— — — — — —
On the Shinkansen back to Chiba City, Oikawa idly scrolled through the writers' group chat.
After lurking for a bit, he tapped on a contact with a cat avatar and the note he'd given her: (Scheming Homebody Bitch.)
He typed, "Has the release date for your new book been set yet?"
"Not yet. Still revising."
"How about you?"
Utako Kasumi replied almost instantly.
"Revisions are a piece of cake for a genius writer like me." Oikawa shot back with his usual sarcasm. "Surely no one actually struggles with revisions, right?"
"..."
"Of course I'm not as amazing as you, Oikawa-kun. After all, you're the Grand Prize winner of the Dengeki Novel Award. A top-tier publisher backing you. Your future must be bright."
Then another message popped up. "By the way, I've always wanted to ask you something. Do you… have a girlfriend? Someone like you wouldn't be a loser who doesn't have a girlfriend, right?"
Oikawa refused to lose this argument. "No girlfriend. But I do have a wife."
A moment later, the reply came.
"Let me guess. By 'wife,' do you mean some female character from a porn game?"
"If that's true, then honestly… that's pretty pathetic."
The scheming homebody's counterattack was never late. And it never missed.
Oikawa glanced around the train suspiciously.
For a second he seriously wondered if she was secretly spying on him. Otherwise how could she guess so accurately?
That was simply a brutal kill.
So, Oikawa wisely chose silence.
A moment later, his phone chimed again.
"Don't tell me I actually guessed right. Oh no… and from your silence, you don't even have a chance. The pathetic image I had of you in my mind just got a lot worse."
"Oikawa-kun, do you seriously not even have a single female friend in real life?"
"If you call me 'Onee-sama,' I might consider sending you a selfie. That way when you chat with people online, you can pretend you have a girlfriend and hold your head up high."
"..."
Oikawa wisely chose silence again and made a firm decision.
One day, when he finally met this scheming homebody in person…
He would make her pay for this humiliation.
---
Monday
Dengeki Bunko, Editorial Conference Room
The main topic of the meeting was the lineup of light novels scheduled for release in early August.
"The titles planned for early August are mostly finalized, and preliminary promotional work has already begun."
"This meeting is mainly to discuss whether we should change the release date of Your Lie in April from late August to early August."
"Normally, authors who win the Dengeki Novel Award spend at least a month revising their manuscripts."
"But Oikawa-sensei is an exception. He finished revising Your Lie in April ahead of schedule. I believe he deserves the opportunity to publish in early August."
After finishing, the editor-in-chief looked around at the editors present.
"Finished revising already?"
Someone spoke up in disbelief.
Normally, writers needed at least a month for revisions. Some slower authors took half a year.
But it had only been a few days since the awards were announced. Not even half a month. And it was already done?
"Oikawa-sensei isn't an ordinary writer," Ayame Kagurazaka explained calmly.
"The original manuscript he submitted for Your Lie in April was already highly polished. The revisions only involved correcting a few awkward word choices."
Normally, award-winning manuscripts required major edits.
Pacing adjustments. Plot changes. Cutting unnecessary sentences. Adding scenes to deepen character development.
It was never simple.
Editors and writers usually worked closely together to shape the final product into something the market would love.
But Your Lie in April didn't require that.
Just as Ayame said, the manuscript Oikawa had submitted was practically a finished work already.
"We should follow the rules. Late August isn't that different from early August. We shouldn't open this door."
"Yeah, even if Oikawa-sensei is a genius, the work should probably be polished further."
The editors' objections didn't surprise Kagurazaka Ayame at all.
Anything involving benefits was always like this.
If she were in their position, she might have objected too.
After all, even adding just one extra light novel could split the publisher's promotional resources. Each book would receive less marketing budget.
And this wasn't just any novel. It was a Grand Prize winner.
The publisher would definitely push it heavily.
"We shouldn't let good works be ignored."
Ayame stood up. Her eyes burned with determination, like a general stepping onto the battlefield.
"I admit I have selfish motives. I want Your Lie in April to have the best possible sales environment."
"But ask yourselves honestly. Doesn't this work deserve to be promoted in early August? Shouldn't a novel like this receive a better opportunity?"
"I don't know if everyone here still remembers the philosophy of Dengeki Bunko."
"When I was still a trainee editor, my supervisor told me that the founding purpose of Dengeki Bunko was simple. To ensure that excellent works never gather dust. And that excellent writers never disappear into obscurity."
"I have always believed, in the past, now, and in the future…"
"Great writers come first. Great works come second. Everything else comes after."
"That's all I have to say."
Ayame exhaled deeply and sat down.
She had done everything she could. Whether Your Lie in April could be released in early August now depended on fate.
Next, the familiar voting process began.
The editor-in-chief opened the ballot box, checked each slip, then placed them back inside.
Finally, he announced the results.
"Four votes in favor of releasing it in early August."
Ayame's face dimmed.
There were more than a dozen editors present.
Only four votes. The outcome seemed obvious.
Then the editor-in-chief continued. Three votes against. The rest abstained."
Ayame's expression instantly brightened with surprise.
The other editors also looked shocked. No one expected so many abstentions.
"Since the decision is clear," the editor-in-chief concluded, "Your Lie in April will be scheduled for release in early August."
"Editor Kagurazaka, please handle the arrangements."
"Understood."
Ayame immediately sent Oikawa the news, eager to share the victory.
The editor-in-chief stood there for a moment, smiling quietly. Then he picked up the ballot box and walked into his office.
"Four to four. I didn't expect a tie."
"At my age, I'm still doing little tricks like this."
He chuckled to himself.
"But just like Ayame said… the purpose of Dengeki Bunko has always been the same."
"To make sure great works never gather dust. And great writers never fade into obscurity."
The editor-in-chief leaned back in his chair.
He was very curious.
After its release…
Just how many copies would Your Lie in April sell?
.
.
.