Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Following Toyokawa Shoko's words, Iruma Hibiki noticed Takamatsu Touma, who was now at the front of the team. Although Takamatsu Touma had said that he was familiar with this matter, but -

It would be boring if you queue up for a long time alone.

"Toyokawa-san, are you okay?"

Hibiki Iruma asked.

"Well, I've rested well."

"Then let's go find Takamatsu-san."

Hibiki Iruma threw the empty bottle into the trash can on the side and then walked towards Takamatsu Touma.

At the same time, at home, Nagasaki Suyo looked at the reply from Iruma Hibiki on her phone and felt a sense of emptiness for some reason.

【Hibiki has never been like this before.】

Nagasaki Suyo thought so.

She still remembered that Hibiki Iruma would be eager to share everything about his daily life with her, including who he met, where he went, and what he had for lunch.

Such small details as these, Hibiki Iruma never concealed or even glossed over them.

but--

Nagasaki Suyo looked at the photo she had just taken on her phone with empty eyes. In the coffee shop, Toyokawa Shoko leaned forward slightly and looked at Iruma Hibiki with an expectant look, while Iruma Hibiki smiled gently.

Nagasaki Suyo put down her phone, turned off the screen, then looked at the ceiling and sighed deeply.

After all, she—

Now she has joined the band she wanted to join as she wished, right?

It was natural to look forward to it. We had the opportunity to be together almost every day, and later we made an appointment to go stargazing.

She has a good relationship with the people around her. Whether it is Toyokawa Shoko or Wakaba Mutsu, they are all easy to get along with. The only one she has some difficulty getting along with is Shiina Tatsuki. Nagasaki Suyo also thinks that she is just a little blunt in her words, but she must be a good person.

So what exactly is her loss?

Was he treated coldly by Iruma Hibiki?

but--

If you like that, it would be deceptive indeed.

Nagasaki Suyo repeated these words to herself deep in her heart.

She had no intention of falling in love, nor did she think she would ever fall in love. She even couldn't imagine what love was like.

She doesn't understand the meaning of love.

Why did she confess at that time? If she hadn't confessed, would Hibiki Iruma be different now?

After all, Hibiki Iruma definitely liked her, right?

Nagasaki Suyo thought so.

But my empty heart could not get any answer.

The Nagasaki family was as quiet as usual today. When night fell, Nagasaki Suyo turned on the lights in the whole house.

After all, at this time, if she still maintained the virtue of thriftiness taught in her education as a young lady, the empty, dark room would be even more terrifying.

She actually—

When I saw Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa getting along, I felt...jealousy...

But even Nagasaki Suyo herself did not realize the significance of this emotion.

【Do you like me as much as I like you? 】

Nagasaki Suyo actually still remembered what Iruma Hibiki said before they parted.

After all, she—

[Xiang, can I talk to you alone? ]

Finally, Nagasaki Suyo sent this message to Iruma Hibiki.

From then on until she fell into a drowsy sleep, Nagasaki Suyo's eyes remained on the screen of that size.

Nagasaki Suyo usually goes to bed before 10 o'clock.

At this time, Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa were immersed in the performance at the planetarium.

The planetarium named "Jena", operated by commentator "Hoshino Yume", shows the beautiful night sky of Tokyo. It is in perfect condition and the complete starry sky is difficult to observe with the naked eye.

From the very beginning when the lights were on, to the end when the sky was filled with stars, it was a complete feast under the high-level commentary of the commentator.

Iruma Hibiki felt satisfied.

Occasionally, when he turned around and looked at Takamatsu Deng beside him, he could see happiness and joy on Takamatsu Deng's face. But farther away, the expression of Toyokawa Shoko, who was sitting on the other side of Takamatsu Deng, was a little hard to understand.

only--

Perhaps when he occasionally looked around, he noticed that there was a blonde girl who looked about the same age as them staring at them near their seats.

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Iruma Hibiki actually deliberately ignored such gazes.

but--

Almost until the end, that strange look did not disappear.

20 I don't have any blonde friends

30 minutes later, the performance at the planetarium ended. As the lights turned on, Iruma Hibiki felt a slight glare, and it took him some time to recover from it.

When he looked at the blonde girl again, whom he had neglected due to his concentration, her place was empty, without a trace, as if the girl just now was just a dream he had under the starry night.

"Galaxy Railroad"?

Iruma Hibiki couldn't help but think so.

When Iruma Hibiki stood up, Takamatsu Deng was rubbing his eyes gently. It seemed that his concentrated gaze just now was not without cost.

"Is it okay?"

"Takamatsu-san, are your eyes hurting?"

The voices of concern from Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa overlapped, and the two looked at each other in surprise, then smiled slightly because of this tacit understanding, and finally focused their attention on Takamatsu Touma in front of them.

"It's okay! I was just a little mesmerized by it!"

Takamatsu Deng said this cutely, her voice a little dazed.

"I have some eye drops here, would you like some?"

"There seems to be a place to rest over there. Let's go over there."

Iruma Hibiki looked around and found a seat outside the venue where he could rest.

"Um……"

After responding softly, Takamatsu Deng also stood up. She didn't know when she started to hold Toyokawa Shoko's hand while pulling Iruma Hibiki's sleeve cautiously.

The shirt that Hibiki Iruma wore today was a little special. There was a long button-strap on the sleeves instead of a hidden one. The reason he chose this kind of shirt in the first place was because Goto Ichiri also liked to do this kind of action, and this kind of button-strap cuffs would allow her to hold his hand without being so embarrassed.

But even Iruma Hibiki didn't expect that the first person to hold his sleeve would be Takamatsu Touma.

"I'm having a great time today. I'll come to the planetarium someday!"

Toyokawa Shoko said excitedly.

"Speaking of which, this planetarium is also having a promotion. It seems the 5th customer gets a free meal and a mysterious gift."

"Eh? What's your current number?"

Shoko Toyokawa leaned over curiously.

"Including today, it should be around 3!"

Gao Songdeng replied quickly, as if she had been calculating this string of numbers in her mind for a long time.

"Maybe we can try—"

There was a hint of expectation in Shoko Toyokawa's eyes.

"Wait, if there's one show every night, and at this rate of over a hundred people per show... 5 will take at least 150 days?"

Iruma Hibiki made a rough estimate.

“It’s only been 150 days.”

Then Toyokawa Shoko sighed and said:

"Come along later."

"Yeah! A lifetime!"

Hibiki Iruma looked at Shoko Toyokawa, and then looked at Tomo Takamatsu who was looking at him expectantly.

He could be sure and certain that what Toyokawa Shoko said was "together", but what Takamatsu Deng said, although the pronunciation was very similar, was definitely "a lifetime".

but……

"Well, a lifetime."

He also answered softly, and then in front of Iruma Hibiki, Takamatsu Deng, with his eyes rubbed a little red, showed a happy and happy smile, which was very cute.

"Get it for me."

In fact, at the beginning, Hibiki Iruma thought that Shoko Toyokawa would hand the eye drops directly to Toyokawa Tomo. However, when he took Shoko Toyokawa's small bag, mobile phone, key chain and other strange things, and even clamped her drink with his arm, he realized that Shoko Toyokawa actually wanted to do it herself.

Gao Songdeng also cooperated by slightly raising his little face, closing his eyes and showing a nervous expression.

"Iruma-san, I need to take Takamatsu-san home later. What about you?"

After putting in the eye drops, Toyokawa Shoko asked Iruma Hibiki.

At this moment, Iruma Hibiki once again felt the feeling of being roasted on the fire by Toyokawa Shoko.

After all, he and Deng Takamatsu are not familiar enough to share each other's addresses. How should he answer this question?

"my words……"

Iruma Hibiki hesitated.

Until I saw Gao Songdeng, who was still vaguely opening his eyes and looking at this side, even though his eye drops were irritating.

"No problem, let's go together."

Then Iruma Hibiki answered helplessly.

If Takamatsu Deng didn't mind, then he had no reason to mind either. Besides, he didn't think he was the kind of guy who would do anything weird if he knew a beautiful girl's address.

He is a reassuring person.

“That’s great.”

"Would you like to come to my house and play?"

At this moment, Takamatsu Deng, with his eyes closed, extended an invitation to Iruma Hibiki and Toyokawa Shoko.

"Sorry, Takamatsu-kun, maybe next time. It's too late tonight, and I'm almost at curfew. My father will be worried if I come home late."

This time, Toyokawa Shoko gave an answer that made Iruma Hibiki breathe a sigh of relief.

"It's really late now, but after all, we'll be meeting again in the rehearsal room tomorrow, so it's best to get a good rest tonight."

And Iruma Hibiki quickly chose to support Toyokawa Shoko.

Perhaps his answer was quite good, Takamatsu Deng showed a look of regret and then became happy in an instant.

"Yes, we have practice together tomorrow, and we will be together for the rest of our lives!"

She whispered something to herself so that both Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa could hear.

A little heavy.

But for the two people standing in front of Toyokawa Shoko, it seemed a little strange and normal.

Five minutes later, Takamatsu Deng had a good rest, and then, under her guidance, Iruma Hibiki and Toyokawa Shoko set out to take her home.

Of course, of course—