Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Hibiki Iruma turned around in surprise and met his mother's worried gaze.

"Well, I see."

Then he nodded and rushed out the door.

But he didn't hear his mother's sigh behind him.

"Mrs. Iruma, please take a seat."

On a certain autumn day, probably still far from winter, when it was neither too cold nor too hot and people were most likely to catch a cold, Hibiki's mother sat in a blank room with only a table, waiting for a man in a white coat to come.

She was a very small-looking woman, whose height was even comparable to that of an elementary school student, with fluffy long hair that reached her waist.

Although he looks like an elementary school student, he is actually a real adult.

She is a graduate student majoring in neuroscience at Victoria University. She is currently working at this clinic while in Japan, conducting research with her professor.

He also briefly served as a psychologist here.

"Thank you."

"I have reviewed your father's case, and I believe his current treatment plan is inappropriate."

"Really? Then what does the doctor think is the best approach? We're a little unsure what to do..."

"I understand how you feel, Mrs. Iruma—"

The doctor was silent for a moment in front of Hibiki Iruma's mother.

"To be honest, at first, I wasn't sure if my judgment was correct, but my senior who passed away a few months ago actually put forward some interesting views on this matter - catching shrimp farmers."

"As for the question of the human brain and memory, although it seems incredible, Mrs. Iruma, have you ever tried to face your child as an adult?"

-

"This meeting place is really rare."

Iruma Hibiki spoke to the person on the other end of the phone.

Soon he received the same response as always:

"Want to change places?"

"No, just over there."

Iruma Hibiki smiled.

"It's just that I might be a little late. I just arrived at the tram station."

"It's okay, I'll wait."

"it is good."

The person on the other end of the phone was Wakaba Mutsu.

For some reason, today Wakaba Mu suddenly invited Iruma Hibiki, as if something important happened.

What happened?

Iruma Hibiki actually had some wild thoughts in his mind.

Since that day, Ruo Yemu rarely took the initiative to practice, let alone take the initiative to ask other people to meet offline.

So subtly, Iruma Hibiki felt a little worried on the way.

He wanted to ask Wakaba Mu directly:

"What's wrong? Did something happen to Xiangzi?"

Because in Iruma Hibiki's opinion, the reason why Wakaba Mutsugu met him was most likely because of Toyokawa Shoko.

However, since Ruo Yemu didn't say it at the beginning, she probably hoped to say it after they met.

Iruma Hibiki sighed helplessly.

Let go of the worries in your heart.

He tightened his headphones a little.

For some reason, Ruoye Mu didn't hang up the phone.

After a moment of silence, Iruma Hibiki finally realized that Wakaba Mutsu probably wanted to say something to him at this moment.

"Mu, how are you doing lately?"

He started with a simple greeting.

But this kind of greeting is different from before.

If you really want to say it.

The communication method of greeting is actually more like a tacit understanding when everyone is reunited after a long separation and is still getting along well with each other. It is an ice-breaking opening and does not carry too much emotion.

But for Iruma Hibiki's question at this moment, this sentence carries more meaning.

"not too good."

Wakaba Mu responded softly.

"..."

"what happened?"

【You're asking even though you already know the answer.】

Iruma Hibiki sighed inwardly.

Then he blamed himself for bringing up this topic.

"nothing."

"..."

Naturally, the topic ended with Iruma Hibiki's sigh, and the phone was hung up. Perhaps the remaining meaning was, let's talk about it after we meet?

Iruma Hibiki put away his headphones and opened his address book, where he finally found Toyokawa Shoko's profile picture which had been silent for a long time.

"Xiangzi, what we thought was the end back then was far from the end..."

“Relationships are complicated things…”

He talked to himself, his tone filled with deep sadness and sighs.

"But I will make everything truly end."

Then he spoke softly.

And this is the decision made by Iruma Hibiki.

He smiled.

Just then, the tram passed the underground part and came to the surface.

The warm sunshine gradually blows on my face.

Iruma Hibiki stood in the shadows, and at that moment, he seemed to see the sunset on the day when his head was hit by Toyokawa Shoko's pounce.

We cannot stand still.

But I don’t know where to go.

This is probably what Hibiki Iruma feels at this moment.

So he could only roughly push the others forward for the time being.

And I am still stuck there, confused.

This is probably what Hibiki Iruma has decided now.

【How long will the ringing last? 】

【About 20 minutes.】

【Um. 】

"Xiao Mu, what did Xiang say?"

Nagasaki Suyo came to Wakaba Mutsu's ear and asked softly.

"There are still 20 minutes left."

Wakaba Mu responded softly.

"It's really rare. Before, no matter how I asked you, Xiao Mu, you refused to do it. But recently, Xiao Mu, you have changed a lot."

Nagasaki Suyo looked at Wakaba Mutsu, who was well-behaved and expressionless at the moment, with a hint of joy on her face.

“It’s not me anymore.”

"It's Sushi."

Wakaba Mu responded softly.

"is it?"

"Ah."

Faced with the counter-question, she nodded again.

"So Mu, why did you suddenly call me here using Xiang as a condition?"

Nagasaki Suyo asked.

The reason she came here was probably because of the message she received from Wakaba Mu in the morning.

"..."

Ruoye Mu was silent for a long time, until the time of meeting, when there was not much time left of the 20 minutes.

"I want the original ring back."

Wakaba Mucai gave his answer.

She, as a doll.

Maybe it's a once in a lifetime experience.

Rebellious.

39 Those who have parted will meet again

"Things like that..."

Nagasaki Suyo hesitated slightly, and after a pause, she said:

"Has Xiaomu seen Xiang recently?"

"No."

Wakaba Mu shook his head.

"And what about Xiangzi?"

If Ye Mu once again brought up the matter in the group chat, he would shake his head.

"Hasn't anyone in the band seen it?"

"Ah."

This time Wakaba Mu nodded.

Recently, Wakaba Mu's interactions with others have probably reached a dangerous level. Of course, the so-called danger does not mean life-threatening, but for a normal female high school student, it is theoretically a healthy interpersonal relationship.

"Xiao Mu..."

Nagasaki Suyo showed some concern towards Wakaba Mutsu in front of her.

"Xiao Mu, it's better to prioritize yourself over others."

When Wakaba Mu raised her head, she was surprised to see Nagasaki Suyo with a gentle smile on her face.

【Why. 】

This was probably Wakaba Mu's first reaction.

After all, the expression on Nagasaki Motoyo's face was indeed a bit strange.