Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

The so-called customer service is, to a large extent, not a channel for customers to solve their own problems, but just an outlet for their emotions. For Shoko Toyokawa, every minute sitting there is torture.

If she hadn't been looking forward to meeting him after get off work, she wouldn't have been able to endure it at all.

The running figure was actually running away, running away from the dark building behind it and the dark, bad-smelling room full of people.

"Sorry, Xiangzi, I won't do it again next time."

Iruma Hibiki laughed and responded to Toyokawa Shoko.

He remembered that his father was often bullied by his mother in this way, and his father's reaction every time was -

"As atonement, let me hold Xiangzi's hand all the way back."

He smiled and said some outdated love words to Shoko Toyokawa, and he also put on a greasy posture like a middle-aged uncle and used a slightly strange tone.

And for Toyokawa Shoko——

"Ah."

Faced with such a thing, she actually had no resistance.

After all, she is also an idiot in love.

It was well protected in the past.

Even if it is exposed to some wind and rain.

But it's not to the point where I hate this attitude.

What's more, this was an apology spoken by Iruma Hibiki.

After Shoko Toyokawa finished her taiyaki in small bites, the two of them tacitly did not talk about the Toyokawa family. Instead, Hibiki Iruma accompanied Shoko Toyokawa to the supermarket.

The clothes he bought for Toyokawa Shoko were finally chosen by his mother, and they would arrive the day after tomorrow.

Iruma Hibiki vaguely remembered that his father once said that before he was born, they didn't know whether it would be a boy or a girl, so it was natural for them to consider what to do if the baby was a girl.

It is said that at that time, they not only prepared a contingency plan in case it was a daughter, but also spent a lot of time researching what kind of clothes to buy for her.

[My mother's advice should be reliable.]

That’s what Hibiki Iruma was thinking at the time.

Today, Iruma Hibiki accompanied Toyokawa Shoko to buy mostly daily necessities. Looking at the two pitchers of beer in the basket, Iruma Hibiki didn't say anything. But after watching Toyokawa Shoko take them back with an indifferent look on his face, he held Toyokawa Shoko's hand even tighter.

The two of them have been holding hands since they came back until now.

In fact, although it was autumn, there was still a hint of heat from such close hand-holding. At this moment, the places where their palms were tightly pressed together became a little wet, and Toyokawa Shoko's fingertips were also cutely red.

The materials needed for life are actually more than expected. In the past, Iruma Hibiki has never experienced a completely independent life.

From the choice of toothbrush to towels to various other things, various trivial items make up every corner of life.

In the past, with his parents taking care of him, Iruma Hibiki actually had no sense of reality about this matter.

And now, when I face it with Toyokawa Shoko——

No trouble at all.

Iruma Hibiki thought so.

There was even some weird excitement in the selection process.

"Does Xiangzi prefer a harder or softer toothbrush?"

"Hmm... something softer."

"What flavor does the toothpaste have?"

"Just don't try anything too exciting."

"What color is the towel?"

"The wine is light blue or light green."

"Light green..."

"Mu's hair color?"

Iruma Hibiki smiled.

"Xiao Mu..."

"Because the relationship between Xiangzi and Mu is really good."

Iruma Hibiki responded, but beside him, Toyokawa Shoko suddenly bit her lips.

"What's wrong Xiangzi?"

"I said some very rude things to Xiao Mu before..."

Shoko Toyokawa recalled the cold-bloodedness she showed to Mutsumu Wakaba that day.

What was she thinking at that time?

Perhaps he was hoping that this kind of indifference would cut off everything that would hurt him, and let that fragile and weak self die...

Just like that, just face everything alone.

Just don't let others know that you are in such an embarrassing situation.

But for Shoko Toyokawa, the plans and preparations at that time now seem a little childish and inadequate.

no matter when.

She always has a tall boy by her side to rely on.

"Xiao Mu is not angry with you, Xiangzi. Instead, he is very worried about you. Xiao Mu came with us that night, didn't he?"

"Um……"

Toyokawa Shoko responded in a low voice.

"Let's invite Xiaomu to dinner together later. Xiaomu won't blame Xiangzi."

Iruma Hibiki's words made Toyokawa Shoko feel relieved.

"ring……"

"Shampoo, how about this?"

Before starting the next topic, the two happened to walk into the bath products area, and Iruma Hibiki was pointing to a rose-scented shampoo that was somewhat similar to the one in the hotel.

"Hmm, does Hibiki like the taste?"

"I like all Xiangzi flavors."

Of course, Iruma Hibiki's straightforward reply made Toyokawa Shoko blush and she was speechless for a long time.

By the time she reacted and looked up again, there were some more things in the cart basket, and the two of them were walking towards the checkout area.

73 Test

This time, Toyokawa Shoko's father fell drunk on the street in front of his house, his whole body falling headfirst at the door. Vomit sprayed out from half a meter away from the door over a large area. It seemed that after vomiting and falling to the ground, he struggled for a while, so that his body and face were covered with disgusting filth and bad smell.

"vomit--"

Subconsciously, Shoko Toyokawa looked disgusted.

Her stomach was churning and her nose was filled with a horrible smell.

"Xiangzi, put your things aside for now. I'll help you."

"..."

From the very beginning, Shoko Toyokawa didn't say a word.

She didn't know what to say at this moment.

Or rather, it was natural that becoming strong was not something that could be done overnight. When facing the fact that Hibiki Iruma had noticed everything he possessed at the moment—

Shoko Toyokawa still felt a little uncomfortable.

Facing his father.

There was also a little resentment deep in her heart.

When it came to cleaning, Hibiki Iruma and Shoko Toyokawa were both clumsy, and both spent too long dealing with the horrific filth.

It seems that Shoko Toyokawa didn't even say hello to her neighbors when she moved in - that's natural.

So a few neighbors who were passing by after work left as if nothing had happened.

The two of them worked together for a long time before they finally cleaned up the scene with great difficulty.

bang——

Around this moment, Iruma Hibiki also heard the sound of Toyokawa Shoko dropping a whole pitcher of beer on the table due to excessive force.

To be honest, Iruma Hibiki was a little angry.

His attitude was probably, why should I buy alcohol for the person in front of me.

But Iruma Hibiki also realized that Toyokawa Shoko had definitely advised her, and this was definitely a choice she had no choice but to make.

There is absolutely no other way, that's why it happened.

So in order not to touch Toyokawa Shoko's wound, Iruma Hibiki said nothing.

"Xiangzi, do you want me to wait for you outside?"

After everything was done, all that was left was to clean up the place where Shoko Toyokawa was sleeping.

At this moment, Hibiki Iruma showed his consideration. He did not choose to follow Shoko Toyokawa into her current "room", but took the initiative to suggest waiting at the door.

“Don’t… make a sound…”

However, obviously, such consideration was a bit too much for Shoko Toyokawa at the moment.

Rather than being afraid of revealing her true self at the moment, Toyokawa Shoko could not bear the feeling of being alone here.

"okay……"

And Iruma Hibiki agreed with a smile.

"Xiangzi, remember to bring pudding today. When I bought it yesterday, the salesgirl looked at me strangely."

Iruma responded with a laugh.

Of course this is just a joke.

It's just a little joke that a virgin can't let go of. In fact, it's normal for a boyfriend to buy these things for his girlfriend.

"Well, I see."

Toyokawa Shoko still blushed.

But the shame and anger were quickly subsided.

Perhaps after last night, for Shoko Toyokawa, the distance between them had already been narrowed a lot.

Yes.

Behind Shoko Toyokawa's unfamiliarity with light novels and romance novels lies her love for literary works.

She has more or less read some of the works of Jun'ichi Watanabe.

Of course, she hated the book Paradise Lost. The plot about the male protagonist cheating on her husband at the beginning almost made her so angry that she fainted.

Even later, although she understood, she still did not choose to forgive.

Her attitude was roughly like that of the protagonist's wife in the story, helpless and unwilling to forgive, but sincerely hoping that the protagonist could get some redemption. Such complex emotions accompanied Shoko Toyokawa throughout the book.

So, by the way, she also understood some things early on.

【Marriage is doing that kind of thing】

In fact, it was just shy words.

Shoko Toyokawa's heart beat faster at what happened next.

But there wasn't much resistance.

And Iruma Hibiki just helped and waited without showing any anxiety, which made Toyokawa Shoko feel a little relieved.

Of course, there is still a hint of worry.

It was like that strange thought, that she was afraid that her boyfriend was too impatient, but also afraid that his boyfriend was not impatient enough, which kept running through Toyokawa Shoko's mind.