Zongman, gain super powers after helping others

“Because it’s too noisy around, listening to music helps to eliminate noise and make me more focused,” Yukinoshita said.

“That’s right. When you can’t feel the music, it means you’re very focused, which gives you more motivation,” Hachiman agreed.

"I wasn't listening to music, I was listening to an audiobook," Lin Qianshu corrected.

Then, the three of them simultaneously cast puzzled glances at the guy.

I can understand music, but what the heck is audiobooks?

Who listens to audiobooks while reading? Does that really help you concentrate?

However, after Lin Qianshu tested it... it really works.

This involves the underlying logic of the ability 'photographic memory'. As long as Lin Qianshu uses this ability, everything he sees will be recorded in great detail, and achieving this does not require too much of his energy.

While listening to audiobooks may not trigger a photographic memory (it's about remembering what you see, not what you hear), since reading doesn't require much of his energy, why not multitask and relax while reading?

That's the power of time management.

If Lin Qianshu had been a little more focused, he could have used headphones to play other learning materials. Although learning by listening is not as efficient as learning by seeing, he could still learn something from it.

But that would be too tiring. The purpose of using cheat codes is to make studying easier. If I've already used them and it still makes me so tired, then what's the point of using them?

"I just can't understand it." Yuihama's pupils lost their color. She couldn't comprehend why there was such a person in the world. It was one thing to have a photographic memory, but now he was telling her that he could multitask, reading while also entertaining himself.

Is this a human being?

"I've basically understood everything that needs to be understood, so now I just need to memorize it." Lin Qianshu indicated that he wasn't as inhuman as Bin had imagined.

A good memory can help you overcome 90% of the difficulties in humanities subjects; the remaining 10% depends on talent, or what is known as intuition.

Lin Qianshu wasn't sure if she had any spirituality, but she was definitely not as spiritual as Xue Zhixia. However, if she read through various model essays and copied them during the exam, she shouldn't have too much of a gap in her score.

"That's ridiculous, isn't it?" Yui Hama deflated like a punctured balloon and slumped onto the table.

Hachiman comforted him, "It's alright, you don't need to compare yourself to Lin Qianshu."

Yuihama thought about it and realized that Hikigaya was right. It wasn't her who made the bet with Hayashi Chiki, but Yukinoshita.

Of course, Yui wouldn't show this, since Yukino was still sitting next to her. As a member of Yukinoshita's camp, Yui naturally wouldn't do anything that would boost others' morale and dampen her own.

“Yukino is amazing too! She’s just as good as Hayashi Chiki… right?” Yui looked at Yukinoshita as if seeking some kind of validation.

If you think I won't lose, why are you making that face?

Speaking of which, I made a bet with Lin Qianshu, why are you competing with Hachiman Hikigaya?

Yukino sighed, opened the book and said, "Instead of making a bet, Yuihama-san should focus on her studies. The results of the regular exams will be recorded in her file."

“I know that, huh…” Yuihama also opened the book with Yukinoshita, and seeing the three of them putting their headphones back on, she couldn’t help but complain, “A study session shouldn’t be like this!”

"...So, what should a study session be like?" Yukinoshita asked curiously, and Hikigaya also turned his gaze towards her. Although Lin Chiki didn't look at Yuihama, her ears perked up.

"Hmm... First, let's determine the scope of the questions, find out what we don't understand and ask questions... Then it's break time, after which we'll continue discussing and exchange... cough, um, consultations, exchange consultations. Hmm... We'll chat occasionally in between, right?" Yuihama said uncertainly.

"That's more like a tea party than a study session, isn't it?" Yukinoshita succinctly and incisively summarized.

"There's absolutely no way to refute it."

Chapter 33 First Dinner Alone

The three-hour training session on family restaurants concluded successfully.

Lin Qianshu had no intention of going home to cook; she planned to have dinner at a family restaurant before heading back.

Hikigaya and Yuihama had someone cooking at their house, so they left first.

As for the snow...

"Is it a bit troublesome to go home to buy groceries and cook now?"

"..."

Yukino glanced at Hayashi Chiki and understood what he meant, but she didn't stop what she was doing and continued to tidy up the books and stationery on the table.

Seeing this, Lin Qianshu was somewhat disappointed, but not too disappointed. After all, given Yukino's personality, it was obviously difficult to get her to have dinner alone with a man.

Lin Qianshu only regrets that he cannot experience the beauty that the ancients described as "a feast for the eyes," and can only wait until later.

Thinking this, Lin Qianshu picked up the menu and randomly ordered a set meal that looked pretty good. Then he noticed that Yukinoshita, who had already packed her things, hadn't left. Instead, she reached out her hand to him.

"Have you finished ordering? If so, it's my turn."

"you……"

Lin Qianshu hadn't expected that Xue Zhixia's silence wasn't a rejection, but rather a sign that there was no need for further words.

“Even I sometimes don’t feel like cooking.” Yukinoshita’s cheeks flushed slightly, as if afraid that Hayashi Chiki might misunderstand something, so she added this sentence.

"Understand, understand."

Although she said she understood, the expression on Lin Qianshu's face made Yukino Shinoda feel that the other party must have misunderstood something, which made her regret her decision to stay and have dinner with Lin Qianshu without thinking.

...Now that things have come to this, let’s eat first.

The food was served quickly, as it was mostly home-style cooking and not exactly elaborate dishes, but the taste was decent, and the rice was fresh and plentiful.

Whether it was because Lin Qianshu was there or because she was always like this, Yukino Yukinoshita ate her meal with unhurried, elegant and dignified movements.

In contrast, Lin Qianshu's dining style, while not exactly rude, was certainly not elegant; it was merely a normal meal.

Lin Qianshu wouldn't put on any show just because Yukino Yukinoshita was sitting opposite her; she would just eat as usual.

After all, Yukinoshita wouldn't look at him differently because of his good table manners, nor would she sever ties with him because of his bad table manners. Therefore, when Lin Qianshu was with Yukinoshita, he would not deliberately hide anything, but would show her his most authentic self.

That's why Yukinoshita felt that Lin Qianshu gave her a completely different feeling from others, and that she was very comfortable to be around.

Both Yukinoshita and Hayashi Chiki have good dining habits and do not chat during meals unless necessary.

After having their fill, the two paid the bill and left the family restaurant.

On the way, Lin Qianshu said, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you before, before I met you and Yuihama..."

Lin Qianshu briefly explained the background and consequences of accepting Kawasaki Taishi's request, and asked Yukinoshita if she wanted to get involved.

After all, Lin Chishu took the commission on his own initiative under the name of the Service Club, and if Yukinoshita did not want to participate, Lin Chishu would not force her.

Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita didn't think too much before asking directly, "What do you need me to do?"

The implication was clear: she had accepted the commission.

“Not really for now. We don’t have enough information right now, and we need to follow up with the person involved. You can come along then,” Lin Qianshu invited.

Today I only had a brief chat with Taishi Kawasaki about his sister's situation. Because of Taishi Kawasaki's own emotions and the fact that they had only just met, I didn't go into more detail.

Lin Qianshu has decided to have Komachi arrange a meeting with Taishi this Friday to have a proper chat. As for how to notify Komachi... actually, when he went to Hachiman to pick up the drinks, Komachi asked him for his phone number, so he can just send a text message later.

“Sure, I’m free on Friday. Shall we invite Yuihama?” Yukinoshita asked.

If she, Lin Chishu, and Hikigaya were all there, not inviting Yuihama would feel like the three of them were isolating her. If Yuihama knew, she would inevitably be sad.

"Then I'll leave it to Yukino to talk to her." Lin Qianshu handed the task over to Yukino Yukinoshita.

Friday, at the same family restaurant as last time.

"Oh, everyone! I'm Komachi Hikigaya. Thank you all for taking care of my brother." Komachi greeted everyone while bowing.

Completely opposite to her brother's aloof and awkward personality, Komachi is generous and easygoing, and her manners are impeccable. If it weren't for their identical hair and eye color and somewhat similar appearance, it would be hard to imagine that the two are actually siblings.

On the other side, Kawasaki Taishi also bowed and introduced himself.

"This is Yuihama, and next to her is Yukinoshita. You should know Hayashi Chiki, so I won't go into too much detail." Hikigaya gave a brief introduction from the side.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yui Yuigahama, Aki's classmate." Yui Yuigahama introduced herself in a very cheerful manner. I don't know if it was just my imagination, but I always felt that Yui Yuigahama's attitude towards Komachi was very enthusiastic, not at all like she would treat a classmate's younger sister.

"Nice to meet you, please take care of me." Komachi responded politely to the enthusiastic Yuihama, but what bothered Komachi a little was how the other party addressed her brother.

Ah Qi? At first glance, the pronunciation sounds a bit like "autistic man," but upon closer listening, it sounds more like a nickname... Hehe, so my older brother isn't entirely useless at school after all.

"Nice to meet you. My name is Yukino Yukinoshita, and I am the club president of the club that Hachiman belongs to."

Compared to Yuihama, Yukino Yukinoshita's attitude was much more normal. However, her beauty seemed to have a slight shock to Komachi, so much so that Komachi was a beat slower when returning the gift.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats.

Hikigaya siblings and Kawasaki Taishi sat on one side, while Yuihama, Yukinoshita, and Hayashi Chiki took their seats on the other side in turn.

Even though it was just a simple seating arrangement, Komachi still noticed something amiss. She tugged at her brother's sleeve and asked in a voice only she and Hachiman could hear, "Brother, what's the relationship between Senpai Hayashi and that Yukinoshita-senpai?"

Hikigaya was a little puzzled as to why his sister was asking this, but he still gave an answer: "Probably friends? In any case, they're definitely closer than my relationship with Hayashi Chiki."

"Why would my brother want to compare himself to Yukinoshita-senpai?" Komachi sighed. Shouldn't he normally consider Hayashi Chiki as a rival?

Hikigaya's answer to this was quite simple: "Hayashi Chiki is my friend, but Yukinoshita isn't."

Indeed, Komachi thought back to when she was introduced earlier. Yukinoshita only mentioned that she was her brother's club president, not a friend or classmate, so their relationship seemed to be just so-so.

"What about Yuigahama-senpai? What's her relationship with my brother?"

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P.S.: Please continue reading...

Chapter 34 Every family has its own sutras that are difficult to recite

"What about Yuigahama-senpai? What's her relationship with my brother?"

"Huh? Just a regular classmate, I guess."

Hachiman Hikigaya didn't know why his younger sister was asking this, but he answered truthfully anyway.

Seeing her brother's genuine expression, Komachi sighed. She knew it was pointless to reason with her idiot brother.

"Let's get down to business first, Kawasaki-kun?" Komachi stopped dwelling on her brother's high school friends and steered the conversation back on track.

"Yes!" Upon hearing Komachi Hikigaya's voice, Taishi Kawasaki, like a soldier receiving an order, began to recount his sister's situation in a measured and formal manner.

"My older sister is a second-year student at Soubu High School. Her name is Kawasaki Saki. Recently, she's started going astray, or rather, she's become a delinquent..."

"Kawasaki Saki, is she the Kawasaki Saki from our class?" Yui Hama hadn't known about the details of the request before coming, but she quickly recognized the name Kawasaki Saki.

Yukinoshita had already heard the name from Hayashi Chiki, so she didn't react much. She simply asked Yuihama:

"Are you friends with her?"

Yuihama belongs to the F-class's popular group and has a wide circle of friends. Given that Kawasaki Saki is also a girl, it's not surprising that they would become friends.

However, Yui shook her head and said with some difficulty, "Although we've spoken before, we don't seem to be friends... Anyway, the situation is complicated, so Yukino, please don't ask."

Lin Qianshu nudged Xue Zhixia with his leg under the table and explained in a low voice, "Girls may seem like one circle, but in reality, they are further subdivided into various small teams, cliques, factions, and camps. The inside story is quite complicated and it is difficult to explain to outsiders in a short time."

"I see." Yukinoshita stroked her chin thoughtfully, then suddenly realized, how did Lin Qianshu know so much? She was the girl, wasn't she?

Yuihama continued, "But I've never seen Kawasaki-san be particularly close to anyone... Every time I see her, she's almost always sitting in her seat, staring out the window in a daze."

“It seems that’s true.” Hachiman seemed to have been awakened by some memory, and echoed.

"When did your sister start to change?" Yukinoshita asked.

"Yes!"

Kawasaki Taishi was startled by Yukino's sudden question. It has to be said that Yukino's cool and aloof temperament was indeed quite intimidating, and coupled with her very beautiful appearance, it was really a bit too much for a middle school boy to be questioned by such an older sister.

In fact, let alone junior high school students, some people, even high school students, and even after they go to college or graduate, still stammer and can't speak fluently when they meet pretty girls. I won't name names here.

"Hmm... My sister studied very hard in junior high, which is why she was able to get into Soubu High School. She was also very good to me back then, often cooking for me. That didn't change until my first year of high school, until recently..."

"So it was only in your second year of high school that you became like that?"

After pondering for a moment, Yukinoshita continued, "What changes occurred after you entered your second year of high school that are particularly suspicious?"

"It's probably a reassignment of classes, right? After being assigned to class F."

"After the class was divided, did your sister have any contact with any classmates?"

"I've never heard her mention it."

Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita looked at Hayashi Chiki and asked, "Have you heard that Kawasaki Saki is close to any of the boys or girls in your class?"

"No, you should know that in Class F, my popularity is on par with Hachiman's. I simply can't get information of this level. Didn't Yuihama say before that she's never seen Kawasaki's sister get along well with anyone?" Lin Qianshu shrugged.

"Hey! Sorry for being unpopular!" Hachiman complained.

"In that case, we can basically rule out the possibility that it's a problem with students from within the school," Detective Yukinoshita concluded.