Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

In her past life, Toyokawa Shoko never failed to get what she really wanted, but at this moment, she realized that what she wanted now, Iruma Hibiki, was something she could never get no matter what she gave.

Unless, she could take a plane to Kyoto right now——

In fact, Toyokawa Shoko did have such thoughts.

only……

She can't do it now.

It's simply impossible.

She couldn't go wherever she wanted like Nagasaki Suyo.

She also has band and family matters to take care of.

"Xiangzi?"

Until, unable to bear the loneliness, Hibiki Iruma called Shoko Toyokawa.

As for why she didn't use video, it was probably because Iruma Hibiki was actually not very confident in herself and was worried that something might be wrong. Although she had already tidied her clothes before dialing the phone, she chose to make a voice call when she finally pressed the dial button.

【I want to see Xiangzi.】

Although this idea is still earnest.

But once the call was made, there was no regret.

44 Nagasaki Suyo's Lost Position

"Is Hibiki busy today?"

This is what Shoko Toyokawa asked at the beginning of the call.

"It's not very busy. I've almost finished my daily affairs. I'll help my father pack his luggage tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, confirm the transfer procedures, and then we'll be ready to return."

"My father will handle most of the affairs, and I can only help out with some small things. In fact, I was told that it would be okay to go back now, but I still chose to go back to Tokyo with my family when the time comes."

Iruma Hibiki spoke softly.

Perhaps this incident also caused some small changes in his mentality.

"I wish everything goes well with Xiang. Then, Xiang, why didn't you talk to me much today when you weren't busy? Were you chatting with other girls?"

"puff--"

In response to Toyokawa Shoko's question, Iruma laughed out loud.

"Laugh, what are you laughing at..."

This smile was so shocking that Shoko Toyokawa on the opposite side immediately showed an angry tone.

"No, I just didn't expect Xiangzi to ask that."

"Because Hibiki loves to chat, I would definitely be worried if Hibiki didn't come to see me."

"Actually, I'm having a headache with my writing today. I just contacted my editor and I plan to slow down my writing."

"Eh? Why?"

Toyokawa Shoko was a little surprised. Although she couldn't understand the popular works of Iruma Hibiki, she was still impressed by his short stories. That was also the opportunity for them to get to know each other. If you think about it carefully, it might be the beginning of their love affair.

"Because... I'm having trouble balancing Crychic and my writing. So compared to writing, your side is actually more important, Xiangzi. So I'm planning to put it on hold for now."

Iruma Hibiki replied.

After all, isn’t that what an author’s profession is all about?

How could a person who has many friends, a lover, and a happy and fulfilling life write?

"Hibiki...didn't I force you?"

"Perhaps, there are also some regrets and reluctance, right? As for writing, I actually quite enjoy it. It's also what I decided to do in the first place."

Iruma said this with a sigh.

After a pause, he continued to add:

"But compared to your contract and ideals with Xiangzi, these are not important. As long as Xiangzi doesn't despise me for being half-hearted about writing, that's all that matters."

There was a hint of laughter in Hibiki Iruma's tone.

"Of course I don't feel that way about Hibiki. Rather, I'm happy that Hibiki plans to focus on Crychic!"

There was some joy in Toyokawa Shoko's tone.

In fact, most people would probably feel the strong gravity at this time. In fact, Iruma Hibiki's response was not that of a relaxed guy.

It's just that Shoko Toyokawa happened to catch it.

"I just want to focus on Xiangzi's business."

Then——

Iruma Hibiki had a bright smile on her face and spoke what could be considered sweet words between lovers.

"Hibiki... always says things that make my heart flutter!"

When the call ended, Iruma Hibiki looked at the ceiling of the hotel with a hint of excitement, tossing and turning on the big bed, too excited to fall asleep.

Obviously mentally exhausted.

But he wasn't sleepy at all.

In fact, his initial relationship with Toyokawa Shoko did not give him much sense of reality. He even had the illusion that the distance between them had become greater after the relationship had changed.

Perhaps it was the sudden change in the relationship that made both of them, who were inexperienced, feel a little overwhelmed.

Until this time, the difference between Kyoto and Tokyo——

On the other side, Toyokawa Shoko hung up the phone and put it in her pocket.

Then, with a snap, she killed a mosquito that had bitten her calf. At this moment, she was standing next to a vending machine under a street light. It was already autumn, but she didn't expect that there were still mosquitoes in this weather.

After hanging up the phone, she was silent for a long time before slowly walking towards her home.

Her father must have been waiting there for a long time.

And the originally happy smile and blush on Toyokawa Shoko's face also slightly turned into a slight indifference.

In fact, she was not like this at the beginning.

Until things in the family start to fall apart.

"Su Shi? Have you encountered anything unhappy recently?"

And for Nagasaki Suyo, it was the same tonight, she was avoiding her mother's questioning.

"No, don't worry, Mom. I've been doing well lately. School life is going well, and the band rehearsals are going well too."

"but--"

Nagasaki Suyo's mother paused.

But she suddenly discovered.

Is it because she always acts like a spoiled child in front of her daughter, so at this moment, when it is her turn to be the gentle one, she is taken care of by Nagasaki Suyo instead.

……

She was silent.

She wanted to say something to Nagasaki Suyo.

So, she began to think about the reasons that might have caused Nagasaki Suyo to become like this recently.

"Su Shi, did you have a fight with your boyfriend?"

"..."

The moment this question was asked, Nagasaki Suyo's smile froze on her face, and then her whole body trembled.

"Who bullied Su Shi? Tell me! Mom will never forgive him!"

……

Facing her angry mother, Nagasaki Suyo did not respond at first.

By the time she started to lie as if it were a matter of course, it was already too late. Her momentary silence and hesitation was actually an admission.

Just like her mother treated her, Nagasaki Suyo had no idea how to face the other person who was currently angry and picky.

"Su Shi, Mom knows that ever since I divorced your bastard father, I haven't had much time to spend with you... This is something that I can't make up for even if I give you a lot of money, but..."

"Su Shi, it's not that I don't love you."

"I'm actually very worried about you..."

"Regardless of what happened in Kyoto before, or recently..."

"Su Shi? Talk to me, please. I'm not against your relationship, Su Shi. I'm just worried that you might be deceived."

Facing his mother's concerned questions.

Nagasaki Suyo gradually lowered her head.

She didn't want to answer the question.

"Sushi, are you asking such an extreme question because you can't forget Xiang?"

She remembered that day, when she caught up with Toyokawa Shoko, Toyokawa Shoko asked her this with a bright smile on his face.

"..."

And she was as silent at that time as she is now.

I don’t know when it started, but Nagasaki Suyo found that she always remained silent when it came to the topic of Iruma Hibiki.

Because the key fulcrum is missing.

And Nagasaki Suyo knew the reason.

she was--

Although he and Hibiki Iruma have a secret that perhaps only they know in the whole world.

However, she had already lost her [position].

Regarding the issue of Hibiki Iruma, my response is [position].

Nagasaki Suyo slightly pinched the corner of her clothes and lowered her head.

45 new songs

Hibiki Iruma took out a large stack of draft paper from his guitar bag. It contained a large number of drafts with various contents.

Among them were novels, sheet music, and many other things piled up in a messy pile.

Iruma Hibiki had thought about organizing these before, but later gave up because of laziness.

It was not until this moment, when I actually wanted to use it after such a long time, that I felt a little inconvenience and trouble.

[Hyun? Are you going to release a new song? ]

【Yes. 】

This is how Hibiki Iruma responded to Ichiri Goto.

Perhaps it was the joy of returning to Tokyo, a feeling that all difficulties had been resolved, and the anticipation for good times was what followed.

He also decided to re-release some songs as the Alien Composer.

However, rather than thinking about achieving something by releasing songs, the reason why Hibiki Iruma suddenly wanted to record some songs was probably because he wanted to talk to Ichiri Goto.

Because they hadn't chatted for a long time, Iruma Hibiki felt a little distant and felt a little apologetic towards Goto Ichiri.

In her steam account, the games they often played during the days he was away from Tokyo -

In fact, Goto Ichiri only had one game, and he bought a four-player pack for her at that time.

The game length has increased by more than twenty hours.

It seems that Goto Ichiri has been spending his precious free time on games lately, which makes Iruma Hibiki a little worried.

[Pochi-chan, she seems to be a little sleep-deprived lately. ]

Ijichi Hongxia also said the same thing.

So, Iruma Hibiki was a little worried about Goto Ichiri, and also had a subtle sense of self-blame?