Living in Tokyo, all I want to do is laze around.

"Fireworks?"

(

###Chapter 487 Light Novel Newcomer Award, Twitter###

Kai Uesugi wasn't quite sure how he got the title of an ancient primitive species, but since he had agreed to use Twitter, he dug out the Twitter account he used to like Hanabi's posts from the bottom of his phone's notes app.

"It's here."

I copied the username and password, but when I tried to log in, I found that the account was frozen because he had made malicious comments to account xx.

Upon closer inspection of the name, Uesugi Kai realized it was Hanabi's account.

Why was my account banned for giving my wife a good review?

Was it too much to leave 50 comments on each of the other person's posts?

"Did you get Uesugi-san's account back?" Rikako asked from the side.

“Wait a minute,” Uesugi Kai said while operating the system, “My account has been frozen. I’m requesting to unfreeze it.”

"I see."

"Okay." Uesugi Kai submitted the completed information form, and the yellow text "Appeal pending" appeared in the middle of the screen.

Is it okay now?

"No, it's still waiting for approval. I'll add you as a friend later, I need to reply to a message." Uesugi Kai suddenly noticed that Morisaki editor had sent him a text message that popped up at the top of his phone screen.

"Okay." Rikako Kohashi nodded, holding her phone, which had a pink bunny phone case, showing a very girly side.

Kai Uesugi tapped the text message pop-up at the top of his phone.

Morisaki Taichi: [Uesugi-sensei, the illustrator you found...]

Is there a problem with the illustration?

impossible.

Before sending it, Kai Uesugi checked it again, and the details of the characters and actions in the illustration were perfect.

Not only did he check, but to ensure the characters' personalities were correctly established, Hanamaru Hanabi also specifically studied the characters' clothing, speech, behavior, and so on in the book.

For example, the female protagonist, Hanabi Chiwa, is a high school girl who likes to wear light and energetic clothes.

The male protagonist, Akizuki Katayama, is a middle-aged man who is usually unkempt and only cares about having clothes to wear.

Did the editor, Morisaki, feel that the illustration did not match the original text?

Kai Uesugi tapped the screen with his fingers: [This was actually drawn by my wife...is that okay?]

Morisaki Taichi: [Uesugi-sensei...you're married?! If I remember correctly, you were a student at Tokyo University, weren't you?]

Kai Uesugi: [Here's the situation... Never mind me... Is there a problem with the illustration? If it's not right, I can have her revise it again.]

Morisaki Taichi seemed even more confused: [Is there a problem with the illustration?]

This text message popped up in a bubble on the phone screen.

After glancing at it, Uesugi Kai realized that he had misunderstood.

Morisaki Taichi: [In short, the quality of the illustrations far exceeded my expectations. The cover illustration is worthy of a deluxe collector's edition, and it has a strong commercial appeal. I thought you would have a classmate or friend draw it—not that it's bad, but I've seen plenty of good light novels get canceled because of favors.]

Kai Uesugi understood.

Morisaki's point is roughly that many newcomers are asking him, who can draw illustrations, to collaborate on creating light novels.

Collaborative creations based on friendship seem wonderful, but they are all somewhat naive.

Light novel illustrations not only require skillful drawing but also commercial viability.

As for what constitutes the commercial value of illustration.

In Uesugi Kai's understanding, an illustration needs to have key eye-catching elements... such as a pleasing art style, a pleasing female protagonist, pleasing hair texture, background, clothing, beautiful legs, and so on...

That's the kind of look that will draw you in and make you turn back.

After preparing another cup of coffee for a customer, Kai Uesugi picked up his phone again.

Morisaki Taichi: [Uesugi-sensei, are you familiar with light novel newcomer awards?]

Morisaki Taichi: [Uesugi-sensei? Are you there?]

Rimi Kohashi was busy mixing cappuccino on the other side. She lacked experience in the rinsing step and needed Kai Uesugi to supervise her.

"Thank you for your help, Uesugi-kun." Rimi Kohashi bowed slightly to him, as if to express her gratitude.

"Don't worry about it."

Returning her gaze to her phone, Uesugi Kai tapped the screen to reply: [Sorry... I was working just now. As for the light novel newcomer award... I don't really know much about it, but I know it exists.]

Not long after.

Editor Morisaki replied to him.

It's alright. As for the newcomer award, I can briefly explain it to you, teacher.

It is a light novel newcomer award hosted by our publishing company's MF. It is held every three months, with four awards per year. The winner of the top prize will receive a medal equivalent to the main prize and 100 million yen, while the winner of the excellence award will receive 50 yen and the honorable mention will receive 10 yen.

For every submitted work, we conduct three internal reviews. Even works that pass all three reviews aren't guaranteed to win awards, but they all have the opportunity to come to our headquarters for a face-to-face meeting with an editor... Currently, your work, Mr. Uesugi, is still undergoing a second review within our light novel department. From what I understand, it's at least a commendable work, meaning it's at a publishable standard.

Teacher, your main competitors are three: *My Little Sister is the World's Strongest Ruler*, *Love Game Tastes Like Mint*, and *The Girl Who Calls Me Ancestor is Actually My Ancestor?!*

I've skimmed through the other three works. Uesugi-sensei, you still have a good chance. You can try to get the top prize. The judges in the light novel club also prefer light novels that aren't really light novels.

However, specific details will not be clear until early December, before December 10th.

Keep up the good work, Uesugi-sensei.

Kaiko Uesugi carefully read through the long message sent by editor Morisaki three times.

Well... if we're talking about pressure, then there definitely is.

But not too much, mainly because he doesn't need to rely on light novels to make a living; he has other sources of income.

As for the pressure... it's because this novel is a love letter that Uesugi Kai wrote to Hanabi-chan. If not many people read it, he will inevitably feel sad.

......

After replying with a thank you, just as Uesugi Kai put down his phone, Morisaki editor suddenly sent him another message:

[Uesugi-sensei, your illustrator is Hanamaru-sensei, right?]

Kai Uesugi tapped the screen again to reply: 【Yes, is there a problem?】

It's nothing, I just remembered that light novel that's recently become a hit on SG Bunko. A large part of the credit goes to Hanamaru-sensei, who has collaborated with SG Bunko. Although she hasn't released any new works recently, her artwork is still very memorable.

When I first saw the poster for Nanami Nanami on the subway, I wondered which light novel it was from and where they hired that mysterious illustrator... But after seeing the quality of those illustrations today, I have to admit that even the best light novels rely heavily on illustrators.

......

Kai Uesugi put his phone down.

In that case, there's no need to worry about the light novel aspect anymore.

Yuri Tashiro brought over the coffee from the bar, and Rimi Kohashi finished tidying up her work. She saw Kai Uesugi putting down his phone and asked, "Are you done with your work, Kai-kun?"

"Yes, that's about it. I should be able to see my novel published around mid-December."

"So fast?" Rikako Kohashi was surprised at first, then smiled and said, "What's Uesugi-kun's Twitter account? Let's follow each other. Maybe Uesugi-kun will become a famous light novel author in the future, and I'll still be one of the few people you follow."

"Is this important?" Uesugi Kai opened Twitter and handed her his phone.

"Although it's not very important, it's quite rare! Well, to a certain extent, it's also very important."

A strange theory.

Kai Uesugi took the phone that she handed back.

He discovered that there was a new user in his following list with the ID: 【青叶】.

"New leaves that are just sprouting."

Actually, there's a bit of the "cute" connotation in this, which refers to a budding, adorable young girl.

Kai Uesugi's ID is simple, just "Uesugi".

......

It was around three or four o'clock in the afternoon.

The coffee shop started getting busy, and as Uesugi Kai became more and more skilled at making coffee, the time it took to prepare each cup of coffee was reduced considerably.

This time of year is actually the best time to appreciate Hanamaru Hanabi's maid outfit.

She had a small cat ear on her short hair and wore a classic medieval maid outfit. Her cuteness always made her a key focus for male customers who came to this cafe.

Several young male customers would often watch her walk away with her tray and say:

"Do you dare?"

"What? Go ask for it, and once you get it, it's yours, isn't it?"

"You make it sound so nice, why don't you go?"

"Coward."

"Coward."

In fact, many people are self-aware enough to know that they should just come to the store every day to look at the beautiful maids. If they want to woo them, their charm alone will keep them at bay.

"Have you noticed that the relationship between Uesugi and Hanayu has become much more settled lately?" Akane Rina asked, pulling Totsuka Katsura back as she tried to escape.

"Senior...please stop holding me back."

"Wait a minute, I'm talking to you. Have you noticed that Uesugi and Hanayu haven't made any moves lately?"

"Ah, that seems to be the case. Maybe they haven't been coming to the coffee shop as much lately?"

Erina Akane: "But that doesn't make sense either. Why would Hana and Uesugi often take leave on the same day?"

Totsuka Katsura: "Senpai, please don't overthink it. I'm going to tidy up the table."

Erina Akane slammed her right fist into her left palm: "Is it because of that movie last time? They found out we knew about their affair, so... they started avoiding us! They didn't do anything at the coffee shop, but actually they were on vacation together and then went out together... to a love hotel, the sister-in-law and brother-in-law sneaking around—"

Akane Rina couldn't utter the last few words because Hanabi Hanabi was carrying a plate into the kitchen.