Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

He was not familiar with Yamada Ryo, but no matter who it was, if they looked into Yamada Ryo's eyes, they would think that she was a cold beauty. Of course, in fact, Yamada Ryo was more lively than she looked on the surface.

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble yesterday. I'll treat you next time."

"Iruma-san, it's better not to trust Ryo. Every time she says that, she ends up not being able to pay the bill."

On the side, Ijichi Hongka reminded Iruma Hibiki.

Such a reminder may seem a bit undermining, but it does seem to be the daily routine of Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nikka, who have a very good relationship.

Fortunately, Iruma Hibiki looked at Yamada Ryoya, looked at Ijichi Hongxia, and finally smiled helplessly.

"What happened yesterday is fine. If Yamada-senpai can find a path that suits his heart, then everything will be fine."

Iruma Hibiki spoke softly.

Maybe it also carries a hint of blessing.

"Well, I will."

Yamada Ryo was not polite at all and nodded affirmatively.

"But Ryo, what do you decide to do with your current band?"

Ijichi Hongxia asked the first question.

Obviously, Yamada Ryo's affirmative answer at this moment was a little bit...

"They're going to keep going, and I'm not going back."

"Are you serious, Ryo?"

Ijichi Hongxia asked.

"Yeah, seriously."

"But, what happens after that?"

Ichichi Hongxia stood up.

As for Hibiki Iruma, who was watching from the side, there was no possibility of interrupting at all. He was just a spectator. Ijichi Hongka felt that something was amiss.

She seemed a little anxious—

I was anxious because of Yamada Ryo's calmness at this moment.

"I'll form a new band, and as for the bassist, I can go anywhere."

Yamada Ryo answered without hesitation.

"A new band..."

"Ah."

Then, as Ijichi Hongxia continued to talk, he confirmed it again.

"If the band's aspirations are different, there's no way it's going to continue, Hongxia."

Finally, Yamada Ryo took the initiative and spoke to Ijichi Hongka.

The bell for class interrupted the conversation between the three people.

The moment the bell rang, Yamada Ryo said "See you later" and left quickly.

Behind Ijichi Nikka, Iruma Hibiki noticed that Ijichi Nikka seemed to be in a daze for a short while, and before switching back to her normal state, she went through a short period of confusion and adjustment.

67 Invitation and the Shadow

On Tuesday morning, the classes for the next semester were packed, and the whole classroom was filled with a strange atmosphere, just like an examination room on a rainy day, wet and muddy, and full of depression. This atmosphere was broken only in the last math class when everyone drowsily welcomed the bell.

Sitting in the seat in front of Iruma Hibiki, Ijichi Kouka sighed softly.

Of course, the sigh at this moment is more of an emotion after sudden relaxation, not a meaning of disappointment, nor is it that sad.

She put away her notes and looked at Hibiki Iruma who was sitting at the table behind her.

In fact, Ijichi Hongxia didn't look back as many times today as before.

As for the reason——

At least at this moment, she would not think about this problem, and neither would Iruma Hibiki, who was studying hard.

Yes, Iruma Hibiki, like Ijichi Kouka, took all the morning classes seriously. He studied everything from the Chinese Manyoshu to trigonometric functions and English grammar, without missing a single word.

Yes, for Hibiki Iruma, the dream of studying at the University of Tokyo is not just talk.

The Akutagawa Prize——

I wonder if anyone has ever heard that the Department of Literature at the University of Tokyo is actually a ticket to the Akutagawa Prize.

Of course, this does not mean that all Akutagawa Prize winners come from the University of Tokyo, and it is impossible for the University of Tokyo to monopolize all the Akutagawa Prizes. But if literature is an isolated island and those who pursue literature are adventurers, then the Department of Literature of the University of Tokyo is the pier closest to this isolated island of literature.

Starting from here, although there will be no shortage of storms, the competition from talent, ability to hard work will never stop.

But after all, it will be slightly closer from here.

Therefore, Hibiki Iruma did not intend to take his studies lightly.

Although to some extent, a good story usually has absolutely opposite characters, such as the brainless and the unhappy, such as the classic combination of the good and the bad student.

But for Iruma Hibiki, he had no intention of relying entirely on Ijichi Kouka for his studies.

"Would you like to have lunch with me today, Iruma-san?"

"Where's Yamada-senpai?"

Unexpectedly, while Iruma Hibiki was organizing her notes, Ijichi Kouka turned her head.

Actually, Ijichi Nikka is very cute.

Of course, there is no other meaning in saying this here, it just wants you to know that Ijichi Hongka is very cute.

However, at this moment, Ijichi Hongxia is really cute——

She held her notebook.

Ijichi Hongxia's notebook is a standard model produced on an industrial assembly line, with a standard 16k size, 297mm*210mm grid, and a light yellow style. In the upper middle of the cover there is a round handwriting that looks like the handwriting of an unscrupulous reporter - 1C Ijichi Hongxia.

She hugged the notebook, placed it in the center of her chest, and turned her head.

The slightly warmer weather made the stuffy classroom feel a bit like a steamer.

This season is the most uncomfortable.

Those who are afraid of heat are suffering from hell.

Just like at this moment, there was a bead of sweat on Ijichi Hongxia's forehead.

Worried about the smell, she bought deperspirant a little late this year, probably because she didn't expect the weather to warm up so quickly.

"Liang said she wants to be alone for a while, so we won't have dinner together."

"Feel sorry."

Iruma Hibiki apologized quickly.

In his opinion, this was probably not a happy thing in any way.

"Eh? Why?"

But it was obvious that such an apology puzzled Ijichi Hongxia. She tilted her head cutely, looking thoughtful.

No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't figure out what Hibiki Iruma had done to offend her.

Is this another prank?

Ichichi Hongxia still remembers the ghost story when they first met.

Perhaps it was because Hibiki Iruma was indeed somewhat special, with a personality that was very rare among male high school students in Japan.

It may also be because I was really scared at that time, so the memory is still fresh in my mind.

Anyway, at this moment, Ijichi Nikka showed a look of alertness until Iruma Hibiki's explanation came:

"Because didn't I just mention a topic that might upset you, Ijichi-kun?"

"No."

The voice of Hibiki Ijichi responded to Hibiki Iruma with a slightly rising tone.

She hugged her arms slightly again. Although the spring school uniform was not so thin that the inner color would show through when it touched water, at this moment, as she moved, the inner outline was slightly revealed.

Of course, Iruma Hibiki couldn't see it, because there, under the front windshield, was Ijichi Kouka's notebook.

"Liang, this is normal. She actually prefers to be alone rather than eat with others. The reason we used to eat together was actually because Liang had no money."

"Ok?"

Iruma Hibiki made a puzzled sound.

"what?!"

Then came a sound of surprise.

"It's mid-April now, right?"

"almost."

Iruma responded.

"Liang spent all her allowance at the beginning of the month, and then before the middle of the month, her favorite band released a new progressive rock album, so she spent all her food money without hesitation."

Ijichi Hongxia stated the facts as if it was a matter of course.

At this moment, the image of Yamada Ryo in Iruma Hibiki's heart collapsed again.

But maybe a little more lively?

It's probably like, "Oh, it turns out that magical girls in the second dimension can also poop," as if the virtual character was suddenly pulled into reality.

Yes, this was the image that Yamada Ryo had in Hibiki Iruma’s mind in the past: a cool and capable cold beauty.

"But it seems that after quitting the band, Liang must have overdrawn next month's pocket money so that she could go to Chiba. Anyway, there's no need to worry about her recently."

Ijichi Hongxia then added.

"what……"

Then she paused.

He frowned in an instant.

"Iruma-san, do you also like to eat lunch alone?"

Why is Ichichi Hongxia a god?

That's probably it.

She notices even the smallest details and expresses her concern for those around her.

"No, let's go together. I was just a little worried about Yamada-senpai."

As for Hibiki Iruma, of course he wouldn't say yes to this question.

Ultimately, eating lunch alone anywhere is the tragedy of high school life.

Except for those who like solitude.

In the dark stairwell of Xiuhua High School, Goto Ichiri said to his lunch box, "I'm eating."

Of course, she is not alone.

After a while, her shadow on the wall in the corridor echoed -

"I...start...moving—"

68 High School Student's Lunch

The lunch venue was the college’s atrium.

Of course, there was no clear water or algae, and there was no Lao Deng who would pull people out of bed to play in the middle of the night. But for Iruma Hibiki and Ijichi Hongka, the courtyard was the best place for them to have lunch.

In Xiagao, there are actually only five classic lunch spots - the garden, the atrium, the rooftop, the corridor and the toilet.

For Hibiki Iruma and Nijichi Kouka, the only option they have is the courtyard.

Let’s not talk about the most unlikely toilet for now.

If they go, then there is only one possibility that they have all been hypnotized by the hypnosis app.