Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

She chose to join Crychic because of her expectations and trust in the band, her desire to prove her own ideas, and her admiration for the "alien composer" Hibiki Iruma.

But what about now?

How much of her expectations are left for the band?

How much trust is left in the band?

The desire to prove herself is constantly growing, and the recent stagnation in practice has made her extremely painful.

As for Hibiki Iruma——

Shiina Riki was a little angry and wanted to have a big fight with Iruma Hibiki right now, but this impulse quickly dissipated.

Could it be that she did something wrong?

Indeed, now that she is not here, the atmosphere in the group has improved a lot thanks to Iruma Hibiki's efforts.

Today's exercises also became fixed items.

The only thing that worries people is Shoko Toyokawa, who disappeared after everything was confirmed.

Although it's okay since Shoko Toyokawa has been missing lately.

However, the disappearance of Toyokawa Shoko made the group more unstable. The fact that a stranger would come to rehearse together today brought huge pressure. Even Takamatsu Touma, who usually made Iruma Hibiki feel a little more at ease, became someone who needed special care.

Hibiki Iruma is very busy.

He sends a lot of messages.

Constantly dealing with matters on all sides.

Maintaining the fragile Crychic that seems to be on the verge of breaking at any moment.

Shiina Riki couldn't ignore Iruma Hibiki's efforts at this moment.

-

Precisely because it cannot be ignored.

So at this moment, when she was completely unaware of what she had done wrong, she was like this—

"Iruma, is it better to stop the band practice like this? We can't continue practicing 'Kasuga Shadow' without you and Toyokawa-san..."

【I……】

Shiina Riki took the initiative to send a private message to Iruma Hibiki.

By the time he realized that Hibiki Iruma was busy dealing with other people's affairs, it was too late.

【That's not Shiina.】

Iruma Hibiki's reply was quick.

He replied to her almost instantly.

【Can I call Shiina? 】

【Um. 】

Shiina Riki agreed, and then when she wanted to give out her cell phone number, she received a call from Iruma Xiang before she finished entering it.

"How do you have my phone number?"

Shiina Riki asked when the call was connected.

"I saw it on the employee registration form before, and I wrote it down at that time."

Hibiki Iruma explained.

"Kidding."

But then he spoke in a casual manner.

"Eh?"

And Shiina Riki was also a little overwhelmed by this turn of events.

"Actually, I don't have any friends I can call, so when I saw your number that day, Shiina, I deliberately wrote it down. I didn't expect to use it today."

"You only met once and you still remember it?"

Shiina Riki was slightly surprised and confirmed it as if he couldn't believe it.

"Yes, because when I was with you, Shiina, I felt that we would experience a lot together in the future. I didn't expect that we would actually join a band together."

Iruma Hibiki sighed slightly.

And Shiina Riki opened his mouth.

Some words were left unsaid.

For example--

[I came here because of you.]

In fact, Shiina Riki still had a choice at the beginning.

She can choose a truly powerful band for her ideal, and then work hard to try to reach the peak she wants to reach and reach her sister.

This is what Shiina Riki thought.

but--

Why did she join Crych after clearly rejecting the offer at that time?

Probably because of [Alien Composer].

but--

Iruma also told her that the "Alien Composer" was real.

……

Shiina Riki felt like he had messed things up again.

"Shiina didn't do anything wrong. It's actually us who are wrong."

Iruma Hibiki spoke softly to Shiina Riki with a hint of a sigh in his tone.

He leaned against the bed in the hospital and looked at the blue sky outside. The weather in Kyoto was much clearer today. There were few clouds in the blue sky. The weather in Tokyo was also good.

"Although my feelings may not be accurate, and what I said here may be a bit too representative of others, but Shiina, do you feel it?"

“Everyone’s attitude towards the band has never been that we want to stand on stage together as a band.”

"If it's not like this, then what about it?"

Shiina Riki was angry.

When I heard Hibiki Iruma say this, it was understandable that he got angry.

The only thing she didn't want to hear was this from Hibiki Iruma.

Because Iruma Hibiki is the one who knows her story.

"Everyone just wants to do something with you, the wonderful Shiina, that's all."

"Eh?"

But the next moment, Shiina Riki's anger disappeared in an instant.

"So, the fact that you brought the cat and Hachiman here is what made everyone angry. And Shiina, you actually managed to invite Hachiman. It must have cost a lot of money, right? I remember Hachiman's commission wasn't cheap, and your pocket money isn't that easy, is it?"

"Hachiman gave me a friendship price."

"How many?"

"1 yen."

"I'll help with some of the burden."

"Then Shiina, since you've invited me, practice hard today. It's definitely too late to refuse now."

"Um……"

25 What Toyokawa Shoko Wants to Confirm

"By the way, Shiina..."

Iruma Hibiki wanted to say something.

But at this time he just changed his tone and then muttered Shiina Riki's name.

"what happened?"

Shiina Riki asked back.

"..."

On the other hand, Hibiki Iruma remained silent for a long time.

Fortunately, Shiina Riki had some rare patience to wait at this moment.

"Well... although it may not be nice to say this, and it may make you feel that it is a bit beyond the line, Shiina, but, I want to say-"

"To me, Shiina is irreplaceable."

"Aha?"

Shiina Riki let out a terrifying scream.

"You, what weird things are you talking about?!"

Then she reacted exaggeratedly, as if she were a stressed-out animal.

"You have a girlfriend, right? You broke up with Nagasaki-san? You're still having an affair with Toyokawa-san, aren't you? You scumbag? You pervert?"

"Wait, Shiina! Wait, why did it turn out like this?"

This time, facing Shiina Riki's overreaction, the one who was anxious became Iruma Hibiki.

"I did not mean that."

"I mean--"

Iruma Hibiki explained quickly.

"Band, band matters, as for the drummer, it can only be you, Shiina. That's what I mean."

"..."

Now it was Shiina Riki's turn to be silent.

She felt like throwing away her phone and running away right now.

Today was the day she lost her temper the most.

"Besides... scumbag or something, I only agreed to date Xiangzi after Su Shi broke up with me."

"..."

Although Shiina Riki had already vaguely known the truth of the matter.

But when I actually heard it, I couldn't help but feel a little empty.

even--

At this moment, was the emotion she felt unwillingness?

not at all.

Her admiration and respect for Hibiki Iruma is really close to love.

But at this moment, she was not unwilling to accept this.

Instead, she felt it was natural that someone like her could never compare to Toyokawa Shoko, and she had such an inferiority complex.

It's just that in the past, she was unwilling to accept this reality.

Only in the past—

She was deliberately ignoring something.

"I misunderstood."

When Shiina Riki's depressed voice came from the other end of the phone, Iruma Hibiki frowned even more.