Writing, Tobe had been continuously writing a story, a novel, for his future money. While it was possible to draw a manga, it was too troublesome, and it took a lot of his time, but on the other hand, it didn't take much time to write a story.
Yet, even so, it didn't mean that writing wouldn't take much time since one needed to do a lot of research on the topic for what they wanted to write.
Still, for him, who had the "Literary Talent" and all other abilities, as long as he was willing to write, he would create a masterpiece.
Naturally, he didn't plan to write a traditional novel where the ending had to end in tragedy, and he would be seen as weird for writing something so mature. Yes, if he wanted to, it was impossible, as he could even write his experience of being in love with the wife of others, trying to be with her despite how immoral, brutal, and selfish their feeling were, as they would hurt many to fight for their love.
Struggle, pain, and even a sacrifice.
While he could have written such a story, which would have allowed him to win the award, a poignant, yet tragic story, in the end, he decided to write a light novel.
What is a light novel?
Is it a novel that is thin and light?
"Of course not," he said with a helpless laugh.
Regardless, a light novel is a type of popular literature from Japan, usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting readers in their teens to their twenties or older. The definition is somewhat vague and wide-ranging, but the average length of a light novel is typically around 50,000 words and is often accompanied by illustrations.
As for the kind of topic he planned to write, naturally, it was a romance with a dramatic and mysterious twist, since Japanese people love mystery novels. The setting would be set in ancient China, featuring a female protagonist. To make it enjoyable, the author would utilize the knowledge of traditional medicines, which the protagonist had acquired during their stay in the world of Hyouka, thanks to Irisu Fuyumi, who had previously owned a hospital in their city.
Regardless, what was important wasn't the plots, topics, and all things related to writing, since he could do that easily, but what was important was the illustration.
As he planned to write a light novel, of course, he had to prepare illustrations. While it might be possible for him to leave the illustrations to the publisher, letting their illustrators do the magic, he wanted to draw the illustrations on his own.
The illustration for the light novel had a similar style to a manga, and in his life as Satoshi in the world of Hyouka, he was a mangaka and a successful one, having beaten the mangaka who drew an MC with a rubber ability.
Still, he wasn't someone who would try to show off about the past. His life was about the present and the future, so he knew he had to think of his life as Tobe in this world, which was a mix of several stories.
Illustration.
This was his current focus, and while he was accustomed to drawing and possessed a good talent due to his "Mangaka Talent" and other abilities, he wanted to further improve his skills by creating better illustrations for his light novel.
After he worked out, washed up, and ate breakfast, he went directly to the school and started sketching as he observed the scenery of the school, which was located next to the sea.
The smell of the salty ocean, as the warm light bathed his body, Tobe put on his earphones, played music, and started to connect the tip of his pencil against the surface of a paper. As he drew, line by line, they began to form together, making a shape of the scenery before his eyes.
It was life-like, as if a god put everything before his eyes onto the paper.
Still, while it was good, he wanted to be better, so he listened to a certain song from an old magical girl anime.
'It's all right. It's all right. It's all right. It's all right.
Miracles can happen.
Here we go! Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!
Spread your wings.
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright.'
(BGM: Tobira wo Akete - Cardcaptor Sakura).
His entire focus was on his sketch, and while some people entered the class, it didn't bother him much since they sat quite far, and frankly, like Yumiko, he didn't care much about the nobodies, even though they would be in the same class until he heard a humming that was similar to the song he listened to, and a sweet, citrusy scent that was so close by his side.
He stopped and turned his eyes, and saw the familiar pink and glasses figure, who was also staring at him.
"..." 3x
The two didn't say anything, Tobe also didn't say anything, stopped his music, and then greeted the two calmly. "Good morning, Ebina-san, Yuigahama-san."
"Good morning, Tobe-kun!"
"G-Good morning, Tobe-kun."
While Yuigahama was a little awkward, she couldn't help but look at Tobe's sketch, but Ebina's eyes emitted a strange light as if she saw a comrade.
"Did you just come?"
"We just arrived earlier, Tobe-kun. You don't have to worry. I-I won't say anything that you listen to a magical girls' anime song! Ah, I also watched that anime, too, by the way! Oh, what's your favorite card? I like the sword card, so I can cut all the enemies!"
As Ebina mimicked how a swordsman wielded a sword, Tobe was silent, but his face was a little hot before he looked at Yuigahama, who was a little flustered, and said, "I-I also watch the anime, too!"
"...I think that you should kindly not mention it and pretend not to hear anything." Tobe looked at the two helplessly and said, "Didn't I teach you before? Just think of keeping this a secret, okay?"
They both laughed, but they nodded.
"You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone."
"Yup, yup."
Tobe had an image that he had to keep.
If others knew that he liked to hear a magical girl song that was cute, what would they think?
"But a magical girl song is good, right? It makes you full of spirit!" Ebina tried to help Tobe in her own way.
"Yes! Yes! It makes me want to study even though I don't want to."
"...you guys are enough."
Still, as the two had fun teasing him, Yumiko, who also came, noticed their rowdiness and asked with confusion, "What did you three talk about?"
"..." 2x
As Tobe felt the gaze of Ebina and Yui on him, he sighed inwardly since they couldn't be relied on, but fortunately, they kept their promise to keep the secret of his listening to a magical girl anime song. "I asked them about a good place for a date nearby."
"Oh?"
Ebina and Yui were surprised, but Yumiko was even more surprised, then said, "You asked the wrong girls. They don't have any experience at all."
"What do you mean by those words, Yumiko?!"
"Aren't you the same, too?!"
The two somehow got angry since Yumiko implied that they didn't have any experience.
"....." 2x
While that was the truth, there was something that one could say and leave unsaid, right?
However, Yumiko ignored the two, came closer, and even sat by his side as she looked at him with a smug smile. "But you are such a virgin for asking such a question."
"...." Tobe.
He tried to keep a straight face, but it was hard.
Still, while Yumiko wanted to give him some advice, Yukinoshita came to his class and called him softly, "Kakeru."
"Oh, Yukino."
Watching her light and weak steps, Tobe quickly stood up and offered his hand to help her. "Are you fine now?"
"I should more or less, okay?"
As the two whispered, the three observed Yukinoshita, who appeared radiant and beautiful despite her awkward gait.
While Yuigama thought that Yukinoshita was the most beautiful girl that she had ever seen inwardly, Yumiko felt a bit annoyed, and even threatened, Ebina somehow raised a question softly, "D-Do you think they have done it?"
"...." Yuigama and Yumiko.
As the three observed Yukinoshita once again and made a comparison to her previous image, inwardly, they really wondered whether Tobe and Yukinoshita had done it.