"Although a forensic pathologist values and cherishes life, since this is the protagonist we're talking about, their defining trait needs to be even stronger…"
Akifumi paused briefly, his pen hovering over the board before pressing down once more.
"They must treasure life even more than the average forensic expert!"
As these words appeared on the blackboard, viewers in the livestream watched with curiosity. Kanae, reading along with the audience, couldn't help but voice her doubts:
"Nojima-sensei, didn't Contestant 13 say they wanted to add a stronger defining trait? But isn't this trait kind of redundant for a forensic expert?"
"Not at all," Nojima Shinji replied with a knowing smile, shaking his head. "Different characters serve different purposes. For the protagonist of a drama, having a trait that aligns perfectly with their profession is the smartest choice."
"If a story can amplify that trait to its peak, even if the plot itself isn't particularly thrilling, a compelling protagonist alone can carry the entire show."
It's like making a medical drama where the lead character doesn't even like being a doctor, would the audience find that relatable or enjoyable? Of course not.
If they don't like being a doctor, why choose that profession? And why make them the protagonist of a medical drama?
That wouldn't create meaningful conflict; it would just feel forced.
"From this, it's clear that Contestant 13 already has a solid vision for where the story is headed."
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Unaware of the discussion outside, Akifumi remained focused, his thoughts racing as he continued to write.
"Why would someone value life more than the average person?"
Love and hatred never arise without reason.
People become deeply committed to something because of the experiences they've lived through.
Madoka, growing up in a world full of love, was able to selflessly sacrifice herself in the end and ascend to godhood.
Jintan, haunted by Menma's death, withdrew from society, refusing even to attend school.
William, raised in a hopeless, post-apocalyptic world, became emotionally numb.
So then…
"If someone has been extremely close to death, they would come to understand just how precious life truly is. That's why they would cherish it so deeply"
"For this role, a female character would be best. Women tend to be more emotionally sensitive and meticulous, which would add layers to her character."
"As for her name… let's go with Mikoto Misumi."
"Mikoto, evoking the sound of a musical instrument, smooth and melodious. Misumi—symbolizing beauty and all things good. Together, the name conveys something bright and meaningful."
"Now, why would she have been so close to death?"
"As a child, Mikoto's mother gave their entire family sleeping pills before setting fire to their home, intending for them all to die together."
"However, sensing something was off, Mikoto took a lower dose of the medication. She was the only one who survived."
"Because of this experience in her childhood, she grew up treasuring life more than anything."
Akifumi exhaled, nodding in satisfaction as he read over what he had written.
Although he could expand on why Mikoto's mother took such extreme actions, he decided against it after careful thought.
The entire concept of unnatural death exists because the world itself is filled with unnatural behaviors—leading to all sorts of tragedies.
To explain the mother's actions in detail would be like forcing an answer onto a question that was never meant to have one. Instead of adding depth, it would feel forced and unnecessary.
The why behind Mikoto's mother's actions wasn't the important part.
What truly mattered was: What kind of impact did that experience leave on Mikoto?
"Mikoto Misumi—her personality: meticulous, resilient, deeply compassionate, yet cheerful and optimistic."
"She relentlessly pursues the truth and firmly believes that forensic pathology exists for the future."
"As a soon-to-be professor at a medical university, she has performed over 1,500 autopsies."
"Seeking further research opportunities, she joins the Unnatural Death Investigation Institute in April."
With these final words written, Akifumi leaned back and stretched before casually lying down on the couch, closing his eyes.
No one assumed he was taking a nap; rather, they believed he was deep in thought about the next steps of his script.
Looking at the blackboard filled with neatly organized notes, Nojima Shinji couldn't help but marvel.
"Is this what genius looks like? The speed at which he's working is unreal."
"For real?" Kanae blinked in surprise, unfamiliar with the difficulties of screenwriting.
"Of course," Kitagawa chimed in. "A story's protagonist, their personality, motivations, and goals to sets the entire tone of a drama."
"That's why the main character often goes through countless revisions before being finalized."
"You can't properly develop the plot until the protagonist's identity is fully established."
"Although Contestant 13's setup could use a little more depth, considering the time constraints, what he's done is already incredibly impressive!"
"Especially the way he tied the theme of valuing life to the idea that forensic science exists for the future. That concept alone caught my attention immediately."
Yukawa smiled. "Now I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of story Contestant 13 will present to us."
The judges weren't the only ones impressed.
Watching the livestream, every fan of Akifumi felt a surge of pride.
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"That's our sensei! What did you expect?!"
"You're talking about a top-tier mangaka with multiple best-selling series! His storytelling skills were already god-tier! There's no way he'd mess this up!"
"Is he actually a wolf in sheep's clothing? Pretending to be the youngest contestant here, when in reality, he's the final boss of this whole competition?!"
"I just checked out the other livestreams… Forget writing their protagonist's backstory, most of them don't even have words on their whiteboards yet!"
"Some contestants look like they're about to have a mental breakdown, while this guy is just chilling on the couch… Damn. No comparison, no pain."
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"I'm already miles ahead, might as well take a quick break, right?'" Truthfully, as Akifumi rested, he was already thinking about his next move.
Should I introduce Nakado Kei next? Or Rokuro?