Because of the video game duel with Shiori, what should have been just an hour of review turned into a two-hour routine.
At first, it was almost cruel; Ren could humiliate her with one hand. He held the controller disdainfully, as if it were an extension of his boredom, while with the other hand he grabbed a snack or fiddled with his cell phone. Shiori's face remained impassive, but her eyes seemed to want to imprint his every move on her soul, as if she were in an epic match.
Furthermore, after a while, Ren could no longer easily defeat this intelligent girl alone. Having become familiar with the game's mechanics, even in such a short time, he was sometimes caught off guard and had his weaknesses exploited, resulting in a brief period of vulnerability.
However, until now, she hadn't defeated him.
But the difference between "never won" and "almost won" was a distance that narrowed each week, and Ren felt it in her pulse, growing her respect for her as an opponent.
After all, Ren had ten years of experience in arcade games, while she had only had the opportunity to play a few times when she went to Miyuki's house with Ren to deliver her manuscript. The difference in gaming experience was huge.
That night, after another series of "honorable" defeats and a final match that almost slipped through Ren's fingers, Shiori calmly put down the controller. The screen light still reflected on her face, but her expression was no longer one of frustration. It was something else.
"But, from the first chapter of the series until now, I've been completely devastated by the performance of 'Ao Haru Ride'."
"Whether in reader ratings or the number of votes for the novel, I didn't even have a chance to catch up," Shiori said calmly, her hands slightly clenched.
Miyuki, sitting on the rug with her legs folded, had just gathered some sheets of paper with notes. She had praised Shiori before, sincerely, even, but Shiori didn't seem to take it as consolation. On the contrary.
The more impressive Miyuki's description of her, the more formidable Ren, her rival who was subjugating her, would become.
And that hurt. Although her voice was calm and soft, she was quite upset inside.
No one is good at everything, Shiori knew that. There were entire areas of life where she would be overwhelmed by anyone with real experience: tending pigs on a farm, planting rice, handling tools in the mud, practical and heavy things that sustain the real world. She could study for months and still not come close to a farmer who had been doing that since childhood.
But she had no "passion" for those professions; even if she wasn't as good as the others, it didn't matter. Her only real passion was for romance novels. Because of her strict upbringing, she had few hobbies. Her only hobby was reading novels and occasionally watching anime. And because of her love for the industry, she mustered the courage to secretly submit her work as a novelist, hiding it from her family.
But in this industry she loved so much, she was constantly overshadowed by Ren, a classmate, after her debut.
An ordinary student. Someone she probably would never have noticed in high school if it weren't for the absurd coincidence: he submitted his manuscript on the same day, signed with the same editor, and had his novel published in the same magazine. Competing on equal terms and yet losing every time.
Shiori looked at Ren. Her eyes sparkled for a moment, sparkling.
Perhaps this was the adversary fate had reserved for her, the goal imposed upon her, the whetstone for her growth.
Her competitive spirit had now transformed into a considerable obsession; she even dreamed of defeating Ren in games and in the novel competition.
Ren thought Shiori was a true genius, but she felt that Ren was her destined adversary, a mountain she needed to climb at all costs.
As for Miyuki, she felt she had found two treasures, but even the most talented person needs a professional editor like her to guide their career.
Two extremely rare talents at once, that was very lucky.
And yet, talent wasn't enough to last in this market. It needed direction, it needed the right decisions at the right time. That's where her role came in, but as someone who knew the ins and outs behind the scenes.
Therefore, when Yuki Hashimoto mentioned putting the two of them up for consideration for a "seed" spot in the national award 'The Rise of the New God,' it seemed somewhat reckless at first glance.
However, Miyuki carefully considered the matter. Perhaps the stage for these two promising novelists shouldn't be limited to the Southern Prefecture, but rather to the entire country.
They shouldn't be confined to the local circuit. It wasn't a matter of ego; it was about reach. If they could participate in that selection and appear to readers all over Japan, even if only as "new names," it would enormously boost their careers as novelists.
Miyuki rested the papers on her lap, took a deep breath, and spoke with a care that sounded too urgent for her usual standards:
"After you two finish your serialized novels, don't waste any time. You must dedicate all your energy to conceiving a new work, further consolidating your popularity. Strive to have your new novel published in the magazine 'Red Violet' and achieve excellent results," Miyuki said slowly.
Ren blinked, taken aback. This didn't sound like something a normally calm novel editor like her would say.
The "main magazine." The very top. Those pages circulated throughout the country, selling tens and tens of thousands of copies per edition, and were read by people who didn't even have time to read but read anyway, because that's where the important names appeared.
It was good to have ambition, of course. But Miyuki didn't usually speak like that, so directly, so pressing the accelerator. Shiori also turned her face towards her, attentive, as if she had perceived a tidal movement.
"The slots for the "The Rise of the New God" contest in the Southern Province are selected based on a combination of factors, including the serial publication performance of new novelists in the main magazines of the Southern Province and the sales performance of their independent books."
"Historically, all new novelists from the Southern Province selected to participate in the "Rise of the New God" event have already published serialized novels in the province's top five publishing houses, such as 'Red Violet' and 'Sakura Library,' in the two years following their debut."
After all, there are only three spots for each province every two years. What makes someone who isn't a potential genius of that caliber stand out from the crowd in the comprehensive evaluation and secure a spot as a candidate?
"Even those who ranked low in those magazines were still, technically, 'at the back of the line on a fast train.' So, to the market, that seemed more valuable than being 'king' of a smaller magazine."
"The serial publication results of these authors may be low to mid-ranking in journals, or even at the bottom of the list, due to their lack of experience and seniority. However, this is still a very low ranking in journals like 'Red Violet' and 'Sakura Library,' which sell 700,000 to 800,000 or even 900,000 copies."
In the eyes of most people in the romance industry, being a small fish in a top-tier journal is definitely better than being a big fish in a small pond.
Ren grimace.
"So… you're saying that even if I'm number one in 'Momentary Blossoms,' they'll still look at me as… 'a second-tier number one'?"
Miyuki didn't smile, but her gaze carried an almost sharp honesty.
"It's not quite like that. You have strong numbers, and that counts. But, for the selection of "seeds," there's a standard. And the standard involves testing you on the main stage. If you want a real chance, you need to enter."
Shiori also looked at Miyuki upon hearing this; she could sense how seriously she was taking the matter.
Seeing the confusion in their eyes, Miyuki briefly explained the "Rise of the New God" competition, a national selection event for emerging genius novelists. A few minutes later, Ren and Shiori nodded, somewhat confused.
Miyuki continued, punctuating dates like someone marking targets on a calendar:
"So you understand now, right? Around the end of the year, the selection process for the provincial publication slots for the magazine 'Rise of the New God' will begin. Then, next spring, the magazine 'Rise of the New God' will be available nationwide."
"But if you want a chance to be selected and qualify for the Southern Province position, you still need to have work that achieves certain results in 'Red Violet' magazine." Miyuki looked at the two of them.
She rested her chin on her hand, thinking for a second, and then added something that gave the conversation a more personal flavor:
"But positions for publication in 'Red Violet' magazine aren't always available. Sometimes two or three positions might open up for a short period, but other times, it can take two or three months for a position to become available. Therefore, you need to prepare new, high-quality work in advance and wait for new positions for publication in 'Red Violet' to open up."
Ren let out a sigh that seemed laden with a "here we go" feeling.
Shiori didn't say anything. She was absorbing it. Storing it in. Turning it into fuel.
Miyuki, perhaps realizing the conversation was getting too heavy, gave a sudden smile:
"Let's see who can publish a serialized novel in 'Red Violet' first! If you manage it, it will be a great honor for me. After all, I've worked at the publishing house for almost two years, since I graduated, and I still haven't mentored a single writer who managed to publish a serialized novel in 'Red Violet'. That's always been my regret, and I don't want to leave here with that regret."
She hesitated and paused, without finishing the sentence.
But, seeing that the two hadn't noticed the information she had let slip, she relaxed, and a thought crossed her delicate and charming face as she smiled.
"Whoever helps me achieve this goal first will receive a reward!"
"A reward?" Ren straightened up immediately.
"What reward?"
"Hmm, sure." Miyuki tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"A fun reward."
"This reward interests me quite a bit; I'm eager to receive it. I'd like to know your opinion. But, in any case, as I've already said, whether you like it or not, you can't refuse."
The silence that followed was short, but heavy.
Ren's expression was somewhere between "this is a trap" and "why did my heart race?" He didn't know if he was afraid or if he had just gained another reason to win.
Shiori, standing beside him, remained silent for a long time. They both felt the somewhat strange atmosphere and then looked at her. Her mind was also immersed in Miyuki's words.
The phrase "whoever gets there first" wasn't just a challenge. It was a new battlefield. A possible fresh start. A starting line where the past wouldn't matter.
"Competing with Ren to see who gets the publishing rights to 'Red Violet' after the current novel ends."
"Victory or Defeat."
"Competition."
Shiori's spirits instantly soared at a new chance to defeat her opponent.
Both novels are currently in their fifth volume, but 'Ao Haru Ride' is firmly suppressing 'The Light of Yesterday's Stars'. Perhaps the difference was too great, the audience was already enamored with Ren's work, and fate had decided.
She looked at Ren, her fighting spirit rising.
Victory and defeat are common in war; the temporary setback of 'The Light of Yesterday's Stars', though painful, is a fact, and there's nothing that can be done about it. If 'The Light of Yesterday' can't surpass 'Ao Haru Ride' by the end of its publication, then at least in the confrontation with Ren's new work…
Shiori's heart raced. "I want to win from the start!"
It meant that when the two submitted their new stories to the Red Violet Literature editorial committee, a group of editors would read, discuss, mark pages with post-it notes, and finally decide.
They would look at Daiki Watanabe's new work and say, with sincere enthusiasm, that it was brilliant. That it was superior. That it had breath. That it had soul.
And then they would look at Mizuki's new work and say, with the polite coldness that kills more than an insult:
"While not bad, it falls short of Daiki Watanabe. Besides, compared to her literary genius, Mizuki always comes second."
Just imagining this made Shiori's heart beat faster, as if her body had understood before her mind. Thinking about this scene, Shiori's lips curved slightly, revealing a dazzling and beautiful smile.
Ren and Miyuki froze for a second.
She looked… very beautiful when she smiled. And this was so unexpected that it took their brains a while to process. It's so incompatible with her image as an academic genius.
No, that's not the main point. The crucial point is why this guy suddenly started daydreaming while talking to everyone, and even chuckled to himself while daydreaming.
"Hey…" Ren said, looking at her as if trying to confirm an impossible theory. "You… are you daydreaming?"
Shiori blinked, as if she had returned from a dream.
Her expression regained its usual composure, but the gleam in her eyes didn't disappear.
She looked at Ren. And, in that silent exchange, he felt something unsettling: she wasn't just trying to achieve anything anymore, now she had a clear goal in mind.
Beside her, Miyuki let out a low, satisfied giggle, like someone who had just thrown a spark near two powder kegs and decided to call it "career guidance."
The evening continued with a few more conversations about deadlines, planning, vague ideas for new projects. When Ren finally got up to leave, it was already past the reasonable time. Once again, the "one more hour" had fallen by the wayside.
At the door, he looked back and saw Shiori still sitting, quiet, as if she were organizing the entire future in her head. He didn't know whether to laugh or worry.
End of Chapter 31