"your lie in april" is divided into two volumes, upper and lower, totaling less than 300,000 words.
At Kobayashi Itsuki's typing speed, if he concentrated fully, about ten days would be enough.
Unlike "planetarian: the reverie of a little star," "your lie in april" does not directly present sad elements in front of you.
The truly tear-jerking parts are all in the lower volume, in the later plot.
During this time, Ohara Nanako was particularly enthusiastic about discussing the plot, after all, she herself was still a college student, a young girl, and she also had her own aspirations for love.
Especially the content of the first half, which made people feel warm, depicting the gradual closeness of the two young hearts.
Ohara Nanako really liked this delicate writing style and feeling.
However, whenever she enthusiastically discussed with Kobayashi Itsuki, he was always curious about what kind of expression Ohara Nanako would have when the later story unfolded, facing this tragic ending.
Thinking about Ohara Nanako crying profusely, Kobayashi Itsuki inexplicably felt a bit of anticipation.
A week passed like this, and this day at noon, after lunch, the Kindergarten children were all taking a nap.
Kobayashi Itsuki was also preparing to take a short nap in the office.
Just as he lay down, his phone rang.
"Ding-a-ling~"
He picked up the phone and saw the caller was Ohara Nanako.
"What is it, Miss Ohara?"
Kobayashi Itsuki rubbed his eyes, thinking there might be a problem with his manuscript requiring urgent revisions.
"Teacher Kobayashi, the list, the list is out!!!"
Ohara Nanako on the other end of the line spoke quickly, her tone full of excitement and agitation.
"The list?"
"Are you talking about the winners list?!"
Counting the time, it was almost the end of the month, and time for the results to be announced.
"Yes, Teacher Kobayashi, you should be at work now, so you can't check your computer, right?"
Kobayashi Itsuki could detect a hint of smugness in Ohara Nanako's voice, and he could imagine the slight upturn of her lips.
"So, Miss Ohara, are you cruelly planning not to tell me, making me hold onto my curiosity until I clock out and go home to check?"
"That doesn't seem like a bad idea. After all, Teacher Kobayashi has been a bit slack lately, and his updates are getting fewer and fewer."
After interacting for this period, their relationship had become very familiar, and their conversations naturally included many jokes.
"Seriously, how can you say something so heartless? It looks like I should learn from other colleagues and only write tens of thousands of characters a month."
"No, no, no! Teacher Kobayashi, has anyone told you that you look like this..."
"I know, very handsome."
Kobayashi Itsuki's words caused Ohara Nanako to fall silent, and then she said helplessly.
"Teacher Kobayashi, you're good in every way, except you're a little narcissistic."
"Alright, I'll tell you. Congratulations! Your work, planetarian: the reverie of a little star, has won the grand prize in our Fujimi Bunko Newcomer Award this year!"
grand prize?!
Hearing those two words, Kobayashi Itsuki's breathing quickened slightly.
Although he always knew this highly acclaimed work from his previous life was quite powerful, he never expected it to directly win him the grand prize!
"I remember, your grand prize comes with three million in prize money?"
"Correct answer!"
"Not only three million, but also the highest-tier contract for a newcomer~"
Kobayashi Itsuki recalled that when he signed the contract, the treatment would be different if he won the grand prize.
The manuscript fee was 6,000 Yen per page, which was about four hundred characters.
At the same time, the standard 8% royalty rate would also increase to 10%.
Although it wasn't the top-tier 14%, for a newcomer, it was absolutely beyond imagination.
grand prize Debut!
Announcing this would definitely turn heads.
He was the brightest new star!
Based on planetarian: the reverie of a little star's word count of seventy thousand characters, the manuscript fee alone was a full 1.05 million, and that wasn't counting royalties.
Just combining these, the income totaled four million.
Four million!
That was four months' worth of interest.
If he was determined, he could even pay back a portion of the principal.
Thinking of this, Kobayashi Itsuki instantly felt the exhilaration of a serf turning over and singing.
If he wasn't still on the phone, he would have cheered.
'A man should indeed prioritize his career!'
Kobayashi Itsuki sighed emotionally, making money was the top priority!
"Moshi Moshi?"
"Teacher Kobayashi, are you still listening?"
Ohara Nanako's voice came from the other end of the phone.
"Ahem, I'm listening, I'm listening. I wanted to ask when your prize money will be issued."
"It should be around the day after tomorrow. It will be issued together once the manuscript fee on your contract has been revised."
Nice!
"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Ohara."
"You're welcome, you're welcome. Also, regarding the illustrations, Teacher Kobayashi will need to confirm them, and you'll also need to come to our Fujimi office for the sample copies."
"No problem. Just notify me directly then, Miss Ohara."
"We can also finalize the contract for your lie in april at that time."
"In that case, I must treat Miss Ohara to a big meal as a reward."
"Alright, then I won't be polite."
After chatting for a bit, Kobayashi Itsuki hung up the phone, a smile appearing on his face.
Life is really getting better and better.
Just after hanging up the phone, Ohara Nanako, sitting at the desk in her room, also wore a happy smile.
As the first author under her management, achieving such dazzling results right after debuting, it was absolutely impossible for her not to be happy.
Moreover, it wasn't just this work; the second one, your lie in april, also seemed very promising to Ohara Nanako.
This point had also been recognized by the Chief Editor; otherwise, they wouldn't be preparing the contract.
It must be known that under the current economic climate, the requirements for works have become stricter.
Works that might have been passable before are now unable to be approved.
Works that can be signed now are all those that have been meticulously selected.
Just as Ohara Nanako was happy, she failed to notice that the door behind her had opened sometime earlier.
Ohara Shijuro had a square cloth wrapped around his head, tied around the bridge of his nose like a thief, seemingly believing that after dressing up this way, no one would be able to spot him.
Seeing the happy smile on Ohara Nanako's face at the desk, Ohara Shijuro felt a pang in his heart. As an old father, he had a premonition.
His little cabbage, which he had painstakingly raised for over twenty years, seemed about to be snatched away.
Thinking of this, Ohara Shijuro immediately felt his blood pressure rise!
"You scoundrel! Nanako, who is that brat? I will never forgive him! Tell me, I'm going to find him and duel him right now!"
Ohara Shijuro disregarded his current act of eavesdropping and jumped out directly.