Does gravity make me stronger?

Hachiman tried to persuade him with concern, but Shoko insisted on staying where she was.

"It's okay, Hachiman-kun, don't worry about me. Just enjoy the performance."

"it is good."

Without expressing further objection, Hachiman continued to focus his attention on the stage, and his gaze shifted to meet Takamatsu Akari's deep gaze.

“I’m so glad you’re willing to come and listen.”

This was clearly said to Hachiman, and the other person should be Xiangzi, who was standing next to him.

It seems that Gao Songdeng and Xiangzi do indeed have a past.

So, Hachiman nodded, indicating that he was also honored to hear Takamatsu Akari's singing, and then stepped back half a step, wanting to leave the stage to Shoko.

however.

Suddenly, I felt a resistance coming from my sleeve.

Turning my head, I saw Xiangzi with his head down in sorrow, his fingers gripping his sleeve tightly, as if he were a drowning man clinging to the last piece of driftwood.

Hachiman felt a little embarrassed, but he couldn't bear to leave Shoko alone, so he could only look to the only person he could rely on for help.

Hey, childhood sweetheart, please help me!

"..."

Unfortunately, there was no response. Ruoye Mu stood there blankly, like a piece of wood.

No way, is this how you act as a childhood sweetheart?

Enraged by the foolishness, Hachiman sighed and returned to his original position.

"Don't force yourself. If you can't stand it, just leave. No one will blame you for it."

"No, we can't run away here."

"Run away... Oh well, whatever."

Hachiman tilted his head listlessly, listening blankly as Takamatsu Akari continued her confession: "Back then, I couldn't sing well, and everyone went their separate ways. I thought I hated the band, but..."

The familiar sound of a guitar rang out.

With just a few notes, Hachiman recognized it as the prelude to "Haruhi Kage" and immediately looked toward the far right of the stage.

It really is you, Neko-chan!

When Lena picked up her guitar, she played with unwavering focus, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. This time, it wasn't just a guitar solo, but a chorus of the entire band.

In the melodious tune, the lyrics that could only be heard in one's heart last time were transformed into a song full of emotion and flowed into Hachiman's heart.

A weary heart, a wavering gaze—in this world…?

"Am I all alone in this ever-fading spring?"

It's a spring day scene, I'm so excited!

Are you satisfied now, Chun Xiaojiang...

Hachiman wanted to hear Natsume Hakushi's inner monologue after hearing "Haruhi Kage," in which he wept uncontrollably, shed pearly tears, and lamented that if he could have such a piece, what more could he ask for? So he opened up his heart.

However, before Natsume Hakuro was immersed in the music, what entered his mind first was Shoko's tearful voice.

'Why is the lamp singing "Spring Shadows"...?'

Hachiman suddenly turned his head.

A silent tear streaked down Xiangzi's delicate, pretty face.

He was stunned.

Wanting to know the truth, he instinctively began to piece together everything that had happened before, from the reason Xiangzi came to the scene, Takamatsu Akari's words, the meaning of "Spring Shadow"...

In an instant, countless ideas burst forth in my mind, eventually converging into the most reasonable possibility.

Could Xiangzi have been in the same band as Gao Songdeng before?

And this song, "Spring Shadow," is a piece by the previous band?

Thinking of this, Hachiman tentatively asked, "Takamatsu-kun, you probably just like this piece of music..."

"I understand, but I also liked those kinds of days..."

Xiangzi gritted his teeth, trying desperately not to burst into tears, but his complex emotions surged forth like a flood breaking through a dam.

If it weren't for that huge change in her family, she would have loved to continue playing with Crychic until the end of time.

But reality is cruel; it can inflict a brutal wound on the most vulnerable part of your heart.

'Ouch...'

'I really want to go back...'

'I don't want this kind of life either...!'

Xiangzi's sorrowful cries continued to pour out, causing Hachiman immense distress and a slight surge of anger.

What do you mean by not wanting this kind of life? Then aren't all the other people who are worried about you just a joke?

"The past is the past. All you have left are the present and the future. Or is everything in the present meaningless to you?"

Hachiman's voice was calm yet tinged with a chilling edge. Xiangzi looked up and saw that pair of twisted, dead fish eyes were filled with resentment.

This was the first time Xiangzi had ever seen the usually calm and collected boy show such an emotionally charged expression, and he was momentarily flustered.

What did I just say...?

'Xiangzi, why are you still dwelling on the sadness of the past? Isn't the young man before you the one you should cherish most right now?'

"I'm sorry, Hachiman, that's not what I meant."

Feeling guilty but unsure how to explain, Xiangzi couldn't help but grasp Hachiman's hand.

Their feelings were conveyed to each other through the skin at their fingertips.

At that moment, Hachiman was suddenly stunned. The overwhelming pain was forcibly suppressed, leaving only a complex mix of shame and excitement.

"I should be the one apologizing. It was my fault for saying such emotional things."

Hachiman tried to pull his hand back, but it was held firmly in his grasp.

Immediately afterwards, he felt the other person's cool, warm fingers slip between his fingers and press tightly against his palm.

Hachiman's blood rushed to his head, and his face suddenly turned bright red, transforming him into a red-hot...power form.

Holding hands tightly, Xiangzi pursed his moist lips, wiped away his tears, and his rosy cheeks looked even more adorable under the stage lights.

"It's okay, I don't mind at all."

Can you let go of my hand before we talk?

"Um, this..."

Before Hachiman could speak, he felt the pressure on his hand increase again. Xiangzi's eyes flickered slightly, her previous negative emotions completely gone. She parted her cherry lips and said, "Five seconds, just give me five more seconds."

"..."

Completely powerless to refute, and utterly captivated by the girl's gentleness, Hachiman covered his face with his other hand and nodded listlessly.

"Hachiman, how long has it been since you shook hands with a girl?"

After an unknown amount of time, Xiangzi spoke with a hint of teasing.

"This is the first time..."

As he spoke irrelevantly, Hachiman felt his face heat rise another degree.

To be honest, if we're talking about simply holding hands, my memories of holding hands with my mother probably ended around elementary school. But if we include holding hands with Komachi, it goes back to junior high!

However, Hachiman, who still had some sense of shame, honestly kept the matter to himself.

"This is my first time too..."

Xiangzi, speaking like this, also shyly avoided eye contact.

If it's so embarrassing, then don't say it out loud!

The awkward atmosphere between the two reached its peak.

"Okay, five seconds left..."

Having observed silently until just now, Wakaba Mutsumi finally couldn't bear it any longer and spoke up to remind him.

The two, who weren't even enjoying the band's performance, hurriedly let go of each other's hands and tacitly created some distance between themselves.

"Thank you, Mu."

Why are you thanking me?

Ruo Ye Mu looked at Xiang Zi with a puzzled expression.

"The show is over..."

"What?" Hachiman opened his mouth wide in surprise.

Weren't we just starting the second song?

Recall that he first comforted Xiangzi with a few words, then... took his hand... and then it ended?

My right hand, give me back the time I've lost!

"Su Shi seems a bit off."

Upon hearing Xiangzi's words, the band members turned their attention back to the stage and began packing up their belongings to leave.

Only Nagasaki Motoyo remained motionless, standing straight on the stage with a dark expression, the numbers above her head glaringly obvious.

61-> 93

Chapter 90, page 089. Horizontal inscription: The author did it!

A weary heart, a wavering gaze—in this world…?

"Am I all alone in this ever-fading spring?"

To be honest, when "Spring Shadow" played, Motoyo Nagasaki didn't actually feel as bad as she had imagined.

Isn't this alright?

Perhaps she felt she had become desensitized to "Kage of Spring," or perhaps she had simply become much stronger internally; in any case, "Kage of Spring" did not have such a significant impact on her.

While continuing to play the bass, she looked down at the audience and, thanks to the lights, located Xiangzi and Hachiman.

then.

She then saw Xiangzi's tearful expression.

Suddenly finding it difficult to breathe, and a buzzing sound filled her brain, causing Nagasaki Motoyo to lose control of her movements.

but.

The bass note was interrupted for only one beat, but Shiina Tatsuki keenly caught it.

"Su Shi!"

That unwavering gaze left Nagasaki Motoyo no room for carelessness. She picked up the violin neck again and began to play with all her might.

Xiangzi, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...

Nagasaki Motoyo felt as if her heart was bleeding.

She didn't know why fans would ask them to sing "Spring Shadow"—were they old-timers of Crychic?

Can't I use other songs?

Why this particular song?

In his sight, Xiangzi's eyes grew dimmer and dimmer, until finally he could no longer maintain his expression and tears streamed down his face.

Now, Nagasaki Motoyo was completely panicked.

She had initially placed her hopes on Hachiman, who was standing next to Xiangzi, but she figured that Hachiman and Xiangzi probably weren't that close, otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately stepped aside when greeting Deng earlier.

Just as Nagasaki Motoyo was in despair, Shoko's complexion seemed to improve considerably, and a few seconds later, it even became somewhat rosy.

Just as Nagasaki Motoyo was about to breathe a sigh of relief, surprised by Shoko's rapid change, she saw Hachiman take a step toward Shoko, and then the two of them held hands and were about to lean on each other.

At that moment, she completely lost control of her reason.