Chapter 306: Strengthening Shizuka
"I never thought there were really angels and demons..." Shizuka murmured to herself.
"That's correct."
Hachiman smiled slightly, not intending to reveal the identities of Gabriel and others.
"The angel I encountered mentioned that I am the hero of this world, and angels have the duty to guide the hero. Then she imparted to me the Holy Light."
"Hero?"
Surprised by this title, Shizuka questioned, "The kind of hero that saves the world? Are we expecting a crisis that could destroy the world in the future?"
"No, that won't happen. You can rest assured," Hachiman shook his head.
"The angel told me that our world is just an ordinary everyday world, and there won't be any crisis to destroy it."
"As for why a hero like me appears in this everyday world, even she couldn't explain."
With that, Hachiman shrugged, looking innocent.
Well, that's so casual.
And a hero, it sounds too mystical.
Shizuka smirked and suddenly had a revelation.
"Her? Is she a female angel? How does she look? Beautiful or not?"
Shizuka was quite intrigued by the appearance of angels, as various legends depict them as exceptionally handsome or beautiful.
Upon hearing her question, Hachiman couldn't help but recall the images of Gabriel and Raphiel.
"Yeah, she's beautiful..."
Shaking his head, he didn't elaborate much. Glancing at Shizuka, who seemed to be fine now, Hachiman sat up from the bed.
"Now that you're okay, I'll take my leave."
Seeing Hachiman about to leave, Shizuka remembered something and quickly called him.
"Hey, wait a moment."
Hachiman turned back, "What's wrong? Is there something else?"
Thinking of leaving right after, Shizuka couldn't let him off that easily. Even if he's a hero, it doesn't mean he gets away with everything.
"I have something I need your help with. Since you're a hero, you won't refuse, right?"
Well, what does being a hero have to do with not refusing?
But since Shizuka asked, Hachiman wouldn't refuse. After all, he's not the heartless type who turns down a request.
"What is it? Tell me. But let me make it clear, even though I'm a hero, I don't possess extraordinary strength right now. I'm just slightly stronger than an average person."
Yeah, just slightly...
"Don't worry; it's nothing major," Shizuka waved her hand.
"In a few days, there will be a collective summer activity for elementary school students. The principal assigned me to take charge of it, so I need some volunteers to help me."
"Volunteers? A summer activity for elementary school students?"
Hachiman recalled that there was indeed such a plotline in the original work. During this elementary school activity, he encountered the younger versions of Yukino and Rumi Tsurumi.
"I don't have a problem with that, but wouldn't I alone be insufficient for volunteers?" Hachiman questioned.
"So, I thought about calling in your Service Club to help me," Shizuka revealed her main objective.
"The president of the Service Club is Yukino, you should ask her," Hachiman shrugged.
Upon hearing this, Shizuka rolled her eyes at him.
"I think it's more effective to ask you. Yukino won't escape your clutches for sure, and the Service Club will be under your command.
"Well, you have a point," Hachiman rubbed his chin, nodding as if deeply considering it.
Seeing him shamelessly flaunting his ambitions, Shizuka couldn't help but grind her teeth.
Thinking of seducing me right after waking up, do you have no shame, hero?
"Since that's the case, I'll explain the situation to Yukino and Yui, and I'll find more people to help later," Hachiman nodded.
"But you know, I know mostly girls, so I'll need you to find a few guys to help," he added with a seemingly helpless sigh, as if troubled by only knowing girls.
At that moment, Zaimokuza in the countryside sneezed.
Seeing him acting like this, Shizuka wished she could punch him.
But she held back; she couldn't beat Hachiman, and if she resisted, she might end up pinned to the bed for another three hours.
"I got it. I'll find some guys," Shizuka waved dismissively at Hachiman, wearing an expression of disdain.
"Now, go away. I don't want to see you."
Hachiman didn't mind, shrugged his shoulders, and left Shizuka's apartment.
Walking out of Shizuka's apartment, Hachiman headed in the direction of his own home. Passing by the park, he heard a familiar voice.
"Little kitty, wait, I'll come to rescue you right away."
Turning towards the sound, he saw his teacher and neighbor, Kirisu. Because it was summer vacation, she wasn't wearing her work outfit; instead, she had on a short-sleeved T-shirt and black tight-fitting leggings, accentuating her shapely legs.
Currently, Kirisu was standing under a tree, trying to reach up with extended arms, and Hachiman could see a small white cat perched on the tree.
Understanding the situation, Hachiman realized Kirisu thought the cat couldn't come down and wanted to rescue it.
Do cats even have a fear of heights?
However, watching her futile efforts, Hachiman shook his head in exasperation, deciding to walk over and help.
"Mafuyu-sensei."
"Ahh~..."
Suddenly hearing a voice near her ear, Kirisu was startled. In her haste, she took a few steps back, stepped on a small stone on the ground, and tumbled to the floor.
Seeing this, Hachiman couldn't help but sigh.
Is there really a need to be so frightened? Am I some kind of ferocious beast?
"Mafuyu-sensei, it's just me."
Seeing a familiar face in front of her, Kirisu sighed in relief.
"Oh, it's you, Hikigaya-kun. You scared me."
Then realizing something, she quickly looked up at the tree, "By the way, where's the kitty?"
Hachiman smiled, "Don't worry, when it jumped down just now, I caught it. Look."
Saying that, he handed over the little white cat he had in his arms.
Taking the cat, Kirisu couldn't help but smile, reaching out to pet it.
"Don't climb so high next time."
Seeing this scene, Hachiman raised an eyebrow.
Is Mafuyu-sensei also a cat lover?
However, that's not the case. Kirisu simply comforted the cat a bit before letting it go.
Looking at Kirisu still sitting on the ground, Hachiman thought for a moment and asked with concern.
"Are you okay, Mafuyu-sensei?"
Upon hearing this, Kirisu couldn't help but feel that Hachiman was underestimating her.
"I just stumbled a bit, there's no way I could get injured..."
Unfortunately, before she could finish her sentence, she felt a slight swelling at her ankle, and her expression froze.
"Twisted your ankle?" Hachiman also guessed the location of the injury.
"Yeah..."
Nodding, Kirisu turned her head slightly, her face showing a hint of shyness.