Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

but……

He didn't expect it to be in this form.

The gifts on the table are actually very simple and not very complicated.

Gao Songdeng's gift was a small piece of stone. There was her handwriting on the gift box, which read "Form a lifelong band".

Nagasaki Sushi's gift was an aromatherapy box, and there were some promotional words like "eternal" on the box.

As for Ruoye Mu's gift, it was difficult to tell what it contained. It was a small paper bag, which was very full and looked to be quite substantial.

As for Shiina Riki's gift, it was a bit scary. It was a very thick music book. Iruma Hibiki had an impression of that thing and wanted to buy it at first, but out of fear of the [Fifty Years of College Entrance Examination and Thirty Years of Simulation], he finally gave up.

Except for Wakaba Mu's gift.

The other things are not simple and can be digested in a short time...

“Thank you everyone, I like it very much…”

So much so that Iruma Hibiki actually cared more about the gift from Wakaba Mu.

So when he accepted the gift, he deliberately looked at the contents of the bag that Wakaba Mu gave him.

"Xiang, it's fresh, eat it as soon as possible."

Wakaba Mu also added at this time.

And Iruma Hibiki also noticed what the gift from Wakaba Mu was, which was a bag of cucumbers.

What a unique gift...

In fact, Iruma Hibiki was still thinking about the deeper meaning of this gift.

"Eh? Are these what you planted in the Moon Forest Garden?"

"Well, this is all we harvested from this batch."

"That's true..."

Iruma Hibiki looked at the cucumbers in the bag and showed a slightly nostalgic look.

"Is this autumn cucumber? I've grown them before. I think cucumbers can be harvested twice a year, once before summer, and the second time this season."

"Ah."

Ruoye Mu nodded, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

She put a lot of effort into growing cucumbers.

Because, after all, these cucumbers were the only things that belonged entirely to her; apart from them, she owned nothing else.

"Thank you, Mu. I will enjoy it!"

"I like everyone's gifts very much. Oh, and I also brought some souvenirs from Kyoto, but I didn't bring them here today because of some complicated circumstances. I'll bring them to you next time."

……

The noisy atmosphere continued for a while.

And Iruma Hibiki also temporarily forgot about Toyokawa Shoko.

only--

In the dark corner of the Toyokawa family's house.

Shoko Toyokawa lay on the bed.

Her phone was on, showing the chat history of Iruma Hibiki, but at this moment she covered her eyes with one hand. The sour feeling made her cry if she didn't do so.

"This is a book-shaped stone, a type of shale, with some tiny fossils inside. It's from Hokkaido, the same place where dinosaur fossils have been unearthed."

"Fossils... so interesting. The marks on them are like stars."

"Yeah! Because it's a fossil of ancient coral, it's my favorite piece!"

Takamatsu Deng couldn't wait to introduce his gift to Iruma Hibiki.

"I will cherish it."

With a hint of gratitude, Iruma Hibiki carefully placed Takamatsu Touma's gift.

"Thank you, Lantern."

"It's okay. I'm... happy that Xiang is back."

Takamatsu Deng's usual cautious look completely disappeared at this moment, and the expression and confidence on his face seemed to have returned to the moment when he sang "Haruhi Shadow".

Just at this moment, Iruma's phone vibrated twice.

Taking advantage of the gap, Iruma Hibiki turned on his cell phone.

The above is a letter from Toyokawa Shoko.

【I like the sound, too.】

As expected... 弍z-⒐溜鷗伞紦企: Yishan!...

Iruma Hibiki muttered to himself.

Shoko Toyokawa probably forgot about the meeting because of her current situation.

"Xiang, this aromatherapy is for sleeping. You always stay up late. Using this to improve your sleep quality will be much better."

Nagasaki Suyo was the next to introduce her gift.

"Thank you for your trouble, Su Shi..."

Looking at the aromatherapy sent by Nagasaki Suyo, Iruma Hibiki felt a subtle sense of thoughtfulness. He could smell the fragrance through the packaging. He didn't know if it was an illusion, but at this moment he felt a little sleepy.

"It's okay, as long as I can help Xiang, that's what I think."

Nagasaki Suyo's voice was particularly sweet at this moment, and coupled with her smile, the rehearsal room was filled with a sweet atmosphere.

On the other side, Shoko Toyokawa heard the urging voice.

She held the phone to her chest and curled up slightly.

The short-lived sweetness cannot cover up the surging waves that are about to come.

There is little time left to escape.

She couldn't do anything.

[Wouldn't it be better to race against time and see Xiang once before?]

Toyokawa Shoko regretted this.

"Hey, Xiang, you have to read this whole thing. If you do, you should be able to become a true [Alien Composer]. You can handle pop, jazz, and progressive rock. I've only read half of it, and it's very useful."

"half?!"

Iruma Hibiki responded to Shiina Riki in surprise.

In fact, the music score in front of me is very expensive.

It's so expensive that if you think about it in terms of a part-time salary, this thick sheet of music here costs almost two weeks' salary for Tatsuki Shiina.

If we just consider the thought that went into it, this should be the most "expensive" gift here.

"That's amazing, Lixi."

"Ah... stop praising me. Don't let me catch up with you..."

Shiina Riki turned his head away and said something contradictory to Iruma Hibiki.

Of course, when facing Iruma Hibiki, Shiina Riki also had some complicated emotions.

"Thank you, Lixi. I will work hard to finish studying this music score. I will definitely do it."

"..."

When a solemn and determined look appeared on Iruma Hibiki's face, Shiina Riki began to waver slightly.

Yes, she was just like this Iruma Hibiki—

No way.

"Just don't throw away half of it."

"How can it be."

"Lixi, Xiang would never do such a thing."

"Throw it away..."

"and many more!"

When Takamatsu Deng showed a hint of fear, Iruma Hibiki realized that Shiina Riki had subconsciously led the topic to a strange place again.

"I'll treasure everyone's gifts and take good care of them! How could I possibly throw them away?"

"It's better to eat the cucumber."

"Ah, that's true..."

"Ha ha……"

The rehearsal room was filled with lighthearted laughter, and even Hibiki Iruma felt strangely relaxed.

"Xiangzi."

Outside Toyokawa Shoko's door, her father had been waiting for a long time.

"..."

With her head lowered, Shoko Toyokawa looked towards the piano room that she was very familiar with.

The beginning of that extremely brilliant past.

When leaving, there is always a sense of reluctance.

She, alone, embarked on the dark road that she had to walk.

16 Iruma Hibiki standing here

"Lixi, do you know Chiba Disneyland?"

"You know? Why do you say that suddenly?"

Probably during a break in rehearsal, Iruma Hibiki suddenly spoke to Shiina Riki who was standing next to him. The heating at RIng was turned up a little too high today, so that Shiina Riki, who had exerted the most physical energy, had a thin layer of sweat on his head.

"I didn't know that Disneyland in Chiba also hosts weddings. It's very close to my home, but this is the first time I've heard of this."

"Eh?! A wedding?!!!!"

Shiina Riki's reaction was very intense, and her loud shouting attracted the attention of people around her.

"wedding?"

"who?"

Nagasaki Yinerlongshan Lulingqisi⒏Su Shi put down the bass in his hand and the tea he had just taken and walked over here.

"Ah, it's my relative's wedding. It seems to be held at Chiba Disneyland or something like that. The rehearsal is next week... I might have to skip a day."

Hibiki Iruma frowned slightly as he looked at his phone.

"Ah, congratulations..."

Knowing that his reaction was a bit intense, Shiina Riki blushed and then his momentum completely waned.

"A Disney wedding! I'm so envious."

Nagasaki Suyo's face showed an expectant look.

"But in this case, next week's practice..."

"About this——"

When talking about practice, Shiina Riki suddenly interrupted the topic about the wedding. After all, no matter how you look at it, this topic has already made her look very embarrassing.

If she continued like this, her heart would not be able to bear it.

"How about we adjust our practice plans for next week in preparation for the performance?"

Shiina Riki suddenly said this.