Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Yes, Iruma-san released a new song last night that we recorded together. Has everyone heard it? It's that last-century Japanese rock song."

Before Iruma Hibiki could speak, Toyokawa Shoko responded to Nagasaki Suyo.

"'Give Me a Lie Forever'..."

Gao Songdeng silently recited the name.

“This song!”

Then she raised her head somewhat proactively and looked at Iruma Hibiki with excited eyes, but then she looked away as if she was afraid of something.

"It's amazing, really great, both the lyrics and the way Iruma-san sings..."

“It’s like a cry from the heart…”

"If I--"

Gao Songdeng was silent for a while.

She immediately changed her tune after the incident.

"I want to be a singer like Iruma-san!"

Takamatsu Deng said this with great force and a very firm tone.

"I'm not someone you admire in the field of singing, but if my songs can give you some courage and confidence, then it will be worth it for me to record them."

Hibiki Iruma responded with a hint of humility.

Takamatsu Touma, although she looks a bit like Goto Ichiri, they are completely different.

It was not until this moment that Hibiki Iruma began to understand the girl in front of him a little.

As for Wakaba Mutsu beside him——

If it weren't for the fact that Iruma Xiang could see the slightly rising and falling chest and occasional blinks, he would definitely have thought Wakaba Mu was an exquisite puppet that could be manipulated at will.

03 I like loud guitars

An hour and a half was just right. After getting to know each other, we applied for Ring membership cards online, confirmed the time for the next meeting, and then dispersed. Perhaps Toyokawa Shoko was very good at planning time, as we dispersed at 4:, which was just enough time for everyone to get home and catch dinner.

Iruma Hibiki was actually a little worried before leaving.

He was a little slow in packing.

Beside him, Nagasaki Motoyo had packed up and stood there, as if waiting for his lover.

until--

Takamatsu Deng and Wakaba Mutsu both stood up and prepared to leave when Iruma Hibiki finished packing.

"Mu? Is your car coming to pick you up?"

In response to Toyokawa Shoko's question, Wakaba Mutsu shook his head.

"If it's beyond your family's plans, you have to find a way on your own."

Family planning?

Hibiki Iruma, who was standing nearby, actually had no intention of eavesdropping.

But at this distance, he could hear it no matter what, and he even saw that Ruoye Mu actually looked at him.

"Then take my car, Iruma-san, Nagasaki-san, Takamatsu-san. See you next week."

"See you next week."

After saying goodbye, Wakaba Mutsu and Toyokawa Shoko walked side by side to the intersection, where a black luxury car was waiting.

After that, the only ones left were Hibiki Iruma, Soyo Nagasaki, and Tomori Takamatsu.

"How are you going to get back, Takamatsu-san?"

Hibiki Iruma asked, taking the initiative to start the conversation.

Actually, the matter of chatting with Takamatsu Deng——

No matter how he thought about it, it was all just idle talk for him at the moment.

It's an escape.

If Takamatsu Deng left, the only ones left would be him and Nagasaki Suyo.

For Hibiki Iruma, being alone with Nagasaki Suyo again was... a little overwhelming.

Especially now.

So he called out to Gao Songdeng.

slam-la-

Perhaps because Iruma Hibiki's question was too sudden, Takamatsu Deng was a little frightened, and then she pulled her hand out of her pocket, and then the inside of her pocket was completely turned inside out, and the contents fell to the ground.

"Are you ok?"

With a hint of worry, Iruma Hibiki turned his gaze towards the thing that had just made the loud noise.

"Wait, Iruma-san!"

Gao Songdeng fell to the ground like a penguin to protect the things she had just dropped.

"It's okay with me."

Then she spoke sullenly.

He was somewhat clumsily covering himself and picking up the items that had fallen on the ground.

At this moment, Iruma Xiang could see clearly what those things were. They were pieces of stone, some of which looked like quartzite and some of which looked like pebbles.

Takamatsu-san's pockets are full of stones?

For some reason, Hibiki Iruma suddenly thought of a pink starfish.

There are no such popular children's anime in this world, so this can be regarded as a part of Hibiki Iruma's unique memories. He thought about it for a while and waited.

Only after Gao Songdeng had picked up the fallen stones with his own thoughts did he reach out his hand.

⑸⑵⑹⑹⑸⑵⑵⑸⑴

However, when Hibiki Iruma reached out to Takamatsu Touma to pull her up, Nagasaki Motoyo stepped in faster than he could, and said in an overly sweet and gentle voice:

"Takamatsu-san, please get up quickly."

"Ah, thank you... Sorry... I've caused you so much trouble. Bye!"

Takamatsu Deng slowly stood up with the help of Nagasaki Suyo, then quickly apologized and ran away.

"Takamatsu-san is a little strange, just like Wakaba-san, isn't he? Hibiki?"

Finally, Hibiki Iruma and Motoyo Nagasaki were alone.

"Well, that's a bit worrying."

When the thing he was originally avoiding happened, Iruma Hibiki realized that perhaps the current scene was not particularly scary after all.

It’s just Nagasaki Suyo, the person he loves who doesn’t love him.

no big deal.

"What are Hibiki's plans next?"

Nagasaki Suyo asked.

Perhaps she was feeling a little uneasy at this moment.

After all, if Hibiki Iruma leaves, then...

"Nothing special, how about you?"

Iruma Hibiki turned around and looked at the usual group of people, including Nagasaki Suyo.

"I don't have any either. Want to walk around the neighborhood together?"

Faced with Nagasaki Suyo's invitation, Iruma Hibiki was silent for a while and then agreed.

Then, the two of them walked around Ikebukuro just like before.

And for Nagasaki Suyo, everything now——

It was already what she had dreamed of. She had no demands and just greedily enjoyed the time with Hibiki Iruma.

Until, a certain gap.

It was probably when she went to the bathroom and Hibiki Iruma was waiting for her at the door.

She came out without making any sound, while Hibiki Iruma was leaning against a wall typing.

The newly formed Crychic group was silent.

The person Hibiki Iruma was chatting with at the moment was a person with an avatar with yellow flowers.

Nagasaki Suyo recognized this avatar, it was the one used by Wakaba Mutsu.

"ring."

"Um?!"

When Nagasaki Suyo spoke, Iruma Hibiki was startled.

"Come to think of it, Hibiki and Wakaba-san are both guitarists. So, if Hibiki is the one, will he be the lead guitarist?"

Nagasaki Suyo asked.

"Not necessarily? I have the impression that Wakaba-san is the lead guitarist."

"We need to have a good discussion about the division of labor next time."

"but--"

Nagasaki Suyo suddenly frowned.

"Toyokawa-san's piano can handle the chords, right?"

"That being said..."

Iruma Hibiki looked at Nagasaki Soyo, and he probably understood what Nagasaki Soyo wanted to say at the moment.

"However, I'd be very happy if I could coordinate the guitar part with Wakaba-san. My level isn't quite up to par yet. Even though I've practiced with her in Ijichi, I'm still a little worried about whether I can coordinate with her."

Then he replied.

In fact, Hibiki Iruma didn't have any dissatisfaction with this situation.

On the contrary, at that moment just now, Nagasaki Suyo's attitude towards Wakaba Mutsu made him a little... worried.

"Su Shi, between you and Ruoye..."

"Nothing, I'm just worried that Hibiki's talent on guitar won't be showcased in Crychic. I'm on Hibiki's side."

Nagasaki Suyo said this, defending herself.

And Iruma Hibiki also realized that at this moment, this topic could not continue no matter what.

“I really like loud guitars.”

Then, Nagasaki Suyo said to Iruma Hibiki with a smile.

Her smile was as beautiful as ever, but to Hibiki Iruma, there was something a little scary in it.

[Su Shi, could it be that she...?]

Some terrible thoughts were born in Iruma Hibiki's mind.

That was something he didn't want to see at all.

04 Cucumber, Stone and Patrick

"From now on, can I call you Xiao Mu?"

In the new week, in the courtyard of Tsuki no Mori, Nagasaki Suyo took the initiative to find Wakaba Mutsu who was always watering the plants here. Her feeling was right, she did see Wakaba Mutsu often.

"Ah."

Facing Nagasaki Suyo, Wakaba Mu nodded without saying anything, nor did he turn around. He just stared at the cucumbers he had planted in front of him and watered them.