Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Mana, where am I!"

"I feel a little lonely!"

Sumita Mana said with a smile.

He was expressing his true feelings as if jokingly.

"Feel sorry."

Sanjiao Chuhua apologized decisively.

"It's just that some concerning things have happened recently."

"It's just like this..."

She repeated her explanation.

Yes.

That's all...

In fact, if it weren't for Iruma Hibiki, Sankaku Hatsuka felt that she would probably remember Toyokawa Shoko forever and continue her past daily life.

But when she saw Iruma Hibiki.

do not know why--

We share the same disease.

Maybe she had some of those feelings.

"By the way, Chuhua! I recently heard a story from a friend!"

"what story?"

"Well—let me ask first! Chuhua, how much do you remember about your elementary school classmates?"

The sudden topic left Sanjiao Chuhua a little overwhelmed.

She couldn't understand why such a topic would come up now, and it was also a very private topic, right?

“Mostly.”

"Does that mean some people have been forgotten?"

"Ah."

After thinking for a while, he nodded.

"Then it seems that my friend's idea makes sense."

"what idea?"

When the topic got to this point, Sanjiao Chuhua also became serious and wanted to know the follow-up.

Seeing that she had attracted Sankaku Hatsuka's attention, Junda Mana also smiled.

"Basically, one of my friends recently fell in love! She had a crush on a boy, and then, in order to get closer to that boy, my friend lied."

"She said she was his classmate in elementary school and had fallen in love with him since she was very young."

Sanjiao Chuhua showed a shocked expression.

Because what Junda Mana said was indeed a lie, right?

Is this kind of thing okay?

"Guess what happened? Because the boy didn't remember his elementary school days very clearly, especially first and second grade, he believed it! In the end, the two of them successfully started dating!"

"Is...that so..."

Sanjiao Chuhua replied blankly.

“It’s weird, isn’t it?”

"but--"

At this time, Junda Mana smiled.

"I wish I could be Hatsuka-chan's childhood sweetheart!"

She said this suddenly.

It's hard to tell whether it's serious or a joke.

Only the slightly shaken Triangle Chu Hua was left standing there, tightly clutching his cell phone.

Until the car slowly stopped at the entrance of the shopping mall. It seemed that the mall was holding some event today, and the surroundings were a little noisy.

"It's so lively!"

"Be careful not to be recognized, or I'll send you here."

"grateful!"

Facing her agent who was taking care of her, Junda Mana gave her a hug from behind.

Then she couldn't wait to pull Sanjiao Chuhua out of the car and walked towards the mall.

"Eh?"

"it hurts--"

Until the distracted Sankaku Hatsuka bumped into the back of Junda Mana, and she staggered slightly. The two of them almost became the fallen people on the road in a funny posture.

Wait until the triangle begins to rise.

She saw a somewhat unbelievable scene.

32 The Observer and the Gazee

Shoko Toyokawa was once an out-and-out young lady, with a privileged life and a wealthy family. She was like a single-celled organism living on the edge of a warm submarine crater. She could never understand why creatures in the outside world had to do their best to survive. She had terrible flaws and confusions in terms of common sense.

She was just like this, pure, naive, lovely, and spent the first fifteen years of her life with her own self-esteem, talent and innate leadership that allowed her to stand at the center of the crowd.

until--

Her life took a turn.

Just come after 10pm to get half price food.

If I don't give that bastard dad a drink of that wine that will kill him, it's always a dozen yen cheaper during shopping mall sales.

With an adult's driver's license, she could probably convince some kind-hearted shop assistants of her purpose in buying alcohol.

Of course, her outfit doesn't look bad, which is a plus.

In short, after that disaster that was like the end of the world for Toyokawa Shoko, the eldest lady evolved slightly. In short, she left the starting point of her life and grew a little.

It's just that some of the things that were once there still remain, just like a cell will never re-evolve its basic structure.

This was probably the scene that Sanjiao Chuhua saw.

Shoko Toyokawa, who was squeezed outside by the crowd, wanted to buy some Asahi Beer which was on sale.

Among them, a middle-aged man wearing a beret was the most aggressive in buying. On his T-shirt, you can see a sad red and white shrine maiden portrait. One can't help but think that when facing an earthquake, such a guy probably cares more about the bar in his hand than his own works.

It was in such an environment that Shoko Toyokawa felt out of place. When the rush to buy was over, she didn't even have the courage to join the crowd. The past etiquette became a constraint.

Of course, there are some other concerns -

For example, in such a crowded crowd, she didn't want to have any accidental physical contact with other people.

A lot has changed, but not much has changed.

In short, for Shoko Toyokawa, she has changed but not completely. The more she changes, the less she becomes.

That's about it.

Anyway that's it.

only--

If the sadness of not getting a beer is caused by Japanese yen, then the extra ten or so yen you have to spend will not actually change your life much.

It can't get any worse.

It just won't be better.

But if you turn your head at that moment——

"Senior, here, here!"

"It's really interesting—"

Ichichi Hongxia, who was carrying a lot of bags, sighed helplessly.

She felt like a silly mother who came to play with her child. Of course, she was not the one carrying the bag at the beginning. It was Hibiki Iruma who took on the role of the cart or tractor.

But then—

Iruma Hibiki is really too busy.

While taking care of Goto Ichiri who might lose consciousness and fall behind at any moment, he also has to deal with the overly enthusiastic Kita.

Yamada Ryo escaped at the right time, and sent a message a few minutes ago saying that they would meet at the coffee shop on the first floor later.

Just run away from the battlefield.

So finally—

The heavy burden of carrying things could only be thrown on Ichichi Hongxia's not-so-broad shoulders.

But a mother is strong, so in short, Ijichi Nijika helped Iruma Hibiki take on some of the responsibilities.

"Ijichi-senpai! This suits you perfectly!"

Of course, although it sounds pitiful.

The exhaustion isn't fake either.

The pain in her feet was almost reaching its limit.

But I'm still very happy.

Hanging out with everyone like this.

Sweat was mixed with a smile on Ijichi Hikaru's face, especially when she saw the profile of Iruma Hibiki with the same expression.

She would think too.

If only days like this could continue.

“That one looks great!”

"Right! Chihaya-senpai!"

"I'm not talking about this one! The one next to it!"

"Eh?"

Kita looked to the other side, at the pink bathrobe decorated with lotus flowers, which probably only an old lady would like, and hesitated for a moment.

"So cute, this color combination and pattern."

Chihaya Aine on the other end of the line showed a look of genuine and believable fondness.

Yes, Chihaya Aine was also present.

Probably after learning about today's gathering, she proposed to become Cyber Aine and join the battlefield in this way.

When Iruma Hibiki asked:

"How will the things you buy be delivered to you?"

"I can just get it myself."

He received this answer from Chihaya Aine.

"Are you going back home soon?"

"what……"

"Well, we'll send it to you when the time comes. I hope the shipping fee isn't too expensive."

Iruma Hibiki smiled gently at Chihaya Aine.