Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Page 183

"Just kidding, it's Aine who pretended to be Shoko."

Iruma Hibiki chuckled and put the blame on Chihaya Aine instead.

"That's because being mistaken for someone else is such a bummer. If Xiang mistakes me for someone else when we meet again, I'll definitely say something like 'break up'."

There was a hint of seriousness in Chihaya Aine's tone, but it was more of a joke. Iruma Hibiki chuckled and then stopped the jokes there.

……

After a brief silence, Chihaya Aine took the lead in starting the conversation:

"Speaking of which, Hibiki, you know what? Studying abroad in England is really tough."

Chihaya Aine said this with a sigh.

In fact, she had learned something about Hibiki Iruma earlier from Ijichi Nikka, but when she was thinking about it, she felt that if she asked a question like "Is it okay?" right away, assuming that Hibiki Iruma was really involved, it might make him sad.

So Chihaya Aine hoped that this conversation would be more relaxed, and that Iruma Hibiki would relax a little no matter what.

but--

Want to chat about daily life?

When faced with this topic, Chihaya Aine fell silent.

But in the end, she was the one who initiated the call and could not remain silent.

Besides, didn’t Iruma Hibiki promise her?

[No matter what, I will meet her when she returns from England.]

For Chihaya Aine, the promise that was made as a joke at the beginning actually made her feel a little relieved now. In fact, for Chihaya Aine, Iruma Hibiki is one of the few people to whom she would say "It's a bit hard".

Her response to other students' concerns is always:

London is a great place. My study abroad experience here has been smooth sailing, and everyone likes me. The food in the restaurants around London is also delicious.

[Huh? British food is delicious? Seriously?!]

Facing such questioning from classmates.

Chihaya Aine would immediately feel guilty.

She has been alone since she came to England.

Get along with one person.

I don't go out much.

I always go between the dormitory and the classroom.

Her poor language skills made it impossible for her to have the courage to engage in any social activities.

Even her self-introduction a few days ago was a complete failure.

The relationship with roommates is even more terrifying——

In fact, Chihaya Aine felt that her poor language skills had reached the point where the other party would be rude and dislike her.

No, this may not be the feeling anymore.

Chihaya Aine recently discovered that her roommate was deliberately ignoring her, and she also showed a hint of disgust when she was packing clothes and interacting with her in daily life.

……

Maybe it's just psychological.

but--

[Hard work] This description is far more than just Chihaya Aine's current situation.

But the only thing she could say was "hard work".

"It's hard? Aine, are you not used to the British environment? Oh, it should be afternoon in the UK now, right?"

Hibiki Iruma asked, a hint of concern in his tone.

40 Chihaya Aine's Daily Life

"Well, it's afternoon break now. It's not that I'm not used to the environment, it's just..."

Chihaya Aine didn't know what to say.

This is terrible.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't confess them. The same was true for his family and Hibiki Iruma. He couldn't speak to strangers, let alone his friends, and the same was true for his family.

Chihaya Aine makes herself lonely.

It was as if all the distressing emotions were sealed away in my heart.

Then, day after day, he wandered around the classroom and dormitory regularly.

"I feel like my classmates are a little difficult to get along with. It's completely different from when I was in Japan. But it's also very interesting, things in the UK."

……

There was something strange about what Chihaya Aine said.

Iruma Hibiki probably noticed something.

In fact, Chihaya Aine is definitely a person who left a deep impression on Iruma Hibiki. Her initiative, perfection and just the right way of doing things are all the kind that can leave a deep impression on you after just one interaction.

And such a [perfect] Chihaya Aine actually said something like [a little difficult to get along with]?

For a moment, Iruma Hibiki didn't know what to say next.

He didn't even know whether he should ask further questions or express his concern.

"Let's not talk about this anymore! Why are you always talking about me? Xiang, let me tell you, actually, some time ago, when Hong Xia and I were chatting——"

Chihaya Aine said a lot afterwards.

But there was no mention of anything related to Britain.

It was more about chatting with their mutual friends.

Iruma Hibiki listened, and responded. He also followed the topic and told Chihaya Aine about his recent experiences. Although it was not an easy thing, perhaps when everything was clear, he felt a little relieved and relaxed when he told the story.

"Eh?! A new lover! It's the one called Xiangzi, right?"

"Ah."

Later, when Hibiki Iruma brought up the topic of Shoko Toyokawa, Chihaya Aine showed her gossipy nature and pestered Hibiki Iruma to talk to her about many things between him and Shoko Toyokawa, and incidentally, she also became a military strategist.

While giving advice to Hibiki Iruma on how to behave in love, she also gave him all kinds of suggestions, without any awareness that she herself had no experience in love. But although Hibiki Iruma had two relationships, he was an idiot in this matter. He was one of the few stupid guys who could be fooled by a virgin's boasting about love.

Then he turned the topic to his favorite anchor and began to chat with Iruma Hibiki about cosmetics as usual.

After all, recently, one of the few things that can make Chihaya Aine happy is chatting with everyone who has ended the band, and other than that, watching Meow Dream videos on the Internet.

She actually missed Tokyo a little.

At least in Tokyo—

Even if I can't go anywhere.

But for the time being, I can still go back and end the band.

The chat lasted just the right amount of time, and when Iruma Hibiki was feeling tired, Chihaya Aine had almost started the mutual concern that was about to come before them as they said goodbye.

But at the end, Iruma Hibiki was a little worried.

"Aine, if you're in trouble and there's anything I can do to help, please feel free to ask."

Iruma Hibiki said this.

"OK, all right."

And Chihaya Aine responded as a matter of course.

"I wish you a smooth study abroad life, Aiyin. If it were Aiyin, I'd definitely be able to get along well with the people around her."

With these words, the call ended.

【What if it's Aine? 】

At this moment, Chihaya Aine lowered her head.

Beside her, two people passed by, talking in fluent English.

Chihaya Aine only understood a few simple words in that English.

As the bell rang, the next class, the content of which she had no idea, was about to begin.

[This is normal in the first month, and it will get better later.]

People say this on all international student platforms.

It seems that learning a language is something that will come naturally as long as there is a suitable environment.

After one class——

Chihaya Aine once again felt terribly frustrated.

She ran away again.

After class, in the happy atmosphere, I ran back to the empty dormitory.

And for Chihaya Aine, this kind of life, no matter what, will have to last for at least three years before she can finally return to Japan——

But never mind three years.

Three weeks maybe—

On her bed in the dormitory, Chihaya Aine wrapped herself in her quilt.

The temperature in the UK is actually quite comfortable, with neither scorching summer nor freezing winter.

Although the weather in autumn is a bit cold, it is still pleasant most of the time.

However, in the dim dormitory, Chihaya Aine had no plans to go out at this moment. She took off her coat, removed her scarf, and then took off her shirt and pants. She then changed into loose pajamas and lay directly in the somewhat cold quilt.

Then she took out her cell phone and started searching for something in it.

End of the band——

The account that she used to run was scrolled to the bottom by Chihaya Aine. It contained a photo that was taken by the original members of the Ending band in Shimokitazawa.

Chihaya Aine's gaze lingered on it for a long time.

Then it began to turn upwards again.

until--

The golden week that ended with the band’s disbandment.

In fact, at that time, Chihaya Aine only felt that disbanding was the right choice. It was a pity, but it did not mean that there would be no opportunities in the future.

After all, she was an absolutely optimistic person at that time.

She felt that everyone could handle the current situation well and would be able to continue performing in the future.

But now, when she saw the news that the band had disbanded.

When she saw that performance, she and Hibiki Iruma went on stage together and played some messed up music that seemed like nonsense.

It was as if it was a bullet fired by her in the past, hitting her right between the eyebrows at this moment.

if--

But if——

The band will continue after the end.

And she also chose to go to Tokyo to end the band. Would everything be different now?

With a hint of hypothetical self-comfort.

Chihaya Aine closed her eyes.

Then——