Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

The past cannot be replayed.

But then.

In the moment of turning your head.

Besides being embarrassed and overwhelmed.

Iruma Hibiki remembered that he should be smiling, with the corners of his mouth wide open, almost as wide as the slit-mouthed woman. He smiled with disgust, then threw himself into the quilt and twisted into a ball.

Of course the sequel is just an exaggeration.

But that was exactly what Hibiki Iruma was like at that time.

There is some joy, but also more of a sense of helplessness.

How should I face Goto-san?

When such complaints were spoken, there was definitely a smile in the tone, and the elements of distress mixed with joy eventually became a taste similar to sea buckthorn juice.

and so--

"Will do."

Iruma Hibiki responded to Goto Ichiri.

"If Goto-san confessed to me before Nagasaki-san, I would have accepted Goto-san's confession."

Iruma Hibiki answered seriously.

Nothing perfunctory.

And Goto Ichiri's pupils contracted slightly.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Iruma-san. Please answer my question. It seems like Shigaraki-san ran away just now. You should go after her. We are still friends, right? So I'll take my leave today..."

"I……"

Goto Ichiri seemed to want to say something, but after taking one last look at Iruma Hibiki, he ran towards the elevator.

It was just right that the elevator was very close to this floor at that moment. The door opened at the moment when Iruma Hibiki wanted to stop her and Goto Ichiri walked in. She turned her back, leaving Iruma Hibiki with only her trembling back in a pink sportswear.

Then——

The metal door slowly closed.

"Goto-san—"

Iruma Hibiki's voice floated in the air.

He felt like he had messed up everything.

"Thank you for your hard work, Iruma."

Just at the right moment, Ijichi Hongka appeared at the stairs.

She held a bottle of Good Boy juice in her hand and handed it to Hibiki Iruma.

She had been hiding there from the beginning. She and Chihaya Aine hadn't caught up with Nagasaki Suyo, and they couldn't get through to her phone either.

It’s not that the phone is turned off and I can’t get through, but Nagasaki Suyo has actually completely blocked everyone else in the band.

Chihaya Aine also felt a little angry about this matter.

After all, it's a bit too much to vent your anger on everyone because of such a problem.

However, in fact, Ijichi Hongxia didn't care about such things, so she quickly walked up the stairs, hid quietly at the door, and waited for Iruma Hibiki to finish everything.

"Oh, this is such a big deal. Speaking of which, the book signing is only halfway through, Iruma, can you still make it?"

Ijichi Hongxia asked considerately.

She tacitly did not mention what had happened before, but instead reminded Hibiki Iruma of the important things he should pay attention to next.

"Yeah, I'm fine. By the way, where's Su Shi..."

Iruma Hibiki did not show her weak side in front of Ijichi Kouka. Instead, she forced herself to control her emotions and calm down.

It was as if what had just happened was a lie, just a bad dream.

"She left. Chihaya went after her, but it might be difficult to catch up, and it's hard to contact her online. Chihaya and I agreed that she would contact us anytime if she had any news."

Ijichi Hongxia leaned against the wall and spoke softly.

In fact, when she was chasing Nagasaki Suyo, she had consumed some of her physical strength, and a small spot of her white shirt near the back was wet.

When the division of labor was finally decided, Chihaya Aine said:

"Perhaps the only one who can comfort Iruma-san is Ijichi-san, but as for me, all I need to do is find Nagasaki-san."

For the reason, they quickly completed the division of labor between the two.

The student union president is the student union president.

Exceptionally reliable to every degree.

It is better to say that if Chihaya Aion before she shed her burden had many shortcomings but only knew how to play the guitar, then the current Chihaya Aion has all the advantages except that she can't play the guitar.

"I'm so sorry to have caused you so much trouble."

"Didn't you say that, Iruma?"

Ijichi Nikka smiled at Iruma Hibiki, her smile was sunny and heartwarming, and for Iruma Hibiki at that moment, it was like a kind of redemption.

"The band is a community of shared destiny for everyone."

Then, Ijichi Hongka said the words that Iruma Hibiki was very familiar with and still remembers them to this day.

"Besides, you've been working incredibly hard, both on Nagasaki-san's side and Goto-san's side. So seeing Iruma like that, I couldn't just not lend a hand."

Ijichi Hongxia stretched out her hand towards the window. Her cute little hand was hidden in her slightly large sleeves, with her fingertips spread wide apart, just like that, cutely blocking the sunlight.

"It's a pleasure to be your friend, Iruma. At least that's what I think."

Hibiki Iruma could see his own reflection in Ijichi Kouka's eyes.

It was a very silly one, like the reflection of a drowned dog.

However, that embarrassed figure also gained some strength to cheer up in the face of Ijichi Hongxia's tenderness.

A dog that falls into the water should be dried in the sun, preferably lying on soft grass.

And the same goes for sad people.

Get more sun.

Get closer to nature.

It will get better.

Believe this firmly.

Iruma Hibiki took a deep breath, then quickly took out his cell phone and sent a message to Nagasaki Soyo, but as expected, there was no response from Nagasaki Soyo, and all the messages fell on deaf ears.

Then Iruma Hibiki started trying to make a phone call——

But the other end of the phone kept getting busy signals.

"Chihaya-san and I haven't been able to contact Nagasaki-san at all."

On the side, Ijichi Hongxia frowned and reminded.

"But you don't have to worry too much, Iruma-san. Chihaya-san has already gone to find Shigaraki-san."

Ijichi Hongxia once again emphasized what she had said before.

"I know you might not be able to eat it, Iruma-san, but why not give it a try? I highly recommend this sandwich."

At this moment, Ijichi Hongxia handed over the bag in her other hand, which contained a ham, egg and cheese sandwich.

Very classic style.

Paired with lettuce, it has a very light taste and is especially suitable for eating after a major sad event.

Because the taste is so bland that I can't help but cry while eating it. When I stop crying, it's a new day.

92 Iruma Hibiki's Solitary Journey

"call--"

Hibiki Iruma heard the person next to him sigh.

On the long table, there was another nameplate between his and Machida Sonoko's - Kasumi Shiko, the "senior" that Iruma Hibiki had heard Machida Sonoko refer to many times.

Facing his senior, although Hibiki Iruma was a little absent-minded, he still maintained the most basic etiquette. Perhaps because of his proper etiquette, he did not seem to anger the woman next to him who looked difficult to deal with.

The book signing session in the afternoon went on as scheduled.

Machida Sonoko was actually prepared for Hibiki Iruma to escape.

So, I was a little surprised when I saw Hibiki Iruma, and she actually made some special arrangements -

"This afternoon's book signing will end a little early. The reason we'll share publicly is that you, Mr. Iruma, suddenly had inspiration for a new work, so you went to work on it."

"Editor Machida, you're really putting me on the spot."

Amidst Hibiki Iruma's slight complaints, Machida Sonoko smiled triumphantly.

After all, he's an editor.

Just as the author's instinct is to procrastinate on submitting manuscripts, the editor's instinct is to urge submission of manuscripts, using any means necessary.

But no matter what, for Iruma Hibiki, Machida Sonoko's decision at this moment is a great help.

Although it is true that some future possibilities have been overdrawn, the things happening right now are definitely more important than the deadlines in the illusory summer vacation group chat ('〤Shanlin+Chuilingqijiuwenba).

At this moment, Hibiki Iruma was actually not as calm as he appeared on the surface.

Fortunately, the book signing event in the afternoon was not too busy and there were not many people coming. What would have been a hellish and uneasy experience for most novice authors was a kind of redemption for him at this moment.

but--

As soon as he calmed down, he would inevitably recall the feeling of kissing Nagasaki Suyo at that moment just now, and Nagasaki Suyo's expression after the kiss.

That was his first kiss.

The two memories combined might even include the first kiss in the previous life and the life before that.

It was the first time I was so close to a girl.

The first time I kissed someone I loved.

This should be a happy thing, right?

but--

Nagasaki Motoyo's expression at that time was indeed one of disgust. She was not happy about the kiss from the bottom of her heart. Perhaps, she did not choose to kiss out of love, or out of a natural relationship.

Just pure...

Hibiki Iruma blamed himself in his heart.

He clenched his fists tightly.

In the final analysis, he felt that he should have realized long ago how insecure Nagasaki Suyo was...

But could he make any decent decision at that time?

Aren’t you going to chase Goto Ichiri?

Are you just going to stay with Nagasaki Suyo like this?

he……

At that moment, there was absolutely no choice.

Everything is destined to lead to a terrifying abyss.

Before he knew it, the hellish autograph session for Iruma Hibiki was over.

Such an important event, which may become a lifelong memory for the author, only brought him painful and torturous memories.

He didn't even have the time to attend the upcoming celebration party at the Fuzugawa Bunko. After saying a hasty and polite goodbye to senior Kasumi Shiko and Machida Sonoko, he quickly ran to the waiting area.

[Sorry, Iruma-san, something urgent happened in Fanxing, so I have to go back to Fanxing to help. However, I will try to get back before the book signing ends, so please wait for me!]

Ijichi Kouka was no longer in her seat, and neither was Chihaya Aine.

Facing the empty seats, Iruma Hibiki opened his phone and saw the message sent by Ijichi Kouka a few hours ago.