Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

But it happened just like that at this moment.

39 Reply to Wakaba Mutsu

Sense of distance

The more I interact with Triangle Chuhua, the deeper this feeling becomes.

Iruma Hibiki felt that if it weren't for Toyokawa Shoko, he might never have had any contact with a girl like Sankaku Hatsuka in his life, let alone having a drink with her in an empty cafe late at night.

By the way, we also have common topics.

Sankaku Hatsuka brought up his past with Toyokawa Shoko.

And Iruma Hibiki also told Sankaku Hatsuka about his own situation.

It just so happened that Toyokawa Shoko didn't know whether she fell asleep due to tiredness, and she hadn't replied for almost ten minutes.

"Before, I wanted to enter the Toyokawa family, but the servants at the door told me that Xiangzi had left with her father, and they didn't know where they went."

"Xiangzi..."

Iruma Hibiki lowered his head.

"Didn't Xiangzi even tell you?"

……

Sankaku Hatsuka's question made Iruma Hibiki silent for a while, and then he shook his head.

"Xiangzi just told me that she was sad—"

In front of Iruma Hibiki, Sankaku Hatsuka showed a wavering expression.

This hesitation was caught by Iruma Hibiki.

"Xiangzi, she..."

Then Iruma Hibiki saw that Sankaku Hatsuka looked a little sad.

"You didn't tell me anything..."

"The last time we chatted was a few months ago, when Sumi just debuted and she sent me a blessing."

It's a bit strange to insert such a topic here.

Iruma Hibiki naturally noticed this part.

It would be strange if I didn't notice it.

"Shoko, she really likes Iruma-senpai..."

"..."

At this moment, Iruma Hibiki was a little unsure how to continue the conversation.

After all, it was obvious that as the topic about Toyokawa Shoko continued, the atmosphere between the two became a little subtle?

Does this count as him being harassed by his lover's troublesome fans?

Iruma Hibiki thought so.

But in fact, he was surprisingly able to understand Sanjiao Chuhua at this moment.

Because he is also the one who is particularly worried about Toyokawa Shoko at this moment.

"Iruma-senpai, I have a favor to ask of you—"

It was at this moment that Sanjiao Chuhua revealed his real plan for tonight.

"Ok?"

"When you find Xiangzi's current residence, Xiangzi should tell you. Can you also tell me? This is my personal contact information."

Sanjiao Chuhua opened his phone and stopped the screen at the part where he could add friends.

"Ah, something like that..."

Iruma Hibiki wanted to refuse.

After all, even though the other party was a childhood friend of Toyokawa Shoko, revealing someone else's address without permission...

"Please, I'm just... worried about Xiangzi..."

Until Sankaku Hatsuka showed a worried look in front of Iruma Hibiki.

"It doesn't matter even if Xiangzi has forgotten me."

……

Then, in front of Iruma Hibiki, Sankaku Hatsuka became even sadder.

"Triangle-san..."

"Don't worry, I won't harass Xiangzi, nor will I cause trouble for you, Iruma-senpai. I just want to check on Xiangzi's situation."

"if it is like this--"

Iruma Hibiki was silent for a moment.

He finally chose a compromise.

"I'll tell Sankaku-san about Shoko's situation, and Sankaku-san, how about you not focusing on this issue for now until Shoko tells you his address?"

"..."

Obviously, Sanjiao Chuhua was not particularly satisfied with this answer.

But in the end she nodded and accepted it.

"Xiangzi, I definitely didn't mean to avoid contacting you..."

Iruma Hibiki added one more word at the end.

No matter how he looked at it, he felt that Sanjiao Hatsuka was the kind of close friend that was ignored by Toyokawa Shoko.

But I have extra expectations for this friendship.

Speaking of this matter...

Is he experiencing this too?

It was a little late when we came out of the cafe.

Toyokawa Shoko's reply hasn't arrived yet.

Recalling what happened during the day, Hibiki Iruma started his journey home. He remembered that he had had such an experience before, where he walked home from Ikebukuro at night in one breath and then experienced a deep sleep that was almost like death.

But today is different, he can take a taxi.

Before, he did not directly answer Ruoye Mu's question.

Instead, he was interrupted at the right moment by Nagasaki Motoyo who was walking in front of him. Afterwards, everyone started talking about traveling, so Iruma Hibiki did not have the opportunity to raise this question again.

【Is Mu still waiting for my reply now? 】

Iruma Hibiki thought so.

In fact, Wakaba Mu's question is not difficult to answer.

The hard part is what kind of answer Ruo Ye Mu wants.

【Best friend.】

Is this answer sufficient?

Can it meet Wakaba Mu's expectations?

Iruma Hibiki pondered.

It took some time.

After finally coming up with the answer, he turned on his nearly dead phone, found Wakaba Mu and replied:

【Mu, you are my very important and dearest friend. 】

[Although this may seem a little sudden and strange, we haven't spoken much, and we haven't even spent much time together.]

【But, this is what I think.】

[I like Xiaomu very much, so I hope that we can become lifelong friends.]

[Xiao Mu, did I do something to make you unhappy? If so, please tell me. I absolutely have no intention of hurting you.]

……

Then, only half a minute passed.

The reply from Wakaba Mutsu almost made Hibiki Iruma's heart stop:

【Xiang did nothing.】

Iruma Hibiki's guilt reached its peak.

Of course, it’s not because of the content of Ruoye Mu’s reply at this moment.

But it was the fact that Ye Mu had been waiting for his reply until now.

[Sorry, Xiaomu, I didn't send you a message until now.]

【How is Xiang? 】

Wakaba Mutsu ignored the apology part and instead asked about Toyokawa Shoko first.

[By the way, Mu, have you heard of Sanjiao Chuhua? ]

At this moment, Iruma Hibiki suddenly thought of something, so he went to Wakaba Mutsu to confirm.

[Or, has Xiangzi ever told you about her?]

After thinking about it, Iruma Hibiki felt that this question was a bit strange, so he added another sentence.

【Know. 】

【Xiangzi never said that.】

Wakaba Mu gave answers to two questions at once.

When I came to look for Xiangzi today, he was no longer at Fengchuan's house. Then I ran into Sanjiao at the door of Xiangzi's house.

……

Hibiki Iruma did not hide his actions from Mutsumu Wakaba.

【Xiang went to find Xiang?】

【Um. 】

[Because Xiangzi sent me some messages at night, I was very worried about her, so I ran to Fengchuan's house.]

……

There was no reply from Wakaba Mu for a long time.

So Iruma Hibiki waited for a while.

【Are you asleep? Mu?】

Then he asked with some concern.

【No. 】

And Wakaba Mu quickly answered again.

[Mu, are you worried about Xiangzi? ]

【no. 】

For some reason, Iruma Hibiki always thought that Wakaba Mutsushi was particularly cute when he used his cell phone.

Maybe it’s because nodding and shaking the head have become necessary to respond to such changes with words?

40 Plan to suspend activities

Early in the morning, Hibiki Iruma was not woken up by the alarm clock, but instead heard his father knocking on the door.

"Xiang, are you up?"