Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

Next time, just tell the waiter if you want an Americano or a mocha. There are only a few coffee options here, and the details aren't as complex as in specialty shops. There's no choice of latte art.

[Eh? Is that so? ]

【Yes, that's it. 】

Thank you very much, Iruma-san. I will try it again next time!

Toyokawa Shoko's lady-like misunderstanding continues.

【By the way, what did you think of the previous lyrics, Iruma-san?】

【Um? 】

In fact, when Toyokawa Shoko first sent this message, Iruma Hibiki was a little slow to react.

"Actually, I can't wait for everyone to hear Iruma-san and I's masterpiece! Takamatsu-san's lyrics are also amazing, but it seems like her work will take some time to complete."

[So, I would like to ask for your permission, Iruma-san. Is that okay? ]

……

Iruma Hibiki fell silent.

He looked at the message on his phone, not quite sure how to respond.

May I?

He questioned his heart.

But there was nothing there.

Actually, that song is——

Wasn't it the love song he gave to the band and Nagasaki Suyo that marked the beginning of everything in his past fantasies, the beginning of his future life, the turning point of his destiny?

But after Golden Week——

It becomes a piece of waste paper.

A piece of waste paper filled with memories and regrets but meant nothing until it was found by Toyokawa Shoko in that accident.

【By the way, does Iruma-san also play an instrument? Guitar?】

[I've played it before, but haven't practiced it recently.]

The next question that Toyokawa Shoko asked was actually easier for Iruma Hibiki to answer.

But when he finished answering this question, his thinking on the previous question was also over.

[If Toyokawa-san is willing, you can use the lyrics of that song.]

【Really? ! 】

Yes, really.

Iruma Hibiki responded.

Then he put down his phone, looked at the scenery outside the window and breathed a sigh of relief.

Just consider it a farewell to past memories.

He thought quietly.

Then it was just like when I first entered high school. I suddenly felt like my life was about to start all over again. I felt a little relieved, but also a little nostalgic and regretful for the past.

But I felt unexpectedly relieved.

Perhaps this is the feeling that comes from abandoning all the ties of the past.

Iruma Hibiki laughed at himself slightly and picked up his phone again.

【However, those lyrics must be very important to Iruma-san.】

……

The next message sent by Toyokawa Shoko made Iruma Hibiki's pupils shrink slightly.

In fact, at this moment, he was slightly angry——

But he soon realized that he had no reason to be angry with Toyokawa Shoko. After all, the other party had no ill intentions, right?

The only person he should be angry at is himself.

The self who was thinking in her heart: "I already gave you the lyrics, why are you still saying such a matter-of-fact thing?"

He quickly calmed down and regained some composure.

【Yes. 】

In the end, he simply replied with these two words.

[So… although this may be a little sudden, Iruma-san, why don't you try being a guitarist? Actually, Iruma-san is planning to form a band called Crychic. It would be great if Iruma-san, the alien composer, could join us.]

Afterwards, Iruma Hibiki saw the extremely complete plan for the logo and formation of the Crychic band.

Perfect horror.

It is so perfect that it gives Hibiki Iruma a subtle sense of dislocation.

Could it be that Toyokawa Shoko is the kind of young lady who has no common sense in daily life, but has amazing and terrifying talents and actions in her own field?

Iruma Hibiki couldn't help but think with some surprise.

Moreover, Hibiki Iruma had never seen such a band plan, let alone from Nikka Ijichi, or even from the relatively experienced captain Chihaya Aine.

Regarding the remaining members, I've actually had some thoughts recently and am planning to talk to them. I can assure you that they're all very capable and experienced, so—

[Actually, I've only been practicing guitar for about a month or two, so I'm still a complete beginner. So, I'm sorry, Toyokawa-san, I might not be able to meet your expectations. Also, "Godknows..." wasn't a song I performed independently. I just provided the sheet music, which is full of errors. The actual completion was done by Guitar Hero.]

Hibiki Iruma confessed the truth.

He politely rejected Toyokawa Shoko with facts.

【Why did Iruma-san give up guitar? 】

A lot of things happened.

【Can you talk to me in detail? 】

……

Looking at the message on the phone, Iruma Hibiki's mood had actually become extremely depressed.

Generally speaking, would you ask further questions at this point?

"Being able to create such songs and lyrics shows that you are a true genius, Iruma-san. It would be a shame if you gave up music!"

[Due to some personal reasons, I actually have no plans to join a band or carry out band activities recently.]

In the end, Hibiki Iruma ended his conversation with Shoko Toyokawa with a somewhat cold and official response.

06 I'll Get You

[Iruma-san⑥令er陾珊肆吧VIII④y, um...if...you had a friend who arranged to meet you somewhere far away, would you find it bothersome?]

Looking at the message sent by Goto Ichiri, Iruma Hibiki smiled easily.

The distress I just felt dissipated a lot in an instant.

[It depends on the situation. 】

He responded, then sighed deeply in reality.

"I'm so sorry! I won't ask such stupid questions next time! I've already decided on the location we agreed on, and it's still the Tokyo Library, hahahaha..."

"If it were Goto-san, I'd go somewhere farther away. Besides, don't you hate libraries? Don't force yourself."

Hibiki Iruma laughed out loud at Goto Ichiri's intense reaction.

Although it may seem a bit malicious, this kind of daily routine seems to have become a habit between the two of them recently.

"Here... what do you think of the meeting place, Iruma-san? If it's not good, we can just make another one. Don't reject me outright. If Iruma-san isn't there, I'll be mocked by Erli as the useless older sister who couldn't finish her summer homework. If that happens, I'll feel like I'm even worse than plankton..."

At Goto Ichiri's home, summer homework piled up in front of her.

That's right, until now, just a few days before the end of summer vacation, Goto Ichiri's homework is still blank.

In fact, she had thought about it at the beginning. Why not find an opportunity to ask Xiduo and copy the answer?

But she soon realized the flaw in this plan.

She didn't dare to contact Xiduo on her own initiative.

Not to mention asking for homework books.

It would be better to say that Goto Ichiri is exhausted just by replying to Kita's messages every day. After all, Kita can blind her eyes, a real real star.

[I understand. I will go. When is a good time to arrive?]

Iruma Hibiki was actually a little hesitant when looking at the address in his hand.

After all, this address doesn't look like a store or a library. Looking at the map, it seems to be between residential buildings in a suburban area about a two-hour drive from his home.

Is it a remote little shop that’s not even on the map?

When this guess came up, Iruma Hibiki felt more confident. After all, the place Goto Ichiri suggested meeting would probably be a store with few people.

[Any time is fine. I'll be ready to welcome Iruma-san!]

Looking at Goto Ichiri's very crude and overly forceful honorifics, Iruma Hibiki sighed helplessly.

"How about we meet at 2pm tomorrow? By the way, it's okay to skip the honorifics and be nervous. Just treat it like our old meetings."

-

In fact, before this, Hibiki Iruma and Ichiri Goto met in the library of their junior high school during the summer vacation.

It is open even during holidays. After all, even during the summer vacation, there are many clubs that continue to maintain activities on campus, and the literary club occupying the library is one of them.

Of course, that was already in the past. No matter how they thought about it, they could not take it for granted that the library of Xiagao, or Xiugao, was the place to complete their summer homework.

Iruma Hibiki ended his conversation with Goto Ichiri, and actually felt a little relieved.

Then he looked up the chat history with Toyokawa Shoko.

After taking a closer look, he frowned slightly.

Was his response a little stiff?

And would his somewhat angry and cold tone at that time cause Shoko Toyokawa to misunderstand?

Iruma Hibiki fell into a trace of distress.

He actually had no reason to vent his anger on Toyokawa Shoko, and to be honest, Toyokawa Shoko had done nothing wrong and she was not an annoying person.

With a hint of blame and regret for himself at that time, Iruma Hibiki hesitated for a moment and chose to explain to Toyokawa Shoko:

[I'm sorry, my words may have been a bit blunt, but the reason I declined your invitation, Toyokawa-san, is because I truly believe my level may not meet your expectations, but—]

If there's anything I can help with regarding the lyrics, please let me know.

After waiting for a few minutes, there was still no reply from Toyokawa Shoko.

It wasn't until lunchtime that Hibiki Iruma received a reply from Shoko Toyokawa:

My previous invitation and follow-up question were a bit inconsiderate and abrupt, but—Iruma-san, I will not give up on you.

What does it mean to not give up?

Iruma Hibiki asked nervously and angrily.

"My feeling is right. Iruma-san has a lot of amazing and excellent music in you. It would be a shame if it were buried like this. I will find a way to convince you to join Crychic!"

……

Hibiki Iruma was about to take back what he had said.

Toyokawa Shoko is definitely not someone who is not annoying. In fact, there are some very troublesome parts of her personality.

[I bought the coffee you treated me to the other day, Iruma-san.]

[So, I will definitely get my hands on Iruma-san's music!]

Then Toyokawa Shoko sent a photo of coffee with a convenience store in the background. However, this convenience store was not the 711 with horizontal stripes in the background, but another common convenience store - Lawson.

“Isn’t this completely wrong…”