Chapter 68: Magician

Akiwara Yuto didn't know that someone was targeting him. He had just returned from running outside. As soon as he got home, before he had time to take a shower, he received a call from Asano Aiko.

"Akiwara, wait for me at home around 5:30 on Friday evening, I will drive over."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit confused and asked into the receiver: "Is there anything?"

Hearing Akiwara Yuto's answer, Asano Aiko was speechless for a while, and it took a long time before she replied: "Akiwara, this Friday evening is the announcement of the results of the Mantanshe Literary Award. I remember telling you about it before..."

Akiwara Yuto was surprised. Has it already reached the Mantanshe Literary Award? But when did Asano Aiko tell him?

He lowered his head and pondered for a long time, only to find that it seemed that when he was drinking with Editor-in-Chief Kikuchi before, he vaguely heard her mention it, but he was drunk that day...

Asano Aiko didn't hear a response, didn't care, and continued: "Akiwara, your work was sent over after the serialization ended. The news from the jury hasn't come out yet. If there are no accidents, it should be the Jin Shang, but because the magazine finally sold 200,000 copies, the Grand Award is also possible."

She paused and said with a complex tone: "In any case, congratulations, Akiwara!"

Hearing these words, Akiwara was a bit dazed. Recalling that he was penniless when he first came here, to the increasingly high sales of his works, and the honor he was about to get, a feeling different from the past surged in his heart for a while.

He was silent for a while and said into the receiver: "Thank you, Asano."

"No, Akiwara, all of this is what you deserve." Asano didn't accept his thanks, but said seriously instead.

She has always firmly believed that with Akiwara Yuto's own talent, he could achieve success on any platform.

She was just lucky, just discovering his work when he needed help the most. And it was precisely by relying on the other party's talent that she got rid of her status as a marginal person.

So she thinks that the one who should really say thank you is herself.

After saying this, Asano Aiko also told Akiwara to wear a more formal suit and explained other things to pay attention to. Akiwara Yuto indicated that he understood, and the two ended the call.

Akiwara Yuto walked to the bathroom, took off his clothes, turned on the shower, and started to rinse. While washing, he began to think, would he get the Jin Shang or the Grand Award?

According to Imamura Yuto's previous statement at the club, the Mantanshe Literary Award is a big "cake," *Tokyo Literature* occupies the biggest piece, which is the Grand Award and a Jin Shang, while *New Novel* can only be divided into the remaining one, which is a Jin Shang.

But the situation this year is different. For example, in the past two months, the sales of *New Novel* have exceeded the former, but it seems that it was only one issue...

He pondered carefully and found that the biggest possibility for him was the Jin Shang. As for the Grand Award, the possibility was not high, but it was not impossible to look forward to...

What if the jury thinks his work is better?

While thinking, he finished rinsing, changed into spare clothes, and walked out of the bathroom. Just as he walked out, he heard a "ding" doorbell sound.

Who would come to the door at this time? Akiwara Yuto was a bit confused for a moment. He walked quickly to the peephole and looked out, immediately discovering a cheap-looking face—it was Imamura Yuto.

He was wearing a leather jacket and leather pants, paired with his recently dyed brown hair, and the whole person looked like a "street punk."

Akiwara Yuto complained in his heart, but still opened the door and said unpleasantly: "What's the matter again? I declare in advance, I'm not going to places like the red-light district."

This guy had come to the door several times before. Every time he came, he opened his mouth and closed his mouth saying he wanted to take him to play pinball or go for a "treatment," saying that he couldn't stay at home reading and writing manuscripts every day, and should relax his mood occasionally.

Akiwara Yuto heard the word "treatment" and believed it at the time, really thinking it was to give himself a regular massage or something, so he followed the other party, and then was taken to a clinic called "Meisheng Therapy."

After entering this shop, a mama-san with heavy makeup quickly greeted them, and 4 young women with flowers and branches came, 2 of whom looked like they hadn't graduated from high school... Seeing this scene, Akiwara Yuto couldn't care about Imamura Yuto and ran away in fear.

He didn't discriminate against this line of work, but he didn't want anything to happen in these places...

It was only after this day that he knew that the names of RB's red-light districts were strange, some called "XX Hall," some called "XX Treatment," and some didn't even have a sign name.

Imamura Yuto shrugged his shoulders and continued to say with a thief's eyes: "Don't worry, I have given up on the dream of interrupting you from becoming a magician. You just continue to be your virgin!"

There is an urban legend in Nihon that says if a man is still a virgin at 25, he will become a magician, but there is also a saying that it is 30.

According to the division of combat power, those over 25 are official magicians, those over 30 are senior magicians, those over 35 are great magicians, those over 40 are magic guides, and if they can survive the high-incidence period of losing their virginity at 50, they can become great sages and law gods at 65 and 70 respectively...

Akiwara Yuto was speechless for a while, rolled his eyes at Imamura Yuto, "Imamura~ If you have nothing to do, please leave, please let me practice magic alone? OK?"

He said this while pushing the front door out, ready to lock this annoying friend outside the door.

Imamura Yuto saw that the situation was not good, immediately stepped forward and stuck to it, holding up the closing door, and said loudly: "Akiwara, just a joke, don't mind, I have serious business! Seriously, don't close the door!"

Seeing that he didn't push the person out, Akiwara Yuto could only sigh: "Say it, I hope you can really be serious."

"Really, Akiwara, you are a bit too ruthless." Imamura Yuto muttered, but still told the serious business he said, "Akiwara, your serialization has come to an end now, do you want to participate in a writer's gathering? After all, if you want to continue in the literary world in the future, you will sooner or later know many people."

After saying this, his voice became much more serious, "As a friend, I think you can't stay behind closed doors all day. Sometimes the ideas of some other writers at the gathering will undoubtedly bring inspiration to your work."

"So Akiwara, go to Teacher Seto's house with me tonight, there is a discussion about the writing techniques of detective novels there."

Hearing Imamura Yuto's serious statement, Akiwara Yuto was a bit surprised, but still pondered carefully.

Imamura Yuto was also well-intentioned, wanting to help him know more people. But what Akiwara Yuto cared about was the writing technique of detective novels that Imamura Yuto mentioned.

In his past life, although he learned a lot of theoretical knowledge, there was actually a considerable gap between literary theory and actual writing, which could not be confused.

Taking well-known Nihon writers as an example, quite a few were not from a proper literary background: for example, Higashino Keigo was originally an automotive engineer, Miyabe Miyuki was originally a stenographer at a law firm, Murakami Haruki was originally running a bar...

Although because of his hobbies, he remembered a lot of the content of the works in his mind, these works would eventually run out. When that time comes, will he not write or create?

Akiwara Yuto thought for a long time and felt that what the other party said was not unreasonable, so he opened the door, looked at Imamura Yuto, and said: "Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, my car is parked at the door. You can come out and get in the car after you change your clothes."

After saying this, Imamura Yuto waved his hand and walked out of the yard. Looking at the other party's back, Akiwara Yuto couldn't help but think about other questions.

Should he try to write an original work by himself? ===== CHAPTER 69 =====