Yet, as the story unfolded, his depth and maturity became increasingly captivating.
His tsundere-like reluctance to show concern.
His indifferent facade, masking a determination to investigate in his own way.
And his unwavering commitmenteight years spent chasing the truth.
All these elements made him irresistibly compelling.
Of course, the other characters had their own charm as well.
But weaving these strong personalities together into a cohesive narrative was no easy task.
Scriptwriting wasn't just about writing out episodic events.
First, the characters had to be established.
Then, the story had to highlight their unique appeal.
Only then would the story itself shine.
The two were not separate but mutually reinforcing.
That was why Akifumi had been hesitatinghe was trying to decide where to begin.
Absentmindedly spinning his pen, he stared at the words in front of him, replaying the story in his mind.
"Forensic science... the future..."
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.
His stalled thoughts immediately sprang back to life!
'Why... do I have to start from a character?'
Unnatural, every story takes place within the Unnatural Investigation Lab.
It all begins there.
Then why not use that as the core and expand outward from there?
His lips curled into a smile.
He picked up his pen.
"Forensic science is an essential discipline in a nation governed by law. A country that neglects forensic science is a country without justice."
"The dead do not lie."
"We speak for those who can no longer speak. We uncover the truths they never had the chance to tell. We bring closure to the living, and justice to the dead."
"Only about 10% of deaths in this world follow the natural orderbirth, aging, illness, and death. The remaining 90%? Accidents, murders, suicides, epidemics..."
"This is, "Unnatural""
[231] A Deep Reverence for Life
It might not have seemed like much time had passed, but from the moment the competition started until Akifumi wrote those few lines on the blackboard, ten minutes had already slipped by.
Some viewers, seeing his lack of movement, had wandered off to other livestreams before eventually returning.
"Just askingdid I accidentally tune into a 'Thinker' livestream?"
"Ten minutes in and the guy still hasn't moved If I hadn't checked out other streams and seen that some contestants haven't even started brainstorming yet, I'd be yelling at my screen by now!"
"Writing a script really isn't easy, especially for a medical drama."
"The first thing that came to my mind was a romantic comedy"
"Wait, he's moving! Look, the old rascal's finally writing something!!"
But just as the excitement started building, Akifumi stopped writing again, barely two minutes later.
Viewers stared at the blackboard, puzzled by the disjointed phrases.
"These lines seem impactful, but why do they feel so disconnected?"
"Aside from the last two, I don't see how these sentences relate to each other at all."
"So, uh is this how scriptwriting works?"
Meanwhile, ten minutes was more than enough time for Kanae and the others to take a tour of the other livestreams.
Since the competition had just begun, most contestants were still getting into the flow. Some were lounging on sofas, smoking and contemplating ideas.
Others were glued to their screens, frantically gathering research. A few paced back and forth, lost in thought.
But what stood out the most?
Barely ten contestants had even started writing.
And among those who had, their opening approaches were unremarkable.
Some focused on general fields like surgery or internal medicine, while others narrowed in on specialized areas, throwing in medical jargon to sound sophisticated.
But none of them broke out of conventional thinking.
If Akifumi hadn't introduced the unexpected "forensic science" angle, perhaps the judges would have found these attempts somewhat interesting, given the time constraints.
But after being blown away by the sheer novelty of his concept, the rest paled in comparison.
So, naturally, they found themselves circling back to Akifumi's stream.
And when they saw the new lines he had written on the board, the judges' eyes lit up.
"Looks like Contestant 13 already has a solid vision," Nojima Shinji mused.
Kanae, having caught a glimpse of the live chat, curiously asked, "Nojima-sensei, the words on Contestant 13's board don't seem to connect much. Is this a common approach in scriptwriting?"
"Absolutely," Nojima affirmed. "Inspiration is fleeting. By the time you try to grasp it, it's often gone. That's why, when a writer has an idea, no matter how fragmented, it's best to jot it down immediately."
"Later, those ideas might find their way into the story."
"I see" Kanae nodded in understanding before smiling. "With even the title already decided, it looks like Contestant 13 is far ahead of the competition."
"Unnatural."
"The title fits the theme perfectly," Yuukawa remarked. "After all, a natural death wouldn't require a forensic scientist."
Kanae nodded, about to respond, when Akifumi's hand moved again.
"It seems like Contestant 13 has a lot on his mind right now," she commented.
The audience eagerly watched the screen.
Having written those impactful lines, Akifumi now had a rough outline forming in his mind.
"If this story revolves around forensic science, the characters need a proper setting.
"A government organization would be too restrictive, lacking warmth and humanity. So, the protagonists should work in a privately-run institution with official credentials.
"And since the story is called Unnatural, the setting should naturally beThe Unnatural Research Institute."
Muttering to himself, Akifumi wrote the name on the board.
"A private institution needs a directorsomeone responsible for running it.
"For now, let's call them 'A' as a placeholder."
After a brief pause, his hand continued moving.
"If 'A' isn't an outsider, then they must have previously worked in the medical or legal fields.
"Why did they switch careers? Age? Moving into a more administrative role? A profound experience that changed their perspective? Or perhaps"
He scribbled several possible reasons onto the board and started working through them.
"Personality-wise, since the institute operates on government funding, 'A' would be cautious about finances. However, since they founded this place themselves, they wouldn't show that concern outwardly."
"That should be enough detail for now, considering 'A' isn't a central character."
"Nextthe staff of the Unnatural Research Institute!"
"They'll be the true protagonists of this story."
"First, let's define one key trait: The lead character must have an intense passion for forensic science."
"They should see this profession as incredibly meaningful, something that fuels their dedication."
"But why?"
His hand hesitated briefly before picking up speed again.
"Forensic scientists only deal with the dead."
"But performing autopsies doesn't mean they lack respect for the deceased. On the contrary, because they constantly interact with the dead, they develop a profound reverence for life."
And
"An unshakable love for life itself."
[232] Approaching Death, Understanding the Meaning of Life!
"Although a forensic pathologist values and cherishes life, since this is the protagonist we're talking about, their defining trait needs to be even stronger"
Akifumi paused briefly, his pen hovering over the board before pressing down once more.
"They must treasure life even more than the average forensic expert!"
As these words appeared on the blackboard, viewers in the livestream watched with curiosity. Kanae, reading along with the audience, couldn't help but voice her doubts:
"Nojima-sensei, didn't Contestant 13 say they wanted to add a stronger defining trait? But isn't this trait kind of redundant for a forensic expert?"
"Not at all," Nojima Shinji replied with a knowing smile, shaking his head. "Different characters serve different purposes. For the protagonist of a drama, having a trait that aligns perfectly with their profession is the smartest choice."
"If a story can amplify that trait to its peak, even if the plot itself isn't particularly thrilling, a compelling protagonist alone can carry the entire show."
It's like making a medical drama where the lead character doesn't even like being a doctor, would the audience find that relatable or enjoyable? Of course not.
If they don't like being a doctor, why choose that profession? And why make them the protagonist of a medical drama?
That wouldn't create meaningful conflict; it would just feel forced.
"From this, it's clear that Contestant 13 already has a solid vision for where the story is headed."
Unaware of the discussion outside, Akifumi remained focused, his thoughts racing as he continued to write.
"Why would someone value life more than the average person?"
Love and hatred never arise without reason.
People become deeply committed to something because of the experiences they've lived through.
Madoka, growing up in a world full of love, was able to selflessly sacrifice herself in the end and ascend to godhood.
Jintan, haunted by Menma's death, withdrew from society, refusing even to attend school.
William, raised in a hopeless, post-apocalyptic world, became emotionally numb.
So then
"If someone has been extremely close to death, they would come to understand just how precious life truly is. That's why they would cherish it so deeply"
"For this role, a female character would be best. Women tend to be more emotionally sensitive and meticulous, which would add layers to her character."
"As for her name let's go with Mikoto Misumi."
"Mikoto, evoking the sound of a musical instrument, smooth and melodious. Misumisymbolizing beauty and all things good. Together, the name conveys something bright and meaningful."
"Now, why would she have been so close to death?"
"As a child, Mikoto's mother gave their entire family sleeping pills before setting fire to their home, intending for them all to die together."
"However, sensing something was off, Mikoto took a lower dose of the medication. She was the only one who survived."
"Because of this experience in her childhood, she grew up treasuring life more than anything."
Akifumi exhaled, nodding in satisfaction as he read over what he had written.
Although he could expand on why Mikoto's mother took such extreme actions, he decided against it after careful thought.
The entire concept of unnatural death exists because the world itself is filled with unnatural behaviorsleading to all sorts of tragedies.
To explain the mother's actions in detail would be like forcing an answer onto a question that was never meant to have one. Instead of adding depth, it would feel forced and unnecessary.
The why behind Mikoto's mother's actions wasn't the important part.
What truly mattered was: What kind of impact did that experience leave on Mikoto?
"Mikoto Misumiher personality: meticulous, resilient, deeply compassionate, yet cheerful and optimistic."
"She relentlessly pursues the truth and firmly believes that forensic pathology exists for the future."
"As a soon-to-be professor at a medical university, she has performed over 1,500 autopsies."
"Seeking further research opportunities, she joins the Unnatural Death Investigation Institute in April."
With these final words written, Akifumi leaned back and stretched before casually lying down on the couch, closing his eyes.
No one assumed he was taking a nap; rather, they believed he was deep in thought about the next steps of his script.
Looking at the blackboard filled with neatly organized notes, Nojima Shinji couldn't help but marvel.
"Is this what genius looks like? The speed at which he's working is unreal."
"For real?" Kanae blinked in surprise, unfamiliar with the difficulties of screenwriting.
"Of course," Kitagawa chimed in. "A story's protagonist, their personality, motivations, and goals to sets the entire tone of a drama."
"That's why the main character often goes through countless revisions before being finalized."
"You can't properly develop the plot until the protagonist's identity is fully established."
"Although Contestant 13's setup could use a little more depth, considering the time constraints, what he's done is already incredibly impressive!"
"Especially the way he tied the theme of valuing life to the idea that forensic science exists for the future. That concept alone caught my attention immediately."
Yukawa smiled. "Now I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of story Contestant 13 will present to us."
The judges weren't the only ones impressed.
Watching the livestream, every fan of Akifumi felt a surge of pride.
"That's our sensei! What did you expect?!"
"You're talking about a top-tier mangaka with multiple best-selling series! His storytelling skills were already god-tier! There's no way he'd mess this up!"
"Is he actually a wolf in sheep's clothing? Pretending to be the youngest contestant here, when in reality, he's the final boss of this whole competition?!"
"I just checked out the other livestreams Forget writing their protagonist's backstory, most of them don't even have words on their whiteboards yet!"
"Some contestants look like they're about to have a mental breakdown, while this guy is just chilling on the couch Damn. No comparison, no pain."
"I'm already miles ahead, might as well take a quick break, right?'" Truthfully, as Akifumi rested, he was already thinking about his next move.
Should I introduce Nakado Kei next? Or Rokuro?
[233] Lemon, a Reflection of Nakado Keis Life!
After a brief moment of contemplation, Akifumi had his answer.
Nakado Kei
If Rokuro's presence serves as the foundation for the story's growth, then Dr. Nakado's existence is what elevates the entire narrative, adding layers of depth and intrigue.
Having made his decision, Akifumi swiftly stood up from the couch.
Then, he picked up his pen.
"In a world where there is light, there must also be darkness."
"While Mikoto Misumi remains hopeful, embodying the beauty of life, the Unnatural Death Investigation Office has another figure"
"A man whose face is perpetually etched with indifference, whose demeanor is harsh, and whose words are biting. Even a clinical laboratory technician with 24 years of experience couldn't help but express their frustration:
