Life is a Mess Ever Since My Mother Won an Ero-Novel Grand Prize - Chapter 4.1

Chapter 4.1 “My life is a mess because of the structure of this story.”

This isn’t good, I can’t think of any ideas at all…

I plopped down on the table and mourned over my poor imagination.

It’s been a week since I dared challenge Kimeseku-sensei and promised that I’d win, and yet no idea has come to mind since then.

“I’m in serious trouble…”

There was less than a month left until the deadline for the competition with Senri.

I can’t neglect my schoolwork, and I also have to support Mating Press, my mother, as a shadow warrior. Also, my younger sister, Miyuha, is about to have an interview for a scholarship. And of course, I’m worried about her.

With my quick writing speed, I should be able to finish a good amount of work in three days. But I can’t write a single word if I don’t even know the structure of the story I’m about to write, the core idea of the piece.

“Hmm…”

I twisted my neck, but I really couldn’t come up with anything…

At least, if you have any hints, please send them to me…

That’s when my phone buzzed. I looked at it and saw that it was a message from Rinka.

“Come to Akihabara station right now! But don’t get the wrong idea! This is not a date! It’s really, really not a date!”

I see… I threw away my phone and twisted my neck again, I rolled around on the bed. I started cleaning my room. Then I found a dusty manga in a corner, I read it. Then my phone buzzed again.

“Where the heck are you? Why aren’t you here yet? I feel like an idiot for doing this! Just hurry up and get here!”

I had no choice but to go…

When I arrived at the Akihabara station, I saw a high school girl dressed in an odd outfit.

“You’re late!”

Rinka shouted as soon as she saw me.

No, even if you say I’m late, you’re the one who unilaterally called me out.

“Rinka, I’m busy right now. If you want me to show you around Animate again, let’s make it quick.”

Rinka was annoyed.

“Stupid, that’s not what I’m here for. I know you’re busy with your match with Senri-senpai.”

“If so…”

“So… you’re still unsure of what to write, right?”

“Hahahaha! That’s true! Not only am I lost, I have no idea what to write!”

“That’s even worse!”

I put my hands on my hips and let out a sigh.

“Well, I’ve already decided that I’m going to focus on familial love since Senri-san is going to focus on the family’s downfall.”

“For familial love…”

Rinka put her finger on her chin and showed a thoughtful gesture.

“Rinka, what kind of story do you think I should write? If you have a hint at least, it might help me a lot.”

Rinka responded to me while scratching the back of her head.

“I summoned you here because I knew you would.”

“What…?”

“Look!”

Rinka spread her hands wide.

“This is Akihabara, the sanctuary of otaku! If you walk around here, I’m sure that the idea of a light novel will spring up! All you have to do is mix it with family love!”

I was wondering what she was going to say, but then I saw…

“Rinka, I’m sorry to inform you, but Akihabara was a sacred place for otaku more than ten years ago.”

“What do you mean…?”

“It’s a normal town now. However, there are still some stores that look a little shady, and it’s treated as a tourist attraction for foreigners interested in otaku culture.”

“No way! If you’re trying to fool me, it won’t work. Akihabara is full of nerds in plaid shirts, right?”

“It’s an image from old times! Even if you look around, it’s not like that at all! I mean, you’re an active high school student, but you’re so prejudiced against otaku!?”

“I’ve seen people in cosplay walking around the city and having their picture taken…”

“It’s not often! I’m not saying it’s zero, but it happens rarely!”

Eeeh, Rinka looked a bit annoyed.

This girl is stupid, and she’s kind of out of place… If you’re going to come to a sacred place for otakus why didn’t you wear something fashionable like that? You look more like a gal than cosplayer, at this rate otaku’s will be confused looking at you.

Rinka regained her composure and pointed her finger at me as if to challenge me again.

“Anyway, you should be grateful that I’m here to help you find a story today.”

“Oh, well, I’m glad to hear it.”

I scratched my cheek.

“But why are you doing this for me? Isn’t it going to ruin your day off?”

“Well, that’s…”

Rinka squirmed and answered,

“Look, we’re fellow winners, right? I feel sorry that you’re doing so much for both of us… I want to keep writing with you, and I’m the one who needs your advice… And more importantly, if possible,  I want to spend as much time with you…”

Her face turned red and redder, and she became so quiet that I couldn’t hear her anymore.

I wonder why she does this sometimes? I don’t have a clue, but anyway, she’s worried about me and wants to help me. I’m really happy about that.

And isn’t it great to be able to see Rinka even on weekends and holidays, to be able to see her in cute outfits, to have an Akiba date (in my opinion)? This is the kind of thing that makes me happy to be as a substitute author.

“Anyway!”

Rinka shouted desperately, straining with all her strength.

“The two of us will work together to defeat Senri-senpai! This will be our story…”

[Mommy! Mommy! Emergency! Haru-kun, help me!]

“Aah! Damn it! She messed with my settings again!”

I hurriedly took out my phone. It was an incoming call from “Your favorite mom’s hotline☆”. It was strange. I had deleted the contact information a long time ago, but somehow it was back. I’ve changed the password on my phone, but how did she manage to break through the security every time? I’m sure she’s going to say something like, “Because I know everything about you, Haru-kun♪.”

I hung up without a second thought and put the phone back in my pocket.

“So, what were we talking about? You were saying something?”

I urged Rinka to go on, and she cringed.

“Y-you want me to say it all over again…? It’s no use. You better listen to me this time!”

“Sure.”

I braced myself. Rinka seemingly has something important to say.

“Can I? The two of us,” 

[Mommy! Mommy! Emergency! Haru-kun, help me!” Gahhh! What’s with this ringtone?

“I’m sorry!”

I hurriedly took out my phone again. Damn it, if I don’t do something about her, my relationship with Rinka is not going to progress at all!

I thought about hanging up without picking up the phone, but then I thought…

The fact that she kept calling back meant that she might have something really, really urgent to say. Did she get into some kind of trouble?

I have a bad feeling about this… It’s what I call a bad omen.

I decided to answer it.

I turned my back to Rinka and put my phone to my ear.

“Hello? What’s going on?”

“Haru-kun, help me! I’m in a terrible situation!”

Mirei’s voice was tearful, indicating that this was no joke.

“What… what happened?”

“I-I’m surrounded by a lot of guys right now, and I can’t get away… I don’t know how it happened to me, but when I found out, I was made to change into something revealing.”

What the hell is that?

“I feel like I’m in danger. If I don’t do something, they’re going to do this and that to me, and I think they’re going to mess me up! And they’ve already taken so many pictures of me! The innocence I’ve been protecting for Haru-kun might get taken away! Oh no! Haru-kun, save me~~!”

It seems she was about to cry at any moment. My mother was full of tsukkomi and clutz, but in this case, she was really tricked and about to be attacked by thugs…

“Sorry Rinka, something came up! See you next time!”

“What? No!”

Rinka was disappointed, but she must have sensed a serious turn of events from my expressions…

“I understand. You take care of that urgent business first. I’m going to gather some materials that might be helpful for the story.”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll make it up to you. I promise?”

“Sure!”

Rinka sends me off with a cheering smile. 

For a moment I was almost taken aback by how nice she was, but now I had to hurry. I turned on my heel and started running.

It seemed that my mother was also in Akihabara. Maybe she was also looking for some reference materials without telling me. If she had gotten into trouble on the way, it would have been my fault.

Stay safe, Mom!

….