Does gravity make me stronger?

Page 264

"Ah, um."

"Does Hachiman really like children?"

"The main reason is that Erli is very cute and obedient."

"I see. Niri also likes Hachiman."

Hearing the other person praise her second daughter, Goto's mother seemed to feel much better.

They took out iced barley tea from the kitchen and let Hachiman rest alone in the living room. Goto's parents came to the hallway outside the living room and began to talk in hushed tones.

"Honey, what's going on? Why did Hachiman come here alone?"

"I'm not entirely sure either. Could it be that Hachiman didn't actually reject Ichiri-chan, but rather Ichiri-chan rejected Hachiman?"

This astonishing idea immediately challenged Goto's father's values.

"Hey?"

Shh, keep your voice down.

Goto's mother made a shushing gesture in front of her lips, and the former immediately became obedient.

"I'm sorry, baby's mom, but this is so strange. Didn't Ichiri-chan dream of being with that child?"

"But given Ichiri's personality, she might say something nonsensical when she confesses, which could lead to misunderstandings."

Considering her daughter's clumsy speaking skills, Goto's mother became even more certain of this idea.

There must be some misunderstanding between these two.

Goto's father said anxiously, "Then what should we do?"

"Let the children resolve their own issues; there's nothing we can do to help."

Despite their anxiety, parents find it difficult to interfere in their children's romantic relationships.

"Then I'll go and call Ichiri-chan down."

Goto's father offered his opinion, but Goto's mother immediately rejected the suggestion: "No, you go keep Hachiman company, I'll go upstairs to find Ichiri-chan."

The couple divided up their tasks: one went to the living room and the other to the second floor.

When they reached the second floor, they heard a mournful guitar solo coming from Goto Ichiri's bedroom, and Goto's mother perked up her ears to listen.

"Ah, Goto Ichiri, why did this happen? Why did you have to confess? Now everything is ruined."

Although the composition is simple, this rap-like musical style is very good at expressing the singer's feelings.

As expected, Ichiri-chan likes Hachiman!

Thinking of this, Goto's mother quickly opened the door: "Um, Ichiri-chan?"

Chapter 257, Section 254: Hachiman: I Don't Want to Be Apart (Edited)

Inside the house, Goto Ichiri was quite frightened. He immediately dropped his guitar and covered himself with the blanket like a startled little hedgehog.

When Goto's mother entered the room, she only noticed a tuft of pink hair sticking out from under the blanket.

"Mom, why didn't you knock?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mom will remember next time. Speaking of which, Ichiri-chan, why are you still in bed in this hot weather?"

Goto's mother came to the mountain of blankets.

"Um, I was planning to take a nap..."

Instead of cruelly exposing this clumsy lie, Goto's mother said with concern, "Really? Then turn on the air conditioner before you sleep."

"Oh."

Because the temperature inside the room was indeed a bit high, Goto Ichiri lifted a corner of the blanket and fumbled for the air conditioner remote control.

"Yili-chan, we have a guest downstairs at our place."

"Oh."

Goto Ichiri coldly pressed the switch, and the air conditioner on the ceiling turned on, quickly bringing in a cool breeze.

Enjoying the cool breeze from the air conditioner, Goto Ichiri fussed in the blankets, feeling extremely comfortable.

Don't you want to know who the guest is?

"who is it?"

"It's Hachiman."

Goto Ichiri gripped the edge of the blankets stiffly, her face filled with confusion and a sense of being caught off guard: "Hey, who is it, Hachiman-kun? Why?"

"He came looking for you. Ichiri-chan, do you want to go down and see him? It's too pitiful to leave Hachiman waiting alone."

"No...no, I can't go see Hachiman-kun right now!"

Goto Ichiri pulled the blanket over his head and spoke in a trembling voice.

Goto's mother: "Why?"

"Mom, don't worry about it, it just won't work."

"But didn't Ichiri-chan decide to confess to Hachiman?"

"That's why..."

Under the covers, her eyes dimmed: "I'm sorry, Mom, please ask you to let Hachiman go back."

It still doesn't look right...

Seeing that her daughter was reluctant to come downstairs, Goto's mother walked out of the bedroom helplessly. Just as she was wondering what to do next, she heard footsteps coming from the bottom of the stairs.

"Hachiman?"

Hachiman, who should have been in the living room, had already climbed the stairs, going up one step at a time.

"Auntie, may I say a few words to Goto-kun?"

"But that child..."

Goto's mother glanced back with a troubled expression, pursed her lips, and decided to give her daughter a strong dose of medicine: "Ichiri-chan, Hachiman is already at your room door."

Suddenly, the sound of something falling was heard in the bedroom.

Then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded, and the door was closed even more tightly.

“Ichiri-chan…” Goto’s mother looked very troubled: “Well then, Hachiman, I’m entrusting our daughter to you.”

"Ah."

Arriving at the door, Hachiman sat cross-legged, preparing for a long haul. He first cleared his throat: "Ahem, Goto-kun..."

"I'm...I'm sorry, Hachiman, I apologize. I didn't mean to avoid seeing you, but..."

Accompanied by thumping sounds, panicked apologies came from inside the house. Even through the door, it seemed as if Goto Ichiri could be seen banging his head on the ground.

“I understand, but I can interpret today’s behavior as…” Hachiman paused deliberately, “Does he not want to see me again?”

Silence descended between the two people separated by the door.

next moment.

The door shook violently as if it were being torn apart, and a few tufts of pink hair appeared at the edge.

A timid voice slowly drifted from inside the house: "No, that's not what I meant!"

Hachiman chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Goto-kun must really hate awkward people like me. I'm so sorry for deliberately bothering you even though I disappointed you."

no!

Inside the door, Goto Ichiri clutched his aching chest tightly, opened his mouth as if to say something, but no matter what, he didn't have the courage to speak.

Hachiman: "Goto-kun said that if I confessed and failed, I would still want to be friends with you. Does that still stand?"

How should I deal with a girl who rejects my confession, or how should the two of us get along?

He has already given the answer from the middle school students.

Goto Ichiri is a kind girl, so their relationship will improve somewhat after today, but the final outcome is already predetermined—

The two will gradually drift apart until they become parallel lines.

But for some reason, the thought of this made Hachiman's stomach churn.

They're just friends, they shouldn't be this sad...

He continued, forcing back the urge to vomit.

"I don't know what I really think of Goto-kun, but the thought of becoming strangers with him in the future is unbearable."

Speaking of which, did Xiangzi's words a few days ago mean he had foreseen Xiangzi's thoughts?

"Me too!"

What a loud noise! ​​Even Goto's parents, who were waiting silently in the living room, were startled by their daughter's scream.

The next second, the door was flung open, and the pink-haired girl's face was streaked with tears.

"I don't want to be unaware of Hachiman-kun's identity!"

Although her shoulders were trembling and her head was buried deep in her chest, the determination emanating from Goto Ichiri was incredibly genuine.

'I like Hachiman Hikigaya!'

A shy whisper reached my ears.

Hachiman held his breath and looked directly at the other person. He still didn't understand what he really thought of Goto Ichiri, but he knew that he didn't want to be separated from Goto Ichiri yet.

"I…"

Goto Ichiri's gaze wandered aimlessly, unable to find a focal point to rely on: "I..."

Driven by sheer passion, she opened the door, but when faced with the final choice, Goto Ichiri was once again lost. As time passed, her courage gradually faded, and the thought of escaping took over again.

"Don't run away."

"Well..."

Goto Ichiri subconsciously raised his head, his lake-blue eyes meeting the boy's determined gaze.

This was the first time Goto Ichiri had read emotion in someone else's eyes; those eyes, which should have been rotten to the core, held a depth as profound as the starry sky.

Goto Ichiri was stunned.

Immediately afterwards, a tingling electric current shot from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.

A blush crept across her face for some unknown reason. Despite wanting to look away, Goto Ichiri couldn't tear her gaze away.

Life offers countless opportunities to escape, but this time, Goto Ichiri knew he absolutely could not run away.

then.

She followed her heart and made the boldest decision of her life.

"I'm so useless. I can't cook, I can't do housework, all I can do is play the piano. I'm neither as gentle as Nagasaki-san nor as talented as Toyokawa-san."

"..."

"I...I might not even be able to take care of children in the future. When Erli was little, her parents took care of her. I only changed her diapers."

"..."

Hachiman, who had been silent, suddenly exclaimed in admiration, "Changing diapers is quite impressive. At least I've never changed my little sister's diapers before."

After all, he and Komachi are only a year or two apart in age...

[Cao, is it inappropriate for me to laugh at a time like this?]

Yes, so please shut up.

"really?"

Goto Ichiri's eyes sparkled, and Hachiman could only nod helplessly: "It's true."

"Great, looks like I'm pretty good after all... Ah, sorry, I'm just bragging here all by myself. How could someone like me, a mere paramecium, possibly be good?"

Goto Ichiri weakly rubbed his fingers and began to mutter to himself.

He's back, everything's back, it's the socially anxious Ichiri Goto he knew!

"Um... I'm sorry, I was just rambling on. I don't think Hachiman understood what I meant, did I?" Goto Ichiri stammered.