There were two primary reasons why giants like the Big Seven publishers teamed up to host the Ascent of New Gods competition. First, it was a directive from the Ministry of Culture to promote literature. Second, it served as a vital scout for the industry's next big stars. Tokyo and Osaka dominated the field primarily because the top-tier talent was constantly being siphoned off by the corporations in those metropolitan hubs.
Historically, the top six spots of every Ascent of New Gods competition were almost exclusively reserved for contestants from Tokyo and Osaka. It was an uphill battle for anyone else. Not only did those authors possess exceptional skill, but debuting with a Big Seven publisher provided them with a level of fame and visibility that regional competitors simply could not match.
However, in every competition, there were always two or three dark horses who demonstrated potential that transcended regional boundaries. Authors like Airi were a perfect example. Her new novel, Fate of the Rainbow, had already been flagged as a high-priority work by several reviewers during the initial manuscript check.
Now that the series had reached three issues of serialization, the hype was finally beginning to boil over. In the world of fiction, readers have a keen sense of what is truly good. On the Ascent of New Gods official forums, a growing number of people were discussing and recommending her work.
"Seriously guys, go read Fate of the Rainbow. It is actually incredible."
"That is the third time I have seen someone recommend that one today. Is it really that good?"
"I am not lying to you. Personally, I think this story is top-ten material. I have no idea why it is still sitting at eighteen."
"I just finished the first three chapters based on a recommendation. Honestly, I did not want it to end. The prose is concise and sharp, and the plot flows so naturally. I read all three chapters in one go without losing focus for a second. I have been reading novels for over twenty years, and this is the real deal. New readers are probably going to be climbing the walls because of that cliffhanger in chapter three."
"Don't even get me started. I am that new reader. It has been a full day since I finished chapter three, and I am still stressed about the heroine's fate. I know she is the protagonist and has plot armor, but I cannot stop worrying about her!"
"That is the power of a master writer!"
"The gap between the three Minamijo contestants is huge, isn't it? It is kind of strange. To the Moon is honestly pretty plain, but it holds on to seventh or eighth place. Fate of the Rainbow is the best of the bunch, but it is only at eighteen."
"And Nanzawa's novel is so boring, yet it is still at forty-three. I cannot even imagine what the stories below him are like."
"Look, if you want to praise Fate of the Rainbow, go ahead. I like that one too. But don't you dare drag To the Moon. You readers from other prefectures have no idea what level Sensei Shiori Takahashi is on."
"Huh? To the Moon is written like that, and people are still defending her? Are you Minamijo fans actually readers or just idol stans? It is a fact that the story isn't exciting. We aren't even comparing it to the big hits like Cyberpunk: Sin Domain yet. Are you really that upset that we're comparing her to other Minamijo authors?"
"That is exactly why I say you don't understand. Sensei Shiori Takahashi and Airi debuted at the same time and competed in the same magazine twice."
"Historically, Shiori Takahashi has completely dominated her. After reading chapter three of To the Moon yesterday, I am certain there is a massive plot twist coming. If you want to know why I am so confident, it is because Anohana taught me better."
"Anohana? You mean that anime on Tokyo TV7? I just checked the spring ratings. Episode four only had a 1.36% rating, ranking nineteenth out of over seventy new shows. That is okay, but is it really enough to give you that much confidence?"
"It is only episode four. What are you so worried about? I know none of you will bother buying the books, but give it another month. Then you will finally understand why Sensei Shiori has so many die-hard fans on these forums."
For two or three days after every issue of the magazine, the forums became a battleground of conflicting opinions. Yet, it was through these heated debates that the truly excellent stories were discovered by the masses. No one had enough time to read all fifty-plus stories in a single magazine, so people used the rankings, the ratings, and the forum buzz to choose what was worth their time.
The news of how To the Moon and Fate of the Rainbow were performing began to circulate through the Minamijo literary circles. Haruto noticed that back at school, the frequency with which his classmates mentioned the two titles had increased significantly.
Historically, the best rank a Minamijo author had ever achieved in Ascent of New Gods was in the twenties. Now, the two stars from their own school were poised to shatter that record. To the students of Third High, it felt like having a classmate who was becoming a major celebrity. Even if they weren't the ones being successful, being near someone that impressive provided a certain sense of reflected glory.
"I wonder who they are. If I had that kind of success, I would be bragging about it to the whole school every day."
Endless theories about the identities of Shiori and Airi floated through the halls.
However, the first correct answer, Reina Fujimoto, was so far-fetched that even those who jokingly suggested it did not truly believe it. As for the second correct answer, Haruto, he spent his days either staring out the window or sleeping at his desk. No one was bored enough to suspect him.
However, rumors of a different nature began to surround the two of them.
Reina, known for being a cold, friendless genius who rarely spoke to anyone, had started acting strangely. Whenever she ran into Haruto in the hallway, she would take the initiative to greet him and even offer him a smile. She would even sit with him in the cafeteria to chat for a few minutes.
Once or twice might have been a coincidence, but it was happening constantly. Haruto's classmates were already whispering about it in private. On this particular afternoon, it happened again.
In the cafeteria, it was Haruto who approached Reina first. She did not care about school gossip, and he cared even less.
"I have something I need your help with," Haruto said, his expression betraying a hint of embarrassment.
This was the third time he had asked for her assistance. The first was the composition for Secret Base, and the second was the artwork for To the Moon. And now, this. Reina was in the middle of a meal consisting of tomato and eggs and some stir-fried greens when Haruto sat down across from her. She was startled for a moment.
"W-what do you need?" she asked, setting down her chopsticks and looking at him.
"How should I put this... Lately, when I dream, I keep hearing a melody in my head."
As soon as he finished the sentence, Reina knew exactly what was coming. "You want me to help you transcribe another song?"
"Yeah," Haruto nodded.
"I helped you with Secret Base, but even after four episodes of Anohana, I haven't heard it once. You still want to spend time on this?"
"That's because I refused to sell the full rights to KyoAni Studios. Music royalties from soundtracks are a huge part of an anime company's revenue. Even though they loved the song, they weren't going to give the ending theme slot to a track they don't own. But KyoAni said they respect my effort. They are going to play it... but only at the very end of the final episode."
She understood.
"So, what is the new song you want me to help with?"
"It is a theme for To the Moon. It is actually part of the plot. Johnny and River were in love for many years, and Johnny wrote a song for her called For River. For some reason, the melody just surfaced in my mind 'uncontrollably,' so..."
"For River" was the iconic theme from the original game, an original piece Johnny dedicated to his wife. It was one of the most emotional tracks in the game, and Haruto had kept the title for his version.
Reina gave him a skeptical look but decided not to call him out on it. "For River, huh?" Her eyes sparked with curiosity.
The previous song he brought her, Secret Base, was a masterpiece. And now he had something new.
"This time, I will pay you for your work. I don't want to keep bothering you for free," Haruto added quickly, seeing her lost in thought.
"No need. We will do it like last time. I am not interested in the money or the commercial rights. Just... keep adding my pen name as a co-creator," Reina said after a brief pause.
"That is no problem at all. But are you sure? I feel like asking for money would be more practical for you," Haruto agreed immediately.
"It is just a bit of silly psychological satisfaction. History isn't created by historians, yet they are remembered by the world for recording it. If your song becomes a hit... and I am the one who recorded its birth, my name will be preserved alongside it. That makes me happy," Reina explained with a light smile.
As she smiled, a strange atmosphere washed over the students watching them from nearby tables. Haruto from Class 3 and Reina Fujimoto from Class 7, what exactly was their relationship? This was far from the first time they had looked like close friends in the cafeteria.
A few gossip-hungry students were already letting their imaginations run wild.
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