Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Nagasaki Suyo went to bed late today, which was unusual for her, but she managed to fall asleep at this time.

As for Ijichi Nikka and Chihaya Aine on the other side, they were also worried about him, but he persuaded them to rest in peace.

After all, it's not easy for Ijichi Hongka, and it's even harder for Chihaya Aine. She has a finger injury that makes it difficult for her to type, but she was the first one to come to him after seeing the post that suddenly became popular on the Internet.

But he didn't see it at that time. It was not until Nagasaki Suyo sent a message that he heard the reminder to turn on his phone.

【Come to think of it, Chihaya-san, she's become a completely different person after she apologized.】

When chatting with Ijichi Kouka, Iruma Hibiki ended with this topic.

"Yes, but Chihaya-san right now is really reassuring!"

[I agree. It's fine on my end, don't worry. I know you should get some rest early. I'll be going to bed soon too. Tomorrow's book signing will definitely not be easy.]

[Iruma…]

When talking about this, Ijichi Hongxia knew that she should stop there, but she still had some hesitation and worries.

【Will you reject Goto-san's confession? 】

So in the end she couldn't help but ask.

"I think it must have taken a lot of courage for Goto-san to say something like that, so Iruma-san, even if you refuse, you must respond to Goto-san properly."

【I know. 】

In fact, at the end of the chat, Iruma Hibiki smiled somewhat warmly.

To be honest, if I had to say the only good thing that happened tonight, it would probably be chatting with Chihaya Aine and Ijichi Nikka.

I'm going to Iruma-san's book signing event with everyone tomorrow! Iruma-san's novels are really interesting.

As for the news about Chihaya Aine, it stopped at this point.

"Editor Machida, I'm going to take a break."

"Well, let's go."

After finishing all the things, Iruma Hibiki stood up and said goodbye to Machida Sonoko.

He had been staring at his phone screen from the beginning and was a little distracted, and couldn't read the "book signing event guide" that Machida Sonoko had taken great pains to bring.

Machida Sonoko did not blame Iruma Hibiki. Instead, she took more responsibility on herself at this time. After all, she could see that Iruma Hibiki did not fall into his current situation because of his own will.

and--

In fact, if she really had to say it, she hoped that Iruma Hibiki would be involved in tomorrow's matter if the guitar hero really came to confess his feelings.

At least don't refuse in person.

After all, from a public relations perspective.

If Iruma Hibiki refused, it would definitely cause a stir...

However, Machida Sonoko did not say such words.

She respected Hibiki Iruma's decision.

At this moment, what she was thinking about was probably - let the editors worry about these troublesome things, and enjoy youth and give the answers she wants in every choice, which is what a guy of Iruma Hibiki's age should do.

Just like someone did back then.

88 A kiss in front of Goto Ichiri

Dong Dong, Dong Dong...

In the dark staircase, Hibiki Iruma slowly climbed up.

At this moment, he was so sleepy and nervous that he could hear the sound of his own heart beating.

He chose the stairs because he was worried that he would fall asleep in the overcrowded elevator, and he hoped that some exercise would clear his chaotic brain.

Hibiki Iruma stayed awake all night.

I tossed and turned in bed until Machida Sonoko rang the doorbell of the guest room.

It was the first time that Hibiki Iruma tasted the pleasure of a business trip on public funds, but it was obvious that he had no leisure to enjoy breakfast in a high-end hotel. After hastily eating two pieces of sushi, he followed Machida Sonoko to Akihabara.

It took Hibiki Iruma twenty minutes to reach the 7th floor. After a short rest, he turned his attention to the capsule toy machine at the stairwell.

With a desire to relax, Hibiki Iruma took out three 100-yen coins.

Crunchy——

Along with the sound of the mechanism biting, a silver-white bond fell on the yellow shipping port.

Iruma Xiang opened it and found a small alloy spherical toy inside. According to the promotional list, this little thing seemed to be called Upa.

The alloy model seems to be a very rare style?

[I wish I could be this lucky today.]

Hibiki Iruma took a photo and sent it to Kouka Ijichi. The main character in the photo was the Alloy Upa he had drawn, and the background was the probability of delivery on the gashapon machine.

In the Alloy Upa column it clearly says 1%.

"That's amazing! Iruma-san!"

Then, Ijichi Hongxia replied to Iruma Xiang in seconds.

Where have you been?

"I'm on my way. Chihaya-san has also left. Nagasaki-san hasn't replied to our messages and hasn't appeared in the group this morning."

Iruma Hibiki frowned.

[Are you still awake? Sushi?]

With a hint of worry and uneasiness, he sent a message to Nagasaki Suyo.

Then, he put the alloy upa in his pocket as a talisman, and then opened the door to the stairwell.

In an instant, pure white light fell on Iruma Hibiki's face, followed by a commotion behind the door.

Machida Sonoko had clearly been waiting for a long time in the seat she had chosen that day. It was supposed to be a regular autograph session for a newcomer, but at this moment—

[Don't be nervous, most of those people are just there to watch the fun, just deal with it later.]

When Hibiki Iruma walked to his seat, he saw this sentence written on the notebook handed to him by Sonoko Machida.

He nodded.

Then sat down.

If any unexpected situation arises, please trust your own judgment. We have staff on hand to assist you.

Then Machida Sonoko wrote another sentence and handed it to Iruma Hibiki.

It was only at this time that Iruma Hibiki realized that in addition to him and Machida Sonoko, there were also several familiar-looking employees of the Fuzugawa Bunko.

He couldn't help but feel a little grateful, so he took out his pen and wrote:

【Sorry for the trouble, Editor Machida. 】

[From now on, please don't make me lose my hair over the manuscript. Everything will be fine.]

Machida Sonoko's response was a bit playful, which made Iruma Hibiki laugh, and he sat up straighter and became serious.

20 minutes later, the book signing officially began——

"Iruma-sensei! Congratulations on the release of your new book!"

"Come on! Iruma-sensei!"

In fact, the first few people who came in the fastest were surprisingly serious book fans, and they seemed to have no idea what happened last night.

So everything is going according to process.

later--

When the situation started to seem slightly wrong and Iruma Hibiki could sense the gazes of those at the door who seemed to be watching the show, Chihaya Aine walked in at just the right moment.

In fact, it was not like that.

Chihaya Aine made an appointment with Ijichi Kouka last night to go in together to get an autograph from Iruma Hibiki.

But just now, she noticed something was wrong with the gazes of the people around her, and Iruma Hibiki became nervous because no one had come in for a long time.

So she made a prompt decision and did not choose to wait for Ijichi Nikka who had just arrived at the exit of Akihabara Station, but walked into the autograph session alone.

"Iruma-sensei, come on!"

After handing Iruma Hibiki a bottle of Goodbaby juice that she had just bought downstairs, Chihaya Aine stayed for a while.

"How will the love storyline in Mr. Iruma's book develop specifically?"

She also asked a few questions that she had found online at the last minute that would definitely not embarrass the author at the book signing event, and she kept delaying the time until there were three or four readers who actually came to the door for the book signing, and the staff of the Fuzugawa Library also mentioned that the time was almost up. Only then did Chihaya Aine finish all the questions just in time.

"Come on! Iruma-san."

Before leaving, Chihaya Aine once again encouraged Iruma Hibiki.

When she went out afterwards, she happened to meet Ichichi Hongka.

"Hey! Chihaya-san, you ran away!"

As for Hibiki Iruma—

When Chihaya Aine came in, she really saved his life, and pulled him up a little from the hell of enduring torture but still having to keep smiling.

And then, the voice of Ijichi Hongxia coming from outside the door almost seamlessly became his salvation.

Gradually, Iruma Hibiki no longer had the heart to look at his phone.

If it weren’t for what happened yesterday.

Today's book signing event should be considered a success.

There were quite a few people coming, including many real readers. The questions they asked were just right and professional, but they would not embarrass Iruma Hibiki. Even the occasional emergencies were all resolved by the extra lessons that Machida Sonoko had given him last night.

Just as the crowd began to stir slightly again, causing Hibiki Iruma, who was already nervous, to become more and more nervous, Ichichi Kouka walked in at the perfect moment.

It seems like the morning will just pass by in such an uneventful manner, right?

until--

A pink figure flashed in the corner of Iruma Hibiki's eyes.

At that moment, Iruma Hibiki's whole body tensed up, his anxiety and tension had reached the extreme.

Machida Sonoko, who was standing by, also noticed that something was wrong with Iruma Hibiki, and she broke out in a cold sweat for him.

Then——

It’s just right, this is a gap.

The crowd who arrived early for the book signing event has dispersed.

Because it is almost lunchtime, there is a high probability that no one will come next.

Sensing something was wrong, Machida Sonoko quietly opened her mobile phone and frantically sent messages to an account.

The words above are mostly urging.

[Machida Editor, do you know how long it takes to get from the University of Tokyo to Akihabara?]

The other party's tone was somewhat impolite, even obviously unhappy.

"But if you, Kasumi Shiko, don't come, Iruma-sensei will be in big trouble."

Machida Sonoko sighed helplessly.

And Goto Ichiri——

She was still circling at the door.

No intention of coming in.

Just wandering around there with my guitar.

And every time her figure appeared at the door, it would torture Iruma Hibiki's heart.

Then, round and round, again and again—

Goto Ichiri was still hesitating, afraid, and worried. Occasionally, she would turn her head and look at Iruma Hibiki, who was sitting there comfortably with a businesslike smile on his face.