Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Of course not. In fact, I am very unwilling..."

Chihaya Aine turned her head away, with a look of strong dissatisfaction on her face, but she soon turned her face back and smiled.

"Everyone hates failure, right? Honestly, I have no idea how to explain the band's disbanding to everyone around me. I was just wondering if I should just lie and get away with it."

Chihaya Aine's words didn't sound like a joke to Iruma Hibiki at this moment.

"but--"

"If Iruma-san and Ijichi-san keep going like this, things will probably break down, so I think it might be best to at least take a break for a while."

In fact, it is also at this moment.

Iruma Hibiki suddenly woke up for a moment.

Has his mind been so preoccupied with Nagasaki Suyo lately that he has neglected the feelings of those around him?

-

In the middle of the night, Hibiki Iruma woke up from a nightmare in the past, and then he reached for the cell phone beside him.

The content on the phone was still stuck on the conversation with Toyokawa Shoko, and the battery level had dropped to 1%.

To be honest, he should give Shoko Toyokawa a reply, whether he joins or not, he should give an accurate answer.

but--

If he joins, what will happen if he just joins Crychic?

What should I do about Ijichi Hongxia?

Ijichi Hongka's band is very short of people. Hasn't it always been a headache for staffing issues?

Even Hibiki Iruma had no doubt that if he proposed to rejoin the band at this time, Ijichi Hongka would definitely be happy and excited, just like she was when she first learned that the band was about to set sail.

but……

Just like before, when Chihaya Aine made the decision, he finally chose to agree silently, and when everyone finally confessed, he also acted as a pusher. Is he really qualified to return to Ijichi Koka's side?

Ijichi Hongxia was definitely hurt by what happened at that time.

Iruma Hibiki had rarely seen Ichichi Kouka look sad.

One time, Ichichi Hongxia confessed her sadness after confessing her family situation.

One time was when Ijichi Hongxia felt sad for him after she learned about what happened to Nagasaki Soyo.

One time was——

When Chihaya Aine suggested disbanding, the expression on Ijichi Kouka's face changed from surprise, disbelief, and finally anger in a short moment.

"I do not want!"

She once said so.

But after she finished speaking, she seemed to realize something, and Ijichi Hongxia slightly put down her little hands and lowered her head.

She looked a little petite at that moment and didn't seem like sunshine.

Instead, it looks like the setting sun.

He leaned limply on the sofa, not saying a word.

Whenever he thinks back to that time, Hibiki Iruma feels that—

Even though he and Chihaya Aine made what seemed to be the most considerate and reasonable choice at that time, but...

They undoubtedly hurt Ichichi Hongxia.

Wanting to love, wanting to take care of, wanting to care about others, but ending up hurting them, such clumsy things are actually very common.

We often have arguments like "I'm doing this for your own good!"

But for Iruma Hibiki.

Arguing was impossible.

He will only fall into doomed regret.

Would it have been better if I hadn't agreed to Chihaya Aine at that time?

Would it have been better if he had cheered up at that time?

Ending the band, as expected, shouldn't we disband and then reunite now...

Did he promise to keep going until he couldn't go any further?

Was the situation at that time considered impossible to continue?

Iruma Hibiki asked himself.

Then at this moment he got a negative answer.

It's definitely not.

At that time, he promised Chihaya Aine, but in fact it was more about——

escape.

Escape from the place where he would see the shadow of Nagasaki Sushi countless times.

Escape from the pain encountered in reality.

To escape every night of returning home in Shimokitazawa which would make me feel uncomfortable.

Because of his own pain and cowardice, he chose to condone Chihaya Aine to hurt Ijichi Kouka at that time, and even comforted himself in his heart by saying, "This is also a good thing for Ijichi."

And in the final analysis——

"Iruma-san, even though the band has disbanded, we're still friends, right? Feel free to contact me if you need any help."

"You must cheer up, there will definitely be opportunities for us to perform together in the future."

"Actually, when I first made this decision, I hadn't made up my mind..."

Yes, even for Chihaya Aine, who took the initiative to propose this plan, it was not easy.

"Chihaya-san."

"Ok?"

"If I had rejected your proposal at that time, would you have chosen to continue the band?"

Iruma Hibiki asked softly.

……

Chihaya Aine opened her mouth at that moment, and then the smile on her face disappeared for a while.

"do not know."

"But if you had rejected my proposal back then, Iruma-san, I wouldn't know what I would have done. Actually, I made a huge mistake from the very beginning. Seeing Iruma-san and Ijichi-san now, I'm even more convinced of this. So, in order to make it up to everyone, I felt that I was the only one who could initiate the band's disbanding."

In the end, Iruma Hibiki only got this answer, and in the end, Chihaya Aine had a bright smile that was obviously painful.

So, at this moment, Iruma Hibiki was faced with Crychic's invitation—

His heart was filled with guilt towards Ichichi Hongxia, and he didn't even know how to face her.

13 Iruma Hibiki and the sense of distance after being tricked into leaving his home

[Because of something that's bothering me, I've started playing guitar again. However, I'm very sorry that I still can't give you a definite answer right now, Toyokawa-san. If possible, please put me aside and find a guitarist who is more suitable for Crychic.]

Iruma Hibiki replied to Toyokawa Shoko at the perfect time in the early morning, and then he began to prepare to go out.

Today he was going to meet with Goto Ichiri and then solve her summer homework problem as usual.

In the final analysis, Xiu Gao actually didn't have much summer homework, and it wasn't difficult at all.

But Lu Ba`9a dirty%8 Lingsi another noon r——

In the previous final exam, Goto Ichiri, the genius guitarist and guitar hero himself, scored a perfect 10.

By the way, the full score is 250 points.

So for her, the cruelty of summer homework can be seen.

[Eh!!! Iruma-san and Goto-san had a study session without informing me!]

However, early in the morning, when greeting Kita as usual, Iruma Hibiki received a somewhat intense response from Kita.

"But Goto-san's grades are really bad, so I'll pay attention to that from now on! If Iruma-san is having trouble handling it, please feel free to contact me. I'm also very busy, but if Goto-san is busy, I'm happy to help!"

Afterwards, Kita sent an emoticon with stars in his eyes.

Even the prototype of this expression is an acquaintance of Iruma Hibiki - Toyama Kasumi.

Naturally, Iruma Hibiki, who had been with Kita for a while, realized Kita's little plan at the moment.

If Iruma-san and Goto-san could spare more time to make music, I could listen to songs like that every day.

Sure enough, Kita's idea did have its own purpose.

Even if you have more free time, music won't just come your way.

Iruma Hibiki reminded gently.

After all, it would be bad to give Kita hope here.

From now on, he and Goto Ichiri will face harsh pressure to update their work.

Let him be spared from such things.

"Ah... I know. Actually, I don't mean to embarrass you, Iruma-san, or Goto-san. It's just that we're already friends, right? So, I thought I could be of some help to you all!"

The screen of Iruma Hibiki's phone suddenly became dazzling, and then like a laser, Kita's sunlight energy was completely released from the phone screen.

The situation was not brought under control until Hibiki Iruma painfully closed the chat history between the two of them.

Almost the same as Goto Ichiri.

In fact, Iruma Hibiki has no way to deal with Kita, who is sunny and cute and can almost be said to be the epitome of JK.

[One hour left——]

On the long train, after a long time, Hibiki Iruma sent a message to Ichiri Goto.

【I'm ready! 】

"Don't be so nervous, but by the way, where was the place Goto-san agreed to meet? Was it some obscure little shop?"

Hibiki Iruma asked doubtfully.

After all, a drive of more than two hours seemed unbelievable to him. In his impression, he had never been to such a far place except for traveling.

【My home.】

Ok?

When the reply came, Iruma Hibiki was stunned.

Also took some time to think.

Is that a FamilyMart? Haha, I don't see any such convenience stores around here on the map, but there seems to be one on the next block. Is the map wrong?

……

[Yes, yes! The meeting place is FamilyMart!]

Goto Ichiri explained hurriedly.

But soon, Iruma Hibiki realized it.

It's not that Goto Ichiri made a typo.

And after all, text jokes like "my home" and "the whole family" only exist in Chinese. Of course, there is no similarity between these two words in Japanese.

but?

When you are invited to a place, do you usually choose your home directly?

Iruma Hibiki was a little distressed.

In fact, he was not prepared at all to visit Goto's residence.

He hadn't brought any gifts or contacted me beforehand, so it was really rude to come visit so suddenly.