In the early evening, Ren's apartment was silent in the way only a place with someone concentrating can be. No music. No videos playing in the background. No conversation in another room.
Only the dry sound of the keyboard and, occasionally, the scraping of a chair, the snapping of tired fingers, or the long breaths of someone trying to keep up the pace.
He was writing with real focus.
Because, from then on, it wasn't "I'll write when I can" anymore. It was a calendar and a race against time.
In the contract, the rule of 'Momentary Blossoms' was clear: publication was fast, demanding, almost aggressive. The magazine needed constant material, and, for a serialized author, that translated into a simple commitment: two deliveries per week.
Furthermore, in terms of updating volume, he needed to write more than six thousand words a day. Ren had done the math that same day, and repeating the calculations in his head didn't make the reality any easier.
It didn't seem like much to someone who had never written before, but for someone who had faced a blank file, it was a wall. Because, to be honest, that volume of updating is quite high; many full-time light novel authors would struggle to reach that level.
But for Ren it was different. Since he already had a story ready in mind, all he needed to do was translate it into words.
Compared to other light novel creators, he was undoubtedly much more relaxed.
An entire story, with a beginning, middle, and end, scene by scene, as if someone had recorded a movie in his brain.
But updating more than six thousand words was still not easy.
"According to the plan, 'Ao Haru Ride' is divided into fifteen chapters. The first chapter was officially published today, February 22nd, and the final chapter is scheduled for April 12th."
Because transforming a work into quality text still required effort. And daily effort is a type of wear and tear that doesn't make a sound until the day it's released for publication. "Less than two months!" Ren sighed.
"I really admire light novel writers. They manage to maintain such a high level of intensity in their writing and still produce such high-quality works."
This was insane. In his mind, the teen romance had its place. The story flowed, and each scene existed within him and spilled over into the manuscript.
However, while he was writing, another phone call came in, and the sound cut through the room as if someone had pulled a rope.
Ren stopped mid-sentence, his fingers suspended.
"Miyuki? What does she want now? Didn't we just talk to her? Is she going to pressure me to finish the manuscript? But isn't the deadline Friday?" Ren wondered, but he answered the phone anyway.
"Ah, Ren, I need to talk to you about something."
He felt his body automatically adjust its posture. When Miyuki spoke in that tone, it meant there was something big to discuss.
"Of course, go ahead."
A few minutes later, the situation became clear.
Miyuki was helping him with the novel manuscript at night, which was considered extra voluntary work for a publishing house. However, like him, she was also a creator who couldn't go to Red Violet Literature's headquarters during the day and could only meet with Miyuki, the editor, at night, along with "The Light of Yesterday's Stars," the author of "Daiki Watanabe."
Miyuki couldn't manage both, as she was overwhelmed, and "Daiki Watanabe" also had special circumstances. The phone call was to ask if he would agree to work on the manuscript of "Ao Haru Ride" while she worked on the manuscript of "The Light of Yesterday's Stars," and also involve "Daiki" in the process.
Ren was silent for a moment. The proposal was loaded with implications.
If he agreed, then, for the next period, he, Miyuki, and Daiki would probably have to meet every few days. In theory, it wasn't a big deal. It was just work.
After all, Miyuki had offered to work overtime that night to help him, since he didn't have time to go to the Red Violet Literature headquarters, and to help him with the novel problems. He couldn't be so irrational as to refuse such a small request.
"Well..." Ren thought for a long time. "I have no objections."
It was just a small contact with another light novel author through Miyuki, their editor; he wasn't socially awkward, so there was nothing to worry about.
The only awkward part was the fact that he recognized, deep down, that Daiki was that masked girl he'd seen on the day of the in-person submission. And that her work was good.
The kind of good that reminds you to stay humble. But… that wasn't a reason to say no either.
"So, after you meet Daiki, could you help keep her true identity a secret?" Miyuki asked cheerfully after hearing Ren's answer.
"Of course. I'm not a gossip."
He spoke so naturally that it seemed strange that someone needed to ask. But he understood. If the girl was hiding her identity, there was a reason. And the reason, generally, involved family, school, pressure, or simply the basic right not to become gossip.
Ren was used to secrets that weren't his.
"However, I wanted to ask, since you're taking care of my manuscripts and Daiki's, you need a place to meet with them, right? Where do you plan to arrange that?"
On the other end, Miyuki thought for a moment. "How about a coffee shop or something?"
"No. We'd hesitate to discuss the novel manuscript in public. The content needs to be kept secret, and it wouldn't be good if any fans heard and spread the information," Ren said quickly.
Of course, the main objective was to save money; Miyuki is definitely a girl, just like "Daiki." After all, she's the author of the magazine "The Light of Yesterday's Stars," and Ren knows that Daiki's true identity is the masked girl he met in the elevator when he delivered his work to the publisher.
One boy, two girls, in a café in Minami. Who pays?
Ren didn't have the money to pay for tables and drinks like the protagonist of a romantic comedy. And Miyuki, however professional she was, was still an older woman than him, and he didn't want the awkward situation of "who's responsible for everything?".
Refusing the coffee eliminated the problem at its root.
"So, where do you think would be appropriate?", Miyuki asked from the other end of the line.
Ren answered without hesitation, because in his mind the solution was obvious: "At my house."
That way, he wouldn't have to wander around the city. It's better for someone to come to him than for him to go to someone else.
On the other end of the line, Miyuki was silent for a moment before speaking.
Ren was already preparing for a lecture, but Miyuki only spoke cautiously:
"After all, you and Daiki don't know each other. If I bring her to your house suddenly, she might feel uncomfortable. How about this: you and Daiki come to my house next Wednesday first. After we get to know each other better, we can go to your house or mine." Ren thought for a moment and agreed. Deep down, he preferred the first meeting to be in "adult" and neutral territory, to avoid misunderstandings.
"Alright," he replied.
They reached a provisional agreement on the cooperation model: starting next Wednesday evening, he would meet regularly with Miyuki, the editor, to review the novel manuscript that was due that week, check if any details needed changing, and discuss the future development of the plot.
The revised manuscript would be delivered to Miyuki on Friday.
This equates to two meetings per week.
"Okay, agreed then. Come straight to the address I gave you after class next Wednesday! Don't forget!" Miyuki repeated cheerfully on the other end of the line.
"Understood, I have a good memory." Ren smiled slightly and hung up the phone.
Because of the delay, Ren only finished his daily task late at night, while writing his manuscript at his desk.
"Fourth place in the reader poll, first place in the ranking!"
And when you need to write six thousand a day, wasting time means paying the price after dawn. He returned to the keyboard, forced his focus, and continued late into the night, pushing his own body to a rhythm that wasn't yet natural.
When he finally closed the file, the clock had already passed the "healthy" point. He threw himself onto the bed with his cell phone beside him and stared at the ceiling.
And then, unintentionally, ambition appeared.
"Is it possible that, after a while, 'Ao Haru Ride' will achieve two first places?"
Thinking about this, a wave of enthusiasm began to grow in Ren's heart.
Since the novel was created using the memories of Mizuki Ito, a girl from a parallel world, he initially thought he wouldn't have much of an idea of the work's success and that it would just be a means of survival: earning money, paying for things, stabilizing his life.
But, in truth, he still felt excited and enthusiastic.
Because of the feeling that… he was building something real with his own hands. Even if the story was born somewhere else.
The next day, school seemed the same as always.
Not because he was more confident, he still carried that newcomer's tension but because now he had a heavy secret in his pocket. And secrets change the way you hear the world.
During recess, while resting with his eyes closed on his desk, Ren vaguely overheard the conversation of the girls in his class, who liked to read the Red Violet magazine.
First, they talked about the main magazine: covers, famous authors, a controversial chapter. Then, naturally, the subject slipped to the other publication.
"Did you read 'Momentary Blossoms' yesterday?" one of them asked. "The two new serial novels, 'Ao Haru Ride' and 'The Light of Yesterday's Stars,' are quite interesting…"
Ren's body reacted before he could, a cold shiver running down his spine. He continued pretending to be asleep.
"Indeed, but let's see how it goes. A great first chapter isn't enough; we'll see if the plot falls apart later."
"I think both novels have everything to be successful, especially 'Ao Haru Ride.' It's been a long time since I've read something that moved me so much. It's a completely different reading experience from those cliché and outdated novels."
There are a vast number of light novel magazines. Besides the five major publishers in the Southern Province, several renowned publishers with distribution channels throughout the country also publish serialized works, making them a popular topic of conversation among romance enthusiasts.
And that wasn't an editor's compliment.
It wasn't just any number on a spreadsheet.
It was someone from the audience saying, "That made me feel something."
And Ren, his face hidden in his arm, felt his throat tighten silently. He couldn't turn and say, "That's me," he couldn't even smile.
He could only listen.
In this universe, a title emerges in the casual conversation of a group of students… so quickly… was a sign.
The fact that the name "Ao Haru Ride" was mentioned so easily in this small circle of students already demonstrates its influence; at least in the Southern Province, it is indeed slowly spreading. That 'Ao Haru Ride' was no longer just a line in the table of contents.
It was something entering the world. It is born when someone says its name without you asking.
Outwardly, Ren continued to be just a normal student, but inside, something had already changed.
The story he was writing was escaping his room. And slowly spreading through the city.
End of chapter 20.