Hachiman's POV ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁
"…Why now?" I groaned.
Tazuna: "I'm so sorry! They requested this two months ago, but I declined because we're swamped. They couldn't wait any longer, though…"
"Look," I said, "we're insanely busy. You get that, right, Tazuna-san? Fuji's got the Asahi Hai next week, and Air Groove's got the Arima Kinen right after. Two G1s in a row! Fuji's race is next week! What kind of client thinks we've got time for this? Do they have actual brains in their heads?"
Tazuna: "Y-Yeah, I figured you'd react … I'm sorry."
"And the chairman who approved this!" I snapped. "What's her deal? This wipes out tomorrow's schedule! Is she in on it with the client? Does her frontal lobe even work?"
I'm tearing into them, but I'm this close to losing it. Think about it—one week until a major race, a G1 no less, and they think we've got time for this nonsense?
Chairman: "G-Guh… I didn't expect Hiki-trainer to go that hard…"
"Of course I'm mad!" I said. "I'm tempted to yank your cheeks for accepting this without asking me!"
Chairman: "P-Please, anything but that!!"
"Fine, I'll leave that to Tazuna-san," I said.
Tazuna: "Nothing's fine!!"
"What's the request, anyway?" I asked.
Tazuna: "They made racing outfits for Air Groove-san and Fuji Kiseki-san and want them to wear them for a photoshoot. They'd love for you to join, Hiki-trainer."
"Of course I'd go with them," I said. "I'm their trainer. That's obvious."
Tazuna: "N-No, I mean, they want you in the photos—"
"Can I refuse right now?" I cut in.
Tazuna: "H-Hiki-trainer!?"
"Look, I hate being in photos or videos," I said. "The two of them, fine, but why me?"
Tazuna: "W-Well… one of the staff is a huge fan of yours…"
"…I'm out," I said, turning to leave.
Tazuna: "W-Wait, please!!"
I managed to calm things down by saying I'd talk to the girls, but it's awkward. They've got huge races coming up, and now a photoshoot? I should've yanked the chairman's cheeks.
"…So, yeah," I told them. "I just found out myself. Weird to say, but it's a done deal."
See? They're frozen. Of course they are— a photoshoot at a time ? "Hachiman," Air Groove said.
"Do you have the company's number?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, here's the details," I said, handing them over.
Suddenly, Air Groove and Fuji stepped outside, clutching the details and their phones. Wait, what? What're they doing?
Several Minutes Later
"Hey, you're back…" I said.
Air Groove: "…Hachiman, let's bring our A-game tomorrow."
Fuji: "The photoshoot's gonna be fun!"
"…Wait, you're into this?" I asked.
Air Groove: "Of course."
…What? I thought they'd shut it down, saying it's no time for this. They're on board? What happened?
"Just to be sure," I said, "what went down? I think you made a call, but… you don't have to say if you don't want to."
Fuji: "It's a secret, Hachiman-trainer♪"
Air Groove: "You'll see tomorrow."
"I'd rather tomorrow never comes," I muttered. "I'm refusing, by the way."
Air Groove/Fuji: "You're doing it with us, Hachiman(-trainer)!!"
Their crazy enthusiasm is throwing me off… Fine, I'll report to the chairman that they're on board. I'm curious why they're so hyped, but I'll let it slide.
A few minutes earlier…
"Hello," I said into the phone. "This is Air Groove from Tresen Academy's high school division. I'm reviewing the photoshoot details, and it says the trainer can join. Is that true? …Yes… Good. Both Fuji Kiseki and I want to shoot with our trainer. We'll cooperate with solo shots too, of course… Understood. We'll be there tomorrow. Thank you." Click
"They're thrilled," I said. "It's less about us and more about shooting with Hachiman—that's the real concept."
Fuji: "The outfits sound perfect too. Tomorrow's gonna be a blast!"
"Indeed," I said. "It's a great way to unwind."
Fuji: "Hachiman-trainer didn't seem keen, but he's gotta come, right?"
"Absolutely," I said.
A sudden photoshoot disrupts Hachiman's plans right before Air Groove's Arima Kinen and Fuji's Asahi Hai, but the duo's unexpected enthusiasm, as you noted, steals the show! The Yahari crossover fuels Hachiman's grumpiness and their playful push, setting up a fun detour.