The Reason She Writes
Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Rockgollem
Editor: Rockgollem
Raw provided by: Ice Phantom
After school was out, Hiyuki picked up her bag that had already been packed before the class was over, and rushed out of the classroom.
A classmate asked for light novel recommendations, and after Ao answered, he took his bag and left the classroom. He changed his shoes at the shoe rack and went to the parking lot to take his bike. When he was opening the lock, he felt someone staring at him.
He looked back, and didn’t see anyone.
Ao thought he was imagining things. He undid the lock and rolled the bicycle out. He felt a prickly sensation around his neck again.
Someone was watching him?
He turned again.
This time, he saw light brown hair around the corner of the building. The hair was brushed by the late spring wind, and seemed translucent under the glare of the sun.
“Hmm? Hinomiya-san?”
Not expecting to be called, the white hand and slender shoulder poking out from behind the building shuddered, then turned away in a hurry.
“Wait, Hinomiya-san!”
Ao pushed his bicycle along and gave chase.
Hiyuki walked in front of Ao, her long brown hair swaying with each step she took, with her bag clutched tightly before her chest. She was walking at a very fast pace with her white slender legs.
Walking to her side, Ao saw that her lips with a mole besides it were tightly shut. Although her expression were cold, her eyes were red.
“Hinomiya-san, I am sorry about what happened at noon.”
“……”
“I surprised you when I mentioned the manuscript submission, right?”
“……”
“I am really sorry, but, you probably won’t believe me even if I told you I am working as a screener, right?”
“……”
“I just happened to read your manuscript, Hinomiya-san. Your manuscript just happened to be in the batch that was sent to me. I read through the personal particulars, and found your name and our school.”
“……”
Hiyuki’s thin lips remained tightly shut, her eyes downcast as she continued walking. They passed through the school gate and onto the pedestrian walkway, going past the bus stop. After turning into a side street, beautiful houses could be seen on either side of the road. Every household had a flourishing courtyard well taken care of, and the two continued on their way.
“I am not planning to tell anyone about Hinomiya-san entering the Newcomer Contest at all, or thinking about blackmailing you.”
Ah, maybe I shouldn’t mention about blackmailing? Hinomiya felt more guarded to Ao, which made him anxious. But Hiyuki who was walking silently all this time stopped all of a sudden.
The vines covering the wall besides her were blooming with small pink roses, and a large tree filled with white flowers was opposite to her.
Hiyuki bit her lips and lowered her head.
“……”
Her eyes turned redder, and she said with a voice so soft it seemed to be vanishing:
“… Kazetani-kun… Have you, read my manuscript…?
“Ah, yes…”
“… All of it?”
“… Yes.”
“… Until the end?”
“… Yes.”
He read to the last line, going through it slowly and in detail, and filled in a comment sheet.
Hiyuki seemed to be mumbling shyly, lifting her head to look at Ao frantically after slooping her shoulders.
Hiyuki was taller than most girls, and Ao was slightly shorter than an average boy. The distance between their eyes were really close when he looked at Hiyuki who was about his height, which made him panic.
Hiyuki’s eyes were watery,but the mole besides her slightly open lips looked really sexy.
Uwah, my face is hot, is my face red now?
Hiyuki looked at the anxious Ao unconfidently and spoke hesitantly:
“W-What do you think about my work…?”
When Ao reached home, it was already evening.
“I’m home.”
When the residential zone was dyed red from the setting sun, Ao opened the door and announced. His younger brother and sister, twins who just entered primary school ran over noisily.
“You are back, Ao.”
“Ao, you are home.”
They were still young, so the twins were about the same size despite their gender. Their big eyes and thick lips looked alike.
As for personality, the brother was naughty while the sister was well behaved. Ao felt amazed that the difference between boys and girls showed even at such a tender age. Or maybe it just happened to be so for the twins in Ao’s family.
The twins got along well and was always played together. The mischievous brother liked baseball and soccer while the gentle sister liked drawing and playing house. They always squabbled over what games to play, and Ao would act as the referee in such cases.
“Ao, let’s continue the video game.”
“Ao, let’s draw.”
The two of them tugged Ao’s arm from each side.
“I will inspect your homework first, whoever finish first can come and play.”
“Yes! I will go do my homework!”
“Me too!”
The twins gave an innocent answer, Ao patted their head and said: “That’s great.”
At this moment, his mother poked her head out.
“Welcome back Ao, you are late today.”
“Yes, I went for some tea with my friend.”
Ao answered nonchalantly, then recalled his conversation with Hiyuki.
“W-What do you think about my work…?”
After Hiyuki asked with a hesitant expression, Ao couldn’t answer immediately.
“About that, eh…”
Hiyuki looked up at Ao with a very serious face, she seemed to be grabbing her bag harder as her fingers were trembling slightly. Ao felt pressurized by Hiyuki, and couldn’t answer casually.
“Let’s not stand here and talk, want to sit down somewhere?”
He made a suggestion.
“… There’s, a cafe nearby… In that alley, I think, people from school… probably don’t frequent there.”
She continued in a soft voice.
“Let’s go there then.”
The cafe suggested by Hiyuki was a plain shop that had a homey feel, with the first story being a residence remodelled into a shop front. There were coffee coloured wooden chairs inside, the type that would appear only in fairy tales, along with wooden tables that seemed quite aged. On the chairs were hand sewn pillows with striped patterns, and the wallpaper had a warm lozenge design.
A cup of tea or coffee was 450 yen, slightly more expensive than the beverage sold at the convenience shops, but more economical than normal cafe.
During such time on weekdays, there were many empty seats. A woman about college age was reading inside and there were two elderly ladies conversing with elegant voices, making the shop feel serene and comfortable.
The shop lady smiled gently and let them choose any seat they liked. And so, Ao and Hiyuki chose a round table by the wall and sat opposite to each other.
Hiyuki kept glancing at Ao, anxiously seeking his opinion about her work. Ao ordered milk and Assam tea, Hiyuki asked for Chrysanthemum tea. Ao then said:
“Hinomiya-san’s work is very interesting.”
Hiyuki’s expression brightened.
“Erm, well… Did I make it past the first round?”
“Ehh… I can’t divulge before the official announcement… But…”
Ao stammered, and Hiyuki’s face became disappointed as she looked down sadly.
“I didn’t, get selected… again.”
Ao didn’t know what to do as Hiyuki seemed really depressed.
He couldn’t tell her the results, but Hiyuki was right. Ao didn’t send Hiyuki’s work to the second round.
Instead of giving her hope and letting her find out herself, it would be better to let her know now, which would probably hurt less. But learning such regrettable news less than a month after her submission, Ao could only say that he was sorry.
The shopkeeper served the tea on a tray and poured out a cup. But Hiyuki didn’t reach out for it, and just spoke in a depressed voice with her eyes looking down.
“… I… already submitted five times… And failed every time. Is it because my work is very vulgar?”
“Hmm?”
“Because it is cheap and make others unpleasant?”
“Hmmm?”
“It is unconvincing, and presumptuous?”
“Wait, wait a minute, Hinomiya-san.”
With negative terms being uttered one after another, Ao said in a panic:
“I don’t think that. It didn’t send it to the second round, but I feel that Hinomiya-san’s work is really interesting. I wrote that in my comment sheet too, it would take a while before it is posted, please read it then.”
“… Does my work really… have interesting parts?”
“Yes.”
Ao nodded with a smile. Hiyuki widened her eyes, lowered her gaze then fidgeted with the handle of the cup and said:
“… But, the other screeners found it boring… All the comment sheets I got said so. The story is messy, use cheap words, vulgar, hard to read, the main character feel unpleasant… The structure of the story is unconvincing at all, the content is presumptuous, not interesting at all. My overall score is always the lowest, getting C if there are three grades, E if there are five…”
Editors from any publisher would remind the screeners time and again that the contestants were light novel readers too, and to not write overly critical comments or condemn their work.
But there were still troublesome screeners who would write critique with an aloof attitude, thinking that the submitters should not be uncultured writers who didn’t even know the basics of writing. Ao heard Sakutaro mention this.
Such artistic creation based screeners had the opinion that changing the font size and using unnecessary punctuation marks were vulgar and cheap, and hated such a way of writing.
For example ellipsis should be two sets of three dots (……), if they see any manuscript that uses just three dots (…), they would judge that the author was lousy who didn’t even know the basics of writing, concluding that the work wasn’t good and didn’t have any reading value. Ao was surprised when he heard about such screeners.
<TL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis#In_Japanese>
It was true that ellipsis should be (……), but recently, for young authors who publish their work online, it was easier to read on the monitor if they used (…) instead, and they had gotten used to such a writing style. They shouldn’t use this point to judge an author.
The editors would teach them about it after their work was selected, so it shouldn’t affect the whole body of work. Ao saw many interesting and wonderful manuscripts that didn’t use ellipsis correctly. On the other hand, there were many works with flawless wording, but was lacking in charm.
Ao once read an entry that didn’t leave any indentation for paragraphs, lumping all the words together. He didn’t know how to read on in the beginning, but on closer inspection, he found the writing to be vivid and lively, the story was full of personality, breaking the standard mold. To write such a work despite not knowing the basics of writing format, this author had tremendous potential! Ao sent the work to the second stage with a heart full of anticipation. It didn’t win the grand prize due to a clash of opinions, but it still received a special prize, and became a top seller of that serialization.
As such a thing happened before, Ao said with a face of surprise:
“It would be impossible to overturn the situation if you run into someone who thinks his own standard is the only correct one. I can only give my condolences if anyone get such a screener.”
But of course, professional screeners won’t let a work with the potential of success fall through the crack. However, some screeners made unnecessary and nasty comment to unsuccessful contestants. The contestants become infuriated after receiving the results and post the content onto the internet, making huge waves. Something like that has happened before.
Hinomiya definitely encountered such a screener.
He couldn’t just give his condolences
With her shoulders slump, eyes downcast and biting her lips, the depressed Hiyuki didn’t look like the solitary beauty known as the ‘Ice Maiden’, and looked so pitiful.
“I think Hinomiya-san is just unlucky. Your work isn’t perfect, the font size changes and punctuation is a little excessive, which might leave a bad impression, but there are good points too. If you can bring them out, you can definitely pass the first round of selection.”
Ao said passionately and Hiyuki lifted her head and looked at him. Ao then said:
“The tea here is nice.”
He said with a smile after pouring milk into the Assam tea and taking a sip. Hiyuki also lowered her gaze frantically, and brought her golden chrysanthemum tea to her mouth.
“… It taste, really good.”
She mumbled.
“… I pass by this cafe often… I always wanted to come in and take a look, but didn’t dare to do that alone…”
“Me too, it’s hard for a guy to enter such a cute shop, I’m glad to have come together with Hinomiya-san.”
Hiyuki’s cheeks turned red. She kept her gaze low, and spoke softly:
“E-Erm… ‘The lost heavenly ball’ series… I am reading it too…”
That was the light novel Ao intentionally dropped onto the floor in order to strike a conversation with Hiyuki. Ao felt his heart opening up.
“I was right! I thought that Hinomiya-san probably read this series.”
“I am a super fan…”
“Yes, the twist and development for each book really excites me! Have you read the latest volume?”
“Yes, when Takato… helped Falumia… I was deeply moved.”
“Yes, that part is really hot blooded! And that time when the lone wolf Jacille actually uttered the taboo chant for his comrade.”
“… I cried when I saw that part.”
“Me too.”
Before they knew it, the two of them were talking passionately about light novels. ‘The lost Heavenly Ball’ was an entry Ao selected for the second round. He thought that work was very interesting, and wanted the wide audience to experience it for themselves too. That’s why Ao was really happy and excited when Hiyuki timidly express her thoughts about it.
“… Kazetani-kun, how did you start working as a screener…?”
Hiyuki was still bothered by this matter, and asked cautiously.
“Ehh, I actually can’t say that I am a screener. Can you keep this a secret for me?”
Hiyuki nodded gently.
“… Yes, I don’t have anyone to speak to anyways.”
Ao felt that the way she put it sounded very lonely. But Hiyuki didn’t sound like she needed sympathy and was just stating a fact, so Ao just pretended he never heard that.
“My uncle works in the video game industry, in the beginning, I was taking on the job my uncle took…”
Ao started explaining how he took on the job of screener. Hiyuki opened her eyes wide and listened with bated breath. Finally──
“Such a thing… actually happened.”
She muttered sentimentally.
“Yes, it’s like a development in a light novel. But I heard some of the screeners could be a housewife or vegetable shopkeeper who the screener knew. Also, some of the screeners for female oriented novels might be the illustrationist for H games or middle aged man in their forties.”
“H games…?”
Hiyuki tilted his head slightly.
“Ah, that… is R18 games. My uncle produces such games. It will be adapted into an all age version sometimes, but that’s how it is. Ahh, it might be H games, but it has interesting and moving contents too! Oh right, the ones I play are the all age versions!”
“Yes… Yes.”
When she found out H games were erotic games, her face turned bright red. Her skin was very white to begin with, so it was obvious when she blushed.
Ao originally thought that she would know a little about H games even if she didn’t play, since she wrote things like ‘It’s striped panties☆’. Turned out he was wrong.
Discussing such lewd stuff with such a serious girl, isn’t that sexual harassment…? Ao’s face started to heat up.
Hinomiya-san the person is so different from her work. Unlike our classmates’ impression of her, she might seem cold, but chat readily with me. She blushes easily and is careful with her words… How deep and hard to understand.
When the conversation stopped and both of them felt awkward, Hiyuki spoke first:
“I have… a curfew in my place, I have to go now.”
Ao heard that Hiyuki walked to school from an old Japanese style mansion. If she could walk home from this place, then her curfew was too early. Ao heard she was living with her strict grandmother, that’s why it was like this.
“It’s about time I go home too.”
Ao stood up as well.
Because the two of them were too engrossed in their conversation, Ao barely made it back home before dinner on his bicycle.
“Although I am working as a screener, Hinomiya-san is the first light novel author I met. I am glad I could chat with you today.”
“M-Me too…”
“Well then, let’s talk about light novel again if we have time. Ah, if you don’t want to talk to me in school, just ignore me. I will tell you my phone number and email, just contact me when you want to.”
<TL: In Japan, text messaging is mostly done through email. https://www.rentafonejapan.com/Email-Texting.html >
Ao spoke casually as he normally did when exchanging contact details with other classmates. 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.”
Hinomiya 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 accumulates 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 circumstances, 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 Hinomiya-san said that is fine too.
── Just once is fine, I want to pass 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 classroom while Ao mulled time by chatting with his classmates a little. After turning down their invitation to idle at a fast food restaurant, he left the classroom.
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 classmates said: “The Ice Maiden today is also an iron wall.” “No, it should be an ice wall.”
“Ao, are you really planning to woo Hinomiya? 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 classmates advised him.
Ao answered that he unintentionally glanced Hinomiya’s way a few times because she was really pretty. But he was actually thinking:
Nobody knows, but Hinomiya-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.
“Hinomiya-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. Hinomiya-san, how long would it take you to write a manuscript?”
“Storyboarding… Will take about a week, and in terms of manuscript 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.