Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Tomorrow is Tuesday, which is also the day that Shoko Toyokawa plans to take time off for rehearsal.

Of course, before that, Iruma Hibiki will meet the remaining few people once today.

"Come on! Hibiki!"

Ijichi Nijika cheered for Iruma Hibiki. Even though Iruma Hibiki had heard such words many times, Ijichi Nijika said that for Iruma Hibiki, no matter how many times he heard it, he would never get tired of it.

"Well, I will."

"By the way—"

Suddenly, Ijichi Nikka looked lost in thought, and this made Iruma Hibiki feel a little uneasy.

"Speaking of which?"

So he took the initiative to ask.

"Well, it's nothing."

But suddenly Ijichi Hongka changed the subject.

In fact, what she wanted to ask just now was probably what Kita and the others had discovered before -

There is no mention of Hibiki Iruma's current girlfriend in the travel photos of Hibiki Iruma.

But when she wanted to ask with concern, Ijichi Hongxia suddenly felt that if she asked such a question, would it be a little too much?

With a hint of such worry, she gave up.

"I was just thinking about the celebration after the Hibiki band's performance."

"Will there be a celebration after the band ends?"

"Yes, there will be!"

Ijichi Nikka smiled at Iruma Hibiki.

"We've made a plan to go to Ikebukuro for a big meal after watching Hibiki's concert that day!"

"Yeah, that's great. It just so happens that Pochi seems to be staying at home a lot lately."

Iruma Hibiki thought for a moment and then looked thoughtful.

“That’s true—”

Following Iruma Hibiki's words, Ijichi Nijika also thought of Goto Ichiri's horrific game duration.

Although he has recently found a way to restrain Goto Ichiri, which is to tell Goto Ichiri that if he gets addicted to games, he will become a otaku and his life will be ruined.

But this method actually has a very tragic price. Goto Ichiri will be trapped in his own fantasy and depressed for a long time.

"But, will it go smoothly..."

In fact, perhaps Iruma Hibiki didn't want to show his worries at this moment.

But perhaps it was the inertia of getting along with Ijichi Hongxia that made him subconsciously pour out his inner thoughts.

"Didn't Xiang say you were almost ready? Is there anything else you're worried about?"

In fact, Ijichi Hongxia also had some vague expectations of his own about this issue.

When she asked, she already had some answers deep in her heart, but these answers made her feel a little unbelievable.

As for Hibiki Iruma—

"It's nothing special, maybe I'm just worrying too much."

“It’s really rare.”

When they arrived at the place to change into indoor shoes, Iruma Hibiki and Ijichi Kouka separated for a while and changed into indoor shoes, then met again in the corridor. Iruma Hibiki was faster.

"Where were we... Oh, right! It's really rare for Hibiki to be this worried about a performance."

"Is it rare?"

"Hmm! Hibiki before, it seems like he never hesitated when it came to performances. He always gave off a very reliable vibe! Of course, during practice, it was completely the opposite."

Ijichi Kouka acted as if she was boasting in front of Iruma Hibiki.

It was as if she was telling about something in the past that was particularly deeply remembered in her mind.

"Hibiki is always anxious during practice and always worried about something, so she tends to push herself too hard. Now, she feels more like she's practicing than like she does on stage."

……

is it?

Iruma Hibiki thought this deep in his heart.

He actually had no particular sense of reality about such things.

because……

What he was worried about at the moment was a little more complicated than things like practice.

"Maybe it's because this performance is so important."

Iruma Hibiki spoke softly, as if he was talking to himself, rather than responding to Ichichi Kouka.

"A new band's first few performances are really important. The one we played when we first started fooling around almost made my sister really angry."

"But if it's loud, it can definitely be done. Wasn't the previous performance a huge success?"

The two walked to the classroom door together.

The talk about the performance is over.

Hibiki Iruma did not tell Kouka Ijichi about the matter of Soyo Nagasaki and Shoko Toyokawa.

The main problem was that I didn't know where to start, and...

Facing Ijichi Nikka, Iruma Hibiki didn't know why he didn't want to talk about this topic.

【Nagasaki Motoyo confessed to me, and I rejected her.】

In this case, Iruma Hibiki didn't know how to tell Ijichi Nikka.

This also includes Shoko Toyokawa.

"I'll do my best."

Finally, Iruma Hibiki ended the conversation between the two with these words.

They were already a little late when they arrived at the classroom.

So we started morning reading without saying anything.

Hibiki Iruma was a little more serious in class. Fortunately, he didn't miss that many classes, so he could still catch up. However, near the end of the class, Hibiki Iruma looked at his phone worriedly.

After confirming that there was still no news from Nagasaki Suyo, he opened Wakaba Mu's chat box.

After thinking for a while, he sent a message to Ruoye Mu:

[Mu, how is Sushi today? ]

Around the end of get out of class, Iruma Hibiki also received a reply from Wakaba Mutsu.

【Wait, I'll go check out Sushi. 】

【Well, thank you for your help. 】

【It doesn't matter. 】

"Su Shi..."

Until the last few minutes of get out of class, Iruma Hibiki clenched his pen, lost in thought.

His quiet mumbling was also heard by Ijichi Hongxia in the front seat.

76 Pochi-chan's Topic

Ultimately, Hibiki Iruma's status in the class had changed somewhat because of that day's performance. No, it might even be said that it had changed drastically.

When the get out of class was over, the girl who sat next to Hibiki Iruma came over with her "small group" to talk to her, and Hibiki Iruma also greeted her in a friendly manner.

"Come to think of it, we thought Iruma-san and Ijichi-san were a band that day!"

"The coordination is so perfect! It doesn't feel like a temporary arrangement at all."

"Ha, haha... is that so?"

Ijichi Hinikaka smiled awkwardly and responded, then looked at Iruma Hibiki's profile with some concern.

Perhaps at this moment, Ijichi Hongxia was also a little unsure how to respond to the enthusiastic classmate in front of her.

Tell the truth?

but……

It would be terrible if telling the truth made the atmosphere awkward. After all, the girl who came to talk to me was probably just acting unintentionally or out of curiosity.

So just get away with it?

It’s probably not a good idea. After all, the other party came with good intentions anyway.

While thinking this, Ijichi Hongxia and Natsuya Rin looked at the profile of Iruma Hibiki coldly until Iruma Hibiki spoke first.

"We originally planned to form a band together, but then something happened and we were forced to separate. However, we are still working towards the same goal."

Iruma Hibiki replied.

No lies were told, and no serious topics were taken.

"Oh! Come on! Iruma-san and Ijichi-san! We'll be your band's fans! We'll definitely be at your next performance!"

"call--"

After dealing with the girl who came to talk to him, Iruma Hibiki breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at Ijichi Kouka and said with some distress:

"It's a bit hard to explain this."

"makes sense."

And Ijichi Hongxia also cooperated by sighing obviously, but soon a sunny smile appeared on her face again.

"By the way, Hibiki, we have something we want to discuss with you regarding Pochi-chan."

"Where's Pochi-chan?"

"Yeah, it's what Kita and I thought about, the arrangements for next year."

"next year?"

Hibiki Iruma asked curiously.

Although it is indeed approaching the end of the year, there are still several months left until next year, and -

It doesn't mean the band will have a year-end performance?

It shouldn't be possible...

Iruma Hibiki remembered that Goto Ichisato's family seemed to have the habit of visiting shrines and having dinner parties every year at the end of the year, so he probably wouldn't be able to find the time.

"Well, Kita and I have been discussing helping Pochi-chan out!"

"Help Pochi-chan?"

"Hmm! Isn't Pochi-chan afraid of interacting with people and talking? She's also afraid of going out, so Kita and I were thinking, can we find a chance for Pochi-chan to be brave? It's not okay to always be like this."

Ijichi Hongxia showed a look of concern.

And Iruma Hibiki also fell into thought.

In fact, his attitude towards such things might be a little...

Be neutral.

He thought that if Pochi-chan was like this, it might not be bad.

Do what you like, live the life you like, don't force yourself too much, maybe this is good, anyway -

The current traffic of Boqi-chan's account is enough to support herself and live a free life, so there is actually no need to force herself to do things she is not good at.

"Although Kita suggested this at the time, I think I should discuss this matter with you, Hibiki, who knows Pochi-chan very well."

"Eh?"

Iruma Hibiki showed a surprised expression.