Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

He has become Toyokawa Shoko's lover.

But Crychic can’t be without Nagasaki Suyo.

Not only because of Nagasaki Suyo herself, but also because——

【So important Crychic.】

Toyokawa Shoko once said this.

"No, Su Shi, I just..."

Hibiki Iruma frowned as he looked at Nagasaki Motoyo in front of him, a complicated expression on his face and he sighed. After all, because he was anxious just now, did he actually say something too hurtful in front of Nagasaki Motoyo?

I used to like you or something.

In fact, perhaps Iruma Hibiki was not without anger.

It's just that in the past, he liked Nagasaki Soyo, and when Nagasaki Soyo just confessed her love to him, some of the resentment from the past burst out.

After all, it was Nagasaki Suyo who said she wanted to be "friends", and it was also Nagasaki Suyo who said she wanted to "get back together" after he painfully accepted the reality.

He was angry.

Helpless.

There is even a subtle sense of gap.

If it were earlier.

Probably just before Toyokawa Shoko found him, even if it was just three minutes, if Nagasaki Suyo said this to him, then he would have——

However, there are no ifs in reality.

"Just what? Why..."

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Nagasaki Suyo's indifference only lasted for a short time. Soon Iruma Hibiki saw Nagasaki Suyo's expression suddenly change like the summer weather.

In just a moment, Nagasaki Suyo let Iruma Hibiki see her tears.

"Wanting to be friends with Xiang was just my angry words! I just want Xiang to like me again, why can't Xiang understand?!"

"Why!"

"Su Shi..."

Hibiki Iruma looked around. His position was not very good, but fortunately there were very few people at the front desk, and only the familiar Ichichi Hoshige was there. Of course, despite this, Hibiki Iruma still felt a little ashamed and more helpless.

and--

It was impossible to take Nagasaki Suyo to another place, and Iruma Hibiki realized this.

He must give Nagasaki Suyo an answer here.

"Because... I thought it was true that you didn't like me anymore, Sushi, and it was true that you wanted to be friends."

He responded to Nagasaki Suyo.

"That was a lie. I was worried because Hibiki and Toyokawa were so close. So, Hibiki, you've been attracted to Toyokawa since we broke up, haven't you?"

"Love at first sight is fake, right? Otherwise, why can't Xiang understand my feelings..."

Nagasaki Suyo was angry, regretful, and sad as she pounded Iruma Hibiki's shoulders very hard. With her movements, Iruma Hibiki's body trembled slightly.

"Would you please break up with Xiangzi, Xiang?"

"Sushi!"

"Don't say anything willful!"

Almost subconsciously, Iruma Hibiki became angry, but then he regretted his anger.

Following his somewhat loud and harsh rebuke, Nagasaki Suyo took a step back.

"I see."

Then she spoke softly, standing there alone, saying nothing, only occasionally wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

"I'm sorry, Sushi, I didn't mean to be mad at you."

"Iruma, Sushiyo? Did you have a fight?!"

At this time, Chihaya Aine ran to the front desk and inserted herself between Iruma Hibiki and Nagasaki Motoyo.

"I bought a lot of snacks and drinks. How about we celebrate today's performance?"

"Come to think of it, I think I performed really well today! Maybe becoming a guitar vocalist isn't just a dream. I wish I could sing on stage with a guitar next time, and then play a solo for me, too."

"Bang, bang, bang!"

The appearance of Chihaya Aine was like a little red-haired miko jumping out of a helicopter, and Iruma Hibiki felt relieved no matter what.

He realized that if he relied on himself alone, he would probably just stand here painfully with Nagasaki Suyo today, at a loss, until the end when he could no longer stand.

"Let's go."

Then Chihaya Aine took hold of Nagasaki Motoyo's hand and instantly pulled Iruma Hibiki.

"I'm taking Su Shishi to the bathroom. Xiang Xiang goes in first."

"Wait, that nickname—"

Before Iruma Hibiki could complain about the somewhat strange nickname, Chihaya Aine pulled the motionless Nagasaki Motoyo away.

What happens next?

Hibiki Iruma had no idea.

He looked at the red mark on his finger and smiled bitterly.

45 A bumpy and imperfect reunion

"Nothing bad happened, did it?"

-

Hibiki Iruma felt a little dazed. He had never heard such gentle words before, and the strange thing was that every time he heard such words, his reaction was completely different.

Just like at this moment, Iruma Xiang had a subtle feeling of discomfort, hesitant, and didn't know how to start. He didn't know when to retract the foot he had taken forward. He just stood there with his head down, as if admitting his mistake.

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Ijichi Hongka slowly walked towards him and gradually got closer.

"Well, it's okay."

It was not until this moment that Hibiki Iruma forced a smile onto his face.

It doesn't look like everything is alright.

Ijichi Hongxia frowned and couldn't be happy at all, but her distress only lasted for a moment. Soon, Ijichi Hongxia turned into the gentle girl as soft as the sunshine.

She smiled gently:

"Chihaya-san brought over a lot of snacks. What would Hibiki like to eat?"

【ring?】

Goto Ichiri raised his head at this moment.

【when? 】

For some reason, her heart began to become extremely sensitive to such things.

"Am I the only one who uses honorifics when addressing each other? Ah... That's true, I'm the only one with social anxiety. Both Nijika and Yamada-senpai are really awesome..."

Goto Ichiri, who felt a little bit self-deprecating in his heart, finally stopped eating the air chips and just sat there with his head down.

"Give me a small pack of Pocky, please. For drinks, Good Boy juice will be fine."

Iruma Hibiki took a glass of juice, opened a chocolate cookie, and sat down, waiting for Chihaya Aine and Nagasaki Motoyo with a little worry and trepidation.

"By the way, has Hibiki seen Chihaya-san?"

"Well, Chihaya-san should be back with Suyo soon."

"Eh?! Shigaraki-san?!"

Ijichi Hongxia cried out in surprise.

"Well, Su Shi seems to want to apologize to everyone——"

Iruma Hibiki turned his head and looked at Goto Ichiri on the side. It was probably at this moment that he felt a slight pain when he saw Goto Ichiri sitting silently with his head down.

Hibiki Iruma had seen Goto Ichiri in many ways: sometimes cheerful, sometimes sad, sometimes sad alone in a corner, sometimes envious, sometimes running away when called, sometimes hiding in a trash can...

Therefore, Iruma Hibiki could roughly guess Goto Ichiri's mood at the moment from her reaction, even from the details of a smile.

Maybe this is also the benefit of being together for a long time.

The understanding between each other will gradually deepen.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Shigaraki-san, but it would be great if Hibiki could make peace with her."

Ijichi Nichina said this with a smile, causing Iruma Hibiki to slightly shift his gaze away from Goto Ichiri.

"Well, actually the band's disbanding was more my fault. I'm the one who should apologize."

Iruma Hibiki said this subconsciously.

But he soon realized that this was not the right atmosphere to say such things, but it was too late for him to regret and cheer up.

"Don't say that, Hibiki. I never blamed Hibiki at all. It was great to perform with Hibiki today. Even if we messed up, I'm still happy. But my sister is definitely going to scold me today."

"Will this not trouble you, Hongxia?"

Iruma Hibiki continued the question.

"No, no, my sister will just say a few words to me at most, she won't do anything more. Speaking of which, the most important thing next is to confirm Kita's condition, Pochi-chan——"

At Ijichi Nijika's call, Goto Ichiri came back to his senses slightly and looked towards Ijichi Nijika.

"Ah... I'm..."

She responded with some trembling and fear.

"If you have any news about Kita later, could you please contact me? It's okay if you don't have to go find Kita, just confirm that she's back to school."

"I, I know..."

"If it's Kita, I'll contact you as well."

At this time, Iruma Hibiki also responded to Ijichi Kouka.

He quickly composed himself. At least, he didn't want to ruin what was supposed to be a happy ending-of-the-band dinner.

As for Goto Ichiri——

Iruma Hibiki spent some time searching through a pile of snacks, and soon he found what he was looking for.

The things Chihaya Aine bought were actually quite diverse, probably because she didn't know what everyone liked to eat, so she bought a little bit of everything. Of course, this also included some snacks that Toyokawa Shoko couldn't buy in convenience stores.

Among them, Hibiki Iruma saw something very special - [Juicy Fried Chicken No. 1].

These are delicious fried chicken nuggets, perfect in terms of the coating, the frying temperature, and the tenderness of the chicken.

This is Goto Ichiri's favorite style.

When they were in junior high school, Hibiki Iruma secretly bought it for Ichiri Goto.

Every time she eats, she has a happy expression like a little animal.

So Iruma Hibiki slowly took out the fried chicken from the bag, opened it, and quietly handed it to Goto Ichiri.

Of course, because Goto Ichiri was sitting very close to Ryo, only half of the fried chicken nuggets was left in front of her.

But the familiar and tempting fragrance still attracted Goto Ichiri.

It was around this time that the door to the rehearsal room opened.

"I'm back everyone, look who I brought back!"

It’s Chihaya Aine.

And behind her, Nagasaki Suyo was standing there with a blank expression on her face, her head down, one hand holding the bag strap hanging on her shoulder.

Iruma Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief.

I was relieved anyway.

When he saw Nagasaki Motoyo appear, the worry in his eyes was less.