Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Are you still planning on going to the next interview today?"

"No, the remaining two jobs pay only average and the commuting costs are too high."

Toyokawa Shoko said this.

At this moment, she has already embarked on the way back.

"By the way, Hibiki, could you please apologize to everyone in the band for me as well?"

"apologize?"

"Well, I'll also tell you online. I'm really sorry for disturbing everyone's trip and causing everyone to worry. I won't do that again in the future."

"because I……"

Toyokawa Shoko paused for a moment.

"Yes, it's something very precious."

"Ah."

Iruma Hibiki agreed.

I felt happy because of Toyokawa Shoko's joy at that moment.

"The band must continue to play, but before that, please stop for a while. I will soon-"

"Xiangzi, don't worry too much about the band for now. Leave this to me."

……

"Well, please ring then."

After a moment's pause.

Toyokawa Shoko completely handed over the decision-making power of this part to Iruma Hibiki.

"ring."

When she was about to hang up the phone, Toyokawa Shoko could no longer bear the emotions she was feeling.

She was hiding in a corner in the shadows beside the interview building, where no one could see her, with the smile that she always had on her face.

Those were the embers of the former Toyokawa Shoko, which would only be briefly rekindled in front of Iruma Hibiki.

A small number of people survived because of Iruma Hibiki's protection.

"what happened?"

"nothing."

But when Iruma Hibiki asked, Toyokawa Shoko said nothing.

"If Xiangzi hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known what to do."

Iruma Hibiki responded once again.

He cares a little.

Now that she has a deeper understanding of Toyokawa Shoko, Iruma Hibiki naturally knows that Toyokawa Shoko has changed a lot from her past.

If it were the Toyokawa Shoko of the past, she would definitely say now—

"Will we meet again tonight?"

Iruma Hibiki was silent for a moment, then laughed.

"When I finish my trip, I'll come to see Xiangzi. The hotel room is only available until tomorrow at noon."

"Ah."

Toyokawa Shoko said gloomily.

She seemed to have made up her mind.

After all, last night.

Iruma Hibiki is not the only one who endures.

For Shoko Toyokawa.

The desire to possess Hibiki Iruma was no weaker than before, but had become something even deeper.

She wanted to hear Hibiki Iruma say that he loved her.

Then he kissed her.

If only she were all he could see.

Not long after, Shoko Toyokawa returned to her shabby and dim home.

The dire situation and the fact that her father had gone out to play marbles again or had secretly borrowed money from his friends to buy some alcohol made Toyokawa Shoko look at her coldly.

But this time, she had the courage to face what was next.

"ring……"

Recalling what happened last night.

Same with Hibiki Iruma.

At this moment, Shoko Toyokawa hugged herself slightly.

Her face was flushed.

But there was an extra worry in my heart.

Shoko Toyokawa looked at her body in the mirror.

Her face should be pretty.

Although her figure is not as good as yours, but when Xiang touched her quietly last night, she must have been satisfied?

The limbs are in perfect proportion, and the belly is not fat at all, just the right amount of fat and thin. Although I don’t know how long it can last...but at least at this moment, it should not be considered inferior to others.

Quietly, Toyokawa Shoko compared herself with others.

With attachment to Iruma Hibiki, and the deeper and stronger emotions that come with it.

Shoko Toyokawa pinched her chest slightly, and then after realizing what she was doing, she immediately put on her clothes and began to prepare for work in the afternoon.

The requirement for this part-time job is that she should start working immediately after passing the interview.

The time to get off work is 7 o'clock in the evening.

By the time--

Maybe Hibiki Iruma just arrived.

On the phone, Toyokawa Shoko sent Iruma Hibiki the location of her part-time job, and Iruma Hibiki also said:

"If you come back early, I'll pick up Xiangzi and go home to put your things together. If you come back late, I'll go to Xiangzi's house to find you."

Hibiki Iruma is still as attentive and considerate as ever.

Knowing that she would not give up on her father easily even if he was such a bastard, he also knew that at this moment, she actually did not want to see her father in such a decadent state.

66 Topics I’m Not Good At Dealing With

The customer service job might be okay.

Hibiki Iruma retrieved information about Shoko Toyokawa's workplace. This was the first time he relied on the convenience of his last name.

Since Shoko Toyokawa is unwilling to accept his help directly, he should at least do something for Shoko Toyokawa in secret to the best of his ability.

This is what Hibiki Iruma thought and decided.

Then, after finishing everything, Iruma Hibiki leaned back in the car seat. His head hurt a little, and complicated thoughts were entangled with the feeling of fatigue.

Shoko Toyokawa must be feeling bad at this moment too.

After all, she didn't sleep much last night.

Just before morning, I closed my eyes slightly and fell asleep for about ten minutes.

At that time, Hibiki Iruma was still talking. When he realized that Shoko Toyokawa had fallen asleep, he stopped talking. However, he did not expect that Shoko Toyokawa would wake up again soon.

It's like someone who falls asleep while watching TV and suddenly wakes up when the TV is turned off.

【Xiangzi, take a break before going back to work.】

Hibiki Iruma was sending a message to Shoko Toyokawa.

[Well, I'll take a short nap in the afternoon, don't worry.]

Toyokawa Shoko also replied to the message almost immediately.

At this moment, she was cleaning the hut where her father lived. After clearing the garbage and packing the cans, Shoko Toyokawa curled up in a corner where she couldn't sleep well and looked at her mobile phone.

【What should you do? 】

【I'm fine. 】

Iruma Hibiki responded to Toyokawa Shoko.

Then, as if to reassure the other party, he added:

[In the past, probably when I was younger, I once stayed up for two days and three nights just to play games.]

This is the truth.

But the sleepiness that Iruma Hibiki felt at this moment was also real.

The taxi's heater made him drowsy.

He even ignored the news from Nagasaki Suyo.

Let’s talk about it when we meet.

Iruma Hibiki thought so.

The exhaustion deep in his heart made him choose to ignore the information from the other side for the moment.

[This won't be allowed anymore after this. [The text then abruptly shifts topics.]]

Toyokawa Shoko said this.

【it is good. 】

Hibiki Iruma answered.

[Xiangzi, you too, need to take good care of yourself even when I'm not around.]

【Um. 】

The chat ends here.

In fact, Iruma Hibiki still wanted to say something to Toyokawa Shoko.

such as--

Regarding the suspension of activities and the part-time job, but now, Iruma Hibiki looked at the time and thought it would be better to let Toyokawa Shoko sleep for a while.

Thinking of this, he put away his desire to stay with Toyokawa Shoko, put down his phone, tightened his coat, and was about to go back.

What follows is equally important as your explanation.

On the other hand, it is something that should never be given up at this moment.

Thinking this, Iruma Hibiki forced himself to cheer up.

He also searched for a convenience store near his destination so he could have a cup of coffee and buy a refreshing drink in a glass bottle.

Although he had never drunk it before, in Iruma Hibiki's memory, those drinks often appeared in some works. They were probably some kind of functional drinks.

-

As he planned this, Hibiki Iruma fell into a drowsy and confused state.

"arrive."

It wasn't until the somewhat taciturn and distant driver's reminder came that Iruma Hibiki woke up.

"Sorry, I fell asleep."

"It's ok."

After paying the bill, Iruma Hibiki got out of the car. The cold wind outside made him feel much more sober.