Tokyo Soft Rice King.

There's nothing wrong with the content; it has everything you'd expect, and even things he hadn't thought of, and it's just as interesting.

What's even more impressive is that, in the novel's chapters, he also left a page for illustrations, just like at the beginning, and wrote the illustration content, and this illustration was just placed when the scene appeared in Mori Keima's mind.

These elements highlight the charm of female characters or showcase the male protagonist's cool side, complementing the novel's content.

If the book title and the opening color illustrations only showed that the author knew how to sell, then now Mori Keima can confirm that the author intentionally created a vivid image, paving the way for an adaptation!

The only drawback is that the writing style is rather immature.

However, in the light novel genre, writing style is not very important; smooth writing is the most important thing.

Moreover, the author seems to know that writing style is not his forte, so he tried to use simple and easy-to-understand vocabulary and concise and efficient sentences.

It's very easy to read; honestly, even elementary school students would enjoy it immensely!

However, the emotional delivery was spot-on! Absolutely perfect!

Fantastic! This is fantastic! This author has great potential!

What annoys Mori Keima the most are those authors who don't understand themselves, who have no idea where they fall short, and who wander aimlessly in a maze like headless flies, ultimately resulting in a difficult birth.

But these kinds of authors can at least be corrected with the guidance of editors, while some authors are truly beyond help.

Keima Mori hates authors who are arrogant and unrepentant, who insist that their writing is perfect and refuse to give up even when sales are poor, claiming that readers didn't understand their work. These kinds of orphan authors should be completely exiled.

Although by now, this submission is so good that Mori Keima wants to contact the author immediately.

But he was a seasoned deputy editor, and he had other concerns.

That is the sustainability of serialization.

This volume's story is indeed impeccable, but it's also possible that this is the only volume that has exceeded expectations, and we don't know how the rest will unfold.

Moreover, to elevate a work to this level of perfection, one can only imagine how long the author spent polishing it.

It could take several months, or even more than a year.

To become a professional writer, speed and consistency are indispensable. You must consistently produce high-quality content in order to survive in this brutal industry.

Only the biggest stars have the right to delay their manuscripts, and publishers will turn a blind eye to it.

Many authors start off well, but the story falls apart later on, leaving Mori Keima with no choice but to cancel the story.

Of course, he wanted those authors' books to keep being published, but he could foresee that sales would plummet. Why would he continue to dump garbage on readers?

He's seen countless immature authors who need editors to clean up their messes.

In short, let's get in touch first and find out how long it took the author to write this novel and how he conceived the story.

Mori Keima had already decided to meet the author. Judging from the quality of the submission alone, it was entirely worth it for him, as the deputy editor-in-chief, to personally invite the author to dinner.

If the subsequent plot can be improved, this will definitely become a best-selling work!

But at that moment, he discovered that there was more content at the end of the submission, and when he felt the thickness of the paper, he realized there was quite a lot.

Could it be that they've even written a second volume...?

He continued turning the page, and what he saw was...

Outline of subsequent content.

Mori Keima couldn't help but burst out laughing in the editorial office cubicle.

"Haha! You're really on the right track!"

Was my reaction, as the editor, exactly what you expected?

Good lad...you're the one!

Chapter 114 The Bet with the Class Monitor

The second Monday of September.

Kuroba Akira and the class president arrived at the Literature and Art Department's activity room after a long absence. He hadn't been here much last week because he was busy rushing to finish his manuscript.

He came here mainly because he had already sent out his submission and wasn't so busy for the time being. Secondly, he came to extend the lease on the comics and novels he had previously borrowed.

I didn't have time to watch it before, but now I finally have time to enjoy it slowly.

Upon arriving at the Literature and Art Club's activity room, Akira Kuroba noticed that Shiori Shirai and Moe Aizono were also there, so he took the initiative to greet them.

"Good morning, you two."

Aiyuan Menghui replied weakly.

"Kuroba-kun, it's already evening..."

"Our Arts and Literature Department is about to enter the entertainment industry, so saying good morning is fine, right?"

In Japan, some industries use "good morning" as a standard greeting, such as the food and beverage, hotel, and cultural and entertainment industries. This is because these industries do not have fixed working hours, so "good morning" in these cases does not mean the literal meaning, but rather "you arrived earlier than me, thank you for your hard work."

Shiori Shirai's gaze remained fixed on the novel in her hands, but she listened to their conversation, then asked casually.

"...Why are you here?"

"I'm a member of the Arts and Literature Department too, is it strange that I'm in the activity room?"

"Hmph, you know what I'm asking."

Kuroba Akira didn't come to the Literature Club last week because he was rushing to meet a deadline. Now that he's suddenly showing up, it's either to spy on the enemy, or...

He has finished writing.

Shiori Shirai refused to believe the second possibility. She knew how difficult it was to write a novel, and besides, she still hadn't figured out what to write.

Hmph! So what if I finish writing it!

A novel rushed out of print will never be accepted by an editor!

Kuroba Akira answered questions with questions again.

"And what about you? I heard from the class monitor that you also missed the arts and literature department last week, so why are you here again?"

"...I'm also a member of the Literature and Art Department, so of course I can come whenever I want."

Shiori Shirai was indeed there to spy on the enemy.

She originally planned to go home as soon as possible today to work on her new novel, but she met with Anri Hitomi at noon and chatted for a while. She learned that Kuroba Akira would be coming to the activity room today, so she came earlier to "wait" for him.

Kuroba Akira naturally saw through this as well, and with a wicked grin, he provoked her fragile nerves.

"Oh dear, you look so tired, Shirai-san. Looks like you haven't been sleeping well lately. I really feel sorry for you, Shirai-san. But I'm free now."

Shiori Shirai understood his implied meaning, her expression clearly wavering, and she looked up at him in disbelief, pressing him for an answer.

Have you submitted your work yet?

"Yes, now we're just waiting for the results."

After receiving confirmation, Shiori Shirai did not show any signs of being greatly shocked. Instead, she composed herself, looked back at the book in her hand, and said calmly.

"...Then I wish you all the best."

This time, it was Kuroba Akira who didn't understand.

"Huh? Shirai-kun, did you go crazy from staying up all night? You wish me luck? You should be cursing me! If my manuscript gets approved, you'll have to go back to being a newbie, okay?"

"I'd rather focus on creating right now than on pointless bets."

"Whoa..."

Sure, that's commendable.

It seems that Shirai Shiori has a high level of mental fortitude, as she remained unmoved by this.

Kuroba Akira was too lazy to resort to any more underhanded tricks, so he took out a manga and prepared to finish reading this volume before going back.

Aizen Moe secretly pulled a chair next to Kuroba Akira, then cautiously poked his shoulder.

"Um, Kuroba-kun..."

"Hmm? Is something the matter, Ai-en-kun?"

Kuroba Akira looked at Aizono Moe with a bright smile, his gaze as if he were looking at a treasured figurine, growing more and more fond of her with each glance.

In his view, Aiyuan Moe was already his for the taking.

Feeling a little shy under his gaze, Aizono Moe shrugged and lowered her head, but for the sake of her friend's health, she mustered up her courage and spoke.

"I... what I wanted to say was... Kuroba-kun, do you have a way to make Shiori stop?"

Aizen Moe looked worried because Shirai Shiori's dark circles were getting more and more noticeable every day.

She has been sleeping very little lately, only about four hours at home, and spends the rest of her time reading and writing, then catches up on sleep at the infirmary during lunch break at school.

"Shiori is the type whose brakes are broken; once she steps on the gas, she can't stop. So lately, she's been reading novels in class... like she's possessed... If this continues, Shiori will break down..."

Because Shiori Shirai can't write novels during class like Akira Kuroba, but she's obsessed with winning and doesn't want to waste class time, she can only use it to read novels.

She almost got caught by the teacher several times, but luckily Aiyuan Menghui acted as her sentinel and covered for her, which allowed her to get away with it without any real danger.

"If even you, her best friend, can't stop her, what good will my words do?"

"But, the person who made the bet with Shiori is Kuroba-kun. If you're willing to take back the bet..."

"Cute drawing!"

Shiori Shirai's shouts echoed throughout the Literature Club's activity room.

She didn't call her "Mengmeng" but directly called her "Menghui," which shows that she was really angry.

"Don't say things that will embarrass me. I know you mean well, but... if I have to beg him for mercy to avoid losing, I'd rather die!"

These words were incredibly shocking; Shiori Shirai had come to value her self-respect more than her life.

Shiori Shirai realized she had spoken too harshly and made the atmosphere awkward, so she put away her books, picked up her bag, and left the activity room.

"...I'm going back now."

"Ah, wait for me, Shiori! I'm sorry, I misspoke... Please, don't hate me!"

Aiyuan Moe hurriedly followed, constantly apologizing and pleading.

Just as the class monitor said, the two of them were getting along too well, which made the hedgehog effect even more severe.

Only Akira Kuroba and Hitomi Anri remained in the activity room, enjoying their familiar time alone together.

Anri Hitomi sat down next to him and asked.