The lonely Hikigaya Hachiman wants to become the king of mystery novels

"You mean, Mr. Hachiman is actually a junior high school student?"

The editor-in-chief also felt that his brain was a bit exhausted.

"Yes, Editor Matsui, I must meet with his guardian, otherwise we will be breaking the law."

"There is indeed no shortage of young talents in the "All Readings" Newcomer Award, but Mr. Hachiman is just a teenager. Are you really sure it's him? Can a second-year junior high school student have such writing power?"

"If the information you gave me, editor-in-chief, is correct, I think he is Mr. Hachiman. I think all questions will be answered after we meet on Saturday."

"That's all it takes."

Editor Matsui leaned back and leaned on the back of his chair.

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"Don't let things like age affect your mission. I emphasize again, you need to confirm with Mr. Hachiman whether he has created the later part of "Confession" and what the progress of the creation is. If there is a manuscript of the subsequent content, convince Mr. Hachiman Let me browse through it for you. If you don’t have the original manuscript, you can ask Mr. Hachiman to dictate his general thoughts. Your retelling and evaluation of the subsequent content will directly determine the future promotion of "Confessions" by our magazine and publishing house."

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"Understood, Editor-in-Chief Matsumoto!"

Chapter 8 Hikigaya Hachiman’s new look

After answering the phone, Hikigaya Hachiman was no longer sleepy.He returned to the classroom radiant and full of energy. Although it was not reflected in his expression, Hikigaya Hachiman's high-spirited state of mind, which was completely different from his daily routine, was very easy to capture.

At the middle school level in Japan, the afternoon teaching time is very short because sufficient time must be left for club activities.Hikigaya Hachiman of the Ten Thousand Years Return Club left school before three o'clock.

"Hey, Chika, do you feel that Hikigaya-san is so excited today?"

Kaori Orimoto asked her best friend Nakamachi-san for her opinion, which started a topic.

"Really? I don't pay much attention to him."

Nakamachi-san was packing his schoolbag and preparing to participate in club activities, so he replied without interest.

Seeing that his friend was not interested in this matter, Orimoto shrugged and did not continue the topic.

"I just went out to make a phone call, and when I came back, I was a completely different person? Hikigaya-san."

Nakamachi-san thought silently. Ever since Orimoto told her that Hikigaya-san used Dazai Osamu's famous phrase to express his love, she became interested in Hikigaya Hachiman, a classmate who usually seemed very withdrawn. She was also the girl who smiled at Hikigaya that day. one.But this kind of interest must not be shown to Orimoto-san, otherwise this careless friend will spread the news.

...... ......

In the evening, Hikigaya Hachiman told his family about his award and that the magazine editor would come to Chiba to meet him on Saturday. He received a warm hug from his parents and Komachi. Komachi's hug lasted extra long because Hachiman Never willing to let go.

After getting excited, Mr. Hikigaya still raised a very practical question, that is, even though the couple accompanied Hachiman to meet the editor, they turned a blind eye when it came to many legal details related to the contract.You can't just find a lawyer to accompany you.

“It doesn’t have to be a lawyer.”

Mrs. Hikigaya suddenly spoke.

"If you are also working in the publishing industry, you can do it as well, as long as you have a sufficient understanding of the contract contents in this industry."

"Mom, do you know the editors of other publishing houses or magazines?"

Hikigaya Hachiman asked in surprise.

"Yes, mom is awesome. She is a customer in our beauty shop. She is not very young, but she stays up all night very hard. She also said that she is very envious of my skin. I talked with her a lot. Regarding skin care knowledge, we still keep in touch. She told me a while ago that she was promoted and is now an editor, but I don’t know where she works. Her name is Machida Enko.”

Mrs. Hikigaya recalled.

“It would be great if we could get an editor.”

Mr. Hikigaya also agreed.

"I said the child's father, you don't have to go there on Saturday. It's enough for me, Yuanzi, and Hachiman. You can prepare dinner at home."

"So, this Machida-san is still a beauty?"

Hikigaya Hachiman guessed that the background sound was Hikigaya's father's lamentation.

...... ......

October in Chiba is a time of crisp autumn weather.

Naho Imamura got off the bus at Higashi Chiba Station. She breathed a sigh of relief when she found out that Mr. Hachiman lived in Chiba. Chiba City is not very far from the Bunge Shunqiu headquarters in Chiyoda Ward. In the future, she might have to meet Mr. Hachiman more often. It would be better to be closer to each other.

Imamura looked at the time, it was already 10:30.She hailed a taxi without thinking. Anyway, the business trip expenses were reimbursed, so there was no need to save.

At almost 10:[-], Imamura arrived at the door of "Suzuki" and arrived [-] minutes before the agreed time. He was neither too early nor too late, which was very etiquette.

"Excuse me, is this Editor Imamura?"

Just as Naho Imamura was about to step into the store, the same voice as Mr. Hachiman's voice that she heard on the phone came from behind.

Immediately realizing something, Imamura turned around and saw three people: walking at the front was a handsome young man, wearing a pair of plain glasses and showing a decent smile.

This is Hikigaya Hachiman in full business mode. He wears glasses to eliminate his dead eyes and bring out Hikigaya Hachiman's good looks.Mrs. Hikigaya firmly believed that her son's appearance was very good, but his dead eyes were too much.As it turns out, the 28-year-old unmarried Naho Imamura even had a moment of nymphomania.

As for the two women behind Mr. Hachiman, one is older and should be his mother, and as for the other...

"Machida-senpai?!"

"Imamura-senpai?!"

The two shouted at the same time.

"What a coincidence, Mom."

Teacher Hachiman in front of him sighed.

The group of people came to the private room inside the restaurant and sat down.

"Please forgive my rudeness just now, Mr. Hachiman, let me introduce myself again. I am Naho Imamura, the editor of "All Readings" magazine under Bungeishunqiu Publishing House."

"'Teacher Hachiman'? You call me so close, senpai?"

Machida Enko narrowed her eyes and looked at her senior sister.

"It's not what you think, Editor Machida, Hachiman is the pen name I use."

Realizing that although the two people in front of him knew each other, their relationship might not be that good, Hikigaya Hachiman hurriedly explained.

"Hmph, Hikigaya-chan, you must be careful with this older spinster. It's easy for her to lose control of a cute little boy like you."

Machida Enko put her arm around Hikigaya Hachiman's shoulders and whispered in a voice just loud enough for Naho Imamura to hear.

In fact, Machida Enko had only just met Hikigaya Hachiman for a few days. After hearing Mrs. Hikigaya’s request, she immediately agreed to help and asked to meet Hikigaya Hachiman. Although she was a light novel editor, the young genius writer was very interested in her. Still very attractive.

"??, Mr. Hachiman, time is running out. I think we should start discussing some things about the Newcomer Award. Can some unrelated personnel of some third-rate light novel libraries please be quiet first? You are disturbing me and Mr. Hachiman." Let’s have a conversation.”

Although she was very angry at the noisy school girl, after all, Naho Imamura was at work now, and she couldn't quarrel with Machida like before.

"I'm not an unrelated person, senior sister. I was entrusted by Mr. Hachiman's family to prevent you unscrupulous editors from using contracts to deceive young Mr. Hachiman. Therefore, I will always be by your side today and listen to whatever you say. "

Naho Imamura slapped herself in the face.

Chapter 9 Hikigaya Hachiman sees through everything

"So, Editor Imamura and Editor Machida, you were not only seniors in the same university, but also members of the same literary club, right?"

Hikigaya Hachiman and Hikigaya's mother, who decided to eat first, said after asking about their relationship.

"Yes, but this Machida-senpai is a little too obsessed with Two-dimensional. She even wanted to change the literature club into a light novel club. Two-dimensional and I couldn't get along, so we left."

"..."

Hikigaya Hachiman and Hikigaya's mother were both silent.For the first time, Machida Enko did not refute. It seemed that Imamura Naho was telling the truth.

"Then, Mr. Hachiman, please allow me to continue to call you by my pen name. The first thing I came here to do today is to confirm your bank account. The bonus for this "All Reading" Newcomer Award and "Confession" will be serialized in this magazine. If you, Mr. Hachiman, continue to publish other works in this magazine in the future, the relevant manuscript fees will be credited to the bank card you provided."

"Already prepared."

Hikigaya Hachiman took out a Mitsubishi UFJ bank card and handed it to Naho Imamura.He went to apply for this card yesterday accompanied by his parents. This is the first bank account in Hikigaya Hachiman's life that is truly his own.

Imamura wrote down the card number and handed it back to Hikigaya.

"Then next, I would like to ask Mr. Hachiman some questions about the work "Confession". First of all, Mr. Hachiman, have you carried out the subsequent creation of this work?"

This is actually the most important question for Imamura here today.

"I really can't hide it from you. Yes, "Confession" has six chapters in total. The number of words in each chapter will be similar to Chapter 1, which is about 12 words. The total is about [-] words. It is basically completed now."

Hikigaya Hachiman has no need to hide anything. Chapter 1 of "Confession" was submitted to "All Readers", which means that the remaining serialization of this book can only be carried out in "All Readers", and the publication of this book can only be done by Bungeishunqiu Responsible.

"That's great, Mr. Hachiman. Based on the quality of the first volume of "Confessions", we will not hesitate to provide you with the highest serialization treatment of 6000 yen per manuscript paper. But as a matter of routine, have you brought the subsequent manuscripts with you now? I’d like to read it.”

"Of course I will take it with me. But I'm sorry, Editor Imamura, I can only give you the manuscripts of two to four volumes now."

Hikigaya Hachiman paused and looked at the confused Naho Imamura.

"I think if we are just discussing serialization in the magazine, there is no need to face each other, Editor Imamura. I will send the manuscript to you, and you can just send me the money? Isn't this the case for magazine submissions throughout the ages? pattern?"

Hikigaya Hachiman continued to maintain a decent smile.However, Naho Imamura felt that her underwear had been penetrated. The step-by-step conversation strategy she had prepared for a long time was completely invisible in front of this boy.

"From the moment your company saw my work, you should have been determined to publish it. But you don't know whether I continued to create the follow-up work of "Confession". Assuming that I created it, what is the quality of the follow-up work? That’s another thing. This is the purpose of Editor Imamura’s visit today.”

"Ahaha, have you been completely seen through..."

Naho Imamura said self-defeatingly.Ignore the corners of Machida Enko's lips that are raised to the sky.

"Yes, Mr. Hikigaya, you are absolutely right. From Bungeishunqiu Publishing House to our editorial department, everyone has high hopes for your "Confession."

Imamura has given up any cover-up. After being seen through, she can only impress the other party with sincerity.

"If the follow-up plot is still excellent, they will directly sign a publishing contract with me and start publicity. If the follow-up plot is lackluster, they will simply deal with it coldly and rush to serialize it as if nothing happened. It is a cruel reality. I am right. , edited by Imamura.”

Hikigaya Hachiman said calmly, but what he said made Naho Imamura wonder if he had eavesdropped on the internal meeting of the editorial department.

"but!"

Hikigaya Hachiman's voice suddenly rose, and Imamura also raised his head, staring at the genius boy in front of him.

"I believe that my subsequent creation will be even more exciting than Chapter 1. Please take a look, Editor Imamura."

"Okay! Okay! Thank you, Mr. Hachiman!"

Naho Imamura took the manuscript with both hands as if she had received a gift.Hikigaya Hachiman is very strange. Isn't it normal for authors who submit articles to magazines to hand over the content that needs to be serialized to the editor for review? Why is Editor Imamura acting so exaggerated?

...... ......

For about an hour, Machida Enko and Mrs. Hikigaya chatted about skin care while eating.Hikigaya Hachiman drank an unlimited cup of coffee by himself, staring at Naho Imamura across from him. This was one of his favorite things, admiring other people's expressions when they read his works.

There was no doubt that Naho Imamura was completely in a reading state. Neither the waiter serving the food nor the chat next door distracted her at all.She has been completely immersed in this Rashomon-like narrative and cannot extricate herself. Are her classmates following suit?Negligent teacher?Crazy mother?Silent murderer?The people in the story are both victims and perpetrators.Can they be defined in terms of simple black and white, good and evil?

After Naho Imamura read the murderer's monologue in Chapter 4, she turned the page quickly, but only saw a smooth desktop.

"Teacher Hachiman, what's next? What's the fate of the other student?"

Imamura couldn't notice that her voice had a hint of pleading tremor.

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"It's like this, Editor Imamura, my plan is to serialize only the first four chapters in the magazine. By then, they will have accumulated enough popularity and discussion. Chapters [-] and [-] will be directly put into the published "Confessions" "It'll be fine."

"Anything is fine! Mr. Hachiman, please show me the last two chapters. Didn't you say they are all finished!?"

"So you just want to finish reading..."

Hikigaya Hachiman said speechlessly.

"Huh -? Senior sister, do you want to know the plot behind it? If you are willing to beg me, I can't tell it to you orally?"

Naho Imamura broke her defense.

"Has this woman even read the last two chapters?! Mr. Hachiman, I can't accept this!!"

Naho Imamura pointed her finger at Machida Enko, leaned forward and looked at Hikigaya Hachiman in protest.Even Machida, the editor of Dengeki Bunko, finished reading such an excellent mystery novel before her. This was simply a great shame.

"It turns out that this editor is a fan of mystery novels... Then the next thing will be easy to talk about."

Hikigaya Hachiman said secretly.

Chapter 10 "Confession" by Hikigaya Hachiman

After remembering the main purpose of today's meeting, Imamura Naho calmed down.Now it seems that the most important task that the editor-in-chief asked her to do has been completed.From the approximately [-] words in the first four chapters of "Confession", she can boldly conclude that a masterpiece of socialist reasoning was born.There is no doubt that this will be the most important publishing project of Literary Spring and Autumn Publishing House next year.

The matter was so important that there might not be enough time today to talk about the next thing. She needed to go back to the company immediately.

"Teacher Hachiman, can I take the manuscript of the first four chapters back to the publisher?"

"Of course you can. Rather, I welcome you to do so. Editor Imamura, please help me negotiate a reasonable price with your publisher."