsu Akari's suggestion.

The girl pressed on, "Hachiman cares about me more than anyone else, doesn't he?"

Looking back on the past two years, apart from the beginning, Hachiman doesn't feel that he has done anything to help Takamatsu Akari.

"No, that's just..."

"I don't want to shut myself off anymore, so let's do it together, Hachiman." Takamatsu Akari said in a trembling voice, clutching her chest.

"I used to think that as long as a person leaves behind memories, it's okay," Takamatsu Akari said, her voice lonely and somewhat hysterical. "But after meeting Hachiman, I realized that one person is simply not enough!"

"Please, I don't want to be alone anymore!"

"Hachiman, let's get lost together!"

The girl's cries broke Hachiman's heart. He knew that if he ran away again this time, everything would be beyond repair.

And so, for the first time, Hachiman reached out his hand with all his might toward the future.