And that was to be expected.
In the face of CLANNAD's undisputed first-place ranking, any argument against it felt hollow.
That night, the fandom celebrated like never before.
But that wasn't all.
Following the announcement, CLANNAD's sales saw yet another explosive surge.
A mangaka winning first place in a novel-writing competition?
That headline alone was enough to draw massive attention.
Whether out of curiosity or genuine interest, people found themselves buying a copy at bookstores.
On top of that, many casual readerswho only cared about resultswere drawn to CLANNAD simply because it was the winner.
Reading the summary piqued their interest, and they decided to purchase the first volume.
Without a doubt, thanks to the tournament hype, CLANNAD's first volume was on track to break Akifumi's personal sales record!
Even though this volume didn't have any earth-shattering moments...
Even though the deeper, emotional layers hadn't been fully revealed yet...
This was the power of mainstream appeal!
And now that the rankings had been revealed, the date for the main competition had finally been set.
The first round would begin on July 20th!
Fans were ecstatic. The anticipation was sky-high.
And soon enough, the much-awaited day arrivedJuly 20th.
"Mugiho-kun, do your best!"
"You got this!"
Mahiru and Mashiro pumped their fists with adorable determination.
Akifumi smiled. "I'll do my best."
"That said... if they give me a topic I'm not good at, there's not much I can do."
Mahiru blinked in surprise. "There's a topic you're not good at?"
"Of course."
"I'm not some kind of all-powerful genius. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses."
Not wanting to waste any more time, Akifumi bid the two girls farewell and stepped into the car the tournament organizers had sent to pick him up.
The main event had begun.
[226] An Interesting Topic!
"Welcome to all those who've made it through the preliminaries~ Although this is just the initial round, making it here from thousands of scripts means you can proudly say to yourself, 'I did great!'"
"After all, standing here means you've already beaten out hundreds of competitors..."
With a smile on her face, the host, Kana, spoke confidently from the stage.
Down in the audience, Akifumi couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
He couldn't help but thinkthis Kana seemed eerily familiar, like someone he knew...
'Ah, yes! She looked just like Hanazawa Kana from my previous life!'
But that smile of hers was too enchantinghe could almost hear the dangerous charm in her voice.
While Akifumi was lost in thought, Kana had finished her opening speech.
Then, she smoothly transitioned to the next part.
"Now, let's welcome the three judges of this competition with a round of applause!"
Kana's fingers pointed towards a corner of the stage.
The spotlight instantly focused, and the red curtain slowly parted to reveal three figures.
Two men and a woman stepped into view.
Akifumi didn't know much about the films or TV series in this world.
So, he had no idea who these three were.
But Kana's introduction was quite helpful.
"I'm sure everyone here is familiar with our three judges, but as the host, it's my duty to introduce them. Please bear with me for a moment!"
Kana winked and playfully gave the crowd a cute look.
"This is Shinji Nojima-sensei, the creator of many famous works such as 101 Proposals, Under the Same Roof, and No Longer Human!"
As a veteran and popular screenwriter, Nojima's name was well-known to anyone in the industry!
The three works Kana mentioned were just a few of his classics, each with viewership ratings above 40%!
He had countless other famous works under his belt.
Nojima stepped forward, a faint smile on his face.
The crowd erupted into enthusiastic applause, and Akifumi could even hear whispers around him.
"They actually invited Nojima-sensei this time! Incredible!!"
"Nojima-sensei is my idol! I can't believe I'm seeing him here!!"
"And the other two judges are just as amazing as him!"
"Eriko Kitagawa!! I absolutely love Beautiful Life and Long Vacation!!"
"I prefer Kazuhiko Yukawa's Classroom of the Queen and The Witch's Condition!!"
"I can't believe the organizers managed to bring in these legends!"
Though Akifumi was totally clueless about television dramas, he could tell from the audience's reactions that these judges were important figures in the industry.
Kana continued with her introductions, presenting the other two judges:
Eriko Kitagawa and Kazuhiko Yukawa.
Every time she introduced one, the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
Akifumi used this opportunity to search for more information about the three.
To his surprise, their status in the world of screenwriting was legendary!
The works mentioned by the others were clearly nostalgic for a generationundeniable classics.
"No wonder the organizers were willing to go all out to bring these guys in!"
Kana smiled as she addressed the crowd again.
"I'm sure you've all recognized these incredible judges by now. Next, I'll be explaining the competition schedule and rules."
"Starting now, we'll have rounds for 128, 64, 32, 16, and then the final championship!"
"Every match is crucial for you!"
"The results of each round will determine your chance to advance. If you make it to the final, your previous rankings will contribute to your final score!"
"Each first-place win will earn you 5 extra points, including in the preliminaries!"
"So give it your best effort!"
The crowd listened intently.
While competition rules didn't change much from event to event, small adjustments were often made.
After all, not everyone remembers the rules clearly each time a new competition happens.
It was important to stay focused.
"Now, let's go over the competition details."
"First, in the upcoming rounds, except for the final, the scores will be based on two parts: one from the public voting and the other from the judges' scores."
"Your total score for each round will be the sum of both. The higher your score, the better your chances of advancing."
"And for the final, in addition to these two parts, your rankings in the previous rounds will also be added to your score!"
"So don't just aim to make it throughbe proactive in aiming for high scores!"
"Second, as always, there are no restrictions on the genre of the works, as long as they meet the requirements of each round's theme!"
"Third, creating a full script is a complex process, and since you'll need to complete a task in a limited amount of time, we don't expect anyone to create a complete script."
"However, we do hope your stories will be as complete as possible, as the more complete the story, the higher the potential score!"
"If you can enhance your story with other elements, such as key scenes, pivotal dialogue, or even storyboards... those small details could improve your final score!"
"Lastly, there are some absolute no-go areas. Please be mindful of them while creating your stories!"
"Now, let's welcome Nojima-sensei to announce the first challenge, from 128 to 64 competitors! Please welcome, Nojima-sensei!!"
Amid applause, Nojima Shinji walked to the front of the stage.
A staff member approached him with a tray, holding a scroll-like document.
Without much fanfare, Nojima took the scroll and unrolled it.
His face showed a hint of surprise as he quietly muttered to himself.
"This topic really is interesting..."
[227] The Unconventional Doctor
Nojima Shinji pondered for a moment before speaking up:
"Everyone, there exists a profession in this world where people work silently, without recognition. From the moment they step into their workplace each day, they are consumed by a relentless workload."
"Due to the nature of their job, their bodies are often marked with unknown fluids or carry unpleasant odors."
"From the moment they choose this career, things like stylish haircuts, well-defined muscles, fashionable outfits, and meticulous makeup become distant luxuries."
"Personal time? Forget about it."
"Night shifts, countless exams, endless research papers... even squeezing in an hour for exercise becomes a distant dream."
"Despite their grueling work, their salaries are often disappointing."
"And yet, this is a profession that commands immense respect and admiration from countless people."
"The Story Creation Tournament, The theme for the first round is"
"Doctor!"
As Nojima Shinji unfurled the scroll before the participants, the two simple yet profoundly complex characters appeared before their eyes.
"Doctor?! Isn't this just the first elimination round? Why is the theme so difficult?!"
"Is it really that hard? Feels easier than 'Life' as a theme."
"Idiot! 'Life' is way easier! No matter how you approach it, you can tie it into anything! But with 'Doctor,' that means your protagonist has to be in the medical profession!"
"Damn it! I barely know anything about doctors!"
"I'm screwed. Totally screwed."
Amidst the commotion, Akifumi remained calm.
While the theme revolved around doctors, from a storytelling perspective, that didn't necessarily mean one had to be an expert in the field.
The essence of a compelling story lies in conflict and contradiction.
Of course, having in-depth knowledge would make the writing more fluid and immersive.
But even without it, a good story could still be craftedas long as the conflicts and challenges were well-executed.
However
"This theme isn't as simple as it seems."
Akifumi subconsciously recalled Nojima Shinji's opening speech.
If anyone dismissed it as mere filler, they were gravely mistaken.
On the surface, the theme required writing about the medical profession.
But at its core, it was about exploring the meaning of being a doctor.
Sure, writing an engaging story about a doctor would earn points.
But delving into the true essence of the profession? That would secure a high score!
A slight smile played on Akifumi's lips. "Looks like luck is on my side this time."
Because he just so happened to have a story related to doctors.
Even though CLANNAD had only been presented as a draft outline, it had allowed him to unlock new narrative ideas.
Originally, he thought the doctor theme was too niche to be useful.
Yet here it was, the perfect fit for the competition!
What incredible luck!
Without much time for discussion, Kanae smiled and spoke:
"Mr. Nojima has revealed the theme, and I'm sure you all have at least some ideas forming in your minds."
"Even if you don't, don't worry. You'll have plenty of time to research."
"For now, please move to your designated writing rooms!"
"The competition will officially begin in 10 minutes!"
As Kanae finished speaking, staff members stepped forward to guide the participants to their respective rooms.
For most writers, a quiet environment was essential for creativity.
With 128 participants, each with their own writing habits, placing them all in one room would be chaotic.
They might not even get 1,000 words down by the time the deadline hit.
"Room 13, huh?" Akifumi glanced at his number tag and chuckled. "Quite the lucky number."
In Japan, 13 was often considered unlucky.
But for him, being an unlucky number for others meant it was lucky for him!
Led by the staff, Akifumi entered Room 13.
The room wasn't large, about 20 square meters, but it was well-equipped.
Notebooks, pens, a tablet, a laptop, a small blackboard
There were also various drinks and snacks.
Even cigarettes and alcohol were provided.
Seeing this, Akifumi couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Is the organizing committee trying to commit a crime?"
After all, the legal age for smoking and drinking in Japan was 20. (In this parallel world, according to the author's setting.)
If he were to partake, the provider would be the one in bigger trouble!
Of course, he had no interest in such things.
The organizers had likely included them for writers who relied on such habits during creative work.
Glancing at the room's cameras, Akifumi was momentarily curious:
"I wonder if these are already recording or if they'll start in 10 minutes?"
That curiosity lasted only a moment before he refocused on the competition.
"The competition starts in 10 minutes, but no one said I can't start researching now."
The room provided devices for research, though participants' phones had been confiscated earlier.
This measure prevented contestants from seeking outside assistance.
Using the provided tools was within the rules.
Contacting external sources was against them.
Akifumi powered on the device and typed into the search bar: "Categories of doctors."
Countless results appeared in an instant.
Scanning through them, he fell into deep thought.
Moments later, he picked up his pen and wrote two bold words in his notebook:
Forensic Doctor.
Then, right next to it, he scribbled:
7K.
Not referring to a salary of 7,000 yen, but rather the defining traits of forensic pathology:
Kiken (Dangerous), Kitanai (Dirty), Kitsui (Harsh), Kisei (Strict Regulations), Kyujitsu Nashi (No Holidays), Keshou Dekinai (No Makeup), Kekkon Dekinai (No Marriage).
All seven traits began with "K," hence the term "7K."
Akifumi's eyes glinted with determination.
A new story was already forming in his mind.
[228] Forensics, A Profession for the Future!
On the other side of the competition
Though the official start of the match was still ten minutes away, the live broadcast had already begun the moment Akifumi stepped into his assigned room. His fans flooded the livestream instantly.
"First!!"
"Wait... did I enter the wrong stream?! Why is this guy so ridiculously handsome?!"
"Did you forget about the book signing event? We already found out back then that sensei is good-looking!"
"Wait, that was real? I thought it was just an exaggeration!"
"I assumed it was just overzealous fans hyping him up, thinking he was just slightly better-looking than the average manga artist. But damn, he really is this good-looking! He's practically a celebrity!"
"A celebrity? Please, even most celebrities don't look this good!"
"And he's so young!"
"Damn it! He's handsome, talented, and young! How is life this unfair?!"
"Some people, when the heavens close a window, at least get a door left open. Some have the window shut and the door welded shut. And then there are people like himwhere heaven personally feeds them with a silver spoon!"
