Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

But then, when she saw Iruma Hibiki deliberately turning his head to look out the window, Shiina Riki took back everything he wanted to say, and instead glared fiercely at Nagasaki Suyo who was standing there alone.

26 A Night Chat with Toyokawa Shoko

At the vending machine at the entrance of Rinkai Park, Hibiki Iruma inserted two 100-yen coins and pressed the button for a can of hot oyster soup.

He had never tasted such a strange drink before, so he decided to give it a try at this time.

Although he could already imagine the salty and horrible taste, he was too skeptical to believe it, just like a fool putting a light bulb in his mouth, or a guy licking an iron railing outdoors in the snow, wanting to see what it was like.

It was at this time that Shoko Toyokawa came to Hibiki Iruma's side.

"Hima, let me help."

She took the initiative to stretch out her hands, with her palms facing upwards and her five fingers spread wide apart. Half of her palms were hidden in her sleeves, which made her look particularly cute.

"Eh?! Canned hot oyster soup? Is that some special variety? Can you get me that?"

After seeing Iruma Hibiki's choice, Toyokawa Shoko showed a hint of curiosity.

"Let me be clear, this is probably going to be unpalatable."

Hibiki Iruma just reminded Shoko Toyokawa.

After all, no matter how you look at it, Toyokawa Shoko's purpose in choosing this drink is completely different from his.

"Is it hard to drink...but..."

Obviously, after Iruma Hibiki's reminder, Toyokawa Shoko fell into hesitation.

"Then can I try Iruma-san's?"

"Ah."

At first, Iruma Hibiki agreed directly, but then he suddenly realized that something was wrong.

After all—

How was he going to let Toyokawa Shoko taste his drink?

For the time being, Iruma Hibiki probably believed that Toyokawa Shoko might have her own way, so she took out the hot oyster soup she had just bought with some doubts.

"Give."

He handed the hot oyster soup to Toyokawa Shoko, then watched as Toyokawa Shoko opened it as a matter of course and took a sip.

"what!"

Then——

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Toyokawa Shoko's expression changed very quickly.

"If you want to spit it out, there's a sink and a trash can over there."

Looking at Toyokawa Shoko's embarrassed expression, Iruma Hibiki laughed. This time he had no intention of trying it, so he turned around and bought two more cans of mocha coffee.

However, Shoko Toyokawa did not spit out the drink, but swallowed it instead.

“It’s so hard to drink…”

"Let me tell you."

Iruma Hibiki responded to Toyokawa Shoko without even turning his head.

"I've never tasted anything so bad..."

When Toyokawa Shoko mentioned that it tasted bad, Iruma Hibiki's memory suddenly went back several times. He still remembered the breakfast that almost made him faint.

"Come to think of it, what did you make for breakfast before, Xiangzi?"

"Eh? Breakfast?"

Toyokawa Shoko was waiting behind Iruma Hibiki, and she wanted to hand over the can in her hand, and probably at this moment, she suddenly realized that something was wrong.

There was a small lip print left on the opening of the can, and there were even some wet marks on it.

Toyokawa Shoko's little face turned red in an instant, and her hands became a little stiff.

"Yeah, that day, after I stayed overnight."

"That's a sandwich I specially prepared."

"sandwich?!"

Iruma Hibiki made a loud noise.

Can food like that be called a sandwich?

"Hmm! A sandwich with lots of nutritious stuff?"

"But isn't that a sticky mess?"

Hibiki Iruma tried to describe the somewhat indescribable dishes he had eaten at that time.

"Because I mixed some grilled cheese with lemon juice and basil. Wouldn't that make the sandwich delicious?"

Toyokawa Shoko explained as if it was a matter of course.

"Just to ask, Xiangzi, have you ever eaten it yourself?"

"No, I gave it all to Xiang. If Xiang wants to eat again, I'll help make it! Although I can't guarantee it will be the same as last time, I'm an expert in cooking."

"Thank you Bu Min."

Iruma Hibiki decisively refused.

If he had a sandwich like that again, he would definitely die. Iruma Hibiki had absolute faith in this.

"Eh? But, Hibiki, um..."

"As for that drink, just throw it away. Seeing your expression, Xiangzi, I have no intention of drinking it anymore. Here, as payment for the drug test."

Iruma Hibiki handed the mocha coffee he had just bought to Toyokawa Shoko.

"Xiangzi, is there anything you want to say to me?"

Then Iruma Hibiki asked Toyokawa Shoko.

The other people were currently enjoying the snacks they had brought with them at the picnic tables on the grass in front of the Ferris wheel in Linhai Park. The sea breeze was very cool, and perhaps only at this time could one feel the arrival of autumn.

"I want to apologize for eavesdropping on your conversation with Nagasaki. I didn't mean to do that. I was just concerned about Hibiki, so I listened subconsciously... I'm sorry..."

"It's ok."

Iruma Hibiki responded softly.

"Am I making things difficult for you?"

Worried, Shoko Toyokawa confirmed it again.

"Xiangzi, you're so long-winded."

Iruma Hibiki complained slightly, but there was a smile on his face at this moment.

"Eh?! But..."

Toyokawa Shoko seemed to want to say something, but soon Iruma Hibiki interrupted her explanation:

"Don't worry, I don't care about this matter. It's better to say that I am the one who should apologize. I will handle the matter between me and Su Shi and it will not affect the progress of the band."

Iruma Hibiki responded seriously.

"It doesn't matter even if it affects me."

But then Toyokawa Shoko showed a gentle look to Iruma Hibiki.

It was a gentle expression without any smile, but serious.

"Even though I can't empathize with Xiang's pain, I see it clearly. Although I definitely have some ideas and plans of my own regarding the band, but..."

"If Hibiki isn't happy, then all these ideas and plans are meaningless, right?"

Toyokawa Shoko's words made Iruma Hibiki stand there in a daze.

He witnessed Toyokawa Shoko's dedication and seriousness in the band from beginning to end.

But if that's the case now, doesn't it mean that—

"To be honest, I think Hibiki is more important than the band. Of course, that doesn't mean the band is completely unimportant, don't get me wrong."

Shoko Toyokawa said scary words seriously and without any shyness.

"Rather, I actually felt it a little today. The days we spend together are more important than anything else."

It wasn't until she said "everyone" that Iruma Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief, and then felt a little ridiculous for his own self-conceit.

"That's true, so go back. My words are fine, please don't worry."

Hibiki Iruma handed the drink he bought for Mutsumu Wakaba to Shoko Toyokawa, and then walked towards the crowd.

It's a sunny day in Tokyo tonight with few clouds in the sky.

Although the number of stars tonight was definitely not the most in Hibiki Iruma's memory, it was still special enough——

27 Toyokawa Shoko needs Iruma Hibiki needs Toyokawa Shoko

"Xiangzi——"

When he was about to reach the dining table, Iruma Hibiki stopped in the darkest corner of the lawn and called Toyokawa Shoko's name softly.

"what happened?"

Behind him, Shoko Toyokawa walked quickly forward and came to the side of Hibiki Iruma.

"nothing."

Iruma Hibiki shook his head, dispelling the strange thoughts deep in his heart and forcing himself to calm down.

"The sound is really strange."

As if it was revenge for what Hibiki Iruma had said to her before, Toyokawa Shoko also used the word "strange" to describe Hibiki Iruma at this moment.

"Feel sorry."

"It's okay. I don't mean to blame you, but if you have any concerns, maybe telling me will make you feel better. When I encounter troubles that I can't handle, I always have no hesitation in asking for your help."

"That's because you're a bit of a noob, Xiangzi."

Iruma Hibiki complained slightly.

"What?! Hibiki, are you trying to say I have no sense of boundaries?!"

Toyokawa Shoko showed an expression of surprise and a little anger. She took two steps back slightly. Of course, before Toyokawa Shoko showed a sad expression, Iruma Hibiki said:

"No, I didn't mean that at all."

Of course, after saying this, Iruma Hibiki himself laughed.

"Really..."

And Toyokawa Shoko immediately turned her head away with a hint of worry, and her tone became lowered.

Speaking of which, in Iruma Hibiki's impression, Toyokawa Shoko is so easy to understand. When getting along with her, it is so easy that he can judge what she is thinking at the moment just by seeing her expression or hearing her voice.

She is completely a well-protected young lady who has no idea about the darkness of the adult world.

In this life, the young Hibiki Iruma was still just a teenager and thought so arrogantly.

“I’m actually worried about whether I’ll cause trouble to the people around me…”

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly said this, and Iruma Hibiki's voice was so low that she could hardly hear it.

"Will not."

Then Iruma Hibiki replied decisively:

"I've never felt that Xiangzi's affairs were a problem for me. Rather, I've received so much help from you that I don't know what to do anymore."

"If you don't know, then don't say such worrying things."

Toyokawa Shoko stared at Iruma Hibiki seriously, looking a little angry.

It was not until this moment that Iruma Hibiki realized that the conversation just now was not actually an ordinary communication. He seemed to have inadvertently mentioned something that Toyokawa Shoko cared about very much.

"Xiangzi is very concerned about this matter."