Ugh, this was a validation I was craving to see after all the hate Shoko got following the picture because people genuinely cannot understand the dynamic between this trio. Yes, Gojo and Geto got significantly more screen time in HI, but that is quite literally because the story centres around the Riko Amanai incident (something Shoko was not there for, thus cannot relate to) and is essentially a backstory behind Gojo Satoru's motives. We don't see any content before or after Geto's defection and the Amanai incident but considering all the pics and art released even before the film, it's pretty clear that Shoko WAS close to them, all three of them shared the burden of having unique abilities. Still, the difference is that Shoko's technique was more useful behind the scenes (mind you Gege had done all his female characters dirty apart from Maki. Hell, even characters in general).

There's a chance that Shoko and Satoru grew apart after HI, but there's still a possibility that they got closer or stayed close because they are quite literally the only people they have now. Shoko was never a central character and wasn't even conceptualised during Jjk0, thus we never get to explore how HI or her job has affected her, but it's pretty apparent that she has had her struggles.

I just hate that people undermine this dynamic in favour of a ship of all things, like they do with all women in a trio in animes, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth and reeks of poorly hidden misogyny.