Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Probably at this moment, Chihaya Aine seemed to have disappeared into the void, feeling inexplicably lonely and fearful.

"Hey, everyone! I just saw an interesting shop. How about we go check it out later?!"

Therefore, in order to dispel the dark fog, she took the initiative to speak up and once again became everyone's "captain".

35 One Person's Crychic

Secondary disease.

The general explanation is that it is a phenomenon of "over-self-cognition" that occurs more frequently during adolescence and has not been recognized by formal medical standards.

It often occurs in middle school and then gradually heals over time. Of course, in some cases, it can become a lifelong disease.

Terminal illness.

It seems that this is a disease that is more terrifying than any other disease, but its actual impact is not that profound.

In junior high school, although Hibiki Iruma and Ichiri Goto were very close, no one ever considered them to be the same type of people. This was probably because more people thought that Hibiki Iruma was a middle school student and Ichiri Goto was an introvert.

This is also natural.

After all, whether it is daily interactions or the oath at the graduation ceremony, it is all very second-year syndrome.

So, for Hibiki Iruma, the high school life that he thought had healed and changed everything—

What exactly is it like?

"ring?"

Goto Ichiri's voice sounded in his ears. Iruma Hibiki raised his head and saw her worried gaze.

After giving the other person a reassuring smile, Iruma Hibiki suddenly said:

"I don't know why I suddenly remembered something from junior high school."

He gave a mysterious smile.

The mall was a bit noisy, and Iruma Hibiki chose to come out with Goto Ichiri to relax.

"Things from junior high school..."

"Ah."

Iruma Hibiki nodded.

"At that time, I was considered a Chuunibyou by everyone."

"I don't know of such a thing."

Goto Ichiri lowered his head and muttered to himself.

She actually knew nothing about what was going on in her junior high school class.

Maybe it’s only in the first few days that the love letters received from boys may be quite impressive.

But those love letters were eventually forgotten.

"At that time, you were considered an introvert who was difficult to get along with and needed to be taken care of, and I was considered a middle school kid."

Iruma Hibiki smiled.

"After all, at that time, I was always indifferent to others, acting like I was doing what I wanted and was melancholic on my own."

"So it's inevitable that people would think that way."

"And you see."

Iruma Hibiki smiled slightly, as if he recalled something.

"Back then, three years ago, wasn't the concept of chuunibyou popular for a while? Then it gradually faded away."

"Ah, that's right."

Goto Ichiri nodded.

Then he took a sip of the orange juice in his hand.

Recalling the past is also a happy thing for her, because her experiences in junior high school were actually not a nightmare at all.

rather say--

Goto Ichiri was very satisfied with his life in junior high school.

"Then I started to wonder if I haven't really grown or changed at all since then."

"So many years have passed."

Iruma Hibiki sighed.

Perhaps because of the fatigue from shopping, he felt deeply tired at this moment for some reason.

As a result, I started to become a little sentimental.

In the open-air garden in the center of the mall, the sunshine is as sweet as honey, dyeing everything golden and sparkling with warm light.

"..."

Goto Ichiri thought about it.

Then he nodded quickly.

"Well, Hibiki hasn't changed at all."

"Really?"

Iruma Hibiki asked back.

"Eh?"

Goto Ichiri, who was worried that he might say something wrong, looked panicked.

"Then what about the chess pieces? Let's have a good meal together..."

"I thought I had actually changed and improved somewhat."

Iruma sighed.

Recalling recent events, he felt a certain amount of emotion, but when he realized that his so-called growth was actually false, he couldn't help but feel a little helpless.

“Just feel that you have made a change?”

Iruma Hibiki looked at his hands and muttered to himself.

What exactly is growth?

Is it something that comes naturally with age?

Or does one need to go through all kinds of things to accumulate experience? To be honest, Iruma Hibiki is a little confused.

"I'm sorry to bring up this topic with you."

"It's strange."

Hibiki Iruma was the first to end the topic.

"No, Xiang, if you want, you can talk to me about this anytime..."

Goto Ichiri replied, and after finishing his reply, he did not forget to add:

"I'm happy that Hibiki would tell me this."

"That's it..."

"So……"

Iruma Hibiki actually has something else to ask.

But he stopped talking midway.

It’s not that I felt it was inappropriate, but I had already found the answer before I even said it.

What he wanted to say was:

What did you think of me in junior high school?

There is no doubt that he would get a positive answer from Goto Ichiri. After all, the girl in front of him fell in love with him at that time.

In the end, the two of them got together.

Iruma Hibiki looked into the distance and could vaguely see Kita's figure.

They were having a great time shopping, and it was almost time for him and Goto Ichiri to go back. If they left for too long, it would spoil everyone's fun.

At this moment, Goto Ichiri suddenly said:

"How come the sound of the idiot is coming?"

Such an inquiry was full of courage for her.

The moment he asked the question, Goto Ichiri relaxed as if a balloon filled with pressure suddenly had a small hole poked in it.

"what……"

Iruma Hibiki wanted to say it was okay.

But at this moment, the words stopped at his lips.

Then he sighed helplessly and shook his head.

"Can you keep this a secret for me, Ichiri? Don't tell anyone, okay?"

He emphasized carefully.

"Yes, I will."

Goto Ichiri had some premonition and felt a little scared.

"My words—"

Iruma Hibiki paused.

Then he looked into Goto Ichiri's beautiful eyes and smiled calmly.

"I've realized that Crychic can no longer continue, and I've also realized that even if we stay together, we won't be able to move forward."

"so--"

"I've made my decision."

In a dormitory in the UK.

"What's up Aitone?"

"Ah. Nothing."

Chihaya Aine responded to Kita.

Before, it seemed that in order to prevent the surroundings from being too noisy, so that no one could hear Chihaya Aion's voice, or Chihaya Aion couldn't hear the voice here, everyone actually ended the group chat.

and so--

She became the third person who could hear the secret due to Iruma Hibiki's negligence.

"I want to, alone, continue Crychic."

"Eh?"

Goto Ichiri stood there in a daze.

I don’t know how to reply.

I don't even know what to say.

"So when I answered Kita just now, I was a little cunning."

"It's not really a lie."

"But this is probably...a decision that Kita and the others don't want to hear."

"..."

36 The Faith of Those Who Have Relieved and Cannot Let Go

"harmony"