Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Iruma?"

Ijichi Hongka raised her head after hearing Iruma Hibiki's name, and the alienation and indifference she had just pretended to have disappeared a little, turning into worry.

"Yes, Hibiki has been acting strange lately. Do you know what happened, Ijichi-san?"

Ijichi Kouka thought about what Nagasaki Motoyo said.

Something's wrong with Iruma Hibiki?

Have it?

In fact, Ijichi Hongka felt that Iruma Hibiki had improved a lot recently. In fact, just now when she was buying a drink at the intersection, she happened to see Iruma Hibiki walking towards the station.

At that time, Iruma Hibiki was so focused on looking at her phone that she almost bumped into a telephone pole. Fortunately, she reacted suddenly.

Of course, such a clumsy thing and her reminder floating in the sunset and covered by the noise were just accidents. At least in the eyes of Ijichi Hongxia at that time, when Iruma Hibiki was walking on the street, the smile on his face was very bright, just like when she first met him.

Something's wrong?

Have it?

"I don't think there's anything wrong with the group."

So Yidi knew that Hongxia was honest and responded calmly.

But after responding like this, her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws, and she felt a little concerned.

"Can you be more specific, Shigaraki-san?"

"Well, actually—his voice has been ignoring me."

"Shigasaki-san!"

Even Ijichi Hongxia's voice was a little loud at this moment.

"..."

She wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a word. Her face turned red, and all she could see was her anger and bulging cheeks, but she couldn't utter a single harsh word.

"I don't want to deal with you anymore!"

Then Ijichi Hongxia ran away.

"Wait, Ijichi-san, did I say something mean? I apologize! I really care about what happened to Hibiki, so could you please tell me?"

"I……"

"I heard someone sent a love letter to Xiang, so I'm very sad, very sad..."

-

Being pulled back, Ijichi Hongxia had to stay where she was.

She had absolutely no idea what to do.

Nagasaki Suyo was more clingy and troublesome than she had imagined.

But Ijichi Kouka actually knew what she mentioned, or rather, she heard it from Yamada Ryo.

Of course, the word "heard" is not very rigorous.

Actually——

It's not at all what I've heard.

Yamada Ryoyou secretly took a photo of Iruma Hibiki at that time. He looked surprised, panicked and helpless. He probably used 10-shot continuous shooting and pressed the record button several times in a row.

The captured picture is very clear. God knows how Yamada Ryo hid the shutter sound.

In short, Yamada Ryo secretly took photos of Iruma Hibiki at that time, and of course, afterward, Ijichi Nikka watched her delete the photos that she had intended to use as an excuse to borrow money.

So, Ijichi Hongxia was actually not unfamiliar with this matter.

And from Yamada Ryo, Ijichi Hongxia actually knew the follow-up, so she turned her head and looked at Nagasaki Suyo.

"Who did Nagasaki-san learn about this?"

In Ijichi Kouka's opinion, very few people knew that Iruma Hibiki had received a love letter.

Apart from her and Yamada Ryo, there is probably no one else.

Therefore, Nagasaki Suyo's source of information is somewhat questionable——

"I heard it while chatting with Hibiki."

"If you care so much, why not just ask the person himself?"

"Because Hibiki didn't tell me, that's why—"

Nagasaki Sushiro looked at Ichichi Hongxia with a worried and pleading look.

"If Iruma won't tell you, then I can't tell you either. Shigaraki-san, just give up."

"Not at all?"

The atmosphere was silent for a while.

In the end, Ijichi Nijika looked at Nagasaki Suyo, who looked pitiful and almost in tears, and finally softened her heart.

"Why did you lie to Iruma?"

Then Ijichi Hongxia asked.

"I'll tell you the reason, Ijichi-san, so can you tell me about Hibiki?"

Nagasaki Suyo chose not to respond directly, but asked quickly.

As for Ijichi Hongxia, she actually softened her heart a little. Although she did not intend to respond directly to Nagasaki Suyo, she still told Nagasaki Suyo——

"Actually, Iruma has no intention of falling in love."

She said so.

Hibiki Iruma's attitude towards love is no secret.

And in Ijichi Hongxia's opinion, the reason why such things could be said was probably because she felt that this might make Nagasaki Suyo a little more sober at the moment.

And she could let go of her clinging attitude.

"Did Iruma-san refuse?"

"That's it."

It was not until the end that Nagasaki Suyo looked obviously relieved.

After all, the owner of the love letter was actually herself.

But obviously, such things must not be said now.

34 The Melancholy of Nagasaki Suyo

Since Hibiki Iruma chose to reject the love letter from an unknown source, does this mean that she still has a chance?

Nagasaki Suyo thought so and felt a lot more at ease.

Her recent troubles were like a tsunami, sweeping over the waves of her heart, so much so that she even had this feeling -

I will never laugh again.

Roughly so.

It's like the day when my mother comes back, which used to make me happy.

Days in the wind band.

In fact, Nagasaki Suyoto is no longer as focused and happy as she once was.

But it's empty.

It's as if something is missing.

Occasionally, she would gently hold her hand.

What was it like to be led by Iruma Hibiki? Nagasaki Suyo pondered.

In fact, she was not completely ignorant of this.

There is a very clear scene in her memory. On a night in Ikebukuro, or on the busy streets of Shimokitazawa, when Hibiki Iruma held her hand, he would always lower his head and look at a loss.

He liked to pinch her index finger. Perhaps because of her little habit, the skin on her right index finger was a little harder, but of course not to the extent of having calluses.

Hibiki Iruma usually walks very fast and takes big steps, just like a boy of his age should be, very active and lively, and he has good physical strength.

But when I walk with her, I always walk slowly and with some effort to match her, and I always take care of her.

He protected her as if she were some precious treasure.

When there are cars on the side of the road, they will walk to the outside.

When the wind blows hard, it will block her way.

When the two of them sat on the sofa together, he would be cautious and didn't know how to get close to her. As soon as she approached, he would subconsciously shrink back, and then reveal a contented silly smile.

Such details -

Nagasaki Suyo can always recall every detail of this, as if the warmth of that time will always remain in her heart.

Isn’t this the happiness of [home] and [band]?

but--

[Hey, this is very interesting. Sushi, just do what you want.]

I haven't been wanting to go out much lately because I've been practicing guitar.

[Ah... Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore your message. I was just busy. Didn't I tell you yesterday? I'm currently training at a guitar intensive and it's been very tiring, so I might not be able to reply on time.]

This is the news about both of them recently.

Nagasaki Suyo felt uneasy.

Feeling neglected.

Feeling perfunctory.

She tossed and turned in bed in a state of anxiety until her underwear was rubbed off and hung on her arms. The straps and buckles left red marks on her chest and the outside of her arms, causing a slight sting. Only then was Nagasaki Suyo surprised to find that a long time had passed.

She was waiting for Hibiki Iruma.

So disappointed.

So much so that I am becoming more and more worried.

Speaking of which——

Hibiki is very popular.

Sometimes Nagasaki Suyo would think so too.

I don't know when it started, but there are more beautiful girls around Iruma Hibiki.

At the beginning, it was just Ijichi Nijika, Chihaya Aine, Goto Ichiri and others.

There are only these three people who have contact information for Iruma Hibiki. What about now?

Toyokawa Shoko, and a lot of fans——

"ring……"

After silently reciting Xiang's name and experiencing loneliness day after day, Nagasaki Suyo sat up.

Her phone's search history stopped at the post, "My husband is cheating on me. I'm planning to catch him. Given your profession, can you tell me what you can do?"

The responses below are varied.

For example, there is——

[I work at a funeral home and can help with the farewell ceremony.]

[Oh, my family makes custom coffins. If you need any, please contact me—]

[Here is a lawyer who can help you with the lawsuit after you get rid of your husband.]

[Eh? Wait, I'm just a clerk...ah, maybe I can say thank you for your patronage and keep going when you buy bleach, ma'am?]

[Thank you everyone, I have successfully caught the adulterer and am currently preparing for a divorce.]