Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

But refusing is better for him at this moment.

Hibiki Iruma came to the counter alone, took a towel and went to the bathroom under the guidance of the clerk to start cleaning the wet parts of his body.

It took him another 15 minutes to get back to the rehearsal room.

"Xiang, next time you lose contact, please don't do that. We are all very worried about you."

This time, when Iruma Hibiki came back, the first person to greet him was not Nagasaki Suyo but Toyokawa Shoko.

"Sorry, sorry..."

"I don't mean to blame Xiang."

"In the final analysis, you're just worrying about yourself. That guy is not someone who would get into trouble."

Shiina Riki complained about Toyokawa Shoko with some dissatisfaction.

There was no trace of the annoyed look on his face when Hibiki Iruma didn't show up just now, as if he was worried and couldn't play the drums.

"Even so... but worrying is still worrying... Is this something strange? I..."

Toyokawa Shoko gave Shiina Riki a pitiful expression, her brows furrowed as if she was questioning herself.

After all, Toyokawa Shoko is not absolutely confident about everything.

For example, especially in some common sense of general high school students.

"No, I didn't say that..."

Shiina Tachikawa suddenly became stammering at the question of Toyokawa Shoko, as if she, who was as hard as iron a moment ago, was weathered into powder in an instant, which made people laugh.

Iruma Hibiki suppressed his laughter and took out his guitar.

"Thank you everyone, let's start rehearsing anyway—"

With his words, Crychic's routine practice began.

Because it was Friday, the amount of practice today was quite large and everyone stayed until quite late.

Iruma Hibiki's performance tonight was somewhat exceptional, even shocking Shiina Riki.

Although not from beginning to end.

But Shiina Riki is also someone who has witnessed Iruma Hibiki's efforts.

So she knew better than anyone else about Iruma Hibiki's efforts during this period, or should I say, this week.

Until this moment, on Friday, his hard work had accumulated and produced obvious results at this moment. In today's practice, Iruma Hibiki made almost no mistakes and had almost no part where he couldn't keep up with the rhythm.

His concentration even infected those around him.

but--

This happened to Shiina Riki, and she was shocked, and she suddenly realized what was going on.

That day, Iruma Hibiki's honesty gave her a flash of fantasy, imagining that Iruma Hibiki was actually an ordinary guy with no talent like her, who had to work hard for the voice in his mind.

Even she was aware of Hibiki Iruma's shortcomings.

However, today, when he heard the sound of Iruma Hibiki's guitar, Shiina Riki's thoughts were shattered.

After all—

"This guy is recognized by Wildcat, how could he be as stupid as me?"

Shiina Riki realized this very accurately at this moment.

Her drumming was out of order.

"Let's do it again."

After a brief pause, Shoko Toyokawa smiled and resumed practicing the song.

"Feel sorry."

Shiina Riki lowered his head and apologized.

However, this incident made her extremely nervous during the subsequent practice and she didn't dare to relax at all.

By the time it was over, Shiina Riki felt a slight sense of exhaustion. The sudden sense of relaxation made her feel dizzy and she began to stagger.

"Eh?"

"You're pushing yourself too hard, Shiina."

Just when Shiina Riki was about to fall, she leaned on a broad shoulder. When she raised her head with some concern, she saw Iruma Hibiki standing beside her gently and helplessly, who knew when.

After all—

The two are senior and junior colleagues at work and have worked together for a long time.

Although Iruma Hibiki couldn't say that he fully understood it, he had long since reached the point where he could see through Shiina Riki's bravado at a glance.

"Can you let go of the drumsticks?"

"Shiina-san, are you okay?"

"I'll get some water!"

……

Gradually, everyone in the rehearsal room became busy with Shiina Tatsuki as the center.

"Song, Song is not a good thing. Lingling 2 (two) delete death eight Ba death [open ... "

Shiina Riki felt that she might be sick, especially when she realized that as soon as she looked up, she could see the profile of Iruma Hibiki who was very close to her.

Especially when her upper body could feel the warmth from Iruma Hibiki.

Her face turned red, her body temperature began to rise, and her tone was stammering and strange.

But fortunately, the fatigue from practicing covered up her shyness, and at this moment, Iruma Hibiki was too concerned to think about anything else.

"Take it slow and relax little by little."

Iruma Hibiki gently reached out, then slowly pried open Shiina Riki's fingers bit by bit and took out the drumstick.

"After all, forcing yourself to this point is too much."

There was a hint of concern and more self-blame in Iruma Hibiki's tone.

After all—

He can be considered a senior.

Not paying any attention to the condition of the younger generation is a complete dereliction of duty.

Iruma Xiang had these thoughts.

35 Toyokawa Shoko: Wanting and Not Wanting

Because of Shiina Riki's fall, the practice ended a little early.

"Hibiki, are you sure you want to go and finish the band's performance tomorrow?"

At the end, Toyokawa Shoko came to Iruma Hibiki and asked. Iruma Hibiki took out his phone and looked at the message from Ijichi Kouka. Kita still couldn't get through to him.

But the only thing worth being happy about is that Yamada Ryo sent the music sheet, and Chihaya Aine seems to have already started preparations.

Everything depends on tomorrow.

"Yeah, sure."

Iruma Hibiki nodded and agreed to Toyokawa Shoko.

Just at this moment——

"Hibiki, what's with this whole thing about ending the band?"

Nagasaki Motoyo put down the bass she was half-packing and came over, slightly squeezing out some space for Toyokawa Shoko.

After all, Toyokawa Shoko just got too close.

If an outsider saw them, they would definitely mistake them for lovers.

Nagasaki Motoyo thought so, and naturally occupied the space next to Iruma Hibiki.

"Ijichi's new lead guitarist she found ran away, and Chihaya-san and I were going to help."

Hibiki Iruma did not hide anything from Suyo Nagasaki.

However, when he said this to Nagasaki Suyo, he still felt a little...

complex.

After all, if it weren't for Goto Ichiri and Yamada Ryo, what would be missing would be Nagasaki Motoyo.

"Eh?!"

Obviously, when hearing this news, Nagasaki Suyo was seriously shocked.

"Is Hibiki planning on going back to finish the band?"

Then——

The sweet, deliberate tone of her voice vanished, and the change in Hibiki's expression, so familiar to him, came suddenly, like a summer downpour.

"ring……"

When Nagasaki Suyo said this, the one who was actually the most shaken was Takamatsu Deng. She took a few steps to Iruma Hibiki, looking as if she wanted to keep him, but was also a little scared.

In an instant, Iruma Hibiki became the center of discussion.

"I won't be returning to the band. I'm just helping out temporarily at tomorrow's performance. I'll have to give up my spot once we find Xiduo."

Shiina Riki, who was also nervous a little further away, breathed a sigh of relief. She had been playing with her fingers since the beginning, and the stiffness from nervousness had healed, but -

She always felt that there was still some warmth from Iruma Hibiki left on it, so she kept stroking it to confirm the feeling at that time.

"Actually, I don't want to lend you out at all."

Shoko Toyokawa spoke these extremely terrifying conversations with a smile on her face.

[I'm not someone who can be borrowed like an object.]

In fact, Iruma Hibiki wanted to complain like this.

But it was obvious that Shoko Toyokawa was quite serious when she said this, leaving Hibiki Iruma with nowhere to complain.

"Really... you won't leave?"

Then Takamatsu Deng took two steps forward and asked Iruma Hibiki in an extremely worried and timid tone.

"Don't worry, Deng, it won't happen..."

Yes, it won't.

Iruma Hibiki repeated it in his mind.

His mind once again recalled the doodles in Ichichi Hongxia's notebook.

The original ending band——

He, Chihaya Aine, Nagasaki Motoyo, and Ijichi Nijika ended the band together, and now it seems that it will never be possible to return to the way it was before Golden Week...

It's impossible not to feel regret when thinking about this.

There was some longing and complicated emotions on Iruma Hibiki's face, and this expression was naturally seen by Toyokawa Shoko.

"I'll be at tomorrow's performance too!"

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly said at this time.

"Xiang, come on! I'll cheer you on. Let's end tonight's rehearsal here. If you have a performance tomorrow, it would be better for Xiang to rest more tonight."

Shoko Toyokawa's words finally ended the topic.

Iruma Hibiki looked at Nagasaki Suyo. In fact, now, perhaps what he was worried about was Nagasaki Suyo's mood.

"Himagi, I'll be there tomorrow too. Best of luck on the performance."

Nagasaki Suyo said this with a smile.

She buried the turbulent emotions in her heart in an instant, just like she had done countless times in the past when she tried to please others.

"Su Shi..."