Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Page 115

This road took a very long time to walk and went around in circles several times.

When passing the entrance of Tsuki no Mori for the third time, Hibiki Iruma wanted to complain.

but……

He didn't say anything, but just walked quietly with Takamatsu Deng and Toyokawa Shoko.

Perhaps he actually enjoyed the atmosphere tonight, especially when he was in the planetarium, he almost forgot everything and was immersed in the beauty of the starry sky.

"By the way, do you have any blonde friends?"

"Eh?"

"Blonde..."

Before leaving, Iruma Hibiki suddenly asked with some concern.

"When I was in the planetarium, I noticed a blonde girl who kept looking at us."

Iruma Hibiki said.

"I don't know if it was my imagination or I was a little allergic, but she stared at me for quite a long time."

"I don't have any blond friends, where's Takamatsu-san?"

Shoko Toyokawa thought for a while and gave an answer that was somewhat affirmative and matter-of-fact.

“My only friends are the guys in the band.”

Takamatsu Deng's reply was a little soft and timid.

"I see, that must be my illusion."

"Maybe he's a fan of yours, Iruma-san?"

Toyokawa Shoko chuckled and joked.

"Then forget it."

And Hibiki Iruma sighed, the pressure of [Alien Composer] returning again.

21 Name and Ms. Ha

Perhaps the final reward of the day was that when I passed by that familiar overpass with Toyokawa Shoko and Takamatsu Deng, the three of us all smiled and began to reminisce about the time we met.

After all, the fact that Shoko Toyokawa was able to arrest the band members here twice seems like a plot that only happens in novels.

After reminiscing, Takamatsu Deng suddenly suggested——

【Would you please address each other by name from now on?】

For her, such things are natural.

After all, they are lifelong companions.

They will never separate no matter what, and their relationship of being entangled with each other for a lifetime has reached the point where they can even exchange names. After all, lovers, couples, or even spouses at a deeper level, may not necessarily sign a "lifetime" contract.

These relationships are sometimes short-lived and fragile, and even when both parties realize this, they still go on without hesitation.

Such relationships will involve exchanging names with each other.

And their promise of "life" is, no matter how you look at it, more profound than these relationships.

Gao Songdeng was looking forward to the moment when he could directly call out "Xiangzi" and "Xiang".

"It's okay, just call me Xiangzi from now on."

"Well, that's fine with me."

Iruma Hibiki sighed.

He looked at Shoko Toyokawa beside him with some helplessness.

The appearance of Toyokawa Shoko changed many things, including the sense of distance that ordinary male high school students like Iruma Hibiki should have when surviving in Tokyo.

So at this time, it became natural for them to call each other by their names.

"Hang, Xiangzi!"

After all, for Iruma Hibiki to call someone by their name like this... besides Takamatsu Touma, the only other person who can do this is Nagasaki Soyo.

He felt a little uncomfortable at first.

But soon a warm feeling flowed into Iruma Hibiki's heart, and after all, the journey to send Takamatsu Touma home came to an abrupt end here.

The embarrassing scene that Iruma Hibiki had imagined did not happen, and Takamatsu Deng walked the last short distance alone.

For the time being, he didn't have to worry about being terrified after knowing Takamatsu Deng's address.

Very good--

Looking at Shoko Toyokawa beside him, Hibiki Iruma felt a little relieved.

After all, if it was Toyokawa Shoko, he wouldn't find it strange to send the person back to the bedroom.

"Hibiki, let's go?"

Then——

When the two were alone, Shoko Toyokawa called Hibiki Iruma's name.

"Still worried about the lights?"

Seeing that Iruma Hibiki didn't respond for a long time, Toyokawa Shoko asked worriedly.

She looked in the direction where Gao Songdeng had left, but in fact the figure there had disappeared, leaving only the dark street and the lonely night shadows of the trees.

"Ah, no, sorry, I was distracted just now. Let's go, next is to send Fengchuan..."

Iruma Hibiki was glared at by Toyokawa Shoko.

indeed.

For the other party who calls the first name, calling the other party by their last name often means a precursor to a quarrel, and the severity of the quarrel is probably second only to calling the full name.

"Sorry, some habits die hard."

"Forgive you."

Toyokawa Shoko said with a smile.

In fact, she was startled when she was called Fengchuan just now.

"What's next, Xiangzi?"

Hibiki Iruma asked.

After all, the streets at night are still too dangerous for a young lady like Xiangzi.

At least in Iruma Hibiki's opinion, Toyokawa Shoko is always a "princess" who needs protection rather than a hero.

This isn't about being chauvinistic or anything.

After all, Iruma Hibiki completely didn't dare to trust or compliment Toyokawa Shoko in this area, especially in the common sense of daily life.

If one day he saw Toyokawa Shoko happily chatting with the disgusting uncle who wanted to abduct her on the street, he would not be surprised.

Of course, if something like that really happened, he would definitely take action.

But if that's the case, it would just be the plot of a cheesy novel.

"My car is at that intersection. Are you going to the station? I can give you a ride."

"No, sorry."

Iruma Hibiki quickly lowered his head and apologized to Toyokawa Shoko.

He was being overly arrogant to think that the young lady needed to go home alone.

Iruma Hibiki laughed at himself inwardly and then smiled faintly.

"I really saw a side of you that I don't see often tonight. I'll see you at rehearsal tomorrow."

Finally, Toyokawa Shoko said these words as her farewell.

When she left, unlike Takamatsu Deng who was reluctant to leave and staggering, she left in a very free and easy manner, with her twin ponytails floating in the air, making Iruma Hibiki vaguely smell the taste of lemon salt soda.

In the end, Hibiki Iruma also set out on the journey home alone.

Then he saw the invitation that Nagasaki Suyo had sent about an hour or two ago.

In an instant, the smile on his face disappeared.

【What are you doing? 】

Then he also saw Shiina Tatsuki who sent a message at the perfect time.

[Just separated from Deng and Xiangzi.]

[Deng? Xiangzi? When?!]

Shiina Riki's reaction was a bit intense.

Iruma Hibiki was confused for a moment about what she was asking, but it wasn't until later that he realized, ah! It turns out that Shiina Riki is just an ordinary high school girl from Tokyo.

For some reason, Iruma Hibiki felt like tears welling up in his eyes.

It feels so good to still be a normal person.

【It was probably just now that we decided to call each other by our names.】

【just?】

[Well, Xiangzi talked to me about Ruoye today, and then I happened to run into Deng, so we went to the planetarium together. We just parted ways.]

Iruma Xiang responded honestly that his neighbor, Bawu, was Liu Baqi⑺.

It was at this time that he saw the daily photos shared by Toyokawa Shoko.

There are three photos in total.

The first one is the ticket.

The second photo shows the drinks the three of them ordered midway.

Chapter 3 provides an overview of the entire venue.

The caption reads, "First time going to the planetarium with my band mates, so happy!"