Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"I'm bringing Mr. ○ with me. He's going to go on a mission to protect the world."

Of course, Shoko Toyokawa may have a helicopter, but if she were to fly the plane, then Hibiki Iruma would probably have to consider playing basketball. Maybe Shoko Toyokawa could also do something like drag him to save the world.

36 Iruma Hibiki's First Kiss

However, those fantasies could never compare to the strange interaction we have now through the glass.

The reason why it was strange was that when Toyokawa Shoko sent the message, she was desperately rushing to finish the message. She would look up after typing a few words, and then because of her impatience, she would type more wrong words, so a short sentence took even longer.

Iruma Hibiki has a better field of vision, so Toyokawa Shoko doesn't have to leave her field of vision when replying to the letter.

but--

Anyone who is still feeling a little bit nervous probably can't endure it any longer at this moment.

Under the surprised gaze of the people in the back seat, Iruma Hibiki threw aside the coat he had been holding on his chest, and then quickly got out of the car.

"Hey, is the bus about to leave?"

"I will be right back!"

At the driver's reminder, Iruma Hibiki responded loudly.

Then he rushed towards Shoko Toyokawa.

"Xiangzi——"

Then, after muttering Toyokawa Shoko's name, Iruma Hibiki chose to hug her again.

But this hug was a little different.

With her heart pounding, Shoko Toyokawa almost lost her grip on the phone, causing it to fall onto the concrete floor and get scratched. Although her phone was not intact at this moment, with many marks left by her clumsy behavior in the kitchen, at this moment, perhaps because of her nervousness just now, there were a few traces of sweat near the back and the screen.

The passengers on the bus more or less cast their eyes here with a hint of curiosity, but some people who were hurt by this have become ostriches in the modern city and no longer look in this direction.

The sun is shining brightly this morning.

Perhaps the heavy rain some time ago had exhausted all the rain clouds over Tokyo, so the sky was so clear at this moment, with the sun shining between Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa.

Facing Iruma Hibiki, Toyokawa Shoko began to tremble.

Just when Hibiki Iruma was wondering if he had done something wrong, Shoko Toyokawa closed her eyes facing Hibiki Iruma and raised her chin slightly, with the angle of the lift being about 10 degrees, drawing an arc less than 3 centimeters. If you were to find the cosine value, you would probably not get 1, but only an irregular infinite decimal like 0.98, just like Hibiki Iruma's heart was pounding at this moment, having long lost its normal regular rhythm.

[Kiss]

When such an unfamiliar term appeared in Iruma Hibiki's mind, he felt as if he had been hit by three nuclear bombs, which exploded in succession in his little mind. Apart from the intense bright light, only trembling all over his body remained.

Huge shock waves washed over his brain again and again.

Strictly speaking, this wasn't a first kiss.

He was once kissed by Nagasaki Suyo.

But that contact did not leave a deep impression. It was just a fleeting softness and touch, completely different from the present moment.

Then came the radiation—

Hibiki Iruma's whole body began to feel hot. He could have just hugged the girl in front of him, but at this moment, she became slightly hot, as if she was a star-man hugging the stars in the sky, and would not let go even if they were burned to ashes.

The airport bus was about to depart, and an automatic reminder reminded the staff on site to use the loudspeaker to announce the final five-minute countdown.

Although I hope to spend more time with the person in front of me.

Even though he was not involved in the incident, he still wanted to press the head of the boy who looked so unimportant.

However, with work, his wife, children and elderly parents, the staff could not show any leniency to the love affairs of the young boys and girls, so he began to give his final reminder.

And Iruma Hibiki also woke up from his dream because of this reminder.

Toyokawa Shoko was also uneasy.

Her eyelids trembled slightly.

After all, after making such a move and going with the flow at the beginning, all that was left for Shoko Toyokawa was shyness that required endless courage to support.

[Sound? Will there be a response?]

Such worries washed over Shoko Toyokawa's heart again and again, making her anxious, ashamed, and yet afraid that she might have slightly overstepped the boundaries of social interaction.

after all--

Isn't it natural to get married after a kiss?

A kiss is a lifelong lover's contract.

When she was young, Shoko Toyokawa once thought that she would get pregnant after kissing.

It was only a physiology class later that shattered her delusion.

In short, kissing is not a simple act.

She was looking forward to Hibiki Iruma kissing her, and looking forward to this contract.

However, although her whole body was boiling, Shoko Toyokawa was slightly afraid of what she would feel next.

Every beat of the heart of love pumps vital blood and nutrients into the body at this moment.

The perceived time of one second was extended, as if entering an invisible boundary, becoming one minute, one hour, one year, one lifetime—

Finally, when Toyokawa Shoko opened her eyes and wanted to look at Iruma Hibiki—

Perhaps it was because of this small action that Iruma Hibiki had a stress reaction, and she felt that she had disappointed Toyokawa Shoko because of her hesitation and shyness.

then--

He kissed her.

The position of the kiss was unfamiliar and completely wrong. Iruma Hibiki kissed the part below Toyokawa Shoko's nose, just right on Toyokawa Shoko's upper lip.

The stupid virgin who didn't dare to use force was very cautious and only tasted it briefly when they made contact. However, after Toyokawa Shoko's scent filled his nostrils and he felt the warmth all over his body, he clumsily moved closer.

【Half of the first kiss.】

That's probably the case.

There was a light laugh in my ear.

Finally, after dozens of seconds.

Iruma Hibiki let go of Toyokawa Shoko and ran back to his seat as if he had run down.

He forgot when he last breathed.

He was just violently filling his exhausted lungs with cold air to maintain his most basic blood system.

The sudden change to manual breathing made Iruma Hibiki feel a little uncomfortable and anxious at this moment, and he was breathing heavily.

Outside the car window, Toyokawa Shoko gently covered her lips, shyly no longer looking up, but -

Amid the roar of the car engine, Shoko Toyokawa finally raised her head.

Hibiki Iruma saw the sunset and the setting sun on Shoko Toyokawa's face, saw the trumpet creepers blooming in summer, saw the sea of the Danube, saw the pink waves of the Hutt Lagoon, all of which, as she was alone digesting the depression, disappointment and pain of the days after the time travel, all the emotions that Hibiki Iruma had placed in the scenery of the documentary were found on Shoko Toyokawa's face at this moment.

That was a look filled with tears.

After the kiss just now, Toyokawa Shoko seemed to cry.

Iruma Hibiki covered his chest and didn't lie down on his seat weakly until Toyokawa Shoko disappeared at the end.

The bus drove smoothly, neither fast nor slow, across the streets that Hibiki Iruma was familiar with and headed towards its destination.

But there——

There is no Shoko Toyokawa.

37 Iruma Hibiki's Return

Hibiki Iruma was sleeping soundly until the flight attendant in the cabin gently patted his shoulder and he realized that he had arrived in Osaka.

He was hardly conscious during the journey. He was either rushing along in a daze or sleeping soundly.

His head ached, and he felt sleepy, as if countless needles were stuck in his brain, pricking the ends of his nerves. He rushed to Kyoto Hospital on the shuttle bus. Hibiki Iruma only weakly glanced at his phone full of messages before getting on the bus, and then he quickly replied to a few messages before falling asleep again.

When he arrived at the hospital, his fatigue had not actually eased much, but the time for his agreed shift change had arrived.

Iruma Hibiki tightened his coat.

In fact, the way he is dressed now makes him look like he will be scolded.

His coat was now wrinkled and covered with marks, which were the masterpieces of Toyokawa Shoko last night. Iruma Hibiki looked at each mark on it, but he did not feel a bit uncomfortable or shy, but instead felt a hint of helpless joy.

Speaking of Wu Yingqi⑧ Ba Lingqi⑥① bottom——

This kind of mark is like a kiss mark.

Thinking about strange things, Iruma Hibiki stepped into the hospital gate and began to face his own difficulties.

I had another operation today and the anesthesia had just worn off.

His grandmother's condition has now reached the remission stage and she will need two or three minor operations in the future, but there is no longer much danger.

only--

Even if the patient recovers from this illness, she doesn't have much time left. She's 84 years old, right? We estimate that given her condition, she can only live for another 10 years at most.

In fact, when hearing such words, Iruma Hibiki didn't know whether to be sad or happy.

After all, if a person can live to this age, he has lived a long life no matter how you look at it. Although he has encountered some disasters this time, the news that he can live for another 10 years may be a good thing.

"Father?"

While talking about this topic, Iruma Hibiki saw Iruma Yoshiaki, who looked tired and obviously relieved.

"ring."

“That’s great.”

Iruma Hibiki spoke softly.

At this moment, Yoshiaki Iruma was looking at Hibiki Iruma, as if he was confirming something.

"Have you finished dealing with the Tokyo matter?"

Then Iruma Yoshiaki asked.

"Well, it's taken care of. The next thing is-"

"I'll probably go back to Tokyo next week."

Yoshiaki Iruma suddenly said before Hibiki Iruma could say anything else.

"What about grandma?"

"I'll arrange for her to be transferred to another hospital for follow-up care. No matter how you look at it, my job won't allow me to stay here for long, and neither will you, Xiang."

In response to his father's words, Iruma Hibiki nodded.

"Don't worry too much about the follow-up care, Xiang. I will arrange for reliable people, but..."

Iruma Yoshiaki was silent for a while.

"Hibiki, your grandma actually likes you very much, go visit her more often."

After saying this, Hibiki Iruma heard the man in front of him sigh again.

"I know father."

This time, Iruma Hibiki did not refuse.

Nor did he not answer.

Although I still feel a little strange about my current family, but——

The warmth and kindness from his family were already something Hibiki Iruma couldn't ignore. Perhaps, from the very beginning...

Do not--

In fact, if he had not been born in the Iruma family, had not become a child of the Iruma family, but had lived in a very despicable family, perhaps it would have been better, right?

In this way, he can naturally live in the delusion of the family in his memory, carrying the memories with him while moving forward alone in this world.

But unfortunately, he is the child of the Iruma family.

Yoshiaki Iruma is an incredibly handsome man.