Chapter 68: A

Akiwara Yuto did not know someone was targeting him; he had just returned from a run outside, and as soon as he arrived home, before he even had a chance 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 puzzled and asked into the receiver: "Is something the matter?"

Hearing Akiwara Yuto's reply, Asano Aiko was speechless for a moment, and only after a long while did she reply: "Akiwara, this Friday night is the announcement of the results for the Mantan Society Literary Award. I remember telling you about it before..."

Akiwara Yuto was surprised. Had it already reached the time for the Mantan Society Literary Award? But when had Asano Aiko told him about it?

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

Asano Aiko did not hear a response, but she didn't mind and continued: "Akiwara, your work was sent over after the serialization ended. The news from the judging committee hasn't come out yet. If there are no surprises, it should be the Gold Prize, but since the magazine ended up selling 200,000 copies, the Grand Prize is also possible."

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

Hearing these words, Akiwara felt a bit dazed. Recalling how he had been penniless when he first arrived, the increasingly high sales of his work, and the honor he was about to receive, a feeling different from the past welled up in his heart.

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

"No, Akiwara, all of this is what you deserve." Asano did not accept his thanks; instead, she said earnestly.

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

She was just lucky; she had discovered his work when he needed help the most. Moreover, it was precisely by relying on his talent that she had managed to shed her status as a marginal person.

Therefore, she believed that she was the one who should truly be saying thank you.

After saying this, Asano Aiko told Akiwara to wear a more formal suit and went over other points to note. Akiwara Yuto indicated he understood, and the two then ended the call.

Akiwara Yuto walked to the bathroom, took off his clothes, turned on the shower, and began to rinse off. While washing, he started to think: would he end up getting the Gold Prize or the Grand Prize?

According to what Imamura Yuto had said at the club before, the Mantan Society Literary Award was a big "cake." *Tokyo Literature* occupied the biggest piece, which was the Grand Prize and one Gold Prize, while *New Fiction* could only be allocated the remainder, which was one Gold Prize.

But the situation this year was different. For example, in the past two months, the sales of *New Fiction* had already surpassed the former, though it seemed that was only for one issue...

He pondered it carefully and found that his greatest possibility was the Gold Prize. As for the Grand Prize, the possibility was not high, but it wasn't entirely impossible to look forward to it...

What if the judging committee felt his work was the better one?

While thinking, he finished rinsing and changed into his spare clothes before walking out of the bathroom. Just as he stepped out, he heard a "ding" of the doorbell.

Who would come over at this time? Akiwara Yuto was a bit puzzled for a moment. He walked quickly to the peephole to look outside and immediately spotted a cheeky face—it was Imamura Yuto.

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

Akiwara Yuto complained inwardly, but he still opened the door and said crossly: "What is it this time? I'll state this in advance: I am not going to places like the red-light district."

This guy had come over a few times before. Every time he came, he would open his mouth and talk about taking him to play pinball or go for a "consultation," saying he couldn't just stay cooped up at home reading and writing manuscripts every day and needed to relax his mood occasionally.

When Akiwara Yuto heard the word "consultation," he had believed it at the time, thinking it was really to get a proper massage or something, so he followed the other person, only to be taken to a clinic called "Beauty Health Consultation."

Upon entering the shop, a heavily made-up mama-san quickly came up to greet them, and at the same time, four young women dressed in flashy clothes arrived, two of whom looked like they hadn't even graduated from high school... Seeing this scene, Akiwara Yuto couldn't care about Imamura Yuto and was so scared he fled in a panic.

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

It was only after that day that he learned the names of red-light district shops in Japan were strange and varied; some were called "XX Hall," some "XX Consultation," and some didn't even have a sign.

Imamura Yuto shrugged and continued with a shifty look: "Don't worry, I've already given up on the dream of breaking your path to becoming a wizard. You can just continue being your virgin!"

There is an urban legend in Japan that if a man is still a virgin at 25, he will become a wizard, though some say it is 30.

According to combat power, those over 25 are official wizards, over 30 are high-level wizards, over 35 are grand wizards, and over 40 are magi. If one can survive the high-risk period of losing one's virginity after 50, one can become a Great Sage and a God of Magic at 65 and 70 respectively...

Akiwara Yuto was speechless for a moment and rolled his eyes at Imamura Yuto. "Imamura~ if you have nothing to do, please leave. Please let me practice magic in peace, okay?"

As he said this, he pushed the door outward, preparing to lock this annoying friend outside.

Seeing the situation was bad, Imamura Yuto immediately stepped forward and pressed against the closing door, saying loudly: "Akiwara, it's just a joke, don't mind it. I have serious business! Seriously, don't close the door!"

Seeing he hadn't pushed the person out, Akiwara Yuto could only sigh: "Speak, I hope you can be serious for once."

"Geez, Akiwara, you're being a bit too heartless." Imamura Yuto muttered, but he still started talking about the serious business he mentioned. "Akiwara, now that your serialization has come to an end, why not come and attend a writers' gathering? After all, if you want to continue in the literary world, you'll have to get to know quite a few people sooner or later."

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

"So Akiwara, come with me to Teacher Seto's house tonight. There is a discussion there about writing techniques for mystery novels."

Hearing Imamura Yuto's serious explanation, Akiwara Yuto was a bit surprised, but he still thought about it carefully.

Imamura Yuto was also acting out of kindness, wanting to help him make more connections. But what Akiwara Yuto cared about was the mystery novel writing techniques Imamura Yuto mentioned.

In his previous life, although he had learned a lot of theoretical knowledge, there was actually a significant gap between literary theory and actual writing; they could not be mentioned in the same breath.

Taking famous Japanese writers as an example, quite a few did not come from a proper literary background: for instance, Keigo Higashino was originally an automotive engineer, Miyuki Miyabe was originally a stenographer at a law firm, and Haruki Murakami originally ran a bar...

Although he had memorized the content of many works due to his hobbies, these works would eventually run out. When that time came, would he just stop writing or creating?

Akiwara Yuto thought for a long time and felt that what the other person 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 entrance. Just change your clothes and come out to get in."

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

Should he try writing a work independently?