Kasumigaoka Utaha reached into her back and pulled out a neatly prepared manuscript.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she spoke up somewhat sheepishly:
"Um... Machida-san, could you help me make a copy of this?"
'Oh? So now it's "Machida-san" when you need a favor, but when you don't, it's just "that old hag"?'
"No problem."
Machida Sonoko took the manuscript, flashed an apologetic smile at Akifumi, and then left the room.
With her departure, an odd silence filled the air, tinged with an inexplicable awkwardness.
"Akifumi-kun." Utaha was the first to break the silence.
Akifumi turned to her, puzzled.
"Are you aware of the biggest event currently trending in the industry?"
The biggest event?
Akifumi blinked in confusion.
His online activities were almost entirely limited to gaming, with little to no attention paid to industry news.
Other than the initial research he did when first stepping into this field, he hadn't kept up with any recent developments.
Seeing his reaction, Utaha let out a sigh, her expression practically screaming, I knew it.
Akifumi scratched his head. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Not really."
Utaha shook her head, though her face carried a hint of exasperation. "It's just that... you really don't seem like someone from the industry. I mean, you even managed to overlook such a major event."
"..."
Why does everyone insist on speaking in riddles?
Can't they just get to the point already!?
Whether she had read his mind or simply decided to stop teasing, Kasumigaoka finally explained:
"I'm talking about the Story Creation Contest. You've at least heard of that, right?"
Akifumi furrowed his brows, sifting through his memories. A moment later, realization dawned on his face.
The Story Creation Contest—held once every four years.
It revolves around storytelling, with participants crafting narratives based on a given theme!
And that theme? It varied widely.
The contest placed no restrictions on genre—whether it was anime-inspired, a drama-style screenplay, or even the main storyline of a game, as long as it fit the theme, it was fair game!
Because of this incredible diversity, the contest had always enjoyed massive popularity, drawing countless fans every time it was held.
Not to mention the lucrative rewards. Even well-established creators found it hard to resist participating.
Four years ago, back when he was just a middle schooler, Akifumi had been obsessed with the contest.
He had followed it religiously whenever he had the chance!
Many of the best stories born from the competition were later developed into full-fledged works, thanks to investments from major companies.
However, while some adaptations lived up to expectations, many ended up being huge disappointments.
At the time, he hadn't fully understood why. But now, he knew all too well.
The main issue lay in the contest's structure.
Participants weren't expected to produce a fully fleshed-out work.
Given the time constraints, it was impossible to craft a complete story from start to finish.
Instead, contestants had to focus on presenting an engaging, well-structured concept.
To showcase their ideas in the most compelling way possible, many included their most exciting scenes, highlighted key characters, added memorable dialogue, and incorporated striking visuals.
Because of this approach, while the overall story might not always be top-tier, the fragments shown to the audience were carefully curated to be extremely captivating!
Beyond that, the heavy involvement of corporate interests was another major factor in why adaptations often fell short.
Once investors stepped in, the story's direction could easily be altered, diverging significantly from the creator's original vision.
As he recalled all this information, Akifumi finally spoke:
"So... the Story Creation Contest is happening again?"
Hearing the hint of surprise in his voice, Utaha couldn't help but smile.
'Now that's the reaction of a true industry professional!'
After all, with the prestige and rewards at stake, no passionate storyteller could afford to ignore this event!
"That's right." Utaha nodded. "The preliminary theme this year is 'Life,' and the deadline is the end of June."
"The top 128 entries will be announced in mid-July, followed by elimination rounds from 64 to 32, then 16 to 8, and finally the grand championship round!"
The theme is... Life?
"Well, that's quite the coincidence."
Thinking about the project he was currently working on, Akifumi felt a strange sense of irony.
"Akifumi-kun, are you planning to participate?" Utaha's gaze burned with anticipation. "If it's you, I have no doubt you'll achieve great results!"
Her expression was that of an unabashed fangirl.
Akifumi let out a small chuckle. "I had no idea you had such high expectations of me, Senpai."
"But since this is a themed contest, I can't say I'm too confident."
Hearing this, Utaha nodded thoughtfully.
"That's true."
The biggest challenge of a themed contest was aligning with the assigned topic.
Even if Akifumi submitted masterpieces like Puella Magi Madoka Magica or Steins;Gate, they would still be rejected if they didn't fit the theme.
The contest's unpredictability was what made it so intriguing!
"But judging from your tone, Akifumi-kun... it sounds like you're going to enter?"
Akifumi smiled. "When an opportunity this interesting comes up, how could I possibly miss it?"
This wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was a carefully considered one.
His serialized works, WorldEnd and Your Lie in April, were still running in magazines, while Akame ga Kill! was already published as a standalone volume.
Given this workload, launching another full-length manga series anytime soon was unrealistic.
But this contest? It presented a unique opportunity!
By participating, he could boost his popularity and expand his fanbase.
A higher profile meant increased sales for his existing works!
And if his new contest piece turned out to be a hit, demand from fans could potentially fast-track its adaptation.
Even setting all of that aside—
The grand prize alone was worth hundreds of millions of yen.
Winning would cement his industry status, allowing him to negotiate better publishing terms.
With so many benefits, why would he ever pass up this chance?
Sure, the competition would be tough, but that was what made it exciting!
After all—
Isn't that what storytelling is all about?