Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Your best friend is next door, and the person you like is right beside you. Isn't this something everyone naturally expects?

But the reality of the band is actually not like this.

Ichichi Hongxia once said in a chat:

Compared to anything else, everyone in the band only spends time on music and each other. That's the romance of the band.

In fact, perhaps Ijichi Hongxia also hopes so.

Chihaya Aine, Iruma Hibiki doesn't know too much about her, but he thinks that people who like music may not be bad guys.

So I have some expectations for Chihaya Aine.

But the truth is-

"What did Hibiki know? Can't you tell me?"

Nagasaki Suyo asked.

Somewhat inconsiderate.

The sweetness in her tone also disappeared slightly.

"I know she has her own difficulties."

Iruma Hibiki responded to Nagasaki Suyo seriously.

Without any more casual or casual talk, he stopped in his tracks. Under a streetlight, he and Nagasaki Motoyo stared at each other.

81 Oncoming Fire

"Is that a secret between Hibiki and Ijichi-kun? Can't even I tell it?"

Nagasaki Suyo asked.

Her furrowed brows completely revealed her uneasiness at the moment——

Perhaps, Nagasaki Suyo knew that even between husband and wife there must be secrets that cannot be confessed to each other.

Ultimately, the idea of being together for a lifetime and knowing everything about each other is inherently scary and impossible.

But for Nagasaki Suyo, this is the only way she can feel at ease in her current relationship.

just.

Nagasaki Suyo's voice has begun to tremble.

She felt scared.

My calves have become a little soft.

She knew in her heart that she was being inconsiderate and willful at the moment, and she also knew that if she continued like this, everything would slide into the abyss, but her reason was unable to control her uneasy emotions at the moment.

Nagasaki Motoyo said something that was unexpectedly heartfelt.

But these sincere words violated her disguise of being all right, or rather - protection.

"Well, I'm sorry, Sushi, I can't tell you about Ichichi because I swore to her to keep it a secret. Therefore, I will keep my promise no matter how small or insignificant the matter is, unless she has already confessed to you and told me that it is okay to tell you those things."

Hibiki Iruma remained unwavering, standing firm in his stance, but—

Maybe he wasn't so determined.

He felt a little distressed when he saw Nagasaki Suyo's appearance at the moment. The moment a determination appeared on his face, his expression became a little sad.

He took two steps forward gently and then extended his hand.

The shadow of being shaken off by Nagasaki Soyo that day is still there, and Iruma Hibiki doesn't know whether what he is doing now is right.

Therefore, when a trace of shock and sadness appeared on Nagasaki Suyo's face, Iruma Hibiki gently supported her shoulders.

"But Su Shi, I..."

He stared closely at Nagasaki Suyo in front of him and organized his words carefully.

"Su Shi and I feel the same way. It would be great if everyone in the band could always be together, if the time I spend with Su Shi would never end, and if a lifetime commitment could last a lifetime."

Iruma Hibiki spoke seriously and earnestly.

"I have never forgotten what Su Shi said at the beginning: the band is a community of shared destiny. And until now, this sentence is the reason and principle for me to stand here. I completely understand Su Shi's feelings."

Then, after finishing another long paragraph, Iruma Hibiki gently used both hands to slowly and tentatively try to give Nagasaki Suyo a hug.

He was unable to hug the fragile Ichichi Hongka.

He was completely unaware of Chihaya Aine's situation.

This was even more so with Goto Ichiri. When he wanted to provide her with assistance, Goto Ichiri had already retreated very far away, to a place where he could not see clearly.

But at this moment, the person in front of him was Nagasaki Suyo.

Another person who stayed by his side and whom he could hug was Nagasaki Suyo.

"If Su Shi wants, I won't go back to Kasai tonight. I will stay with you no matter how late you want."

Iruma Hibiki spoke softly.

At this moment, the conversation between him and Nagasaki Motoyo had become a whisper to some extent.

He could feel Nagasaki Suyo's power fading.

"ring."

Then, Nagasaki Suyo whispered Iruma Hibiki's name softly.

"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to say those words just now."

Her voice regained some of its usual sweetness, and her eyes became slightly clearer.

"I……"

Nagasaki Suyo wanted to say something else.

"For me, it is a very happy thing to be able to accompany Su Shi."

Iruma Hibiki quickly let go of Nagasaki Suyo.

He turned his head.

There was panic in his tone.

After all—

This was the first time he hugged a member of the opposite sex other than his mother.

Hibiki Iruma wondered if she was broken, or if she had contracted some serious illness that would kill her in the next second.

At this moment, he felt like he had a high fever in the third grade of elementary school - his face was very hot, his consciousness was a little fuzzy, and his nostrils were filled with the fragrance of Nagasaki Suyo.

The soft feeling just now was somewhat similar to the feeling he had at that time when he was almost unconscious, when he touched the soft quilt that had just been dried in the sun.

Even though it was his initiative.

But such initiative is just a poor imitation of the plot.

The moment you feel the touch of the girl you like.

Hibiki Iruma paid a heavy price for his bold actions.

he.

It's almost over.

Maybe now is the last moment of life?

Should he prepare to write sentences like "Life is fifty years"?

Hibiki Iruma's inner panic is like the stream-of-consciousness chapters written by Shayaa, chaotic, unrelated, and completely incomprehensible.

"Then, can you promise me something?"

Nagasaki Suyo's face was also a little red.

She didn't expect that Iruma Hibiki would hug her at that time.

So I was a little shy and surprised.

Even though Hibiki Iruma was very gentlemanly and kept a certain distance at that time——

Of course, that's just her opinion.

In fact, this is just the impatient, cowardly and hypocritical heart of a virgin.

"Well, of course."

Iruma Hibiki agreed.

Or there is no reason to refuse.

"If possible, regarding the rehearsal between Ijichi-san and Chihaya-san, I hope Hibiki can stand with me and fight for it."

Nagasaki Suyo spoke softly.

In the last second, her frown had relaxed.

At this moment, she recovered in an instant and began to play with her fingers again.

[If it's Hibiki, you'll definitely do something like this for me.]

This is what Nagasaki Suyo was thinking at this moment.

"Um……"

Iruma Hibiki was a little embarrassed.

But no matter what, Nagasaki Suyo had said this, and he had no room for refusal.

"I understand. I'll try my best."

So he smiled faintly and agreed.

"That would be great."

As Iruma Hibiki agreed, Nagasaki Motoyo also smiled brightly.

She had gotten the promise she wanted.

Moreover, she didn't think that someone as committed as Iruma Hibiki would break the vows he made.

but--

In secret, Nagasaki Suyo rubbed her fingers while thinking about Ijichi Nikka and Chihaya Aine.

She planned to test them herself.

Or rather, to understand what difficulties Hibiki Iruma had that he couldn't even tell her.

Because this is the prerequisite for ensuring the band can continue, isn't it?

A strong sense of crisis ignited in Nagasaki Suyo's heart.

It was like a forest fire.

And want to extinguish——

The only way is another oncoming fire.

82 Ijichi Hongka's Vision

It was quiet outside the 711 in the early morning. Iruma sat on the curb and opened the hamburger and hot drink he had just bought.

The evening breeze in Tokyo in April is slightly cool, especially late at night.

He had just entered Kasai's territory and was still a long way from home.

As for why not take late night buses and taxis——

With his novel not yet sold, his royalties not yet paid, and his pocket money just overdrawn, he had to put in all his effort to pay for the bus fare, let alone his date with Nagasaki Motoyo.

Fanxing’s salary is indeed not much.

It's just enough to sustain this kind of life.

A little more.

It's bankruptcy.

Iruma sighed.