Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

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Iruma Hibiki sent a message to Kita.

Soon after, he received a reply almost instantly.

How about next week?

Iruma Hibiki looked at the reply and thought for a moment.

[Our band has a performance next week, so I might need to check the time next week, but the week after next, it should be possible...]

In fact, Iruma Hibiki's answer was somewhat reluctant.

He wasn't even sure about himself.

In other words, will everything be as smooth as before in the future?

Just like when school started during the Golden Week, and like this spring and summer, to be honest, there was enough free time to think about the future. No matter how you look at it, Iruma Hibiki now feels a little nostalgic for the situation back then, and a little reproachful towards himself at that time.

Maybe this is what is called the memory filter.

"Ah! If you're busy, don't force yourself. I've been working hard on my own lately!"

【Wait a mininute!】

A few minutes later, Kita sent a simple performance.

【You didn’t hurt yourself this time, did you? 】

【With Goto-san's help, there's absolutely no such thing! 】

After receiving Kita's reply, Iruma Hibiki opened the recording sent by Kita.

It was unfamiliar, just like the sound of his piano in the spring before.

While listening to it, Hibiki Iruma even felt a little nostalgic.

【Kita——】

Afterwards, Iruma Hibiki tried his best to share some of his own experiences regarding Kita's situation and progress.

That's all he can do.

This kind of teaching ended around 12 o'clock.

Hibiki Iruma replied with a hint of concern:

[Kita, I'm sorry, I couldn't keep the appointment last time.]

"It's okay! We can make an appointment next time! Will you reject me next time?"

Kita's words made Hibiki laugh as well.

【Certainly not. 】

He replied like this.

[Hibiki, please don't spoil Pochi-chan too much.]

On the other side, it seemed that it was time for Ijichi Kouka to contact her friends before going to bed, and Iruma Hibiki received her reply.

【I know. 】

Iruma responded.

[But...Pochi-chan...never mind, I'll do my best.]

In the end, Ijichi Nikka didn't finish her words, but Iruma Hibiki actually already knew what she wanted to say.

【This is probably also my fault.】

Iruma Hibiki responded.

[In the summer, I was sad, so I hid in the game, and then dragged Pochi-chan and played for a long time. Now that I think about it, Pochi-chan is indeed the kind of person who can easily get addicted to games.]

[Hibiki, what do you think about Pochi-chan? ]

Suddenly, Ijichi Hongxia asked this.

What do you mean?

Iruma Hibiki asked back, and then paused for a moment.

But the reason why he was so angry was that he probably knew what Yidi Zhihongxia meant.

How should we help Pochi-chan? Pochi-chan always makes me feel uneasy.

[This is a very Nijiya-style reply.]

【Eh? 】

Perhaps Iruma Hibiki's response also made Ijichi Kouka feel a little troubled.

"Let's take it slow. Anyway, let's take Pochi-chan to interact with more people, perform more, and then go somewhere else to play together later, how about that?"

"Okay, that's settled. But as for going out, it seems like there aren't many days off lately. By the way, would you like to come with me, Xiang?"

[Sure, Hongxia, if you ask me, I will definitely attend.]

【Very good! 】

In the end, this part of the topic ended near the early morning, and after replying to everyone's messages, Iruma Hibiki reopened the chat with Toyokawa Shoko.

His reply stopped at the message "It's over."

The time of reply will probably be after sending Gao Songdeng home.

Because there was no opportunity to take out the mobile phone before.

However, the reply from Toyokawa Shoko has not arrived yet, even though the message has been shown as read.

Iruma Hibiki tried to close his eyes and fall asleep.

He has to go to school tomorrow, and there is also a welcome party prepared for him by Ichichi Hongxia.

You must take a rest.

But at this moment, Hibiki Iruma had no desire to sleep.

19 Toyokawa Shoko's Self-Esteem

Probably since the time travel.

Having gone through the days when his body was still immature and he always had to sleep for a long time, Hibiki Iruma remembers that he started to suffer from frequent insomnia in the years before he graduated from elementary school.

As a result, his daily routine gradually became disordered and has not returned to normal until now.

Insomnia has become a common occurrence, like an extremely familiar habit that has accompanied him throughout his life.

It is so serious that as long as he has something on his mind, his sleep will most likely be affected.

After lying on the bed for two consecutive times, it was almost 1 o'clock and Iruma Hibiki still hadn't fallen asleep.

In fact, this is also the case in the summer.

He and Ichiri Goto played that game from the summer of July to Christmas in December. After countless late nights, they welcomed the New Year's Eve in the game. Iruma Hibiki remembered that it was 7 a.m.

Although he did disapprove of Goto Ichiri staying up late.

But unfortunately, Goto Ichiri is particularly stubborn in this regard.

At that time, he was not the kind of guy who could take care of others.

But it was winter now, and his room was a little cold, probably because it was close to the sea, and the humidity also exacerbated the autumn cold.

Iruma stood up and then sighed.

The phone's battery is about half charged.

Then, just as he was about to go out to drink some milk and relax before going to sleep, his cell phone vibrated.

[Xiang, are you still there? Can I go out now?]

It was unexpected news about Toyokawa Shoko.

But the message didn't stay long before it was withdrawn.

[Xiangzi, I'm here. If you go out, what happened?]

Iruma Hibiki asked with a hint of urgency.

Even though Toyokawa Shoko withdrew the message, Iruma Hibiki did not think that it was something Toyokawa Shoko had sent by mistake or something she did not want him to know.

Most likely, you are just worried about causing him discomfort when asking for help.

At this time, the correct answer is to press A directly.

This is a truth that even a stupid virgin should understand, and this is the decisiveness that should be possessed.

If he doesn't even have this, then I'm afraid this guy's life is over. He is completely an idiot who downloaded Steam and then downloaded the Steam Assistant, and then angered the poor charity blogger who was promoting cyber literacy to the point that he died on the spot from high blood pressure.

At this moment, Kita, who was in a dream, was caught in the crossfire. The icon of the Steam Assistant was hanging on her computer.

【Nothing, isn't Xiang resting yet? 】

【Well, not yet.】

Even though she responded like that, Iruma Hibiki had already changed her clothes.

【Where is Xiangzi? 】

He asked.

Yes--

Iruma Hibiki suddenly understood.

The reason why he was so restless was actually because of Toyokawa Shoko.

After all, a guy like him, who is always uneasy about his lover and troubled by his relationship, is like a fool, making abnormal decisions and seems a little neurotic.

But this was his clumsy way of expressing his concern.

【Ikebukuro. 】

【Not at home? 】

【Um. 】

When seeing Toyokawa Shoko say this, Iruma Hibiki quickly initiated a location sharing.

Then on his phone, he waited for a while and saw the icon representing Toyokawa Shoko.

A little while later——

Shoko Toyokawa gritted her teeth and lowered her head, watching the rapidly approaching portrait turn a corner and come to the street where she was.

Then, at the end of the deserted street, at the end of the streetlights, the roar and lights of taxis illuminated the alley.

With a beautiful drift, the golden age drag racer driver, who was forced by life to step into old age, sent Iruma Hibiki to his lover. His decisiveness seemed as if he was not carrying Iruma Hibiki, but chasing his own past dreams.

"Thank you."

"Go ahead, kid."

Then, the taxi stopped in front of Toyokawa Shoko, Iruma Hibiki paid the fare, and then stepped out of the car.

"Xiangzi."

The moment they met, Hibiki Iruma walked up to Shoko Toyokawa and hugged her.

"Who asked you to come?"

"Eh?"

only--

Contrary to expectations, Iruma Hibiki was criticized by Toyokawa Shoko.

But Qi Ling VnIIIwu cried bitterly in that accusation, but with a hint of sobbing tone.

"I'm fine. Hibiki, why did you come here so late...?"

"How can I watch you, Xiangzi, staying out alone so late and remain indifferent?"