Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Hibiki Iruma opened his eyes drowsily. He didn't sleep very soundly last night and his sleep was rather messy. After coming back, he was torn between taking a shower and falling asleep directly. Finally, he was overcome by exhaustion and fell asleep directly.

And now it is 7 o'clock.

We agreed to meet at 9 o'clock, the first stop today——

Disneyland in Chiba?

This point seems to have been proposed by Nagasaki Motoyo. In fact, such a proposal is a bit subtle. After all, for Iruma Hibiki, that is the place he will go again in a while.

After all, he was going there to attend someone else's wedding soon.

But it's not bad.

Have fun this time, and next time go experience the romance of a Disney wedding.

Iruma Hibiki was thinking about all sorts of things, then he sat up.

"Ah."

He answered the person outside the door, and then heard his father's voice:

"Hibiki, I heard you want to know about the Toyokawa family?"

After a knock on the door, Iruma Hibiki's father opened the door and walked in.

Indeed, such things are not suitable to be discussed at the dinner table.

"It was, but not anymore, Dad."

Hibiki Iruma took some time to clear his mind, then responded soberly.

"Are you going out?"

"Well, I'm traveling with some friends from the band, so I won't be home this weekend."

"How come it's so sudden?"

Iruma Yoshiaki smiled. There was no blame in his words, but rather a hint of joy for Iruma Hibiki.

After all, in Yoshiaki Iruma's opinion, Hibiki Iruma has had some "autistic" tendencies since childhood and does not get along well with his peers.

So for him, it is definitely a happy thing to see that his children are willing to get along with people of the same age, form a band together, and travel together.

He had no reason to object.

"Because it was a sudden decision, and I've been busy lately, I haven't had time to tell you."

It was only then that Hibiki Iruma realized that he had not told his family about his decision.

He felt a slight sense of guilt.

"Is that so? Have fun. Is your pocket money enough?"

"Ah... definitely enough..."

After a brief negotiation, Yoshiaki Iruma left, while Hibiki Iruma looked at the clear sky outside.

Indeed, just as the weather forecast said, it was sunny today and the rain last night had completely stopped.

After groping for a while, Iruma Hibiki found his cell phone.

There was little new information, most of which came from the band. Even on holidays, Ichichi Hongxia would get up early and share her breakfast as usual.

【Today's breakfast is bacon and eggs! 】

Although Hibiki Iruma had seen this kind of food many times, he did not feel impatient at all.

On the contrary, it seems as if such interactions have become a part of life, and it would be strange if they did not exist.

【It looks delicious.】

Iruma Hibiki replied with a smile on his face.

【Higashi got up early today!】

But for Ijichi Kouka on the other side, Iruma Hibiki is indeed a guy with a very disordered lifestyle.

She actually wanted to urge Hibiki Iruma to adjust her sleep schedule.

But in this matter, Ijichi Hongxia has her own helplessness.

After all, she has never succeeded in this matter. Goto Ichiri and Yamada Ryo are also complete late-night lovers. Even Kita, who looks very fashionable, will occasionally stay up all night and then disappear the next day.

Afterwards, he was worried about his terrifying number of friends and kept going to find Ijichi Hongxia.

[Yes, because I plan to go on a trip with my friends in the band.]

【Eh?! Let's travel together!】

[Yeah, two days and one night.]

Iruma Hibiki replied to Ichichi Nikka.

Gradually, a look of nostalgia appeared on his face.

Yes--

If everything goes well before spring break, perhaps this trip will be the end of the band's journey?

What would happen then?

With a hint of if.

Hibiki Iruma was thinking.

He may never forget the end of the band.

That is a memory that cannot be affected by any cruel reality or past.

【Have fun! 】

Ichichi Hongxia sent a cute blessing emoticon package.

At this moment, she was sitting in front of the washing machine, watching her clothes turning in the transparent cabinet door, waiting for information while in a daze.

Sunny days are always good for washing clothes.

There is always a special feeling when clothes are dried in the sun without using a dryer.

Yes, I will.

[Later, if you have time, let's go out together with Ryo, Kita, and Pochi-chan.]

Iruma Hibiki extended an invitation to Ijichi Kouka who was there at the moment.

"Okay! But no matter how you look at it, it'll be winter. Pochi-chan will have a hard time."

Is it very hard?

Hibiki Iruma asked.

This was something about Goto Ichiri that was beyond his understanding.

【Eh? Hibiki, don't you know? 】

[Pochi-chan, she's been playing games so much lately that she's failed all the subjects that used to be just barely passable. If she doesn't work harder, she'll have to make up for it during the winter break until the New Year.]

【And because of this, Pochi-chan desperately begged Kita to do something—】

Please! I absolutely cannot make up for the missed classes at the end of December.

……

Iruma Hibiki sighed, then smiled again.

Yes, this is Goto Ichiri.

That's the kind of guy she is.

It's not reassuring.

Always doing weird things.

I am particularly persistent about some things.

But at the same time, it is so adorable that people can't let go.

[I can guess why Pochi-chan hid this from me.]

Iruma Hibiki sighed.

[Eh? What is that?]

[Of course, if I knew about this, I would definitely ban her from playing games and give her extra lessons.]

He responded to Ijichi Hongxia's doubts.

[Shocking! Pochi-chan can be like this too!]

Don't underestimate her.

Sometimes people with social anxiety do horrible things precisely because they have social anxiety.

This is common sense.

【Will you come to the next study session? 】

[Sure, just tell me a day or two in advance. It'll be right after our performance next week...]

Iruma Hibiki was silent for a moment.

My idea is probably to... take a break from band activities for a while.

[Activity suspended…]

Now, the smiles on both Iruma Hibiki and Ijichi Nichina's faces turned into slightly serious expressions.

【Well, the activity is suspended.】

Iruma Hibiki stated his decision with certainty.

he--

No matter what, there is no way to let Toyokawa Shoko continue to be embarrassed.

41 Before the Trip

"Lights. Anyway, putting rocks in a suitcase is a bit strange..."

At the Takamatsu family, Takamatsu Deng's mother sighed helplessly as she watched her daughter packing her luggage.

In addition to the necessities, Takamatsu Deng stuffed a dozen stones, some strange small objects, a few notebooks, and an empty can of candy into the suitcase.

For Takamatsu Deng, these strange little things are not meaningless.

they are, respectively:

"Patrick"'s attitude towards life.

A gift for a friend.

Own heart.

And prepare for the next encounter.

In Takamatsu Touma's world, this is a very important part of her journey.

But in the eyes of others, these things are too weird.

"Himagi, did you bring the things I asked you to bring?"

Hibiki Iruma's mother stopped Hibiki Iruma who was about to go out.

For Hibiki Iruma, his attitude towards traveling is very special. He likes to prepare everything and does not excessively pursue the idea of traveling light.

So his suitcase was a little bulging and even a little heavy.

But this amount is just right for him.

A body tempered by alcohol in Linhai Park would never fall to such a small amount.

Despite saying this, Hibiki Iruma's mother still had some concerns about him.

"Mom, I..."

Iruma Hibiki wanted to explain.

But he could understand his mother's worries at this moment to some extent.