Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Of course I care!"

"Well, I can understand your thoughts, Xiangzi."

As they moved forward, Hibiki Iruma continued the conversation with Shoko Toyokawa.

When facing an angry girl, don't explain first. Instead, maintain the rhythm of the conversation and let her vent her emotions first. This is the technique taught to Hibiki Iruma by his mother.

"Hibiki, if I bother you, please tell me. I don't want to bother everyone because of my own affairs."

Worry was revealed on Toyokawa Shoko's face, and at this moment, Iruma Hibiki also realized the seriousness of his crime.

Sometimes relationships are just like that.

A small moment of carelessness can cause injuries that will be ineffective even if repeated hundreds of times.

"It's really wrong to force Xiao Mu to come..."

Wakaba Mutsu.

This was the second time that Hibiki Iruma heard her name from Shoko Toyokawa's side.

"Barely enough to Wakaba-san?"

"Well, although Xiaomu didn't say it, but... I've noticed recently that Xiaomu doesn't seem to care much about the band, plus what you said to Xiang before, so..."

Toyokawa Shoko showed genuine concern.

But now it was very dark, and they stopped in a dark place and couldn't see each other's expressions.

Not far away, Shiina Riki would occasionally glance towards Iruma Hibiki.

Toyokawa Shoko seemed to be a little afraid of the dark, so she was a little close to Iruma Hibiki at this moment. In addition, the environment was pitch black, so at this moment only the faint outline of Iruma Hibiki could be seen.

At least in Shiina Riki's eyes, Toyokawa Shoko and Iruma Hibiki are now very close.

【The peaceful sound is like a lover. 】

What Ruoye Mu said before echoed in her heart again.

Shiina Riki lowered his head slightly and turned his attention back to Takamatsu Touma, who was looking for the positions of stars on the star map. As for Nagasaki Motoyo and Wakaba Mutsu, although they were sitting here at the moment, it was obvious that they were thinking about their own things while looking up at the starry sky.

"I will confirm Ruoye's feelings, please rest assured. As for causing trouble to others, at least for me, I am very happy to be bothered by you, Xiangzi."

"Look, if it wasn't something happy, you wouldn't be chatting at night and suddenly look up and find it's morning."

Iruma Hibiki smiled.

Maybe I was laughing at my silly self at that time.

Only at this moment did Shoko Toyokawa finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"But if Wakaba-san really joined the band out of reluctance, what are you going to do, Xiangzi?"

Afterwards, Iruma Hibiki seriously asked Toyokawa Shoko. After all, in his opinion, this situation was not going to work. It was scary no matter how he thought about it.

"Then after confirming Xiaomu's feelings, find a way to make Xiaomu happy! Crychic who truly wants to join us!"

Should I just say that it's Toyokawa Shoko who's worthy of her name? In fact, Iruma Hibiki's first thought was about leaving the group or something horrible, but she didn't expect Toyokawa Shoko to come up with this solution.

"I'll do my best."

Iruma Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief.

Then nodded.

"Hibiki, will you leave? Crychic."

It was probably at this time that Shoko Toyokawa came forward again and asked Hibiki Iruma.

"leave?"

And Iruma Hibiki asked back.

"After finishing the band, didn't they invite me back?"

Then Shoko Toyokawa added.

"what……"

Iruma Hibiki wanted to say something, but all that came out of his throat was a hoarse sound.

The wind stopped at this moment. This is the calm before the sea breeze and land breeze meet. In a while, the wind direction will change.

The faint chirping of insects became somewhat more noticeable at this moment, and Iruma Hibiki knew that if he had answered, "Yes, I will end the band," Toyokawa Shoko probably wouldn't have been angry. Instead, she would have offered her blessings, just like before, and at most tried to persuade him to stay.

In other words, the choice of this matter is entirely his. Shoko Toyokawa will be reluctant, but she still chooses to give him her freedom.

“It’s okay if you haven’t thought it through.”

Then, Toyokawa Shoko spoke gently to Iruma Hibiki, ending the question.

"If it doesn't ring, I won't know what to do."

……

The next moment, what Toyokawa Shoko said made Iruma Hibiki's pupils shrink for a moment.

For him, it was really a big deal that Shoko Toyokawa would say such a thing.

"gone back."

Then, as if running away, Toyokawa Shoko ran all the way back to the somewhat lifeless dining table. As soon as she returned, the atmosphere became lively, and Nagasaki Soyo, who was affected by her, also joined the conversation reluctantly. Only Iruma Hibiki stayed there, his heart pounding.

In fact, perhaps—

Toyokawa Shoko was not in accordance with etiquette in any way, and was not at all like a lady. What was even more incredible was her eavesdropping, and her clumsy behavior of not dodging until Iruma opened the door.

Perhaps there is something she wants to know, but at this moment, the person involved is unaware of it.

28 Farewell and Growth

How to face Nagasaki Suyo.

If possible, Iruma Hibiki actually hopes that he will never think about such questions in his entire life.

Because this kind of question is too cruel——

But he's already been talked about, hasn't he?

【I want to be friends with him again. 】

This seems to be what Nagasaki Suyo thinks.

No, using the word "seems" here is a bit self-deceptive.

but……

In fact, even at this moment, when facing Nagasaki Soyo, Iruma Hibiki still had a deep sense of unreality. The things he was unwilling to believe and the things he took for granted were intertwined, making it as unreal as an urban legend - a story that he knew was false, but he always took it seriously when he heard it.

It was obvious that he was actually prepared that if Nagasaki Suyo really fell in love with him at some point, he would definitely reach out to Nagasaki Suyo without hesitation.

He really likes Nagasaki Suzuya very much.

He liked Hibiki Iruma so much that he actually imagined many futures, but the only thing he never thought was that they would end up being just friends.

But this kind of self-deception actually comes to an end at this moment.

Shoko Toyokawa and Tomo Takamatsu, who was talking endlessly about the stars, made the originally lifeless atmosphere lively. Even Tatsuki Shiina had a faint smile on his face and began to immerse himself in it.

After all, at this time of year she should be sitting in front of the computer practicing arranging music. She certainly can't practice drums so late at night, otherwise she will be complained about the next day.

and--

Shiina Riki cannot disturb the rest of her genius sister Shiina Maki.

This is actually the bigger reason.

So occasional indulgence like today is really great for Tatsuki Shiina.

However, when she looked at Iruma Hibiki who was sitting next to Toyokawa Shoko in front of Ling Mengqi from time to time, her relaxed mood changed a little.

Hibiki Iruma was silent, rarely talking and never taking the initiative to speak. Occasionally, he would respond to Shoko Toyokawa's questions.

Such a response seems biased no matter how you look at it.

Because only Toyokawa Shoko can do it.

"When is everyone's last bus?"

Probably during a break in the conversation, Nagasaki Suyo suddenly asked this.

The gentle and pleasant voice echoed in the evening breeze, and Iruma Hibiki trembled just by hearing such a voice.

His entanglement and hesitation were seen by Shoko Toyokawa.

"Around 11 o'clock, but I have to go back before then."

Shiina Riki was the first to respond, and when the topic of going back was mentioned, Takamatsu Deng showed some hesitation and reluctance.

"Everyone, just disband. Tomorrow is rehearsal day anyway, so we can always be together."

Toyokawa Shoko turned her head away from looking at Iruma Hibiki and joined in the conversation with the others.

"Yes, everyone in the band will be together for life."

Nagasaki Suyo spoke with a bright smile on her face, but at this moment this smile and words were actually directed at Takamatsu Deng.

"Ok!"

Obviously, Takamatsu Deng had no resistance to such a topic of "life", and immediately became a captive of Nagasaki Suyo. The slight fear she had of Nagasaki Suyo before also disappeared. Perhaps at this moment, she had already found excuses and reasons for Nagasaki Suyo's previous indifference in her heart.

As for Hibiki Iruma—

Actually, this kind of Nagasaki Suyo was what he expected.

Even though Nagasaki Suyo deceived him and made him miserable, crying on the deserted streets of Tokyo at night, and even his love was shattered into pieces.

She also took away his first kiss and first love, yet she said such cruel words as "It was all a lie".

But in fact... no matter what, Hibiki Iruma could not harbor any ill will towards Nagasaki Soyo, or have any thoughts of revenge.

He just thought that it would be great if Nagasaki Suyo could find what she wanted and be happy.

Of course, it would be better if she could love him a little more on this basis.

Hibiki Iruma thought about this all the time.

Longing for.

Hopefully, everything will be restored to its original state in Crychic.

[Does Sushi like me as much as I like you? ]

In fact, Iruma Hibiki is not the kind of person who can make such a decision. As long as Nagasaki Suyo takes a step forward, he will walk towards her until he comes in front of her and goes to her side. That's it.

but--

The two of them are friends now, just friends. This is what Nagasaki Suye expects and what she wants to tell him at this moment.

Just like her cute and elegant appearance now and her voice that is no different from usual, Nagasaki Suyo has actually accepted the fact that her past relationship is over a long time ago, right?

Hibiki Iruma had a rough idea of it from the beginning.

It's just confirmed at this moment.

Hibiki Iruma looked at Nagasaki Suyo with her usual smile but didn't notice——

In fact, perhaps, just as he wanted to see Nagasaki Suyo who was slightly shaken, Nagasaki Suyo also felt a little happy when she saw him with a sad expression on his face.

[Xiang, you look very sad, do you still care about me? ]

This is what Nagasaki Suyo thought.

So she just regarded Iruma Hibiki's agreement to become "friends" at that time as a momentary impulse of Iruma Hibiki.

She thought that Iruma Hibiki would continue to look for her, so she went back to her normal life.

After all, this is what Nagasaki Suyo wanted.

Of course, liking someone is deceptive.

But she needs Hibiki.

However, when she saw that Iruma Hibiki and Toyokawa Shoko were having a slightly close relationship at this moment, Nagasaki Suyo still felt some pain in her heart that she herself could not understand.

Just like the topic of the last bus was suddenly brought up at this moment because I saw Toyokawa Shoko handing a snack to Iruma Hibiki.