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

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Chapter 5.4

One month later…

The day for the announcement of the results had finally arrived.

The ranking itself is updated in real time, and there have been several major changes over the past month. There was also a lot of controversy.

Senri and I have exchanged words regarding our new pseudonyms and the titles of our submissions, and also watched the trends on the rankings.

The voting will close at noon today, and the final rankings will be decided.

In the living room of the Shimomura house, a large 60-inch LCD TV (one of the most expensive things in the Shimomura family, won in a lucky draw at a shopping mall) is connected to the Internet, displaying a special website for the competition.

Six people were now gathered in the Shimomura house.

Me, Mirei, and Miyuha, the original residents of the house.

Senri, who was involved in the competition, stood with her arms crossed, staring at me.

Rinka, who had dropped out of the challan but was curious about the outcome, said, “So this is Shimomura’s house…! That’s Shimomura’s family…! His Mother and sister…! I’m so nervous.” Huh? Shouldn’t you be worried about the results? Why are you worried about seeing my house and my family? Also why are you breathing heavily through your nose, Shimomura house doesn’t smell that much, you know?

And then there’s Kimeseku-sensei. He was wearing his normal clothes or maybe a business suit today, and he checked his watch like a businessman.

“You’ve got less than ten minutes until noon… Do you have anything you want to say, Mating Press?”

“What I want to say…”

I scratched the back of my head.

“Of course, I think I’ve written my best work yet. I went through several revisions, and each time it got better, and the illustrator drew the best pictures.”

Of course, it’s a secret that my mother is the true Mating Press, and it’s also a secret that the illustrator, Sexy-Panty-Flash, is Miyuha. The only reason the two of them are here now is because they are supporting their eldest son as a family.

“I don’t know if I can take first place, but I was already in the top ten in the rankings a week ago, so I’m pretty sure I’ll finish in the top ten.”

“Hmm, you’ve grown a lot in such a short time.”

Kimeseku sensei lifted his mouth in a winning smile. Are those eyes looking at me not as a Mating Press, but as a nameless wannabe? No, from behind his trademark black-rimmed glasses, I can feel the light of a professional watching over me as I grow into a professional.

But, I said,

“I don’t think I can beat Senri-san…”

“”…!?…””

Everyone seems to have been caught off-guard by my statement, and roll their eyes at me.

It couldn’t be helped. In particular, mother and Miyuha had put in so much effort. How can I say “I can lose,” or “I’m not confident.”

But still, I did.

“I read Senri-san’s submission yesterday.”

I looked at her and said,

“It was really interesting.”

“Mating Press…”

“The story of Senri’s family’s demise… From the first word to the last, my heart ached so much that I couldn’t get hold of anything. I wanted to scream, as if such a tragedy could be allowed, but the overwhelming reality of the whole story wouldn’t allow me to run away. I was confronted with the fact that this family demise is happening right now, somewhere in reality, and I wondered what I was doing. I wondered if it was okay for me to live a carefree life. I wondered if I could have taken action for the sake of someone else. That’s what I was made to think. Maybe it’s not just me, but also everyone who will read it will feel the same way. It’s an interesting novel that makes all of us face the modern social problem of family demise. It’s really good…”

I can’t win, I thought honestly.

I thought to myself, there’s no way that a comedy about my own family’s foolishness can compete with such an epic, yet realistic novel.

“I voted for Senri’s work…”

It was like a declaration of defeat. I’m really sorry to everyone who lent me their support. For everyone’s sake, I should have voted for my own work, but I just couldn’t do it.

I have no personal feelings about the judging.

Kimseku-sensei would have been angry with Senri.

I honestly thought that Senri’s story of her family’s demise, which she created alone, was more interesting than my work —a work in which the whole family worked together.

“Haru-kun…”

“Dear Brother…”

I could only apologize to the two of them, who raised their eyebrows in worry.

“Sorry…!”

But it was Senri who reacted to that.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it? You’ve got some very bad taste!”

What?

Ironic? Bad taste? What are you talking about?

It’s not even in the Kansai dialect. It must be Senri’s honest feelings.

“How can you say such a thing after writing such a wholesome family story? Sure, it’s silly, vulgar, full of undertones, and may be a low-conscious novel! But… this family is still bound together somewhere in the heart! After appealing so strongly between the lines that there is a bond that no one can break! With such happy work that everyone can enjoy! It can’t lose in the public vote!”

Senri cried tears of joy.

“The illustrations also show that the characters are having a lot of fun and that the family… loves and trusts each other.”

She clenched her little fists and continued, “Of course anyone would say your work was better…! I… I myself… even I voted for your work!”

And then she shouted,

“Of course you’re the one who’s going to win!”

Uwaa, hiccc… Then she couldn’t stop it anymore and started crying.

She wiped away her tears, but they flowed incessantly, one after the other, and her face became a big mess.

“It was interesting… Really, really, interesting… I wish I could have been born in such a happy family…”

Senri kept crying by herself.

I looked at Kimeseku-sensei. Senri was not alone. She has a clumsy but determined father who cares about her. It’s not too late. It’s not too late to regain your bonds.

But…

“…!”

He stopped the hand he was about to extend with his own other hand.

I can see it in his face, twisted in anguish.

After all this time, what can I do? What’s the point of acting like a father now?

I’m afraid I’ll hurt Senri even more than I already have, and if it’s going to hurt her more, I might as well leave and never show my face in front of her again…

I can clearly see that he was in pain.

“Hiccup, huee…”

Senri continued to cry alone, which might be the same way she did when she lost her mother, or when she was a little girl and her father was gone. Her body is small, maybe because her time has also stopped since then.

There’s nothing I can do, this is the story of Senri and Kimeseku-sensei, their family.

As I was troubled…

A shadow pops out from beside me.

“…!”

Mirei hugged Senri. It was gentle, warm, but powerful. It’s as if she’s wrapping everything up.

“Ah, ah, ah…!”

Senri whimpers, perhaps she has remembered. It was the first time in over ten years that she had felt a mother’s softness, a mother’s warmth.

Then a few gentle words were spoken into her ear.

“Don’t worry, your mother is right here.”

Senri cried as if she was letting out something that was welling up inside her.

“Mama!!!”

It must have been the first time she said those words in more than ten years. They are the same words she said to her mother when she saw her off in her hospital bed after she passed away from illness.

She cried like a child, wet with tears, and repeating over and over again.

“Mama, Mama, don’t go away, Mama!”

And of course she got the response she yearned for.

“Yes… Mama will always be with you.”

Then she cried even louder.

I pulled on the Kimeseku-sensei’s sleeve.

It was past noon. The TV screen showed the final results of the ranking.

I lost…

I came in second…

In a fierce competition full of strong opponents, both pro and amateur, second place is a great achievement. However, only the first place could be published in a book. This means that I will have to put off my debut again. I’m really sorry for all the hard work and effort we put into this.

However, I was able to beat Senri.

She finished in third place.

I didn’t win, but apparently I was able to win against her.

Then I’ll take the prize for the bet. I’ll ask her to write her next story on the theme of family love.

But before then…

I pushed Kimeseku-sensei.

He was confused as he turned around and gave me an anxious look.

I nodded vigorously. He promised that if I won, he would have to face Senri as his daughter, like she deserves. I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten about that.

“…!”

Then he nodded back somehow, though his expression was stiff.

He turned to Senri, who was still crying.

She noticed this and looked up, sobbing even harder.

“I’m sorry, Papa… I lost in a novel competition… I’m not good… I don’t deserve to be your child. I’m so sorry, Papa, I’m so sorry.”

“That’s not true.”

Finally, the father placed his hand on the crying daughter’s head and patted it.

“You’ve done well, Senri. You are indeed… my precious daughter.”

[ The First Hidora Light Novel Awards]

>>Third place winner, 1,745 votes,

“DNA: Self-Modification of Genes and Reality Warriors”

Steve No Jobs

>>Second place winner, 2125 votes

[My life was ruined when my mother won the Ero-Novel Award]

Natsuiro Aozora

>>First Place Grand Prize 2126 votes

[A simple job to be fed by the gal next door!]

Kaizuka Hora-buki

I checked the rankings again and took a deep breath.

It was an incredibly close race, with only one vote separating me from first place. In other words, if I had voted for my own work, i would have tied for first place.

“Haru-kun… are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

I almost regretted it, but then I got it off my chest.

I voted for the work that I thought was the most interesting. There should be no personal feelings in the judging, and no regrets. I’m fine.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t do enough… I’m sorry even though you helped me so much.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Yes, as long as you can say with pride that you did everything you could.”

Of course.

“I will never feel sorry about it anymore.”

I smiled, clearing my face.

“Thanks.”

The pink-brain mother who likes to talk dirty,