Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

And in fact, she did take a small step forward, for example, she met Kita.

[Goto-san! There's something I really want to trouble you with, no matter what!]

Please… please speak…

Just as he had just finished chatting with Iruma Hibiki, Goto Ichiri received a late-night letter from Kita.

For a moment, she completely lost the confidence to speak fluently in front of Hibiki Iruma, and her tone became hesitant and fearful.

"Could you please let me know the date of your and Iruma-san's next song?! I really love the songs you created together! And the visitors from another world are so interesting!"

……

Faced with Kita's question, Goto Ichiri didn't know how to answer.

Yes, by chance, during this period, Kita became a mutual friend of her and Iruma Hibiki.

The opportunity is——

I don't know where I saw Kita on "Godknows...", but in just one week, she became a girl who yearns for rock music and is currently performing amazingly in a livehouse.

Later, Kita discovered an even more shocking fact, that is, the two authors of this song were her friends.

What a coincidence.

How could such a coincidence happen?

Kita, the popular king and friend of almost everyone, said so.

04 Toyokawa Shoko's Reply

In fact, in Iruma Hibiki's plan for summer vacation, helping Goto Ichiri solve the problem of summer homework and let her study well is the last thing to do.

But what he never expected was that the appointment did not come, but an accident happened first:

[Hello, Iruma-san, this is the music for the lyrics from that day! I took it upon myself to create it, would you like to listen to it?]

In fact, when this strange account appeared, Iruma Hibiki was shocked.

Although thanks to his part-time job and Xiduo, his contacts actually doubled during the summer vacation to a staggering 8 people.

However, this account is the first time that Iruma Hibiki has seen it.

But when he opened the audio sent by the other party, Iruma Hibiki immediately realized that the owner of this account was Shoko Toyokawa, whom he had met once in a rainstorm on a summer night.

After all, although the remaining pages of his manuscript were finally found, they were still thrown into the shredder by him, but something was still left behind that night.

There is a 10-second silence at the beginning of the audio clip.

But in fact, if you listen carefully, you can hear some faint sounds, which are the sounds of footsteps and the piano being turned on.

Then——

The lyrics of Iruma Hibiki's song are very standard, and with the music composed by Toyokawa Shoko, the duration of the whole song comes to 4 minutes and 34 seconds, which is a perfect time point.

After hearing this, Iruma Hibiki's first reaction was—

This was an arrangement of quality far beyond his expectations.

It was a height that he could never reach easily.

From the perspective of commercial composition, the quality of the music can definitely be sold, and it must be a lot of money, not to mention Shoko Toyokawa's just right, real and gentle voice.

[It sounds really good, and it’s really amazing! ]

Hibiki Iruma immediately and excitedly wrote back to Shoko Toyokawa.

【Thank you for the compliment. 】

And Shoko Toyokawa on the opposite side also showed a little modesty.

【I guess I didn't cause any trouble for you, Iruma-san? 】

「Of course not. Rather, I am really glad to hear this song completed.」

Iruma Hibiki was a little excited when he replied, and he was trembling slightly. Perhaps if it was a conversation, he might even be moved to tears at this moment?

He stood up from his seat excitedly, and then his elbow was slightly rubbed by the rough fabric. When he turned his head to look at the source of the touch——

It was a black gig bag covered in dust.

Then, Iruma Hibiki's smile disappeared in an instant, and he slowly sat down again.

Toyokawa-san's composition is amazing, and the singing is beautiful too. I never imagined this song would turn out like this...

"Iruma-san's lyrics are so powerful that I was able to achieve this! Iruma-san, like Takamatsu-san, is a lyricist genius!"

[Takamatsu-san?]

Iruma Hibiki was a little confused about the new name, so he asked.

[This is the song I arranged and recorded that day, written by Takamatsu-san. Since it was just an improvisation, the quality and completion might not be as good, but I am still very confident in the lyrics!]

After a while, Toyokawa Shoko sent the second audio clip.

That is to say, the music composed by Gao Songdeng is the lyrics.

It’s different from when you listen to your own songs.

In fact, Iruma Hibiki realized a very simple thing halfway through.

The lyrics of this song, are they lyrics?

This may be strange to say.

but--

【I am not here, I have no place to go. 】

【I want to go somewhere other than here, and I can find comfort in my deep belief.】

【I want to find something, so I always look down. 】

【Even though I'm with everyone, I always feel lonely.】

[I want to become a human——]

Are these just lyrics?

In fact, compared to his own work, Iruma Hibiki was more shocked by the impromptu song sent by Toyokawa Shoko at this moment.

Because rather than lyrics, these are more like someone's notes, or essays, or in other words, the inner voice of someone like Goto Ichiri.

Hibiki Iruma had no doubt that if Goto Ichiri heard this song, it would definitely touch her.

But alas, this song is very short.

Just like what Toyokawa Shoko said, it was just an improvisation.

[It was an amazing song. I was so engrossed in it that I couldn't react for a moment.]

[You're lying, Iruma-san, your reaction is way too exaggerated.]

Under the message, Toyokawa Shoko also added a photo of herself smiling, and it was obvious that she was very pleased with Iruma Hibiki's praise.

[But from a composition perspective, it's nowhere near as good as the alien composer Iruma Rengen-sensei.]

I was pleasantly surprised to meet Mr. Rengen Iruma that night! "Godknows..." is such a great song! The guitar hero you collaborated with was also incredibly impressive!

In fact, it was only at this time that Iruma Hibiki realized that when he introduced himself that day, he also subconsciously reported his pen name.

It's not surprising that Shoko Toyokawa wrote down his contact information and found it later.

but--

【Speaking of which, there's something I'm still concerned about that day and I'd like to ask you, Iruma-san!】

The respectful title of "Teacher Toyokawa Shoko" only lasted for a moment and then became "Iruma-san". In fact, this change made Iruma Hibiki feel a little relieved.

But maybe that's a little unreasonable?

Of course, for Iruma Hibiki, who would rather save trouble, the current state is fine, and he did not mention the complicated issue again.

The coffee I drank that day had a flavor I've never tasted before! How did Iruma-san manage to buy something that wasn't on the shelf? Is it some secret only those in the industry know?

【I'm curious! 】

I really want to try it again, but I have no idea how to do it.

?

Hibiki Iruma thought carefully about the coffee he and Shoko Toyokawa drank that day.

In the end, it seemed that they only bought a simple cup of coffee at the convenience store and then left one after another after the rain subsided.

Besides, there was no way a guy like him could possibly know about some secret coffee shop with delicious drinks.

[Sorry, I don't quite remember this. Toyokawa-san, could you tell me more about what kind of coffee it was?]

【Eh! 】

【Those two cups you suddenly brought me at the convenience store, Iruma-san!】

Ok?

Iruma Hibiki showed a puzzled look.

But immediately——

A complex expression appeared on his face for a moment.

First he suddenly figured something out and laughed, then he looked as if he had expected it, and finally the smile slowly disappeared, a hint of pain flashed in his eyes, and he sighed.

[That's the mocha from the 711-Eleven convenience store. If you want to order it—]

Afterwards, Hibiki Iruma sent Shoko Toyokawa a detailed guide on how to buy coffee at a convenience store.

"I'll try it today! Thank you, Iruma-san! By the way, can I still improve this song you wrote later?"

Yes, of course.

Iruma Hibiki agreed as a matter of course.

His conversation with Toyokawa Shoko also ended at this time.

05 Crychic's Invitation

Toyokawa Shoko is different from Nagasaki Suyo.

A real idiot.

Hibiki Iruma realized this rudely in the morning after he learned that Shoko Toyokawa had failed to buy coffee at the convenience store.

Yes, Toyokawa Shoko is that kind of stereotypical, real young lady who seems to have never tried convenience store coffee or cheap fast food in convenience stores before.

During the conversation that day, the so-called "taste I've never tasted before" probably described the difference between the common coffee in convenience stores and the carefully roasted freshly ground coffee in professional coffee shops.

The reason for Toyokawa Shoko's failure was simple. She followed Hibiki Iruma's guide and ordered a cup of coffee with a complicated name that even Hibiki Iruma couldn't make out. Then she got the following from the troubled clerk:

[We don't sell this product in our store.]

Yi⊙1Qi Si⑸ Jiusi Jiu VIII responded like this.

In a sense -

Both the person who took the order and the waiter seemed somewhat unprofessional. After all, as a waiter, shouldn't they naturally promote other products of the same category at this time? Instead, they just let the customer run away.

You know, if you do this in Ring, you will be severely criticized by your part-time juniors.

For example, the next second I was told:

"I'll handle the front desk stuff, Iruma-senpai. You can go backstage first."

Then, under the other party's slightly subtle gaze, he was rushed to the backstage at a loss as to what to do.

Of course, Hibiki Iruma has never experienced such a thing, but this is definitely something that Riki Shiina could do.

Iruma Hibiki had no doubt about this.

After all, she is like that, a person who is gentle and strict to the people around her, and even more serious and strict about her work. She is not a bad person, but it is easy for people to misunderstand her as a bad person.

Hibiki Iruma suppressed his chaotic thoughts.

Then he quickly replied to Toyokawa Shoko: