Chapter 19 – Takamine Yuika Isn’t a Bad Person

“Here. The entrance exam novel.”

So yeah, I wrote a homemade novel on about forty A4 sheets and handed it over to Takamine Yuika.

“Akira did the plot. I did the writing. So it’s a collab this time. That’s fine, right? They didn’t specify that one person has to write thirty thousand words.”

“…Fine.”

She took the thick stack of paper and said that.

“By the way, if it’s boring, do I get rejected?”

“…I said before. …I’ll consider that. …Just writing thirty thousand words… you’re already impressive.”

“Thanks a lot.”

“…Yes.”

What she handed back was the literature club rule sheet. Getting this meant my membership was approved. Show up at the clubroom at least once a week. The last person out locks up and returns the key to the staff room. Read Andou Reasu-senpai’s works and give merciless criticism. Etc. Some rules had a bit of personal flavor. Well, criticizing is fine, I guess.

“You aiming to be a pro writer or something?”

“…Laughing?”

“Nah. Nothing funny about it.”

Nothing weird at all.

“…Then nice to have you from today.”

“Yessir~”

After that, life with Akira and Eri was just about reading books together. Lately, I’ve been reading web novels, though.

“So membership approved, right?”

“Guess so?”

I passed the club rule sheet to Akira, too, and told her to read it carefully.

“So why did Nevada-kun join the literature club?”

“Because I like literature.”

“Basketball… looks so cool though.”

“If it were a solo sport, maybe, but…”

“Track… tennis?”

“Well, those are possible, but I’m not as good at them as basketball.”

“You had confidence you were good.”

“It’s a level anyone can reach with some practice.”

“Can’t do dunks though.”

True.

“By the way, you’re not aiming for Andou-senpai, right?”

Akira’s eyes suddenly clouded over.

“I told you, I just transferred, ed so I don’t know the school. I only learned about Andou-senpai when I visited the clubroom that time.”

“You can’t like her, okay?”

“Dunno. Ask the god of romance.”

While we were chatting away.

“Akira-senpaaai!”

Sudou Karma-san appeared. Eyes sparkling as she looked at Akira.

“Wanna eat lunch together today?”

“I’m eating with Nevada-kun.”

“Nevada-senpai is a walking ball of lust, you know~ Better stay away.~”

Of all things to say, this girl…

“Something you need?”

“Actually~ I kinda like Akira-senpai a lot~.”

“Yuri?”

“Nevada-senpai’s sharp! Maybe yuri~.”

It means girl-on-girl romance, but whatever, not like it’s new.

“What do you think of yuri, Akira-senpai?”

“Not exactly a trait I dislike…”

“Kinda immoral and exciting, right~? Oh, so any guy caught between yuri gets the death penalty, so bye-bye Nevada-senpai~.”

“Later then.”

It was lunch break. I bought bread at the school store and headed to the clubroom. Eating and drinking were basically not banned.

“…………”

In the clubroom, Takamine Yuika… Andou Reasu-senpai was there as usual. She was facing the installed PC, typing away on the keyboard, wanting to become a pro writer, huh, and wanting to shine with her own power instead of getting a normal salary. To me, people like that are dazzling.

“Excuse me.”

While munching on my bread, I sat down in one of the seats. I didn’t have a book with me, so I read web novels on my phone. Short, punchy novels that summarize long, messy content were climbing the rankings. I didn’t feel any denial about that. There are complaints online about the light novel industry, but titles like “Transfer Student” or whatever have become big content, so market-wise, it’s actually correct. In terms of evolution and development, I even feel like the classic light novels with long, descriptive titles that don’t grab you are the ones lagging, not denying them. Both are right, but as a preference, long titles that tell you the content help me when buying.

“…What are you reading?”

While I was fiddling with my phone, munching on yakisoba bread, Andou-senpai spoke to me. So I was recognized after all.

“It’s about a guy with spiritual senses who gets possessed by a dollar-ota ghost and becomes insanely good at otagei and ends up involved with an idol… that kind of novel.”

“…It’s interesting, right?”

“Well, I just started reading it.”

“…It is interesting.”

It’s on the weekly ranking, so yeah, it must be.

“Maybe Andou-senpai uploads web novels too?”

“…Yeah. …Well.”

“Huh.”

I said that, but didn’t ask for her account if she wants to tell me, sure.

“Did you read the collab novel that Akira and I did?”

“…It was interesting.”

“That’s great.”

“…Not flattery.”

“Even better.”

“…Web novels… don’t get popular.”

“Worried… about it.”

“…Yeah… maybe I have no talent.”

“You should say that after you’ve used up all your talent.”

“…Use up… talent.”

“Look up how old the author of the Anpan Hero was when he broke out big. It’ll come up if you search. Becoming skeptical of your dreams in high school feels like giving up way too early to me.”

To me, if there’s something you can get absorbed in, that’s enough. Whether writing novels, pouring into sports, or being good at games—if there’s something you enjoy, that’s plenty. Especially these days, it’s easy to find entertainment, so enjoy whatever you find. I don’t think there’s superiority or inferiority between creators and consumers. Readers look at novels written while coughing up blood, with sparkling eyes, too. Sometimes, in the distortions of net society, some readers send heartless words, but I can’t really like those loud deniers either.

“So yeah, look up the Anpan Hero author’s breakout age and then say that again, ‘kay?”