Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

I dare not ask, nor do I dare to fight for it.

Even for a thing, I didn't care from the beginning.

However, she was actually a little concerned about what kind of "promise" Hibiki Iruma mentioned.

Is it related to love?

Just like what they said that day, from now on no one will leave each other.

if it is like this……

Goto Ichiri imagined what Toyokawa Shoko looked like.

Her first reaction wasn't jealousy or anything.

But -

【Won’t she care?】

For her, if Hibiki Iruma wanted Shoko Toyokawa's name to still exist in the future, perhaps she wouldn't care too much.

Just like before, when Hibiki Iruma and Soyo Nagasaki were dating.

She just needs to stay where she is quietly, and Iruma Hibiki will come. That's enough.

"But I feel like it's a bit difficult to refuse Hong Xia's invitation."

Iruma Hibiki sighed.

"But after I get back, I plan to continue my activities in Fanxing for a while."

"Eh?"

As Hibiki Iruma continued speaking, Ichiri Goto fell into confusion again.

Because Hibiki Iruma had said before that he was going to give up music.

Why, the sudden change?

Is it because you want to go back?

Speaking of which——

In fact, they went back a little early, even a little awkwardly, just missing the New Year in Tokyo, and just missing the New Year in Iruma Hibiki's hometown.

Goto Ichiri looked at Iruma Hibiki who had made the decision without asking any questions.

Just follow behind him and silently support his decision.

If only he could cheer up.

For Goto Ichiri, this is her only wish.

11 Appointment

The second day after Iruma Hibiki returned to Tokyo, I met Sankaku Hatsuka again.

After a day of rest, his mental state was somewhat better, but he was still not ready to face other people.

Of course, there is no mention of crying.②) It is a matter of personal facing or not.

In fact, it was just that he felt a little guilty in his heart.

In fact, very few people know about my return. So far, only everyone around Ijichi Hongka knows about it. Iruma Hibiki has not informed the rest of the people yet.

However, yesterday, Shiina Riki seemed to think that he was still in Shanghai, so she sent him a long message of greetings, which was a long-awaited chat between the two of them.

she says--

The lights are much better now.

[But the band's disbandment was still a big blow to her.]

[She... I don't know how to comfort her.]

"But you must have been having a hard time recently, with so many things happening, and you suddenly left Tokyo."

JunyangliluV〒〈III leek〨污紦Lingshi Lingwu【Let's meet when you come back. 】

Iruma Hibiki did not refuse, but he did not tell Shiina Riki that he had returned.

He didn't know how to face Gao Songdeng.

After all—

The band disbanded.

He also bears a lot of responsibility.

Going to see Takamatsu Deng now is like a perpetrator going to see the victim.

Iruma Hibiki sighed deeply.

Today’s trip to see Sanjiao Chuhua is actually a kind of escape.

Not having to see the people he used to know, not having to see those important people, can make Iruma Hibiki feel a little more relaxed.

Sanjiao Chuhua was like a stranger he was not very familiar with at the moment, so he was less wary when getting along with him.

After simply tidying himself up and changing into relatively casual yet impolite clothes, Iruma Hibiki went out and headed for the coffee shop where he had agreed to meet Sankaku Hatsuka.

As usual, Iruma Hibiki arrived 15 minutes earlier than the agreed time. Mikado Hatsuka had not arrived yet, so he found a seat facing the street and started ordering.

After a while, Iruma Hibiki saw Sanjiao Hatsuka walking towards her from the door. Through the glass, she saw Iruma Hibiki from outside the door.

"Welcome back, Iruma."

As soon as Sankaku Hatsuka came up, he greeted everyone and then sat down next to Iruma Hibiki with confidence.

"Thank you. Sumimi's new song seems to be very popular recently. Congratulations."

“It wasn’t a big fire.”

“It’s just that the brokers run it better.”

Sanjiao Chuhua was slightly polite, and then a mature smile appeared on his face.

She was quite comfortable with such greetings. After all, unlike Iruma Hibiki, the group Sankaku Hatsuka had debuted for a long time.

Naturally, she was already adept at dealing with such situations.

"My agent and I have agreed that tomorrow we'll briefly mention your work, Iruma, during our performance. We'll say it's to celebrate our friend's debut."

“I’m hardly a new author.”

Iruma Hibiki smiled.

"But isn't your goal, Iruma, the Akutagawa Prize? So, a debut would be better, right?"

Sanjiao Chuhua responded with a smile.

Even in this regard, she did some homework.

Her willingness to help was not a spur-of-the-moment offer, but a serious one.

I didn't do it casually, but really understood it before finding the right way.

"Thank you."

Iruma Hibiki expressed his gratitude sincerely, but then felt a little overwhelmed.

After all, he and Sanjiao Chuhua were not that familiar with each other.

The two people's acquaintance was completely accidental, an accident among accidents.

Plus--

In fact, given the relationship between Toyokawa Shoko and Sankaku Hatsuka, Iruma Hibiki felt that it was not surprising that Sankaku Hatsuka would hate him.

Because no matter how you look at it, Sankaku Hatsuka seems to be someone who has a very good relationship with Toyokawa Shoko.

And what happened back then.

No matter what, Iruma Hibiki felt that he had hurt Toyokawa Shoko.

Naturally, it's no surprise that Sanjiao Chuhua, who has such a good one-sided relationship with Toyokawa Shoko, would be angry.

It is strange and totally incomprehensible that we can sit together calmly and drink tea, and even talk about some business cooperation like today.

"Iruma, you should already know why I asked you out..."

"Is it about Xiangzi?"

After the greetings, the topic immediately got on track.

"Ah."

Sanjiao Chuhua nodded.

"I'm worried about Xiangzi lately."

She spoke softly.

"She's lost contact with everyone, as if she's disappeared. She's also cut off contact with her previous friends. It seems she didn't continue to study at Tsuki no Mori as planned, right?"

"Well, as for Xiangzi, we should go to Yuqiu next."

Iruma Hibiki did not hide this matter.

Because this part is irrelevant.

"Hyome..."

"Because the scholarship at Yuqiu is higher and the tuition is relatively cheaper, it will be easier for Xiangzi."

In fact, when the topic came to this point, Sanjiao Chuhua also felt a little surprised.

After all, she felt that Iruma would keep the topic of Toyokawa Shoko completely confidential.

But she didn't expect that Iruma Hibiki would tell her all this.

Yes, although Hibiki Iruma did not say everything and did not say it very clearly, the really important content has actually been said.

"Hibiki, what do you think we should do?"

"Even if we break up, you can't let go of Xiangzi, right?"

Sanjiao Chuhua asked.

For her, Iruma Hibiki is one of the few channels through which she can understand Toyokawa Shoko.

So actually, she is the one who doesn't want the relationship between Iruma Hibiki and Toyokawa Shoko to break down at all.

"Xiangzi, she..."

Iruma Hibiki was silent for a moment.

As if thinking about something, he finally said at the end:

"You probably don't want to see me for a long time."

"So even though my worry is definitely not false, it's better for us not to see each other for the time being."

Iruma Hibiki said this.

"..."

Then he just lowered his head.

"Is that what you think?"

Sanjiao Chuhua asked with a frown.

"what happened?"

Hibiki Iruma realized the turn of events in the conversation and took the initiative to ask.

"While it's possible, my words won't be of much use."

Sanjiao Chuhua stirred the coffee in his hand with a spoon, with a sad look on his face.

"But if Xiangzi were to separate."

"If you really leave."

"It's going to be hard to get close to her again."