Tokyo Soft Rice King.

"We were just talking about you. I came back to get my bag and saw Dolph there, so I asked him about you. Did you really have aphasia before?"

I guess so...

This guy is calling Fujiyoshi Michio by his first name, even though they haven't really spoken much before.

Being overly friendly is truly a social terrorist; no wonder Ryota Sumitomo has so many friends.

Fujiyoshi Michio shyly scratched the back of his head and replied.

"Yes, we were talking about you, Kuroba-kun. But I only spoke to you today, so I don't know much about you... On the contrary, I heard from Sumitomo... uh, from Ryota-kun about what happened around noon."

Kuroba Akito was dumbfounded. This guy got beaten up and is still going around telling everyone? Doesn't he feel ashamed at all?

In a sense, Ryota Sumitomo is quite a big shot... at least he has a big heart.

Chapter Sixty-One: Walking Your Own Path

Ryota Sumitomo touched his nose, which had a band-aid on it, and said.

"Ouch, my nose still hurts. That punch was really hard; it almost knocked me to the ground... but I still managed to hold on!"

He seemed quite proud?

"By the way, Amin, how did you land that punch on me? Have you ever trained in boxing?"

"No..."

Kuroba Akira had never practiced boxing. As a corporate slave, he didn't even have time to run, let alone practice boxing.

However, in order to get rid of his double chin, he did try aerobic boxing for a few months... Actually, it wasn't really boxing, it was just aerobics.

"In fact, if you were to throw a punch at my face with all your might, anyone could dodge it if they saw it clearly."

Ryota Sumitomo crossed his arms and murmured.

"I see... If you look carefully, you can avoid it..."

Could this be the reason he's taken an interest in boxing?

Someone with "Boxing A" talent starts training in boxing... Could this be the first step for the future Japanese boxing champion?

If he really did become a boxing champion with a single punch, that would be quite comical...

"That's interesting! Let's go to the gym together next time!"

"No, I have important things to do."

Hei Yuming refused mercilessly.

"What are you busy with?"

"Writing novels is an activity of our Literature and Art Department."

Kuroba Akira deliberately emphasized "we" to annoy him, but Sumitomo Ryota was oblivious and didn't feel anything, instead he started complaining.

"Oh, it must have been that troublemaking activity suggested by Shiroi Shiori. The literature club's activities have all been taken over by the newspaper club... What's the point of writing novels anyway..."

It seems that Ryota Sumitomo was aware of the crisis facing the Literature Club. Perhaps he originally wanted to join the club and help resolve the issue, but now it has become Akira Kuroba's task.

"That arrogant woman is actually quite pretty when she's not talking."

"You know her too?"

"She's a famous figure in Class 3. In fact, she was famous even before she entered school. I think she wrote a short story and won some kind of newcomer award..."

Ryota Sumitomo tried hard to recall things related to Shiori Shirai, but because he had no interest in books, he couldn't remember the title or the awards she received.

"I don't know much about this kind of thing, but I heard from my friends in Class 3 that her handwriting is quite nice, but her personality is really terrible. She's not gentle at all and is completely unsuitable to be a girlfriend. I really don't know how Tong became friends with her..."

Fujiyoshi Michio added with a wry smile.

"It's the Short Story Newcomer Award from Shuilian Publishing House. Although it's not as famous as the Naoki Prize or the Akutagawa Prize, it's still a well-known newcomer award in the industry. To date, every author who has won this award has gone on to become a novelist, and many of them have gone on to win the Grand Prize. So it's highly regarded in the traditional literary world."

"Whoa..."

"But the most amazing thing is that Shirai-san is the first minor to win this award since its inception! This is truly historic!"

"..."

Then he said, a little embarrassed.

"Actually... I've read that novel too. It's really well-written, not something a student could write. I think she'll definitely become a famous author someday. We're all high school students, but some people's future paths are already clear..."

Fujiyoshi Michio looked envious, while Kuroba Akira seemed lost in thought.

They obtained information about Shirai Shiori from an unexpected place.

So she was the real deal after all.

Because Shiori Shirai didn't participate in the palm reading, and she was wearing white silk gloves, Akira Kuroba couldn't determine her talent, but now it seems that there should also be writing on her right hand.

Moreover, it must be a very high level of talent, otherwise it would be impossible to win a literary newcomer award at such a young age.

And having won an award means she already has experience, which is probably why she's so confident about this bet.

But her miscalculation this time was that she made a bet with a shameless man.

Kuroba Akira would bring her intelligence down to his own level, and then defeat her with his extensive experience.

So what if you're a genius? You'll still be a genius!

Despite saying that, Kuroba Akira changed his opinion of her.

He had originally planned that if Shiori Shirai couldn't publish her work within a month, he would extend the timeframe until she succeeded.

That would be a draw, giving her a way out.

And then he could use this incident to tease and coerce Shirai Shiori, watching her suffer in silence and grieve.

But now it seems that she might actually be able to publish her work within a month.

Then it's time to test speed.

They must secure the publishing contract before her.

It seems that even if the other party is just a high school student, there is absolutely no room for mercy on our side.

The class monitor really has made some amazing friends... So, do geniuses attract each other like Stand users?

After chatting with the two for a few more minutes, Kuroba Akira left the school and went home.

Throughout the journey, Kuroba Akira hesitated about whether or not to copy the book.

To be honest, he was a little resistant.

As a professional copywriter, Akira Kuroba still possesses professional ethics.

Good things can be learned from, but they cannot be copied verbatim.

The excuse that he couldn't speak the language was just something Kuroba Akira made up for himself. He really meant it; even on his second day after transmigrating, he was able to copy it using translation software.

The reason he hasn't started yet is because he can't get over the hurdle of 'plagiarism' in his mind.

He always felt that once he started plagiarizing, he would be no different from a thief.

If Hei Yuming had never been a game copywriter in his previous life, had never done screenwriting-related work, and had never created any works, he would definitely be able to plagiarize without any psychological burden and enjoy the fame and wealth he had stolen.

But precisely because he is an "insider", he knows better how much effort those authors have put into creating those good works.

Although this world is a parallel world that seems to be the same, perhaps the original authors are still around. Even if they might not write the same works in this world, or even become authors, Kuroba Akira still doesn't want to take away their 'possibilities'.

In addition, he didn't want to 'ruin the original work'. After all, Kuroba Akira didn't have a photographic memory. He could only remember the general plot of the novels he had read, and it was impossible to completely replicate every word.

Even if it's copied, it can't guarantee the original flavor.

Alas, sometimes, having too high a moral standard is also a problem.

Moreover, the nature of the matter changed again after the bet was made with Shiori Shirai.

If it's just for making money, then when he's destitute and has nowhere else to turn, perhaps Kuroba Akira might even push his luck... After all, making money isn't shameful.

But now, the goal is to win over a proud and arrogant young writer. Of course, this can be achieved through someone else's work, but the object of her respect is only the 'work,' not the 'person.'

Even if Shirai Shiori couldn't possibly know about this, Kuroba Akira didn't want to deceive himself.

Winning this contest by plagiarizing is an unfair victory.

Thinking of this, Kuroba Akira took out his student ID from his pocket, with the bank card he had been carrying with him since the beginning of his transmigration tucked inside.

Although I don't know exactly how much money is in this bank card, as long as I can withdraw it, my life should be somewhat secure.

Now that I've fully mastered the language, if I just think of a way and make an effort, I should be able to withdraw the money and also contact my family...

He hasn't gone to withdraw the money or contact his family yet because he has another hurdle in his heart.

That hurdle is called 'Not What I Belong To'.

Although he appears to be easygoing, he has not fully accepted his new identity and still considers himself to be just another person wearing the identity of Kuroba Akira.

Therefore, this money was given to 'Hei Yuming' by Hei Yuming's parents, not to him, the 'white piece'.

That's why he didn't say much about Murasaki's reluctance to use the money her father gave her.

Because he himself was the same.

Since the Lin family provides food and lodging, and there's no longer a survival crisis, there's no need to spend this money.

So even though he had been living in Tokyo for half a year after transmigrating, he still couldn't integrate into the daily life there.

However, this confrontation seems to have allowed him to find some traces of his own existence.

No matter where you are.

I have always been a creator.

A two-dimensional otaku who is passionate about stories.

This is Kuroba Akira now.

So, go your own way.

Use your own strength to strip Shiori Shirai naked!

Chapter Sixty-Two: Gymnastics Uniforms are a Good Civilization

Just before sunset, Kuroba Akira returned to Kobayashi's house.

He pushed open the gate to the courtyard, walked to the entrance of the house, and was about to take out his key to open the door when he heard a greeting coming from the side.