Ao spoke casually as he normally did when exchanging contact details with other cla.s.smates. Hiyuki turn fidgety, and seemed to be contemplating something.
“Kazetani… I have a favour to ask.”
“Hmm, what is it?”
Ao who was holding his cell phone stood stiff for a moment. Hiyuki’s face, including the region around her mole became flushed, as she said with without reservation:
“Please teach me how to write light novels.”
Hyonomiya was too serious, so I told her ‘I will teach you everything I know’ without thinking’. Will it actually work, I didn’t research the way to write light novel before.
After having dinner, Ao sat before the desk in his room, staring at the point card given by the cafe. If he acc.u.mulates ten points, he could exchange it for a handmade desert. There was a stamp of a teacup on the digit ‘1’ of the card.
He also received a 50 yen voucher.
Under those circ.u.mstances, he arranged with Hiyuki to meet at the same cafe after school tomorrow, and he would advise Hiyuki on how to write her light novel.
I might be a screener, but I have never written a novel, and don’t know how to write a good light novel, I wonder if I will be of help. I told her that I would only be providing my personal opinions, and Hyonomiya-san said that is fine too.
── Just once is fine, I want to pa.s.s the first round of selection.
Hiyuki looked at Ao with serious eyes.
Just for one project, she hope Ao could help her.
“Yes, let’s give it a try, this seem fun.”
Ao smile and muttered.
They arranged to head for the cafe separately via email. After school was out, Hiyuki left the cla.s.sroom while Ao mulled time by chatting with his cla.s.smates a little. After turning down their invitation to idle at a fast food restaurant, he left the cla.s.sroom.
He rode his bicycle and headed for the cafe he visited yesterday.
When he opened the door, he found Hiyuki sitting at the same round table they occupied yesterday.
“Sorry, did you wait long?”
“No… I just got here too.”
Hiyuki opened her lips that had a charming mole. It was still cold, but her expression was much gentler.
When Hiyuki was in school, her eyes never met Ao. Her back was always straight, and she gave off an icy atmosphere. Ao’s cla.s.smates said: “The Ice Maiden today is also an iron wall.” “No, it should be an ice wall.”
“Ao, are you really planning to woo Hyonomiya? I advise you not to, your chest would be pierced by icicles and you will never recover.”
“A normal highschool boy being favoured by a beautiful model student can only happen in the world of light novels.”
His cla.s.smates advised him.
Ao answered that he unintentionally glanced Hyonomiya’s way a few times because she was really pretty. But he was actually thinking:
n.o.body knows, but Hyonomiya-san is someone who will restrain herself and speak in a soft voice with watery eyes. She writes stories and enter them into context, didn’t know about H-games but will write scenes about skirts flipping up and exposing striped panties.
When he thought about that, he could feel a sense of superiority in his heart.
After school was out, in the cafe that other students doesn’t frequent. The moment he met with Hiyuki alone, the sense of superiority made Ao very excited and put a spring in his steps.
Ao sat opposite Hiyuki and ordered Darjeeling tea today.
“Since you have a curfew, let’s get started.”
Ao spoke brightly while Hiyuki frowned her face a little from nervousness. She seemed to have reverted to her usual icy expression.
“Hyonomiya-san, which contest would you like to enter next?”
“... I want to enter the Eidansha’s Star Literature prize.”
“That is the first serialization I screened.”
“I-Is that so?”
The outline of Hiyuki’s face soften.
“The entry deadline is 15th July.”
“... Yes.”
“It’s mid may now, there is still about two months left. Hyonomiya-san, how long would it take you to write a ma.n.u.script?”
“Storyboarding… Will take about a week, and in terms of ma.n.u.script paper, I can write ten to fifteen pages a day… I can’t write during on non school days… So, about a month? Next would be checks and editing… I think… All of this will take a month and a half.”
“Why can’t you write on non school days?”
Ao asked and Hiyuki looked down, finding it hard to speak.
“I don’t… have a computer at home. And my grandmother… hates anime and games, so she banned me… from them. So I can’t read light novels at home…”
It was rare to see parents restricting their child from anime or games, and on top of that, it was a grandparent doing it to a grandchild in high school. Someone of her grandmother’s generation probably still thought that something like an anime negatively impacted the child’s education. That early curfew also showed that her grandmother was as strict as the rumours said.
What about Hyonomiya’s parents? They are not living together?
Ao was bothered by this, but he couldn’t ask as Hiyuki seemed troubled by this.
It appeared that this was the reason why Hiyuki spent all day in the computer lab at school. It was hard to imagine that she could only write in school. Ao thought that she was impressive to work relentlessly every day and finish the ma.n.u.script in a month.
Ao praised Hiyuki with a hearty voice, but she slumped her shoulders and said:
“Because… I don’t have anything else to do.”
She seemed to be embarra.s.sed about her answer.
“How do you print it out? Not all publishers accept electronic submission right?”
“... It would be too conspicuous to ma.s.s print in school, so I do it at a web cafe.”
“I see, you use a web cafe for electronic submission too?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
Despite her mature appearance in school, Ao couldn’t help but smile at her childish demeanour.
“Alright, let’s enter the Eidansha’s Star Literature prize with the closing date on July 15th . There are two months, more than enough time with Hyonomiya’s pace, so take it easy.”
“... Yes.”
Colour returned to Hiyuki’s cheek, and she seemed happy.
“For the next two months… I will be troubling you.”
Smooth silky brown hair fell from her shoulders as Hiyuki gave a formal bow to Ao, which made him a little embarra.s.sed.
“Me too, please take care of me for the next couple of months. Also, I said yesterday that I can only give my personal opinion, if Hyonomiya-san think it is wrong, don’t force yourself to accept it and do say it out! Ah, I want to hear your comments too!”
“... I-I will try my best.”
Hiyuki answered worryingly, unsure if she could do it.
Ao was nervous too, wondering if he could give advice on how to write a novel. He felt uneasy, but since he was asked, he had to carry on.
Cheering for himself in his heart, Ao looked at Hiyuki and asked cheerfully:
“First, what kind of story does Hyonomiya want to write about the most?”
Hiyuki looked troubled.
“Write about the most…?”
“That’s right, the most. A lot of people would take into account the features of the serialization, consider the preference of the readers and so on before deciding on the topic. This is a strategy, but thinking about it from the basics is great too.”
After reading Hiyuki’s submission, he felt a lot of places were stiff because she tried to stuff too many things into her story in the hope to attract more readers.
That’s why Ao hoped Hiyuki could write about a topic she liked.
“If an author writes something with the feeling ‘I must write about this’, the reader can feel it when they read it, and others will want to support the author. That’s why we should use ‘the things I want to write about’ as the core and decide on the setting of the characters and story, with the goal of pa.s.sing the first round of selection. I think this is an effective way of doing it.”
“Ah… Yes.”
Hiyuki nodded.
“Well then, I will ask again. Hyonomiya-san, what are the things you want to write about, no matter what?”
“Eh, Ehhh…”
Since she was thinking about it seriously, it meant there was something she wanted to write about, and a lot of them too. Even though she was unable to write at home, she still kept writing despite her constrained environment. Hiyuki could produce a work every two months, so there were definitely things she wanted to write about.
But she couldn’t judge what she wanted to write about the most.
If she could only write one work in her entire life, what would she want to write about? It was impossible to answer that immediately.
Hiyuki furrowed her brows and shut her lips with a mole besides it tightly as she pondered seriously. Her narrow brows drooped gradually, and Ao decided to help her along when he saw that.
“It’s hard to answer, isn’t it? Then write it down.”
“Hmm?”
“Take out your pen and notebook, I will then count to fifty. Hyonomiya-san, please list the things you want to write about during this time. Anything will do, please jot down as much as possible.”
“F-Fifty!?”
The time given was probably too short and made her anxious. Hiyuki took out her pencil case and notebook in a panic. She clicked her Kitefin Shark mechanical pencil and opened the notebook.
“Starting now, one, two… three…”
Without waiting for Hiyuki to calm down, he started counting. This was a method Sakutaro often use when he had writer’s block.
── Ah, I can’t think of anything~ No ideas at all. Ao~ count to fifty~
Sakutaro told Ao as he grabbed his long messy hair.
As Ao counted, Sakutaro’s finger flew all over the keyboard, typing down single words or scenes.
According to Sakutaro, thinking disorderly will dull one’s mind. So it will be better to write down everything that came to mind in a short period of time instead of thinking.
The correct answer was hidden among these words.
“Forty one, forty two…”
As if she was being pursued by Ao’s counting, Hiyuki moved the Kitefin Shark mechanical pencil in her hand swiftly. She didn’t have time to think, so she could only write down the terms that came to her mind one after another. Her pale face was flushed.
“Forty eight, forty nine… Fifty.”
After Ao finished, Hiyuki slumped her shoulders and sighed in relief, her cheeks bright red.
“Let me take a look.”
Ao leaned forth and Hiyuki offered her notebook timidly and she looked at the words as if she wanted to confirm them herself.
The two of them read the nicely written characters on the notebook.
“Alternate world, transported, reincarnation, Kitefin shark, sea, lonely, making friends, good friends, warm, gentle, daily life, love.”
As Hiyuki looked at these words, her earloops to the mole near her mouth redden.
“T-That… I just wrote… what came across my mind.”
She was probably feeling embarra.s.sed as she was showing her inner desire to others.
Ao looked at Hiyuki’s eyes and spoke cheerfully with confidence:
“This is the story Hyonomiya-san wants to write the most right now!”
Hiyuki held her breath.
Ao continued in a casual tone:
“Let’s make the setting of your new work this way. The lonely main character suddenly arrives in an alternate world, an underwater country with Kitefin Sharks, make new friends, fall in love, befriend everyone, a warm and gentle slice of life story. Is that alright, Hyonomiya-san?”
“I-Is that story… alright?”
Hiyuki asked uneasily.
“The readers will be bored if it is just a slice of life story, erm… how about writing fight scenes and dungeon adventures to create climax? That’s what the comment sheet said…”
“Hyonomiya-san, do you like writing about fight scenes?
“No… I don’t like it.”
There were scenes with fights and superpower battles in ‘The lonely me came to an alternate world, becoming the hero, demon king and the emperor of a harem paradise’; but the description was mostly done through sound effects and lacked any tension, so it didn’t fit in at all. Ao felt this was the part she tried too hard to shoehorn in.
“Then, let’s not write about fight scenes this time. The central theme of this submission is ‘the story you want to write about the most’, so don’t force yourself to write about something you are not interested in. It is true that putting in adequate battles could c.u.mulate in a climax, but it is also possible to create this effect even if you write about everyday life.”
“... How do I do that?”
“Let’s think about it next time. We will decide the main structure of the story for now. Personally, I think the main character reincarnating into a Kitefin shark is interesting, I want to read about that. Falling in love with a female shark, with his crab and anemone friends cheering him on, something like that.”
Hiyuki laughed.
Ah, she laughed...
Hiyuki’s tense expression relaxed, and smiled in a way only girls does, which made Ao’s heart race. Hiyuki used a serious voice and told Ao:
“That sounds interesting… However, I think the story Kazetani described earlier is closer to a light novel story. I want to write that, I want to write that very much.”
Hiyuki who wasn’t nervous anymore felt warm and looked really cute, which tugged even harder at Ao’s heart strings. He answered:
“Yes, that’s great.”
He nodded.
“The important thing is the novel Hyonomiya wants to write the most. I did say that it would be fine if the submission differed from the serialization, but it would be hard for an entry to a Newcomer contest to pa.s.s through the first selection if the genre differs too much. Even if it makes it into the second round, it would most likely be filtered out. If the writing is great and the story structure is sound, that would be a pity. Why would someone submit period novels or hard science fiction into a light novel contest? I really want to send them to the second round because of how complete the work was, but if I do that, the author will enter the contest in the future right? If that is so, it would be better to screen it out in the first round, that would be better for the author right? I run into such trouble sometimes.”
“Are there a lot of works… that doesn’t match the genre?”
“The contest details are usually published in popular magazines, so a wide range of readers would read it. Most of the ma.n.u.scripts from such magazines and new serializations would be messy. There would be fairy tales written completely in katakana for children, old men detailing their war experience, the thoughts on running a company written by some ceo, a love story between a forty plus woman and a twenty plus man. Ahh, also a ma.n.u.script full of photos that chronicles someone’s trip across india. Showing a Victory hand gesture in Angkor Wat, he looked really happy. After reading it, I have a deep understanding of India. There’s some who included a CD recording of a song written and sang by them with the ma.n.u.script.”
“It’s really… chaotic.”
Hiyuki muttered with her eyes open, and Ao laughed.
“Yes, I had fun reading it!”
Seeing the face of the author and the myriads of submission works made Ao really excited. He felt happy turning every page.
Hiyuki stared straight at Ao.
She looked surprised.
“Eh, although the work isn’t suitable, I still feel happy and lucky to read so many stories. But I still hope the stories would be sent to the appropriate publishers . Sometimes, the publishers would express in the memo that we should ‘select more fantasy works if possible’, or ‘prioritise easy to read school life stories’, something like that.”
“Is that… so?”
Hiyuki gulped.
So the essential criteria for pa.s.sing the first round had been predetermined before the selection, that too was shocking.
I slipped my tongue. I shouldn’t have mentioned that. Ao reflected and continued:
“From what I know, there are only two serializations that does this. Most serializations won’t be that specific for the first round of selection. There was also one time when the publisher told us to ‘give priority for school life stories’. But a submission that was centered around battles was interesting and made it to the second round of selection and won a prize, becoming a trending work. In the next contest, the point of emphasis became ‘give priority to battle theme stories’. Such things happens, so don’t be too bothered.”
“Yes… okay.”
This time, Hiyuki breathed out in relief.
“Furthermore, if you focus too much on the demand of the publisher, you won’t be able to write about things you really want to, which is the problem. Matching the genre is important, but you don’t need to shoehorn things in. If everyone write the same stories, it would be boring.”
“So, balance is important… right?”
“That’s right, Hyonomiya-san, as expected of a model student.”
“Not at all…”
Hiyuki became fidgety.
They ended the session for the day at this juncture.
“I will work hard and write a story about being transported to a kingdom of Kitefin sharks, and the everyday life of the main character.”
Her lips with a charming mole turned up in a smile, Hiyuki said with a firm expression that made Ao’s pulse accelerate. At the entrance of the cafe, she nodded politely then went in the opposite direction Ao was going in a hurry, rushing home before her curfew.
The next day, they met up at the same cafe and sat opposite each other at the round table. The two of them ordered straight away, Hiyuki picking Chrysanthemum and Ao selecting Earl Grey tea.
Their conversation became smoother on their third meeting.
“... The people of this kingdom get along well with Kitefin sharks, and would wear something like oxygen tanks and dive into the sea, commuting in the sea by riding the sharks… The main character isn’t good with riding them, and is afraid that he will be eaten… In the alternate world, he meets a kind girl and eventually get close to her. She teach him how to ride sharks, and the main character got really good at it… The Kitefin shark is cold to him at first… But would let the main character ride it willingly after some time.”
“That’s good, how about setting each island as a country? Or each island being an independent city or something.”
“Yes, that sounds great.”
The two of them brainstormed ideas as they decided on the settings, chatting about idle things in between.
“Hyonomiya-san, why did you start writing light novels?”
“During autumn in my third year of middle school… a girl in the cla.s.s was saying: ‘how interesting and touching’ as she chatted about light novels. The other girls said: ‘I cried after reading it.’ ‘I want to know what happens next, so I kept reading, I like it a lot.’... I was curious… So I took note of the cover art and book t.i.tle.”
Hiyuki then search for the book in a book shop, but gave up after failing to find it. She looked for it every time she visited a book shop, but she couldn’t find it.
Hiyuki’s phone only had call and email function. Her grandmother education policy dictated that the other functions were unnecessary. There wasn’t any computers in their home, and Hiyuki didn’t even know about web cafe back then.
She didn’t have any close friends, so she didn’t know who to ask ‘where can I buy that book’, and she was too shy to ask the shopkeeper directly.
“... I am gloomy and scary, so everyone avoided me.”
n.o.body was avoiding her, Hiyuki was just too beautiful and looked like an elegant and refined lady from a different world from others, so the others were hesitant on approaching her. And Hiyuki seemed to think she was a hated person.
Her thoughts made Ao uncomfortable and anxious, but he kept his mouth shut and listened to her. At this moment, Hiyuki’s expression turned gentle.
“But, when I glanced at the calendar in the book shop in December, I saw that book.”
It wasn’t in the normal literature section, but in the comic section.
Hiyuki was filled with emotions as she picked up that book, as if she had just seen a mystical flower, and engrossed herself in it after returning home.
“I… only read novels recommended in textbooks in the past… So when I see the ill.u.s.trations, changing font size, multiple punctuation marks and entire blank pages when I opened the book, I was very surprised… To think such a novel exist, and there is such a way to write books.”
Hiyuki squinted her eyes in mesmeration, smiling as her cheeks turn red. From her pa.s.sionate tone, it was clear how new, surprising and touching she felt after reading it.
Ao also remembered his excitement when he first read a light novel in Sakutaro’s place.
Completely overturning his concept of novels, the worlds crafted boldly and freely were so bright, so inspiring. The characters in the story seemed to be talking to him face to face.
Hiyuki’s gentle smile and sparkling eyes overlapped with the emotions he felt then, and Ao could feel his chest thump.
“... The books I had to read in order to write book reports always narrated sorrowful tales. When the characters suffer, I felt terrible too… So I didn’t really like to read… But when I read that book, it was filled with wonderful things, beautiful things, happy scenes, joyous moments. Even when something sad happens, they will become happy in no time. The way the characters talk is just like everyone in cla.s.s speaks… And I seemed to be talking along too… I felt really happy… I finished in no time… Then I held that book tightly… engrossed in it…”
“May I know the book t.i.tle?”
“Chronicle of the Brave.”
“I see.”
Ao nodded.
A story of a High school boy summoned to an alternate world goes on a series of adventure, a popular work written in the free style and structure of a light novel. It was even adapted into an anime. In terms of character settings, be it the main protagonist or a side character, all of them had a vivid feel and charm. The skilled use of varying font size was at an expert level. Some said that the trend of using of varying font size in light novels increased after ‘BraveChro’ was published.
It was a work with both fame and disrepute, but Ao understood why Hiyuki became engrossed with light novels after reading ‘BraveChro’.
He also learned why Hiyuki’s writing was full of varying font size.
“I want to write a story that brings so much joy and excitement too… I started writing light novels after my exams were over… I did so manually back then… But it was fun… It feels like I am just like the main character, and is journeying in the world of the light novels… In the story, I can talk to everyone too… Gathering everyone’s help to go adventuring together… it is really fun.”
Hiyuki’s expression turned a little gloomy.
Her brows drooped, her smiling lips became lifeless and the mole besides it seemed so lonely.
“But the stories I submitted… never made it through the first round… the comment sheets said: ‘Main characters that are too negative feels unpleasant, and is hard for readers to relate to. Writing is crude and immature, giving a presumptuous impression as a whole.’ After reading these comments, I realized that I am the only one who was happy about working on this project. People who read my work felt that the main character wa.s.s unpleasant and that I am presumptuous… makes me sad…”
Hiyuki’s voice became softer and softer.
Ao felt his chest hurting too.
They shouldn"t write it that way. Unpleasant or not is a personal opinion, how could they critique this point?
Since the experts said so, it must be true. Submitters like Hiyuki who had low self esteem believed this.
Hiyuki looked down and said:
“So… If I can write a story that makes it through the first round, I won’t be an unpleasant and presumptuous person…”
That’s why she asked me for help so seriously and want to pa.s.s the first round of selection so badly?
When he thought about the mentality Hiyuki had, Ao’s chest ache even more.
When she failed to make the cut, that definitely reminded her about the accusation of being presumptuous. If the comments she received after that is also dismissive, she would feel terrible.
Not just the story, Hiyuki would feel that she herself was being rejected.
In order to encourage the depressed Hiyuki, Ao said:
“Alright, we will break through the first round with this work.”
Hiyuki’s eyes brightened as she lift her head to look at Ao, although there were still lingering unease in her gaze.
“... Can, can I really do it?”
“Well, let’s give it a shot.”
Ao smiled. Hiyuki stared at Ao, then answered stiffly:
“Yes.”
She nodded and lowered her gaze again.
If Hyonomiya-san makes it through the first round and gain some confidence, it would be great.
After returning home, Ao brought cabbage roll and carrot salad cooked by his mom to Sakutaro.
“Uncle Saku, did you ever fall into depression after the games you put in so much effort to make receive harsh criticism? In such cases, what can others say to revitalize you again?”
“I will usually curse at the monitor: Die idiot! b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Then forget all about it. Just because the main heroine did something the player don’t agree with, and they all critique that she was acting out of character and displeased them. It can’t be helped that she is a s.l.u.tty b.i.t.c.h, if I take their threats of boycott seriously and bottle it up in my heart, I will definitely kill myself. So I have to scold them back: You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are not popular with girls in the real world at all! Idiots! That would be enough. Get into a shouting match with them? Ain’t n.o.body got time for that!”
Maybe he shouldn’t have asked Sakutaro, Ao felt deflated.
If Hiyuki was as thick skinned as Sakutaro, with her beauty, she could lead a group of underlings and rule the campus as the queen of the school.
He imagined such a Hiyuki.
No, It is better for Hyonomiya-san to restrain herself and work hard.
Ao imagined Hiyuki smiling with her cute mole and reorganized his thoughts.
“What is it Ao? Some girl you want to woo?”
“Why did you bring this up again!? I didn’t even say anything related to that!”
“You want the trick to cheer up a depressed girl right?”
“Like I said, no!”
“The trick is to be a person who understands her. Like saying ‘I will always be by your side, and accompany you’, it’s cliche, but it works. She will completely lose the will to resist you. In less than three meetings, you can make her say ‘Let me be your woman’, then hug you tight.”
“That’s totally wrong!”
After leaving the food his mother tasked him to deliver, Ao ran away from Sakutaro’s place hurriedly.
The next day, after school was out.
“We decided the word setting and story structure, let’s think about the main character today.”
“Yes…”
Before Ao was a cup of Jasmine tea, while Hiyuki had Chrysanthemum. When she heard what Ao said, Hiyuki’s shoulders slumped unconfidently.
“The basic premise is the lonely main character who arrives in an alternate world.”
“... Yes.”
“The main character is a lonely person in his original world, right?”
“... Yes.”
“Why?”
Hiyuki slumped her shoulders further.
“Be… Because he is moody… doesn’t chat with others… and look different from others too… Just the sight of him made others feel unpleasant…”
Hiyuki held her Kitefin shark mechanical pencil tightly.
“S-Such a main character isn’t good after all… Such a charmless main character… is impossible for the readers to relate to, that’s what the comments said…”
“That’s right.”
Hiyuki’s body shook when she heard Ao said that. Her brows drooped down and her head lowered too.
“If it is up to me, I will add the following: ‘So, try to bring out the charm of the main character in your writing.’”
“Charm…? My main character has charms?”
Hiyuki asked frantically.
“Yes the main character of ‘The lonely me came to an alternate world, becoming the hero, demon king and the emperor of a harem paradise’ is very charming.”
Hiyuki’s cheeks turned red.
“Y-You jest.”
“I’m not lying. In the beginning scene after the traffic accident, didn’t the main character apologized to the CEO who knocked him down in his heart: ‘Sorry for colliding with you, old man’? To think that way about the person who knocked him down, the main character is really a good guy. That’s what I feel.”
“......”
Hiyuki’s clear eyes were filled with a strong sense of doubt. She probably thought the main character she wrote didn’t have any charm, so she couldn’t believe what Ao was saying.
However, it wasn’t a lie, Ao was serious.
“It would be a pity if the reader can’t understand his charm. It would be better to describe it in a way the readers can understand.”
“W-What should I do?”
“What does the main character think about his lonely circ.u.mstances?”
“H-He feels that if he can speak casually with everyone… That will be great… But he couldn’t interrupt a group that is chatting happily… he fears that everyone will be annoyed if he speaks up…”
“Then write down in detail the main character"s thoughts. Instead of writing ‘I am a lonely and unnecessary person’, it would be better to describe how lonely he is, how he think about his situation, and what are his views. This way, the reader will know that the main character is someone who is troubled by this. It is impossible for anyone in this world to not feel lonely in their life, so the reader can definitely relate to this.”
“......”
“If such a main character works hard in expanding his world, making friends, falling in love, it will bring out his charm and give people to urge to cheer him on, right?”
Ao smiled gently. Hiyuki stared at him in silence, then gripped the Kitefin shark mechanical pencil in her hand again.
“I-I will try.”
She started making notes with a serious expression.
Will that advice do? Will it help Hiyuki? Will she accept it forcefully, despite having other opinions? Ao felt uneasy and continued.
“Since the main character is decided, next would be the heroine.”
“Should we… set five or so heroines? If there are more girls… It would be more elegant and lively.”
“Is that written on the comment sheet too?”
Hiyuki nodded.
“Just one girl is too monotonous, how about inserting rivaling female characters, and make the story more lively… That’s what it says.”
“Hmm, this is effective sometimes, but in this story, just setting one main heroine would be nice too. Hyonomiya-san, what do you think?”
“I prefer just one female character…”
“Then just set one heroine. What kind of personality would you like for her to have?”
“G-Gentle… Cheerful, kind… I-Is it okay if I make her more glamorous?”
“Eh, w-well…”
Ao was a bit troubled and sounded hesitant. Hiyuki turned red and lowered her face.
“The heroine is too well behaved, I would suggest having some scenes with eye candies to leave an impression for the readers. That’s what the comment sheet says.”
“Ehh, that depends on the story, so don’t squeeze scenes with striped panties in forcefully.”
“... Yes.”
And so, they completed the setting for the protagonist and the heroine. They then decided the personality of the people around the main character and the Kitefin sharks.
And so, after one week, when they have collected five coffee stamps──
“Well, we are done with the character and story setting.”
“Yes, the setting and scenes in the story came out one after another just by conversing with Kazetani-kun.”
The lips with a mole besides it turned up in a smile.
The story was about a lonely main character who came to an alternate world. In this world, Kitefin sharks were helpful companions to people, and enjoyed a close relationship with them. Here, he would meet a gentle heroine and a cold Kitefin shark. Their relationships would build and get better over time to make a warm slice of life story. The main character would be troubled by the gap between this world and his own; he would practice under the tutelage of the heroine in order to learn to ride a kitefin shark. They would visit a festival together, watch a Kitefin shark race which would heighten the atmosphere and the mood at the beach during the night would be great as well. The story would be written with these frames in mind.
“You just need to write the story out for now. Do you want to finish the entire thing before letting me read it? Or let me read whichever chapter you finish?”
“... One chapter at a time… Is it okay with you? If Kazetani-kun is busy… It’s fine to read it at the end.”
Hiyuki said worriedly.
Compared to the beginning, Hiyuki was more willing to speak her mind, and smiled more. However, she would show an unconfident expression from time to time.
Ao replied cheerfully:
“Alright, even if you didn’t finish an entire chapter and is stuck halfway, do let me read it and we can discuss together.”
“Yes… Yes.”
Hiyuki’s eyes had a tint of red. She lowered her gaze and the area around her endearing mole reddened.
Whenever Ao saw this expression, he would feel his heart stir. To hide this feeling, he spoke in the tone of a teacher. But he wasn’t that great in reality.
“Another thing, do you want to use the same writing style?”
Hiyuki’s expression turned stiff from unease again.
She looked at Ao.
“It’s… childish right?”
Her usage of varying font sizes, excessive punctuation marks and onomatopoeia was always harshly critiqued, and Hiyuki was very concerned about this. Even so, she still wanted to write in such a way, it was something she insisted on doing.
“Not at all.”
Ao answered confidently with a smile.
“The ones who criticize the usage of varying font size writing as childish is the real childish one with shallow thinking. Weren’t you moved after reading ‘BraveChro’, Hyonomiya-san?”
Hiyuki looked straight at Ao and nodded.
“... Yes.”
“BraveChro uses a lot of different font size, excessive punctuation marks and onomatopoeia for effect.”
“... Yes.”
“Other then Hyonomiya-san, a lot of readers also get a thrill and emotional upheaval when they read BraveChro, it even got an anime and was all the rage for a time.”
“... Yes.”
“Do you think the font size changes and multiple punctuation marks of BraveChro is unnecessary?”
Hyosetusu shook her head. Her soft brown hair swayed along with her.
“No.”
“Then Hyonomiya-san don’t need to give up on varying the font size. If you want to write in such a way.”
Hiyuki asked franctically:
“Can I… use varying font size?”
“Yes! I saw a work that