Does gravity make me stronger?

Page 149

Hachiman and Shoko exchanged a glance. They were told to go sightseeing, but there weren't any good places to go.

In addition, because of what happened in the morning, Hachiman really didn't have the energy to go to the cultural festival.

"I'll stay in the department office this afternoon..."

"Hikigaya!"

"how?"

"You're completely impervious to reason."

"what?"

Not understanding what Sawamura Kaze meant, I saw the other person raise his chin and look over there. It was Shoko, who was sitting in a daze.

what?

I'm performing the Su Nuo ritual?

Zun Du Jia Du.

Hachiman immediately started to play dumb and avoided eye contact.

Then, there was a loud "snap".

Sawamura Kaze slammed his fist on the table.

Say it again.

Hurry! Go! Invite! Her!

"I... Toyokawa-kun..."

The prolonged pause naturally drew Xiangzi's attention. Combining this with the exchange of glances between Sawamura Kaze and Hachiman earlier, Xiangzi seemed to understand something.

"We're going together this afternoon..."

"want!"

Before he could finish speaking, Xiangzi excitedly replied.

"Sigh, but I haven't said where I'm going yet..."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Xiangzi lowered his head in embarrassment.

Hachiman touched his cheek, took a deep breath, and finally stopped hesitating: "It's okay, then I'll say it again, this afternoon, do you want to go to the cultural festival with me?"

"Ok!"

The girl's eyes were filled with anticipation.

Chapter 165, Page 162: Xiangzi, you're so good at this!

They were supposed to visit the cultural festival, but as soon as they arrived in front of the school building, Hachiman encountered a serious problem.

If you're going to a cultural festival with friends, where do you usually go?

Ah, I don't understand at all.

As a devout loner with no experience of shopping with friends, Hachiman couldn't recall any places.

...It's best to listen to the experts' opinions here.

[Who's the expert? Am I? If I had to recommend it, I'd suggest a hot spring, one night's stay...]

roll!

I choose you, Komachi!

With that thought in mind, Hachiman took out his phone and sent a message to Komachi.

Hachiman: Komachi, Komachi, what was your favorite place to go with your friends during the cultural festival?

This was right during Komachi's lunch break, so she received a reply very quickly.

Komachi: Usually, I'll go find something to eat.

Komachi: By the way, is Onii-chan taking Motoyo-neechan to the school festival? Waaaa, Onii-chan has finally grown up! I'm so happy!

Su Shi?

Where did Su Shi come from?

Hachiman glanced at Xiangzi, who was walking directly to his right. Xiangzi was looking around with great interest, his eyes sparkling as if stars were twinkling in them.

He continued typing.

Hachiman: No, I'm just wandering around by myself.

Komachi: Come on, that's just how Onii-chan is, he dares to do things but not admit them.

Hachiman: It's Jeanne d'Arc!

Komachi: Hmph, if you're so capable, turn on a video.

Just then, a video call came in. Hearing the sound of the phone, Xiangzi looked over curiously.

"Hikigaya-san?"

"fine."

Hachiman turned the phone screen towards himself and quickly pressed the reject button.

Hachiman: No, but I'm not with her right now.

Komachi: Oh (indifferent face)

Komachi: Well, if it's just Onii-chan alone, he can just find a dark corner to squat in, right?

Hachiman:? ? ?

Komachi: Just kidding! For cultural festivals, Komachi's top recommendation is haunted houses!

Haunted house?

Is this kind of place suitable for visiting during a cultural festival?

Komachi, are you trying to hook me?

What do you think, Zhihu experts?

What is Zhihu (B-zhihu)?

Hachiman asked the question instinctively, but he didn't expect a reply at all. Instead, he rested his chin on his hand and pondered.

The haunted house was completely boring; all it did was be dark and screams...

However, since it was Komachi's suggestion, Hachiman would naturally give it a try.

"If it's a haunted house, I think it's Class 1-A, right?" Hachiman muttered to himself.

Hachiman slowly searched along the familiar corridor, and as expected, he found two students responsible for guiding him to Class 1-A at the classroom door.

They were dressed in pure white kimonos with white hoops on their heads, seemingly cosplaying as ghosts, but they weren't scary at all; in fact, they were quite cute.

"Would you like to go in and take a look?"

Stopping at the classroom door, Hachiman confirmed with Shoko.

"what..."

Xiangzi tensed up after just one glance at the top of his head.

"A haunted house? Well, how should I put it? I'm not scared at all."

Arrogant Xiang has appeared!

"Well, I guess I'll just forget about it."

Just as Hachiman was about to give up, Shoko suddenly grabbed his sleeve: "Right here!"

"Is it alright, Toyokawa-kun? You look scared. There's no need to force yourself."

"fine!"

Xiangzi's voice suddenly doubled in volume, as if to emphasize that he wasn't afraid at all, and he walked towards the entrance of the haunted house.

"OK then."

Guided by the staff, Xiangzi and Hachiman stood separately, and both of them had disposable blindfolds put over their eyes.

Then they walked side by side into the classroom.

As soon as he entered the room, Hachiman felt a cool breeze sneak in through the gap in his collar, and the high-decibel screams playing on a loop in the classroom made him very uncomfortable.

Surprisingly, it didn't feel scary at all.

At that moment, something grasped my right hand.

Soft, smooth, and cool.

It took Hachiman about a second to understand what he was holding.

It's just a girl's hand, nothing to worry about.

But why is my heart beating so fast...?

He instinctively wanted to let go, but no matter how much he struggled, the little hand showed no intention of leaving, and even increased its pressure, rubbing his palm.

Then, I heard Xiangzi's trembling voice in my ear.

"Hachiman, I'm scared..."

"Oh."

Hachiman obediently stopped struggling like a cat, letting Shoko's fingertips slip between his fingers, eventually resulting in their fingers being intertwined.

Even though I'd already tried it once, the feeling of butterflies in my stomach hadn't lessened at all; in fact, it had become even stronger.

But how should I put it, it's a bit addictive...

"In that case, there's nothing to be afraid of."

A somewhat reassuring voice came from the side.

Hachiman's face was a little hot, but because the surrounding lights were dim, he could only see a ring of lights under his feet to guide him.

Therefore, he doesn't need to worry about being discovered.

After entering the haunted house, the two had already taken off their blindfolds.

The first thing you see is a narrow passage that can only accommodate two people at a time, and above the passage is a bloody skull model.

Honestly, how could this scare anyone?

It wouldn't even scare a dog, would it?

"ah!"

Hachiman felt a tightness in his chest and hurriedly looked down to find that Xiangzi had crawled into his arms, trembling and pale.

what?

While inwardly shocked by Xiangzi's audacity, Hachiman maintained the demeanor expected of a gentleman, raising his hands high to indicate that he had not laid a hand on him.

Put down the other person's hand first.

Oh.

Hachiman lowered his free right hand, while still holding the girl's hand with his left.

Then, from some unknown corner, a figure suddenly rushed out.

"Wow wow wow!"

A classic Jump Scare, breathtaking.

Hachiman admits he was startled, but that's a natural human reaction.

just.

Xiangzi was completely unaware of this; she held Hachiman even tighter, as if she were melting into his embrace like water.

Xiangbao, stop drilling! You're going to break my ribs!

Hachiman patted Shoko's shoulder sadly, and the latter looked up, sobbing, "Hachigaya-kun, I'm...I'm sorry..."