Iruma-san wants to win the Akutagawa Prize

"Even though I don't know anything about the past, I could tell from Iruma-san's shouts and the band's closing song—"

"Iruma-san, it's okay if you want to cry. I'm sorry, I was only thinking about myself in many things before."

Shoko Toyokawa lowered her head and handed her handkerchief to Hibiki Iruma.

It was a white handkerchief with delicate gold iris embroidery.

"As for me, I want to hear your solo, the one missing from that song, more than Iruma-san staying in Crychic."

"So, if Iruma-san wants to go back and end the band, that's fine."

"Aha--"

Toyokawa Shoko let out a strange cry.

Then he suddenly sat next to Iruma Hibiki.

It's dirty here.

This practice is also somewhat indecent.

It was as if the expensive skirt was a consumable item and she didn't cherish it at all.

But Toyokawa Shoko wanted to do this at this moment.

"Although I knew that being in a band was a romantic thing and the music was interesting, but—"

Toyokawa Shoko paused.

"It wasn't until I saw the bond between the band and Iruma-san that I realized that deciding to form a band was a great decision. I will never regret it, absolutely not."

She said to Iruma Hibiki with a smile.

"Iruma-san..."

Then, of course, he awkwardly revealed his true feelings.

"Will you go back to finishing the band?"

Then she asked the question that was very important to her at the moment.

After all, no matter how you look at it, the bond between Iruma Hibiki and the band is...

It was far beyond her imagination.

Therefore, rather than thinking about her own things, Toyokawa Shoko hoped that Hibiki Iruma could find his own music and shock her again like he did just now.

"what--"

Iruma Hibiki wanted to say something.

But the sound coming out of his throat was that of crying.

correct,

He knew why he ran away.

Because of that song.

The song sung by Ijichi Nikka, Yamada Ryo, and Goto Ichiri.

If music could be translated into language.

That's probably -

【Thank you. I will never forget that we once met. Goodbye.】

That silent interlude.

What is sung is a helpless farewell in which no one has done anything wrong.

as well as--

blessing.

41 I won't let you go

Hibiki Iruma stepped onto the soft carpet, moving forward cautiously. The awkward posture he had shown a few minutes ago was now gone, leaving only a sense of helplessness and—

A slight distress.

After all, even though he would probably never forget the shock he felt from Goto Ichiri's performance, the intense overflowing emotions had actually dissipated a lot after dozens of minutes.

And now, what troubled him was probably Toyokawa Shoko, who was walking in front of him, holding his wrist tightly as if she was afraid that he would run away.

Yes.

Hibiki Iruma was brought back to the Toyokawa family by Shoko Toyokawa.

In a huge and luxurious mansion.

After all, there are gaps among people from wealthy families.

Toyokawa Shoko's level of being a lady is truly top-notch and terrifying.

That's why she—

Hibiki Iruma distracted himself by thinking about complicated things.

After all, being dragged home by a girl by the wrist was a bit cowardly and a bit subtle, and it always felt like a scene that he would occasionally dream about.

But at this moment, Shoko Toyokawa was serious.

Hibiki Iruma was pulled by Shoko Toyokawa through the huge front hall, around her bedroom and finally to her piano room.

Then, with a swish, the light blue curtains were drawn open, and the slightly warm sunshine after the rain sprinkled on Toyokawa Shoko's black piano.

After she uncovered the beige soft cloth on the piano and gently stroked the surface of the piano, she opened the piano lid, adjusted her skirt and sat down. Then she turned her head to look at Iruma Hibiki with a confident, innocent and adorable smile.

"Iruma-san, do you have something you want to say to everyone? If you can't express it with words, how about using music?"

“Although I haven’t been exposed to much rock music and have rarely been to livehouses, this is the spirit of rock music, right?”

Use music to convey.

Rather than language.

Iruma Hibiki pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly.

This kind of thinking is really——

Handsome.

Just like Goto Ichiri on the stage, Iruma Hibiki actually had a moment where he felt as if he were hallucinating in that runaway performance.

Goto Ichiri is no longer Goto Ichiri, but a true hero who holds up his guitar and plays with all his might.

In the guitar and singing of Ichiri Goto, Hibiki Iruma felt the raging fire, sadness, struggle, perseverance, and all kinds of complex emotions intertwined with the pictures, and finally turned into sobs and shouts.

Toyokawa Shoko is right.

As for Goto Ichiri, it is really difficult for her to express her emotions through words, but music is much easier for her.

Therefore, the performance at that time was so shocking——

Is it his turn now?

What does he have to say?

Hibiki Iruma stood on the thick carpet and looked at Shoko Toyokawa in front of him.

The scent of lavender filled his nostrils. The smell in this room was very similar to the smell on Toyokawa Shoko's body. Of course, the weather has been very hot recently, and Toyokawa Shoko's body still had some moisture on it, just like the sea salt and lavender milk tea.

It was precisely because of this that Iruma Hibiki was somewhat at a loss.

In the final analysis, the moment he entered this room, Hibiki Iruma was unable to think of anything.

His heart was completely filled with a panic feeling called a sense of distance.

Are you all sad about ending the band?

Any regrets about having to leave and start a new band?

What are your feelings towards Nagasaki Suyo?

All the sadness disappeared in the face of the strange feeling brought about by being taken directly back to his home by a girl. In short, Iruma Hibiki was in a state of tension at the moment.

And Toyokawa Shoko's suggestion to use music to convey emotions -

In fact, Iruma Hibiki was a little tempted.

After all, at this moment, he might not actually have no notes in his heart at all.

"Iruma-san seems nervous. What happened?"

Toyokawa Shoko seemed to notice that something was wrong with Iruma Hibiki, so she stood up and walked in front of him.

"Hmm... I don't think my self-absorbed behavior caused any trouble for Iruma-san, did I?"

"As for me, I couldn't just ignore someone like that, so I wanted to help you. I'm sorry, but I just realized I might not have paid enough attention to your feelings, Iruma-san."

"I'm really sorry if this bothered you, I just—"

Toyokawa Shoko paused.

But such a pause is not hesitation, nor is it a digression, it is just an emphasis and a turning point in the tone, just like the curved eyes of Toyokawa Shoko at this moment, revealing a brilliant smile like a rainbow.

"Even though I say I want Iruma-san to sing the best song, deep down, I really don't want to let him go. If I could, I'd like to have such a beautiful song all to myself and have it performed by me."

Iruma Hibiki took a step back.

And Toyokawa Shoko took another step closer.

This woman means business.

By the time Hibiki Iruma realized what had happened, it was already too late.

Yes, Iruma should not be surprised at all by Toyokawa Shoko's dedication, initiative, and planning ability in music.

"Iruma-san, it's okay if you hate me."

It doesn't matter at all.

Iruma Hibiki complained in his heart.

"I will apologize and seek your forgiveness."

Then, Toyokawa Shoko turned her head in front of him and kept playing with her curly hair hanging in front of her chest with her fingers, circling around and around.

Apparently, she didn't realize the inappropriateness of her behavior until now.

As for Hibiki Iruma—

"I didn't mean that."

He responded softly. Although the feeling of sadness had dissipated a lot, it still lingered.

"Come play and practice, Toyokawa-san."

He then extended an invitation to Toyokawa Shoko.

Although the feeling of being at a loss still existed, Iruma Hibiki was trying to overcome it. After all, if he continued to be shy, it would make Toyokawa Shoko feel uncomfortable.

Now that you are here, "adapting to local customs" is probably the most important thing.

"Yes! I want to hear your answer, Iruma-san."

Toyokawa Shoko quickly ran to her piano and left in front of Iruma Hibiki, jumping around like a child playing in a sea of flowers.

It was not until she returned to the piano that she suddenly became clean and elegant.

"I've already composed the music for Iruma-san's lyrics. Do you want to play that? If it's a new song, that's totally fine too. Iruma-san can just hum it once, and I can probably put some piano music in there, or maybe—"

Shoko Toyokawa gave up half of the seat.

"If Iruma-san knows how to play the piano, you can try playing the main melody, and I'll add the chords."

Iruma Hibiki stood still.

After a long time, he sighed.

After all, if he said that he just saw Toyokawa Shoko fainting, wouldn't he feel ashamed and embarrassed?

With a hint of distress, Iruma Hibiki didn't know how to look directly at Toyokawa Shoko.

only--

A huge warmth and intense emotion welled up in his heart.