Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"I promise, I'll never lie to Hibiki again."

Nagasaki Suyo was talking to herself, while Iruma Hibiki remained motionless, like a sculpture. Perhaps his expression at that moment could inspire Michelangelo to leave behind a masterpiece that would last forever.

He actually had a premonition when Nagasaki Motoyo asked him out to talk to her alone.

But Iruma Hibiki——

He had never thought that Nagasaki Suyo would want to talk about something like this. Even now, he had occasionally deceived himself, so how could he have imagined that Nagasaki Suyo would ask him out to talk about something like this...

"So it's all a lie?"

Hibiki Iruma asked.

He asked completely helplessly.

In fact, such a question is meaningless here.

After all, the answer is obvious, isn't it?

"Eh? What did Xiang say?"

"Something I like."

Hibiki Iruma leaned weakly against the wall behind him, not knowing what to do. He became at a loss. Just a moment ago, he was trying desperately to catch up with Shiina and the others, worrying about how long his guitar would take to achieve the best effect without compromising on the performance.

But at this moment——

These thoughts completely disappeared.

"I'm sorry. It doesn't matter how much Hibiki wants to blame me. I just... don't want to be like this with Hibiki. Ever since we reconnected, Hibiki has been acting strangely... It's like I don't know him at all. I'm feeling uneasy because of this, so I felt like I needed to make things clear."

"Hiragi has already said before that she doesn't want to maintain a romantic relationship anymore. If that's the case—"

Nagasaki Suyo spoke quickly.

In fact, she also had a hint of anxiety in her heart.

She still recalls the scene of Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa interacting in the coffee shop.

【Xiangzi】

Just now, Hibiki Iruma actually called Toyokawa Shoko that, right?

Perhaps these are not the words Nagasaki Suyo wants to say at this moment.

perhaps--

She was just sad. When Hibiki Iruma was protecting Takamatsu Touma, caring about Wakaba Mutsu, joking with Shiina Ritsuki and flirting with Toyokawa Shoko, she felt ignored.

I feel like there's a huge void deep inside me.

So she wanted some answers to prove it.

She wanted to hear Hibiki Iruma say something to her.

That's why he was so impatient to block Iruma Hibiki at the door and said such cruel words to him.

In fact, Nagasaki Suyo knew it.

If that happens, Hibiki Iruma will probably be hurt.

Her mind knew.

But she still said it.

Without hesitation.

It was just because of the uneasiness and emptiness deep in her heart that she wanted to see Iruma Hibiki who would be reluctant to let her go and indulge her, and who would still be gentle to her.

That day, didn't she follow Hibiki Iruma's lead, escaping from loneliness and solitude and starting anew?

This is what Nagasaki Suyo longed for.

I longed for it so much that tears were about to fall.

Nagasaki Suyo took the initiative to step forward and hold Iruma Hibiki's hand. Her body was almost leaning on Iruma Hibiki's hand, so that Iruma Hibiki's long hair would be blown into his cheek by the occasional breeze.

but--

Such an intimate gesture is meaningless at this moment.

"I will become friends with Sushi."

Iruma Hibiki responded softly to Nagasaki Suyo.

"But could you please give me some time?"

"Eh?"

Nagasaki Motoyo raised her head and stared blankly at Iruma Hibiki. The hug she had subconsciously prepared for was no longer possible at this moment.

She didn't expect Hibiki Iruma to say that.

In fact, she was already prepared to say something when Hibiki Iruma spoke softly.

【I'm feeling uneasy about the relationship between Hibiki and Toyokawa-san.】

If you act like this, you will be treated gently as a matter of course, and you will confess everything in your heart to Iruma Hibiki frankly and as a matter of course.

Because isn't that what Hibiki Iruma is? The only place she can go when she has nowhere else to go.

And then...are we going to be lovers again?

Nagasaki Suyo herself didn't know, she didn't think too much about it, but if Iruma Hibiki confessed to her, she probably wouldn't refuse.

but--

This time the response was completely different.

"I will be friends with Su Shi, and let bygones be bygones."

Iruma Hibiki wanted to respond to Nagasaki Soyo with a smile, but his expression was sadder than crying.

And for Nagasaki Suyo——

At this moment, Iruma Hibiki shook off her hand and walked silently towards the rehearsal room, as if time had stopped.

"Woo!"

Iruma Hibiki opened the door with a bit of force, so much so that Toyokawa Shoko, who had been hiding at the door, was affected.

"Xiangzi?"

Iruma Hibiki was probably a little surprised at first, but then—

"Keep rehearsing."

He spoke softly as if it was normal.

But there was nothing wrong with it, that was not normal at all.

Although the piano music continued, Iruma Hibiki completed everything he was supposed to do.

But almost everyone noticed the strangeness of Hibiki Iruma, and then—

The situation in Nagasaki was actually worse.

"Iruma, what's wrong with you?"

Shiina Riki, who had no idea what was going on at the moment, finally exploded after Iruma Hibiki made a stupid mistake.

"Sorry, sorry, I was a little distracted."

Afterwards, even she could see the expression on Hibiki Iruma's face, as if he was about to die.

24 Iruma Hibiki and Toyokawa Shoko, like lovers

The atmosphere during the rehearsal was unusually depressing. Although everything was going smoothly, however—

Anyone can notice that something is wrong.

Not only Iruma Hibiki but also Nagasaki Soyo.

Today, the sound of her bass was low and hollow, and she seemed like a robot, with her head down, playing according to her feelings.

Fortunately, today's rehearsal ended a little early. After all, we had an appointment to go stargazing in the evening, which Gao Songdeng had been looking forward to for a long time, and the others would not break their promise because of a small problem.

Except for Nagasaki Suyo, everyone else cast concerned glances at Iruma Hibiki at this moment.

After all, he looks bad no matter how you look at him.

Although she looked like she was about to cry, she was trying her best to cooperate with everyone.

So much so that——

Shiina Riki looked at Toyokawa Shoko. For some reason, she suddenly expected Toyokawa Shoko to pull Iruma Hibiki out in front of everyone like she did before, then repair him for a while, and then a brand new and normal Iruma Hibiki would come back.

Thinking of this, Shiina Riki clenched his fists slightly.

She didn't quite know what to do.

Some also felt a little dissatisfied with their own powerlessness.

Later, these dissatisfactions eventually turned into small opinions about Shoko Toyokawa's inaction at the moment.

"Why? Since you have the ability to take care of Iruma and convince him, why not do it?"

Shiina Riki has such resentment.

But she never expected that at this moment, Toyokawa Shoko was also a little...at a loss.

She actually couldn't understand what was going on between Hibiki Iruma and Soyo Nagasaki at all.

Why is being friends such a sad thing?

Why is Hibiki Iruma so miserable because of this?

Why would Nagasaki Suyo feel uncomfortable even though she was the one who initiated the conversation?

Toyokawa Shoko couldn't understand.

I totally don't understand the intention behind this.

So much so that when she wanted to do something at this moment, she looked like a helpless fool in front of Iruma Hibiki.

"ring."

She only walked to his side at the end when Hibiki Iruma was packing his things alone.

After all, something like a keyboard cannot be carried around casually, so Toyokawa Shoko used the equipment from Ring. Naturally, she packed up faster, second only to Shiina Tatsuki, who also used Ring's drums.

"What's wrong, Xiangzi?"

Iruma Hibiki put away the guitar, and then while zipping up her clothes, she looked at Toyokawa Shoko beside her.

"Nothing, I just want to be by your side."

Shoko Toyokawa's voice was soft, but loud enough for everyone in the rehearsal room to hear.

Of course, this also includes Nagasaki Suyo, who was packing her bass.

Her movements actually froze for a moment, but she quickly resumed.

"Xiangzi is really strange."

Iruma Hibiki was as gentle as ever, but the smile in his words had disappeared without a trace.

"Is it weird?"

Toyokawa Shoko tilted her head and tried to stare into Iruma Hibiki's eyes, but Iruma Hibiki quickly dodged her gaze.

Then——

The packing process is actually over.

"Let's go."

At Iruma Hibiki's gentle invitation, he walked in front and left Ring's rehearsal room, and behind him were Toyokawa Shoko and Takamatsu Tomo who were following closely.

Nagasaki Suyo and Wakaba Mutsu walked at the back.

"Shigasaki, what happened between you and Iruma?"

On the streets of Ikebukuro, amid the noisy crowd, Shiina Tatsuki came to Nagasaki Suyo's side and asked softly but sternly.

"What happened between us has nothing to do with Shiina-san."