Chapter 14

After leaving the Asano residence, the two did not go directly to the station, but at Asano Aiko's suggestion, they turned and walked a few extra steps to a miniature park nearby.

Although it was called a park, it was actually just an outdoor concrete lot with swings, a slide, and two wooden benches.

The equipment looked quite old, and it was clearly for the neighborhood children to play on.

Akiwara Yuto didn't know why Asano Aiko suggested going to this park, but he guessed she had something she wanted to say to him, and he felt it wouldn't hurt to listen.

It was now a little past 9 o'clock, and there was plenty of time to catch the last train back, so he followed her into the park.

Blowing in the gentle evening breeze, the two sat on the bench, and for a moment, the atmosphere was a bit silent.

After a while, Asano Aiko took the initiative to speak, and she said softly, "Akiwara-san, I still have to apologize to you."

Akiwara Yuto thought she was talking about today's events and waved his hand, "No need to apologize. I didn't take what your mother said to heart, and I should be thanking you for the hospitality tonight."

"That's not what I meant," Asano Aiko's voice suddenly became a bit angry. She paused, felt that this didn't seem right, and then switched back to a soft voice.

"I know you didn't take my mother's words to heart, but what I want to apologize for is that I didn't manage to secure more promotion for your work."

Akiwara Yuto glanced at her; he hadn't expected Asano Aiko to still be dwelling on it, and he was a bit worried that she would go drinking again.

He quickly said, "It's okay, Asano-san. After all, I'm just a newcomer, and these things will come with time."

Asano Aiko sighed and said in a slightly dejected tone, "Akiwara-san, you don't understand; this is very important."

She organized her thoughts and slowed down her speech.

"If you can have good promotion, you can often get higher votes in reader feedback surveys. This will be of great help for you to win the publisher's internal literary award in the future."

Akiwara Yuto took it seriously, feeling that he should indeed listen carefully, so he sat up straight and began to listen attentively.

Through Asano Aiko's description, he learned more inside information and also gained a deeper understanding of his own career path.

As a newcomer, if one wants to continue in the literary world, then constantly winning various literary awards is an inevitable choice.

And within the publishing house, there is a literary award specifically for literary journals.

The name of this award is the Mantanshe Literary Award, and the scope of the selection is works published this year, with the Grand Prize, Gold Prize, Silver Prize, and Bronze Prize awarded separately based on the work's popularity and the judges' opinions.

Only one Grand Prize is awarded, which is the highest honor of the literary award. Two Gold Prizes are awarded, mainly for popular works in various magazines; three Silver Prizes are awarded, mainly for works with good responses; and there are as many as eight Bronze Prizes, the nature of which is somewhat similar to a consolation prize.

Speaking of this, Asano Aiko shook her head gently and said in a very helpless tone.

"Because the sales of *New Novels* are limited after all, to win an honor above the Silver Prize, one must be in the top three in the reader feedback voting rankings. This is the reason why I tried so hard to fight for promotion."

Akiwara Yuto didn't know there was such inside information, frowned slightly, and couldn't help but ponder.

Given the genius level of Otsuichi's works, shouldn't it be easy to win the publisher's internal Gold Prize even without promotion?

This is also hard to say; after all, it's only relatively likely.

In his past life, there were well-known Japanese writers who, despite having both critical acclaim and good sales, never won awards.

For example, Keigo Higashino failed to win the Naoki Prize five times and only won it on the sixth attempt; another example is Haruki Murakami, who has been active for over forty years but has never been associated with the Akutagawa Prize or the Naoki Prize.

In short, winning awards is really a bit of a mystery...

Seeing Akiwara Yuto thinking, Asano Aiko continued to say softly.

"Akiwara-san, actually, whether it's the newcomer or the Ministry of Education's initiatives, those are just excuses. After all, we are a magazine, and we must put the quality of the work first."

Speaking of this, she realized that it involved the internal situation of the editorial department, weighed it, and decided to continue speaking.

After all, this was not just her own business, but it also concerned Akiwara Yuto's interests.

"My proposal was rejected this time mainly because of the person in charge of another column. Because if your work can get promotion and gain high popularity, it is very likely to have an adverse effect on the writer the other party is currently in charge of regarding the Grand Prize selection. According to past practice, *New Novels* can only win at most one Gold Prize."

She slowed down her speech further, and then said in a very firm tone, "But whether from the perspective of an editor or a reader, I think your work is far superior to others."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit stunned; he had never thought that Asano Aiko had such great confidence in this work, and for a moment, he was a bit moved.

Asano Aiko's face began to turn red again, because of her mother's rambling in the evening, many things she said now sounded a bit strange.

However, the purpose of her saying these words was not to complain to Akiwara, but to show him her attitude toward his work.

After knowing her own heart, even if Akiwara-san found out that he only won a Silver or Bronze Prize at that time, he wouldn't be so discouraged, right?

In short, it's better to cheer him up more often.

Just then, another gust of wind blew, messing up part of the bangs on her forehead. She looked up at the sky and found that the time seemed to be a bit late.

No, if she didn't go home, she would be nagged by her mother again, and she might even get flicked on the forehead.

She stood up and took the initiative to say goodbye to Akiwara Yuto, "Akiwara-san, I'm sorry for bothering you today. Please go home as soon as possible and be safe on the way."

Akiwara Yuto nodded, returned the farewell, and prepared to walk toward the train.

Asano Aiko suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly said to his back, "Akiwara-san, the new issue of *New Novels* will be released next Monday, and I will send it to you then."

After saying this, she ran away in small steps. Akiwara Yuto looked at her back, but his heart became a bit worried.

It seems that *Kozue and Yoko* will be released next Monday. I wonder what the reader feedback will be like.

Although the world he is in is different, he hopes it can also be loved by readers.

As he strode toward the station, he considered another question in his heart.

By the way, whether it's promotion or awards, they aren't necessarily only within the publishing house, right?

Perhaps, I should look for other avenues?