Machida exhaled before sliding a document across the table.
"This is an updated contract addendum, it's still the same as the one you signed before. Take a look."
"Thanks."
When it came to contracts, no matter how good a relationship was, one had to be cautious.
Utaha blinked in confusion.
Sure, she was happy to be included, but
Could they not be so vague with their conversation?
What the heck were they even talking about?!
She might as well not have been listening at all!
Damn cryptic business talk!
As Utaha silently ground her teeth in frustration, Akifumi carefully reviewed the document.
Aside from the company name, everything was identical to the previous contract.
Without hesitation, he signed his name and handed it back.
"Thank you for your help, Machida-san."
"Well, it's really thanks to your outstanding work. Otherwise, the higher wouldn't even think to publishing it overseas."
Oh!
So that's what this was aboutoverseas distribution...
"Waitoverseas distribution?!" Feeling two sets of eyes suddenly on her, Utaha's face flushed.
She quickly stammered, "S-Sorry! Just pretend I'm not here. Please, continue."
But despite her words, her eyes gleamed with barely concealed envy.
Akifumi chuckled. "I'm sure Senpai's work will reach that level someday too."
"Exactly!" Machida chimed in. "No need to be jealous, Shi-chan. This guy's just lucky enough to have a head start. If you stay focused, you'll surpass him in no time!"
'Wow, so now I'm just a stepping stone?' Akifumi chuckled to himself but didn't take offense.
After all, his update schedule could be summed up in two words: pure chaos.
He just wrote whatever, whenever.
There was even a chance he'd stop writing light novels altogether.
So technically, Machida wasn't wrong.
With business wrapped up, Akifumi prepared to leave.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be"
Before he could finish, Utaha suddenly cut in.
"Akifumi-kun" Startled by her intensity, Akifumi turned to her questioningly.
Taking a deep breath, Utaha met his gaze with utmost seriousness.
"For my new manuscript... I'd like you to read it."
Akifumi blinked in surprise before breaking into a smile.
"If that's the case, then I'd be happy to. But wouldn't that go against company policy?"
Machida shook her head. "Akifumi-sensei is part of the company too. It's no big deal."
With that reassurance, Akifumi nodded.
"Then, I'll be in your care, Senpai."
Machida glanced between the two and sighed internally.
'This two really is a mess.'
[209] The Story Creation Contest! Theme: "Life"!!
Kasumigaoka Utaha reached into her back and pulled out a neatly prepared manuscript.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she spoke up somewhat sheepishly:
"Um... Machida-san, could you help me make a copy of this?"
'Oh? So now it's "Machida-san" when you need a favor, but when you don't, it's just "that old hag"?'
"No problem."
Machida Sonoko took the manuscript, flashed an apologetic smile at Akifumi, and then left the room.
With her departure, an odd silence filled the air, tinged with an inexplicable awkwardness.
"Akifumi-kun." Utaha was the first to break the silence.
Akifumi turned to her, puzzled.
"Are you aware of the biggest event currently trending in the industry?"
The biggest event?
Akifumi blinked in confusion.
His online activities were almost entirely limited to gaming, with little to no attention paid to industry news.
Other than the initial research he did when first stepping into this field, he hadn't kept up with any recent developments.
Seeing his reaction, Utaha let out a sigh, her expression practically screaming, I knew it.
Akifumi scratched his head. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Not really."
Utaha shook her head, though her face carried a hint of exasperation. "It's just that... you really don't seem like someone from the industry. I mean, you even managed to overlook such a major event."
"..."
Why does everyone insist on speaking in riddles?
Can't they just get to the point already!?
Whether she had read his mind or simply decided to stop teasing, Kasumigaoka finally explained:
"I'm talking about the Story Creation Contest. You've at least heard of that, right?"
Akifumi furrowed his brows, sifting through his memories. A moment later, realization dawned on his face.
The Story Creation Contestheld once every four years.
It revolves around storytelling, with participants crafting narratives based on a given theme!
And that theme? It varied widely.
The contest placed no restrictions on genrewhether it was anime-inspired, a drama-style screenplay, or even the main storyline of a game, as long as it fit the theme, it was fair game!
Because of this incredible diversity, the contest had always enjoyed massive popularity, drawing countless fans every time it was held.
Not to mention the lucrative rewards. Even well-established creators found it hard to resist participating.
Four years ago, back when he was just a middle schooler, Akifumi had been obsessed with the contest.
He had followed it religiously whenever he had the chance!
Many of the best stories born from the competition were later developed into full-fledged works, thanks to investments from major companies.
However, while some adaptations lived up to expectations, many ended up being huge disappointments.
At the time, he hadn't fully understood why. But now, he knew all too well.
The main issue lay in the contest's structure.
Participants weren't expected to produce a fully fleshed-out work.
Given the time constraints, it was impossible to craft a complete story from start to finish.
Instead, contestants had to focus on presenting an engaging, well-structured concept.
To showcase their ideas in the most compelling way possible, many included their most exciting scenes, highlighted key characters, added memorable dialogue, and incorporated striking visuals.
Because of this approach, while the overall story might not always be top-tier, the fragments shown to the audience were carefully curated to be extremely captivating!
Beyond that, the heavy involvement of corporate interests was another major factor in why adaptations often fell short.
Once investors stepped in, the story's direction could easily be altered, diverging significantly from the creator's original vision.
As he recalled all this information, Akifumi finally spoke:
"So... the Story Creation Contest is happening again?"
Hearing the hint of surprise in his voice, Utaha couldn't help but smile.
'Now that's the reaction of a true industry professional!'
After all, with the prestige and rewards at stake, no passionate storyteller could afford to ignore this event!
"That's right." Utaha nodded. "The preliminary theme this year is 'Life,' and the deadline is the end of June."
"The top 128 entries will be announced in mid-July, followed by elimination rounds from 64 to 32, then 16 to 8, and finally the grand championship round!"
The theme is... Life?
"Well, that's quite the coincidence."
Thinking about the project he was currently working on, Akifumi felt a strange sense of irony.
"Akifumi-kun, are you planning to participate?" Utaha's gaze burned with anticipation. "If it's you, I have no doubt you'll achieve great results!"
Her expression was that of an unabashed fangirl.
Akifumi let out a small chuckle. "I had no idea you had such high expectations of me, Senpai."
"But since this is a themed contest, I can't say I'm too confident."
Hearing this, Utaha nodded thoughtfully.
"That's true."
The biggest challenge of a themed contest was aligning with the assigned topic.
Even if Akifumi submitted masterpieces like Puella Magi Madoka Magica or Steins;Gate, they would still be rejected if they didn't fit the theme.
The contest's unpredictability was what made it so intriguing!
"But judging from your tone, Akifumi-kun... it sounds like you're going to enter?"
Akifumi smiled. "When an opportunity this interesting comes up, how could I possibly miss it?"
This wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decisionit was a carefully considered one.
His serialized works, WorldEnd and Your Lie in April, were still running in magazines, while Akame ga Kill! was already published as a standalone volume.
Given this workload, launching another full-length manga series anytime soon was unrealistic.
But this contest? It presented a unique opportunity!
By participating, he could boost his popularity and expand his fanbase.
A higher profile meant increased sales for his existing works!
And if his new contest piece turned out to be a hit, demand from fans could potentially fast-track its adaptation.
Even setting all of that aside
The grand prize alone was worth hundreds of millions of yen.
Winning would cement his industry status, allowing him to negotiate better publishing terms.
With so many benefits, why would he ever pass up this chance?
Sure, the competition would be tough, but that was what made it exciting!
After all
Isn't that what storytelling is all about?
[210] Utaha's High Expectations!
"Tch."
"Am I interrupting your little moment here?"
The door swung open from the outside, revealing Machida Sonoko, who clicked her tongue in annoyance.
She glanced at the two, who had somehow gotten closer than when she had left the room.
The displeasure on her face likely stemmed from memories of her own youth being stirred by the scene before her.
"Cough, cough." Kasumigaoka Utaha choked on her coffee, caught off guard.
For a guy, moments like these were usually a win, but unnecessary misunderstandings were best avoided.
Akifumi chuckled and clarified, "You're mistaken. We were just discussing the upcoming Story Creation Contest."
"Oh, that!"
Machida's eyes lit up in realization, then she smiled. "Come to think of it, our company is actually one of the sponsors."
"Seriously!?"
"Yes, but as a sponsor, we have no involvement in the competition's proceedings or theme selection. So if you were hoping to gather some insider information, Akifumi-sensei, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Akifumi rolled his eyes. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
"My apologies," Machida said with a sheepish smile. "I just couldn't help but recall some past experiences, which made me react a bit strongly."
Hearing about the contest brought back memories of four years ago, before she became an editor-in-chief.
Back then, several authors she managed participated in the event.
Once they learned she had no insider information to offer, they switched to another publishing house within a month or two.
That was when she decided to stop treating every author under her care equally.
Shaking off those thoughts, Machida grinned. "If you're planning to participate, Akifumi-sensei, this year's contest is bound to be exciting."
Akifumi rolled his eyes again. "You're overestimating me."
"Overestimating?"
Considering that he had created works like Madoka Magica, WorldEnd, Steins;Gate, Anohana, and Your Lie in April, there was no way that was an overstatement.
In fact, any of those stories could have easily won the championship if they matched the contest's theme!
But rather than pressing the point, Machida simply shook her head and changed the subject. "Alright, enough small talk."
She handed over a manuscript. "Here's Shi-chan's draft, Akifumi-sensei."
"Then I won't hold back."
Akifumi took the manuscript and immediately began reading.
Seeing this, Machida also found a seat and started reviewing her own copy.
Meanwhile, Utaha, who had been nonchalant moments ago, suddenly tensed up. Her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt under the table.
With every turn of the page, time had never felt this agonizingly slow.
An Hour Later
"Phew."
Akifumi let out a satisfied sigh as he set the manuscript down.
Machida followed suit almost simultaneously.
"Well?" Utaha asked anxiously.
Akifumi glanced at Machida, clearly signaling that this was the editor's role to judge, not his as an outsider.
"It's amazing. I'd even call it perfect," Machida said, giving Utaha a thumbs-up. "You can publish it anytime."
"Phew"
Hearing such affirmation, Utaha finally relaxed. Her tense expression softened, and her whole body unwound.
But
"What does Akifumi-kun think?" she asked expectantly.
What kind of response would he give? Would he recognize her effort?
In this moment, Utaha was like a girl yearning for her idol's approval.
"It's absolutely captivating. As a reader, I couldn't help but be completely immersed in it," Akifumi said with a smile. "As expected of senpai, even I'm not confident I could surpass this."
Utaha's face lit up with joy, but she quickly pouted and shot him a playful glare. "You're just trying to flatter me!"
"Flattery? That's not something I do."
"As a writer, I'm fully aware of the gap between my work and WorldEnd," she admitted.
Akifumi shook his head. "Different genres have their own fitting styles. If your novel had the same tragic tone as WorldEnd, that would be downright terrifying, wouldn't it?"
"This novel, which focuses on heartwarming romance, is undoubtedly an outstanding work in its genre. Even I have a lot to learn from it."
"At the very least, the first volume is at that level."
At some point, a faint blush had appeared on Utaha's cheeks. Avoiding his gaze, she shyly muttered, "I I see."
"Sorry for misjudging you earlier."
Akifumi simply smiled. "It's fine."
'Tch.' Machida frowned. 'How did a manuscript review turn into a romantic scene?'
'This sickeningly sweet atmosphere! The stench of romance is unbearable!'
Still, as someone committed to being a supporting character, she delivered the perfect assist.
"Just as Akifumi-sensei said, there's no doubt about the quality of this work!"
"So, Shi-chan, you should have more confidence in yourself!"
"Understood!" Utaha nodded seriously, then looked at them with gratitude. "Thank you both so much!"
Machida rolled her eyes. "I am your editor. This is my job, you know."
Akifumi waved dismissively. "I didn't do much. Just shared my thoughts after reading it."
"If anything, I should be the one thanking you two for letting me experience such a great story."
Saying that, Akifumi checked his phone11:28 AM.
With an apologetic smile, he said, "It's already this late. If there's nothing else, I should be heading out."
