Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

The injury from the collision on the overpass that day had healed, but when he touched it now, Iruma Hibiki seemed to feel a trace of pain that had long since disappeared.

He couldn't convince himself, nor could he hide the depression in his heart.

[I understand. I'm sorry for asking you some difficult questions.]

【ring.】

When Hibiki Iruma was about to end his conversation with Mutsu Wakaba, he was stopped by Mutsu Wakaba.

【What's wrong? 】

The clock struck 1 a.m.

【Didn't Xiang ask for my opinion? 】

【Eh? 】

Faced with Wakaba Mutsuki's question, Iruma Hibiki was a little slow to react, or perhaps it could be said that Wakaba Mutsuki was a very special girl, and this was the first time Iruma Hibiki met her.

Speaking of which——

How could the two of them call each other by their names in such a situation?

A little subtle.

57 What Toyokawa Shoko Doesn’t Want to Be Known

【Can you tell me Mu's opinion? 】

Hibiki Iruma followed up on Wakaba Mu's topic and asked her questions in a friendly manner.

Speaking of which——

He also recalled that this might be the boomerang of his words during the first meeting of Crychic. Was it what happened at that time that made Ruoye Mu think that he would listen to her opinions at this moment?

Iruma Hibiki smiled slightly.

He was like a player in the game who suddenly discovered that the prop he had obtained after going through so much trouble was actually a magic weapon for passing the level. At this moment, he felt a little happy.

as well as--

He confirmed that perhaps what Toyokawa Shoko said was true.

Wakaba Mu did treat him differently.

[Yes, yes. 】

Wakaba Mu answered honestly, but then didn't say anything else for a long time.

【Mu? 】

【Um. 】

【Didn't Mu say that he should express his own opinions? 】

Hibiki Iruma asked with some confusion.

【Xiang didn't ask.】

In response to Wakaba Mutsu's words, Iruma Hibiki laughed slightly. When he thought of Wakaba Mutsu's silly and somewhat silent appearance, and the way he looked like a doll when he stood there, he found him a little cute.

[Okay, then what is Mu's opinion? ]

Hibiki Iruma asked.

This matter-of-fact question brought a rare smile to Wakaba Mutsu's face as he sat beside his bed on the other end of the phone.

Yes--

It was not until now that she began to feel the reality of some of Toyokawa Shoko's words.

For example, [want to become a human].

because--

It feels really good to be cared about, and it feels really good to be asked for your opinion. At least at this moment, Wakaba Muyu feels happy and cheerful because of this.

Although such happiness and joy are not without cost.

However, Ruoye Mu was already prepared to bear these responsibilities.

Some things that you take for granted may be rare treasures to another person. This is the case for Wakaba Mutsu, who has been a puppet since childhood.

【We should pay more attention to Xiang.】

Wakaba Mu sent this message to Iruma Hibiki. After sending it, she put down her slippers and got into bed.

However, this action did not mean that she was planning to sleep. It was just that Ruoye Mu felt a little tired from sitting. After the practice, Ruoye Mu went home to make up for all the missed classes today, and he did feel a little tired.

Although she is a doll, she still has some emotions of her own.

Even if it's not revealed.

But she occasionally—

Has its own vulnerable parts.

[I would have done something like this even if Mu hadn't told me.]

Until the moment Iruma Xiang responded, Ruo Yemu's body suddenly stiffened and she did not move. Her feet hooked the bed sheet slightly, making the originally flat bed wrinkled. In the darkness, her pupils shrank slightly.

Although her expression didn't change much, she was holding the phone with much more force than usual.

She wanted to say something to explain.

I also want to say something to make amends.

No matter how you look at it, Iruma Hibiki seems a little angry.

But Ruoye Mu didn't know what to do.

This situation was too unfamiliar to her.

She was just telling the truth, why was Xiang/Xiang angry?

Ruo Ye Mu would occasionally fall into such trouble and be unable to extricate himself, and then he would be unable to find the answer to this problem, just like the barriers he encountered countless times in the past when trying to interact with people.

If Ye Mu doesn't understand——

The reason why you will be hated.

Perhaps it was because she had been staring at the screen for too long, or perhaps it was because she was too nervous, but soon the picture in front of Ruo Yemu's eyes became slightly unbalanced. Her judgment of size began to be wrong. The small mobile phone now seemed as big as an A4-sized book, and the words in the chat sent by Iruma Xiang also became exceptionally large.

[Mu, can't you really tell me about Xiangzi? ]

It took a long time before Iruma Hibiki sent another message to Wakaba Mutsu.

【Um. 】

And Ruoye Mu just replied honestly with "hmm".

[I understand. Sorry, Mu. What I said just now was a little... too much. I will pay more attention to Xiangzi. After all, we are lovers...]

Iruma Hibiki didn't know who he was emphasizing to, but in his conversation with Wakaba Mutsu, he emphasized the word "lover" that Yin Lingyi had abandoned.

[Go to bed early, Mu, it's already late. Thank you for telling me this. I won't make things difficult for you.]

【Well, good night, Xiang. 】

It was not until she saw the message from Iruma Hibiki that Wakaba Mu felt slightly relieved and turned off the screen. Then, exhausted, she fell asleep in the blink of an eye and slept all the way until the next morning.

It was a sunny Monday, but the weather forecast reported heavy rain. The school gate of Yuezhisen was bustling with people early in the morning, and the unique greetings of "Gui'an" were heard everywhere.

Shoko Toyokawa was waiting at the school gate, and soon she saw Mutsu Wakaba coming to school.

"Mu, you don't look well rested? Is that okay?"

"Well, it's okay."

When seeing Toyokawa Shoko waiting for him, Wakaba Mutsu was actually a little... humbled, but no matter what, she was very good at just staying in the corner and getting beaten without saying anything, so it didn't matter.

Her humility is hard to detect.

after all--

Although I didn't say anything to Hibiki Iruma.

But sometimes, saying nothing is like saying everything.

If Ye Mu had such awareness.

"Mu, do you think everyone noticed what happened yesterday? Something's wrong with me?"

Toyokawa Shoko lowered her head and asked softly on the way to school.

[Eh? Xiangzi and Xiaomu?]

At this time, Nagasaki Suyo, who also came to school, saw the figures of Toyokawa Shoko and Wakaba Mutsu walking in front of her.

So she followed quietly.

"Gui'an."

When someone greeted her, Nagasaki Motoyo deliberately responded in a different voice.

Then, she moved to a position where she could hear the voices of Toyokawa Shoko and Wakaba Mutsu, and quietly followed behind them.

"Xiangzi is fine."

Wakaba Mu responded to Toyokawa Shoko like this, and then she opened her mouth after a slight silence, thinking about the conversation she had with Iruma Hibiki last night.

"Xiang is very concerned about Xiangzi. Did Xiangzi explain to Xiang?"

"Eh?"

As if she had heard some surprising answer, Toyokawa Shoko turned to look at Wakaba Mutsu beside her, with an expression of disbelief on her face.

"Hibiki, did Kazumu say anything?"

Toyokawa Shoko asked.

There was a look of panic and worry on his face.

"..."

Ruoye Mu no longer dared to look directly at Toyokawa Shoko, but lowered his head, said nothing, and acted as if he was determined to remain silent and resist to the death.

"Xiang asked me about Xiangzi. Late at night, he was concerned about Xiangzi because Xiangzi didn't reply to him."

After a while, after thinking for a long time, Wakaba Mutsu finally figured out how he should answer, so he responded softly to Toyokawa Shoko.

"Xiang... that's true... I must have worried Xiang yesterday, but Mu, remember? You have to keep my affairs a secret. I don't want Xiang to know about my family's affairs."

"Well, I didn't tell Hibiki."

"Thank you, Xiao Mu."

Toyokawa Shoko gently stroked Wakaba Mu's head, as if she was touching the doll that had accompanied her since childhood.

58 Phantom before Golden Week

[Xiang, I'm fine. I just had some minor troubles yesterday. Sorry to worry you! A new week! I'm really looking forward to it!]

Iruma Hibiki looked at the message on his phone and felt slightly relieved.

Although it is true—

No matter how you look at it, there's still something hidden going on with Toyokawa Shoko, but perhaps it's enough to know that she's fine.

Yes, that's enough.

Iruma Hibiki repeated it deep in his heart.

"ring?"

Ijichi Kouka called Iruma Hibiki's name again in the front seat, and Iruma Hibiki came back to his senses from his thoughts.

"Hmm? Sorry, I was distracted."

"It's okay, are you tired from practice?"

Ijichi Hongka asked Iruma Hibiki gently, as if she was treating her chair as a racehorse, rocking it slightly back and forth.

In fact, such actions should be stopped no matter how you look at it, but Ijichi Nikka is very cute so it's okay.

"No, actually the intensity of the training these past two days wasn't that high, it was more like a relaxing session."

Iruma Hibiki said this.