Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Sushi, are you listening to us?"

"Oh, sorry, I was a little distracted. Can you say it again?"

Nagasaki Suyo smiled and came out of her trance.

Perhaps at this moment, she was certain that she might be some kind of heartless creature, not a regular human being. In the deliberately elongated voice and sweet timbre, Nagasaki Suyo only felt a hint of coldness.

A kind of coldness that makes me feel like I am here, yet not here.

How long has it been since that day?

In fact, ever since the holidays began, Nagasaki Suyo's concept of time has become inexplicably confused.

She can no longer remember what day of the week it is today.

In her memory, the holiday didn't last very long, but surprisingly, the New Year had already passed and school was about to start.

And the person in front of me——

"But I really didn't expect that you would ask us out, Su Shi. Come to think of it, it seems like we haven't talked together for a long time since you got a boyfriend and formed a band."

"Eh? Is that so?"

"Yes, yes."

The girl in front of him nodded seriously, probably expressing her dissatisfaction with Nagasaki Soyo. It was the emotion of a person who was abandoned, and a small complaint about the current situation. After all, she was just a high school student, an ordinary girl, and she was somewhat envious of "real people" like Nagasaki Soyo.

I also have some subtle emotions about Nagasaki Suyo's sudden busyness, such as -

Look! We are the ones who will stay with you in the end!

You must pay attention to the relationship between us!

such.

In short, Nagasaki Suyo's friends are all very good guys.

Not a bad person.

Of course, it is not innocent.

She is just an ordinary high school beauty, one of the eldest daughters of Tsukinomori.

Or some musical instruments, with some longing and envy for Nagasaki Suyo.

but--

This relationship works in reverse.

For Nagasaki Suyo, it was probably like warm coffee.

In winter, everyone probably thinks that warm coffee in the afternoon is a pleasure.

For example--

After finishing a morning of work and practice, I walked on the crunchy snow that had melted a little at noon and was now frozen again, and came to a coffee shop with warm yellow lights.

The melodious music accompanied by the aroma of coffee brought warmth, making every nerve in your body feel relaxed. The waitress came over and asked you softly what you wanted. You didn't look at her, but just said, "A cup of hot American coffee."

-

but.

Hot Americano is not what Nagasaki Suyo likes.

It was like she didn't actually like the things that seemed to be taken for granted.

"Okay! Let's go to this store today!"

The girl next to him showed an energetic expression, and Nagasaki Motoyo also responded with a fake smile. If Iruma Hibiki was here, he would probably notice the fakeness in Nagasaki Motoyo's expression at this moment, right?

Nagasaki Suyo turned her head and looked at the long ladder at the end of the platform not far away, where she couldn't see the whole view.

That was the entrance to the tram station, roughly located after the ticket gate. After passing several pillars and a maze-like wall, and then finally coming down from there, there was the tram leading to where we were going today.

Nagasaki Suyo probably had some expectations.

That kind of expectation that is unreasonable and will never happen.

For example--

Maybe the next moment, a figure will walk down from there.

He waved at her, walked towards her under her puzzled gaze, and then said with a forced, not-so-handsome smile:

"Hey, sorry to bother you. It's a bit sudden, but could you lend me Sushi for a moment?"

"Eh?"

"Eh?! Wait!!!"

At that time, she would definitely be a little surprised and puzzled, and her companions around her would also be frightened by the sudden situation.

"Is it okay, Sushi?"

Then the person in front of you will continue to ask questions.

"You can, but——"

"Then let's go."

"Su Shi, you are not actually happy."

"Eh?"

She was probably frightened by the quiet whisper and her eyes widened for a moment.

Her hand would be held tightly, with their fingers intertwined, and then she would be taken away by the sudden visitor, jogging all the way to the bus stop at the end in the opposite direction.

For Nagasaki Suyo, the end of the tram is Shimokitazawa.

"The Sushi tram has arrived."

"Ah, sorry."

"I feel like Su Shi is always distracted today."

"There are some things that are bothering me lately that I just can't forget."

Nagasaki Suyo took a step forward and crossed the tiny distance between the platform and the station threshold. Outside the door, people came and went, and the dense crowd was like schools of sardines in the ocean.

And among these sardines, not a single one was of the same species as Nagasaki Suyo, and not a single one would come to her and say to her:

"Come on, come with me."

Nagasaki Suyo lowered her head and looked at the small bag on her left hand.

That's a delicate little bag I prepared for today's trip.

"Speaking of which, Su Shi is very beautiful today, and her private clothes look great!"

"Thanks for the compliment, you too."

"How long did it take me to put on makeup today? Let me guess 2 hours?!"

"Not that long."

Nagasaki Suyo responded with a smile.

As the train doors closed, everyone followed the rules and began to lower the volume of their conversations, with only occasional crisp laughter being heard.

For Nagasaki Suyo, this is her daily life recently.

Or rather——

Her ice cream (i scream).

"Su Shi, let's break up."

Probably that day.

After that trip together, Iruma Hibiki said this.

In that instant, Nagasaki Suyo suddenly felt a heart-wrenching pain. She couldn't figure out the source of such feelings, and she didn't understand it at first.

He just kept repeating his obsession with Christmas and his jealousy of Goto Ichiri.

Insistence on one's own possessiveness and ideas.

until--

Everything is settled.

The peaceful past often returns like the sun.

It was not until this moment that Nagasaki Suyo realized something.

【What is Su Shi doing? 】

A message from Wakaba Mutsu appeared on Nagasaki Suyo's phone.

"Speaking of which, when are you all going to go home today?"

"Eh? Anything I say is fine."

"At my house, probably before 10. If Sushishi is willing to cover for me, I can stay out all night."

"Ah ha ha……"

Nagasaki Suyo gave a somewhat embarrassed laugh.

"Well, someone just contacted me, so I might have to leave during dinner today."

"Eh?! Why is this happening?!"

My fellow travelers uttered cries of dissatisfaction.

"It's a very important thing."

And Nagasaki Suyo added with a smile.

"That can't be helped."

One of the girls poked the other girl in the arm.

"It's not a very troublesome thing, is it, Sushi?"

Then she continued.

"No."

Nagasaki Suyo answered.

She didn't know whether this answer was flattering or true.

"That's good. I always feel that Su Shi has been listless recently. Let me think about it. Is it really a relationship between lovers?"

"Stop talking!"

……

38 Ending and Starting Over

"Sorry Mom I won't be home for dinner."

"Eh?! Why so sudden? I've already prepared it."

"Sorry, sorry, it's sudden news."

Iruma Hibiki apologized to his mother once again. After all, it was the other party's fault. It was said too late, so many things had to be done in a hurry.

But not going? Refusing?

Hibiki Iruma had never thought of such a thing.

Probably from the beginning until now, the word "special" has always been present in his attitude towards other people.

It's that inexplicable feeling of being able to let go of things in your own life and care more about other people's affairs.

"Be careful on the road then. I'll save dinner for you, Hibiki."

"Okay, I understand, Mom."

"Thank you."

"Hey, kid, don't say thank you at a time like this. Be nice to other girls."