With Sora around, it feels like the whole world has brightened up.
That was a truly refreshing sleep. Since I turned in early, I woke up around 7:00 AM the next morning. For someone like me who never used to get up at this hour, I'm realizing for the first time just how wonderful early rising can be.
"Wait, I think I have school today?"
I arrived at school and returned to my seat. Hmm—nice. Every time I look at this spot, I'm satisfied.
The legendary "Back Row Window Seat"!
It's the protagonist's seat!
There's a reason this spot is dubbed the "protagonist's seat." It's mostly so the artist can save time—you only have to draw the front and back desks plus a window. You can't put the protagonist in the middle of the classroom; that would multiply the artist's workload exponentially. Damn! Are artists even human to you people?!
While my mind was wandering, someone finally arrived at the empty desk in front of me.
Suddenly, the girl sitting in front of me looked incredibly familiar. Those brilliant blonde twin tails, that "flat-as-an-airfield" figure, and an exceptionally striking aura.
It's you! Eriri!
The legendary representative of the classic 2D "Tsundere Loser Heroine" trope! Also the guiding star of the erotica world—the one who "gave it her all" ! A legendary character who can't even win in her own "IF" routes.
For some reason, the MacArthur meme BGM started playing in my head.
I really didn't expect to be sitting right behind Eriri Spencer Sawamura.
Eriri is just too dazzling; it feels awkward to go up and say hi. It's true—looking at her status as a mixed-race Ojou-sama with a wealthy family and great looks, she's the ultimate normie. But who would know that in private, Eriri is a heavyweight doujinshi artist?
The bell rang shortly after, cutting off my train of thought. I planned to use my phone to type out some words. Although mobile typing isn't as smooth as using a PC, it's a good way to kill time.
The person who walked in was Shizuka Hiratsuka. Shizuka-chan!
She's famous for her "Invincible Iron Fist" title!
However, Shizuka-chan isn't actually as violent as people think. She is genuinely serious and responsible, truly caring about her students. Calling her violent is total nonsense; what kind of teacher would actually treat their students with such violence?
Today, I shall vindicate Shizuka-chan!
"Cao Shuang, come to my office for a moment after this."
"Huh?"
Come on, Shizuka. I just said a few nice things about you in my head and this is how you treat me?
After class, with an uneasy heart, I followed Shizuka Hiratsuka into her office. She originally wanted to light a cigarette, but remembering she was in front of me, she stuffed the slim lady's cigarette back into the pack.
"Tired from your part-time jobs lately?"
Shizuka Hiratsuka understood this student quite well. He had traveled across the ocean to go to school here alone. She heard he had irreconcilable conflicts with his family, which is why he came to Japan on his own. Since he didn't receive any living expenses, he had to rely on independent part-time work to support himself.
But there has to be a limit to working. Once you cross that line, it's no longer a "job"—it's exploitation. Shizuka knew about Cao Shuang working several jobs at once, but she could only turn a blind eye; rules need to be flexible. You can't strictly forbid him from working, or you might as well just let the kid starve to death.
"Mmm... It's alright, Hiratsuka-sensei. But I've actually told most of the shop managers I worked for that I won't be coming back. After all, I want to focus all my energy on writing light novels for a while!"
The book Cao Shuang chose to write was Your Lie in April. After all, its plot is a total bombshell; everyone who has seen it says it's amazing. Cao Shuang felt that once he reached the later parts, winning a light novel label award should be a piece of cake.
"Oh? A 'Great Author' now? I didn't expect a debuted light novel writer to emerge from my class."
Shizuka Hiratsuka's tone carried a hint of teasing.
"How about this: send me a draft of your novel later. As your homeroom teacher and Japanese teacher, there shouldn't be a problem with me giving you some feedback, right?"
This... how could I possibly have an objection? If you put it that way, I can only say 'yes'.
"By the way, do you have any friends in class?"
"No need, don't want any, I'm doing fine."
The moment Shizuka opened her mouth, Cao Shuang knew what she was getting at. It was definitely about Yukino Yukinoshita's Service Club. She wanted him to join to help change Yukino, and in the process, change his own antisocial personality.
"How can a vibrant eighteen-year-old youth not have any friends? I'm the advisor for a certain club..."
"Sensei, look at me. I have to write light novels and go home to cook and manage my life. Where would I find time for a club to make friends? My suggestion is to consider that after I've become famous and successful."
Cao Shuang blinked. I think your suggestion is great, but Daga Kotowaru!
Heh.
Lying through his teeth.
Shizuka Hiratsuka chuckled inwardly. Did he really think she didn't understand the light novel industry? Passing the hurdle of being published is "okay" at best, but how many copies actually sell is a whole different barrier. Many works are axed due to poor sales, and the author's royalties are tied to those sales. As for Cao Shuang... getting published would be an achievement in itself for him.
"Alright, regardless, either you choose a club to join, or I'll arrange one for you."
In the end, I couldn't bluff my way out of it. There was really no need to join that "Snow Queen's" club. My goal is to make money and live a peaceful, "salted fish" life of leisure. Dealing with women is just too exhausting...
Soon after, it was time for school to let out. Dismissal time in Japan is quite early; if you don't have club activities, you can head home by 5:30 PM. Of course, disciplined people schedule time to be academic grinders. Cao Shuang despised such grinders the most!
Then, he secretly opened a Word document on his computer and started typing!
Nice! Twenty thousand words done. Time to reward myself!
Pokémon, launch! While playing the game, Cao Shuang didn't forget to send a copy of the draft to Shizuka Hiratsuka. He had to show this responsible teacher his literary prowess so that asking for leave in the future would be even more "justified."
Just before starting his "catch-'em-all" spree in the Pokémon world, Cao Shuang opened his email. Logically, the contest results should be out soon. He had submitted his entry quite late, basically in the last three days of the submission period.
Sure enough, there was a message in his inbox from an editor at Dengeki Bunko.
[Dear 'I Love Lolis But I Love Legal Lolis More' Sensei! First of all, congratulations! Your work "Your Lie in April" was unanimously selected by our editorial department. We are pleased to inform you that your work has won the Grand Prize of this contest. Please complete the remaining manuscript and bring it to our office on a workday to discuss signing and publication details.]
Hell yeah! The manuscript passed!
Next, he just needed to finish the content for the first volume. As for the signing?
He glanced at the clock; it was already 8:30 PM. He could finish the remaining draft tomorrow and go sign the contract. Plus, he could use it as an excuse to take a day off school. Sweet!
"Winning the Grand Prize is actually quite surprising. I thought I'd only get the Gold Prize."
Cao Shuang thought the level of light novels in this world wasn't low, but he overlooked the fact that masterpiece-tier stories aren't exactly common. Editors have to "find gold in the mud," so Your Lie in April, which was top-tier in both quality and prose, undoubtedly secured the Grand Prize.
"Alright! I'm motivated again! No more games—while it's still early, I'll do a few sets of push-ups!"
Meanwhile, in a luxurious standalone villa, Shizuka Hiratsuka had finished her bath. With damp hair and a bathrobe, she lay sprawled on the sofa, pulling a cold can of beer from the fridge and chugging it down.
"Phew!!! Refreshing!"
It was a truly boisterous act. It was no wonder this person couldn't find a boyfriend and had no luck with blind dates. If someone married such a boisterous girl, would she be a wife? Or a "Bro"?
While drinking, she opened her phone to check her LINE messages.
"Dammit, if you guys are getting married, just get married! Why do you have to post it in the LINE group? Who are you trying to make jealous!"
After grumbling about her "sub-human" former classmates, Shizuka's eyes moved to Cao Shuang's LINE message.
"Huh? This guy actually went and wrote a light novel. It looks quite professional too; I thought he was joking."
With a critical eye, Shizuka opened the document and began reading the draft Cao Shuang had sent her.
"Your Lie in April? This title is surprisingly good. Straightforward with a touch of decorative elegance."
As she read on, Shizuka was surprised to find that he wrote incredibly well. Even someone like her, who only liked Shonen style stories, could get into this light novel, and she even found herself anticipating the upcoming development.
After she finished the draft he sent...
"That's it? That's it?! How the hell can you call this a light novel with only 20,000 words? Where's the rest?!"
"Wait, this guy must have a backlog. I don't believe it! I have to ask."
A published volume of a light novel is usually at least 70,000 to 80,000 words, which is why Shizuka assumed Cao Shuang had extra chapters he hadn't sent.
That brat! To pull a cliffhanger move before even being published... he's a natural-born "troll author"!
Almost instinctively, she sent a two-word message: "UPDATE NOW."
On the other side, having finished his workout and preparing to be a "Valorant Trash" on the Japanese server, Cao Shuang didn't see Shizuka's message.
Valorant, launch!
The First Striker of Fandou Garden! Step forward!
He instant-locked Sage.
Ten minutes later, staring at his 1-16 scoreline, the verbal abuse from his teammates, and the mocking text from the enemies...
Cao Shuang slowly typed two words in the global chat: "Accepting apprentices."
As the saying goes: With little power comes little responsibility. If you duelists are incompetent, how can you blame me, the Sage? Sometimes you need to look inward and ask yourselves why you couldn't carry a scrub like me!
"Sigh, this game isn't fun."
Unsurprisingly, they lost the round with a total score of 2-13.
"I wonder if my skill mastery can apply to gaming? Dammit! Once I return from my training, it'll be the day I wash the Japanese servers in blood!"
Cao Shuang had no idea that a certain "elderly" single woman, who was currently waiting for an update, had bloodshot eyes fixed on her phone as she dialed a voice call.
If you scrolled up the chat history, you could clearly see "99+" notifications.