Chapter 3: Bunko
Kaede's editor at Fushikawa Bunko was not Machida Sonoko, who often appears in various fanfic novels. She was currently a new editor who had transferred from a small publishing house a little over a year ago and didn't have any good authors under her yet.
Kaede, on the other hand, was under a senior editor at Fushikawa Bunko, and the promotional resources he received were quite good.
The only drawback was that his editor was a bit old and would probably retire in a few years.
After all, for an editor in the light novel industry, Editor Nakajima's age was indeed a bit advanced.
Carrying his bag and a box, and greeting the two young ladies at the front desk, Kaede familiar walked in and arrived at the editorial department.
Although it was Sunday, the editorial department was still lively, with several editors present.
Seeing Kaede enter, Editor Nakajima, who was sitting further inside, waved to him: "Oh, Kaede-kun, you're here. Come and sit down quickly."
Greeting other editors along the way, Kaede handed out the wagashi he had just bought, one by one.
Just then, Machida Sonoko was also busy there, holding a novel manuscript and frowning as she read it.
"Editor Machida, are you reading submitted manuscripts again? Any good ones?"
Seeing the box of wagashi Kaede set down, Machida Sonoko first thanked him, then immediately said, "They're all hard to evaluate. It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Kaede also knew very well that good light novels were not that easy to come by. Even many of the light novels currently published on the market were branded as "toilet paper."
After encouraging Machida Sonoko for a couple of sentences, Kaede went and sat down next to Editor Nakajima.
After putting down the wagashi, he took out a stack of manuscripts from his bag and handed them over.
"Here, the new volume of the novel."
Seeing the manuscript Kaede brought, Editor Nakajima also showed a joyful smile: "Oh! So fast! The last volume was only released half a month ago, and the new volume is already finished? Among all the authors under me, you, Kaede-kun, the youngest, are the most reliable. You really make things easy."
Kaede smiled and said, "I also squeezed out some extra time. After all, junior high is graduating soon, and I need to prepare for high school."
"Oh, right, Kaede-kun, you'll be going to high school in three months."
Editor Nakajima realized this a bit belatedly and asked with a smile, "Have you decided which high school you want to go to?"
"I've decided. Toyogasaki Academy. It's closer to home, and the school is pretty good."
"Toyogasaki Academy, that's indeed a good school. But I think with your grades and talent, getting into Shuchiin Academy should be very easy, right? That place would be very helpful for expanding your future connections!"
"Shuchiin Academy... I think I'll pass on that." Repeating the school's name, Kaede shook his head and said, "Although it gathers most of the children of officials and wealthy families from across the country, I don't really like that kind of environment. A more ordinary school suits me better. As for my future career, I don't necessarily have to rely on that place to have a good career. Isn't getting into a good university the same?"
"Hahaha, I was thinking too simply. With your personality, Kaede-kun, Shuchiin Academy's style really isn't suitable for you."
After a laugh, Editor Nakajima picked up Kaede's manuscript and began to read it seriously.
The manuscript was for an entire volume, and even reading it quickly took quite some time, so Kaede found himself a bit idle while waiting.
After scrolling on his phone for a while, Kaede saw a printed PPT on Editor Nakajima's desk, with the title "2019 Fushikawa Newcomer Award Contest" on the cover.
Is it that time again?
After glancing at the title on the PPT, Kaede didn't disturb Editor Nakajima, who was engrossed in the manuscript, but instead went to Machida Sonoko, who had stopped working and was eating wagashi.
"Editor Machida, is Fushikawa Bunko holding another newcomer award?"
Seeing Kaede move his chair over, Machida Sonoko nodded and said, "Yes, it will start after the New Year. The submission period is two months, followed by one month for voting, and finally, combining the editors' evaluations, the top three works will directly receive publication opportunities."
"Oh~~ It seems it will be very lively then."
As someone who also enjoys reading light novels, Kaede was very interested in what kind of novels would appear in this contest.
"I hope some popular novels will emerge."
"Hope?" Machida Sonoko looked at Kaede with some surprise and asked with a smile, "Kaede-kun, aren't you worried about a formidable opponent appearing?"
"What's there to worry about?" With his hands clasped behind his head, Kaede calmly said, "Instead of worrying about such trivial things, I'd rather focus on writing my own novel well and making good money. Who knows, maybe one day I'll stop writing novels and switch to making games or drawing manga?"
"Are your hobbies that broad?"
"Well, people have to have some pursuits, don't they?" Kaede smiled and picked up the novel manuscript from Machida Sonoko's desk. After flipping through two pages, he dejectedly put it down.
"At least, the job of a novel editor is not something I aspire to. It's too easy to be mentally tormented."
After chatting with Machida Sonoko for a while longer, Editor Nakajima called Kaede over and said, "Kaede-kun, your novel's quality is still excellent. Although I haven't finished reading it yet, I think following this outline, the content of this volume should be fine. I'll read the rest this afternoon and give you a response afterward to discuss if there are any small adjustments needed. For now, let's go have lunch."
"Okay."
After lunch, Kaede bid farewell to his editor and returned home.
Entering his bedroom, he took out the items from his bag. Looking at the bag of doujinshi that couldn't be returned, he sighed helplessly, then put them, along with the shopping bag, into the bottom empty drawer of his computer desk and locked it.
"Hmm... it was a unique experience, I guess."
...In the next three months, Kaede did not encounter any more frustrating incidents similar to what happened at the doujinshi event.
He smoothly finished his last days of junior high, and after a short vacation, the day finally arrived for him to enter high school.
Dressed in his new uniform, with his backpack on, Kaede, after breakfast, got on his bicycle and set off for school.
He hoped to encounter some interesting things.