Does gravity make me stronger?

Toyokawa is so scary; she almost tricked me into revealing all my innermost thoughts.

Shoko Toyokawa tilted her head, seemingly very concerned about what Hachiman hadn't finished saying.

'Were you trying to describe the younger sister type, Hachiman?'

'Hmm, that's more difficult.'

No, what's so difficult for you?

Having opened his heart, Hachiman was speechless for a moment as he listened to Toyokawa Shoko's riddle-like remarks.

Since it was the weekend, most of the company's employees had already gone on holiday, with only a few key offices still having employees working.

After finishing his work, Hachiman was led by Toyokawa Shoko to a spacious room filled with Strawberry Bros.' awards from its history.

"Good afternoon, Hachiman Hikigaya."

Ochako greeted him from inside the room.

"Good afternoon, what brings you here?"

"Photograph."

The following process was summarized in two simple words, and Hachiman even suspected that Ochako Hana's ninja way was 'energy-saving'.

A short while later, Kyoko Saito also came in after Hachiman.

"Toyokawa said you guys need to take a picture as a souvenir, but there aren't many people in the office, so I'll take it for you."

Kyoko Saito brought a black tripod, set it up, and placed the latest Canon camera on it.

Tell me, how much did Canon pay you? I, Sony, will give you three times that amount!

"Let's take a group photo first, and then take individual photos. You guys should move closer together."

Kyoko Saito directed the three of them to stand in the very center of the room, with their backs against the largest wall of honor.

"Okay, cheese~"

Eggplant X3

Press the shutter button, and with a click, a group photo is generated in the camera.

Kyoko Saito glanced at it with satisfaction and said, "You guys can film it yourselves from now on. I have a meeting to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

"Adults are so busy."

As Hachiman watched Saito Kyoko rush in and then leave in a hurry, he realized that even a female boss like her couldn't freely control her rest time, which made him even more worried about his life after graduation.

"Does Hachiman know how to take photos?"

"I asked, holding a camera," said Toyokawa Shoko.

Hachiman silently shook his head.

Ochako gave Toyokawa Shoko a deep look, then took the initiative and said, "Let me take a picture of Hikigaya and Toyokawa."

"Hey?"

Shoko Toyokawa looked at Ochako Hana with surprise, then cast a confirming glance at Hachiman and asked tentatively.

"Are you alright, Hachiman-kun?"

"You guys take the pictures, I don't need them."

Hachiman, with his hands in his pockets, walked to a corner of the room and began to stare blankly.

Anyway, the school only requires one group photo, so we can just use photos of Toyokawa Shoko and Ochako Hana to get by.

Rejected, Toyokawa Shoko lowered her head in disappointment.

Ochako Hana watched the interaction between the two expressionlessly, then suddenly thought of something: "No, Professor Tadokoro asked us to take a group photo. Hachiman, you don't want our report to fail, do you?"

Your class teacher must have a lot on her plate!

"Well... okay then."

Well done, Ochako!

Toyokawa Shoko immediately perked up and carefully tidied her hair.

"Is it okay to take pictures here?"

Hachiman chose the wall of honor he had just seen, while Toyokawa Shoko suggested going to another place.

A memorial wall commemorating the band that played for Hoshino Ai, the star idol of Strawberry Entertainment, when she first took the stage.

The memorial wall displays guitars, basses, and keyboards, while the drum set is too large, so only a pair of drumsticks are displayed.

"Is it alright, Hachiman-kun?"

Shoko Toyokawa asked cautiously, afraid that Hachiman would refuse again.

"Oh."

Toyokawa Shoko stood beside Hachiman, her hands clenched tightly in nervousness.

"Excuse me, could you come a little closer?"

"Hey, this distance should be enough, right?"

Hachiman said, feigning composure, that if he got any closer, he would run into Toyokawa Shoko.

To this, Ochako Hana simply shook her head slightly: "Hachigaya-kun, you don't want this either..."

"Okay, I understand."

Hachiman took a step closer to Toyokawa Shoko, then held his breath, looked away, and did his best not to slip away from her.

Their shoulders touched.

So close! And it smells so good!

Because of the unfamiliar temperature on his shoulder, Hachiman subconsciously leaned his body to one side.

Suddenly, I felt my other hand being tightly gripped, and my whole body was pulled back.

"Hachiman, Toyokawa, cheese!"

"Eggplant~"

"what?"

And so, the moment when the two were pressed tightly together was frozen in that one second.

After the shutter clicked, Toyokawa Shoko quickly distanced herself, her face slightly flushed, but she acted as if nothing had happened, and walked to Ochako Hana's side.

The two girls were excitedly discussing the photos, while Hachiman touched his shoulder, feeling empty inside.

Chapter 40 040 Hachiman Protection Law

Ochako Hana: File being sent

Ochako: Offline file uploaded - group photo

Ochako Hana: Good luck! (Evil grin.jpg)

Shoko Toyokawa: Offline files received

Shoko Toyokawa: Ochako-san, Hikigaya-san and I are just ordinary friends.

Ochako Hana: I understand what you mean, you two are indeed just ordinary friends.

Toyokawa Shoko put down her phone, sighed with a troubled expression, rubbed her forehead, but then smiled knowingly.

Toyokawa Shoko: Stop talking about me, Ochako-san, aren't you happy to welcome her too?

Ochakohana:?

Toyokawa Shoko: That guy named Otani Jun has been paying attention to you these past few days, *winking*.

During the internship, the three boys in Class C of the first year always attracted a lot of attention, especially Jun Otani, who always came up to them.

Although she ostensibly came to see Hachiman, it was obvious to everyone that Jun Otani had feelings for her.

However, Toyokawa Shoko doesn't really like such boisterous boys. She prefers boys with quiet and refined personalities, like Hikigaya-kun.

Ochakohana:?

Ochako: I'm very troubled

Toyokawa Shoko: Oh, did he upset you?

Ochako Hana: No, I'm just a little annoyed. I only have studying on my mind.

Ochako Hana: I'm very sorry, but could I trouble Toyokawa-san and Hikigaya-san for a favor?

Looking at the message in front of her, Toyokawa Shoko thought for a moment. She was able to get the photo with Hachiman today thanks to her help, so if Ochako Hana needed her help, she would definitely lend a hand.

Toyokawa Shoko: No problem, but I'm not sure about Hachiman-kun's situation. You can tell me first, and I'll go and explain it to him at school tomorrow.

Ochako Hana: Okay!

...

After get off work, Hachiman didn't go straight home. Instead, he was taken to the Starry Night Concert Hall by Ijichi Hoshika and experienced firsthand the thrill of working overtime on the weekend.

Pleasure, huh? Blessings, huh? I don't want to live anymore!

[The steamed bun paste doesn't fit properly]

I think you're asking for a beating!

Hachiman joked around with the system along the way and quickly arrived at the Starry Night Performance Hall. By then, the first show had already ended, and there was still a long intermission before the second show began.

Chihaya Aine and Takamatsu Akari also came to the concert hall today. Chihaya Aine, needless to say, came to learn guitar from Goto Ichiri.

As for Takamatsu Akari, she heard from Chihaya Aine that the store manager, Iji Tomoka, had a lead singer from her band who had previously come over, so she came specifically to ask for advice.

Unbeknownst to them, both Takamatsu Akari and Chihaya Aine were working hard and making steady progress.

"I'm so envious, so envious! Why is Ai Yin's band so good? We don't even have a full lineup of lead singers in our band."

As Nijika was talking, she started to fake cry in the recording studio. Chihaya Aine, who was standing next to her, hugged Nijika from behind in a gesture that resembled a white pufferfish screaming.

“Hongxia, don’t cry. If it really doesn’t work out, I can come and be the lead singer.”

"Aine-chan, Riki will get angry if you do this," Takamatsu Akari said weakly.

"Just kidding, just kidding."

Chihaya Aine was just joking; she didn't want to touch Riki's tiger's butt at this moment, or she'd be bitten to death.

However, once the band is on track, it's not impossible for him to experience what it's like to be the lead singer.

While the others were training, Hachiman quietly walked in.

"Good evening, Hachiman."

Gao Songdeng was the first to greet him.

"it is good."

"I heard that Hachiman went on a workplace internship with two girls from Class 1-B."

Chihaya Aine puts down her guitar, her gossip-loving spirit burning brightly.

As soon as he said that, the other girls also looked over.

Goto Ichiri's hand, which was strumming the strings, paused in mid-air, and he also listened intently.

Under the watchful eyes of many girls, Hachiman felt an inexplicable pressure rising within him.

[Host, is there something wrong with your play this round?]

Yes, I am guilty.

"I'm sorry, I'm guilty."

"No, what crime have you committed?"

Chihaya Aine asked naively.

This inexplicable conversation startled Goto Ichiri, but she knew that girls usually only asked such questions when they were angry with boys.

I have a question.

What's wrong with you?