Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"She's a headache, sometimes very troublesome, very self-centered, and doesn't care about her companions. But... she's also surprisingly reliable, warm, and trustworthy at times, making people spontaneously follow her."

"Although it's hard, I'm actually very happy. Probably as happy as when I first met and ended the band."

"Ijichi, I won't forget to end the band, but—"

Iruma Hibiki paused.

"We all need to work towards the future stage, the common ideal, and the shared destiny that we share even when we are apart. Let's keep going."

Then he smiled and said goodbye to Ichichi Hongxia.

"Iruma...yeah! I won't give up! I'll keep going with Ryo, Pochi, and Kita!"

Ijichi Hongxia nodded firmly.

"You too, don't be so stubborn, and..."

Then she lowered her head and thought for a long time.

"Although this might bother you, Iruma, but can I tell you?"

"Here we go again."

Hibiki Iruma sighed. Wasn't this what happened in the beginning when Kouka Ijichi asked him to form a band?

"Well, of course."

Then he gave Ijichi Hongxia a positive answer as a matter of course.

"Well, I'm telling you, if you have time in the future, Iruma, can you come to Fanxing more often? And, Nijiga, just call me Nijiga, and I'll call you Hibiki too. Of course, if you're really bothered by how I address you—after all, I've noticed before that you seem to be very concerned about keeping a distance from everyone, so if that bothers you, forget it."

"Well, the title thing is fine. It's actually me who has some... concerns... but it's not your fault, Hongxia. Speaking of Lai Fanxing, have you been busy here lately?"

"A little better."

In short, when the chat returned to normal, Iruma Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief.

41 Shoko Toyokawa Crying and Screaming

"Iruma, someone's looking for you."

"Huh? Who is it?"

Just as Iruma Hibiki and Ijichi Kouka began their routine small talk, Yamada Ryo and Goto Ichiri returned just in time.

"do not know."

Facing Yamada Ryo's reply, Iruma Hibiki walked out of the rehearsal room with a hint of doubt. Then he saw Toyokawa Shoko waiting for him at the door. In Toyokawa Shoko's hand was a piece of printed paper with something printed on it.

Her expression at this moment naturally could not be called good, at least not her usual expression.

"Xiangzi? What's wrong?"

With some worry and concern, Hibiki Iruma took two steps forward and came to Toyokawa Shoko, then -

He saw what was printed on the document, which was his lyrics and the part that Shoko Toyokawa had completed earlier.

Which is to say, if nothing unexpected happens, it will become the lyrics of the first song of the Old End band.

That song——

The song that belonged to their past that had long since been irretrievably forgotten.

"Higashi, have you made a decision? Are you going to stay with the Ending Band, or come back with me?"

Toyokawa Shoko's tone remained the same as always, and the lady's calmness and courtesy remained unchanged. She didn't even reveal the anxious emotions deep in her heart that she wanted to confirm.

She just asked Iruma Hibiki softly.

At this moment, she still maintained her restraint, not wanting to interfere with Iruma Hibiki's decision.

because--

Shoko Toyokawa loves music and understands it very well. A puppet imprisoned in a cage cannot soar in the sky of music. Even if she can use various methods to tie up Hibiki Iruma, handcuff him, and hang a sign around his neck that says "This is Shoko Toyokawa's property", it will be useless.

But despite this, even so.

Knowing everything, Toyokawa Shoko didn't want to hear Hibiki Iruma say to her:

【Um, sorry Xiangzi, I have to go back to the end of the band. 】

Such words were too cruel and too painful, as if their previous shared destiny and the memories between them were a joke.

"I'm not leaving Crychic."

"But I'll probably never forget ending the band either."

"Eh?"

Toyokawa Shoko heard Iruma Hibiki's response.

And the result seemed to be what she was happy to see. It was the best case scenario, wasn't it? Iruma Hibiki agreed to stay in Crychic.

but--

"Thank you, Xiangzi. I heard your cheers from the audience today, even though my performance was terrible."

"I'll never forget...what happened?"

Toyokawa Shoko asked.

Such a question surprised Iruma Hibiki a little. After all, in Iruma Hibiki's memory, he rarely saw Toyokawa Shoko with such an expression. Of course, it was also possible that he had never seen it before.

"Hibiki, I'm going to say something that's really bothering you. Is that okay?"

Toyokawa Shoko suddenly took two steps forward, and Iruma Hibiki, who was a little frightened, did not respond at first.

Only after getting Hibiki Iruma's consent did Toyokawa Shoko lower her head. Then Hibiki Iruma noticed that she clenched her fists and her whole body was tense, as if she was gathering strength for something.

Hibiki Iruma subconsciously wanted to reach out and stop Shoko Toyokawa.

But she had no time, and no time to respond, Toyokawa Shoko began -

"Hibiki, I hate this kind of thing."

"Xiangzi..."

Hibiki Iruma was at a loss. He looked at Shoko Toyokawa, who was obviously in trouble, and was at a loss as to what to do. This time, he didn't understand why Shoko Toyokawa was angry and unhappy, so he had no idea how to comfort her or what to say to her.

"When I first met Xiang, I was so happy. I felt that meeting Xiang on the overpass was fate. That overpass must be my promised land. Later, when we talked about music together, under Xiang's guidance, I learned a lot of things I had never seen before. I was really, really... happy."

"Spending time with Hibiki is more precious and joyful than anything I've ever experienced."

"The convenience store coffee only Hibiki knew, the code for ordering items not on the menu, the light sticks I could never buy that were never black, Hibiki's favorite color was yellow, and mine was blue, what exactly was the Livehosue, how to buy tickets, where to order drinks, where to enter and leave, what to do with my Ring membership card, how to rent a rehearsal room—I've forgotten everything... And then—Hibiki, when you came to visit me, I was even more certain of this. Working with you to complete the song, watching you sing as if you were holding a guitar, finishing "Give Me an Eternal Lie" bit by bit beside you—at that time, I felt a joy and happiness I'd never felt before. This was my first time in a band, Hibiki. Before this, I had never considered forming a band in my life. I even took up piano because a relative played it, and I only learned it out of admiration. Hibiki, everyone, and Crychic are important to me, unique. Those first memories are my favorite and most precious."

Shoko Toyokawa finished a very long speech in one breath.

“Hiss—haah—”

Then she gasped twice as if she was about to die, and after calming down a little, she continued impatiently:

"So, for Hibiki, which is better, Crychic or The End?"

"Can't forget or something... I'm a little sad. I don't quite understand what you're thinking, Hibiki. I should have understood it before. I don't know how you feel, but, Hibiki is Crychic's Hibiki now, right? Does that mean you plan to end the band? Is that right? If that's the case."

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Toyokawa Shoko raised her head and stared at Iruma Hibiki fiercely.

"I don't want you anymore!"

Then she said something very willful, loud, and a little fierce, which was totally unbecoming of the etiquette of a young lady.

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Toyokawa Shoko ran away.

Iruma Hibiki, who was frightened by her long speech, was stunned for a moment and then immediately chased in the direction of Toyokawa Shoko.

"Xiangzi!"

He shouted Toyokawa Shoko's name, and then after just passing a corner, Iruma Hibiki caught Toyokawa Shoko, who was running slowly and had little physical strength.

“Hmmmmmmmm…”

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Toyokawa Shoko cried in a restrained and suppressed manner, as if she didn't want him to notice.

"Does Xiang hate me now? What he said just now..."

She said softly.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Toyokawa Shoko apologized immediately, leaving Iruma Hibiki a little at a loss.

"I just--"

Then Shoko Toyokawa turned around.

"I really like Xiang. I don't want to let go... That's a lie... I just like Xiang..."

42 Nagasaki Suyo cried loudly

"Black tea, this is the one you like, Sushishi, right? After you finish drinking it, go apologize to Iruma-san. I'll be back later."

Chihaya Aine said this and handed the tea to Nagasaki Suyo in front of her. Then Nagasaki Suyo stood there alone, thinking for a long time——

Finally, she made the decision to take her own step.

Yes.

it's OK.

Now she wants nothing else.

Nothing matters.

It doesn't matter.

She just wanted to...

So, Nagasaki Suyo circled twice among the stars, and then finally saw Iruma Hibiki wiping his face with water droplets on it at the door of the bathroom.

"Su Shi?"

When he saw Nagasaki Soyo, Iruma Hibiki was slightly surprised, so he threw away the tissue he was using to wipe his face, then walked out of the bathroom and came to Nagasaki Soyo.

"Are you alright?"

With a hint of worry, Iruma Hibiki asked Nagasaki Soyo.

"Hibiki, I... have something I want to tell you."

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Nagasaki Suyo showed a determined look, and she thought of the conversation she had just had with Chihaya Aine.

"Well, can you be quick? I have something else to take care of later."

Hibiki Iruma spoke tactfully.

In fact, he doesn't have that much spare time now.

But at this moment, Nagasaki Suyo showed a very firm and serious expression, so Iruma Hibiki felt a little soft-hearted and could not ignore it.

Of course, the reason why I couldn't be soft-hearted or ignore it was simply because the person in front of me was Nagasaki Motoyo.

"I won't disturb Xiang's time. I just want to say..."

Nagasaki Suyo paused before continuing:

"I'm sorry, Xiang, for lying to you and hurting you before. I didn't know Xiang was so sad and heartbroken because of what I said, and even almost died."

"I……"

"I was just jealous at that time. I was jealous of the close relationship between Hibiki and Goto-kun, so I said that. It would be a lie to say that I didn't like Hibiki. Actually, I—"

"Su Shi."

Iruma Hibiki wanted to say something, but Nagasaki Suyo didn't give him a chance to explain.

"Please! Hibiki! Please listen to me!"

She quickly stepped forward and held Iruma Hibiki's hand, her voice becoming a little sharp and loud. In front of Iruma Hibiki, Nagasaki Suyo lowered her head, her face becoming a little sad and gloomy.

"I...I don't know what to do myself. During the few months without the ringing, I just lay alone every day after school. There was no ringing, no band. Even then, I actually -"

"I definitely haven't forgotten about Xiang, and I definitely didn't mean to ignore Xiang. Xiang, you can understand, right? The way I felt at that time, I was actually waiting for you to come back."

"I know I was too willful. It's my fault. What happened to Goto-san is all my fault. Hibiki has her own concerns, right? I wasn't serious when I said we wanted to be friends that day. I just didn't care because Hibiki and Toyokawa-san were so close—"

"Su Shi."

"do not want!"