All in all, Hikigaya Hachiman's uneventful high school life began. On the third day of school, he and the other freshmen attended the club promotion meeting. Afterward, Hachiman met a familiar face.
"Hello, Kamiki. You're at Sobu High, too."
Hachiman was a little surprised. He had thought this classmate, who had become obsessed with mystery novels a few months before the entrance exam, might have given up on getting into such a demanding school.
"You're terrible, Hikigaya-san," Kamiki said out of the blue, leaving Hachiman stunned.
"If you had told me earlier that you were writer Hachiman, I would have listened to your advice from the start. But it's not too late now," Kamiki said, his eyes shining. "Mr. Hachiman, I have decided that I will study hard, get into the literature department of Kyoto University, and work hard to become a writer!"
"Uh, sorry, Kamiki," Hachiman said with some concern, looking at the boy who was now full of admiration for him. "I wasn't going to reveal my identity until after the exam. But have you really thought this through? Becoming a writer and all that?" He had originally suggested it just to get the other boy to change seats with him; he never expected the idea to actually take root in Kamiki's heart.
"That's right, Mr. Hachiman. Of course, I know that no matter my talent or writing level, there is a huge gap between you and me, but I will not give up. I have many like-minded friends, and we plan to set up a mystery novel club here at Sobu High," Kamiki explained, laying out his plan.
"Writer Hachiman, in my opinion, mystery novels are a relatively unpopular literary category, but they are very much in need of serious study. That requires many people to unite for research and discussion. This is the real reason I want to create this club."
After saying goodbye to Kamiki, Hachiman began to think about what he had just heard, and he couldn't help but feel that it made a lot of sense.
Just like with sports such as football and basketball, a country's overall skill level can only develop when the sport is widely promoted in schools. The same was true for literature, especially for a relatively niche genre like mystery novels. If the seeds of love for mystery fiction were not planted among students, then its development, especially that of orthodox mystery, would be incredibly slow.
As the most popular mystery writer in Japan for the past two years, Hikigaya Hachiman had made a significant contribution to promoting the spread of mystery novels in schools. As he finally realized this, he understood that the seeds had already been sown in many places without him even noticing.
In his previous life, after writing The Astrology Murder Magic and reviving the orthodox detective novel, Soji Shimada hadn't just buried himself in his writing. Instead, he had given lectures at universities across Japan, encouraging and assisting in the establishment of numerous related clubs. Many new writers had emerged from this trend led by Shimada, which objectively promoted the rapid development of new orthodox detective novels.
In this world's timeline, however, after creating Astrology, Shimada had vanished at the speed of light, as if his mission was complete. He only appeared for major events. After that, although new orthodox schools influenced by him still emerged, their number and quality had declined significantly, while the social school continued to produce masterpieces.
So, my appearance is meant to fill the gap of new orthodox creators in this world?
Hachiman suddenly felt a sense of mission. He felt he might really be able to do it; after all, the proof was right in front of him.
When Kamiki's club is established, I'll go and take a look, Hikigaya Hachiman decided secretly.
"Mr. Shimada, I came today to ask for your opinion on the first draft of the novel The Clockwork Museum Incident. As you know, this book is the focus of our publishing house this year, and your opinion will be very important to us."
In a villa near Tokyo, Soji Shimada, the current president of the Japan Mystery Writers Association, was drinking tea and chatting with Suzuki, the director of Sakuraba's public relations department.
Suzuki was there on a mission from the publishing house. Sakuraba was hoping to persuade Shimada, the most prestigious senior in the Japanese mystery world, to provide some publicity for The Clockwork Museum Incident ahead of its July release.
"Hey, Minister Suzuki," Shimada said with a smile, "are you feeling a little distrustful of Hikigaya-kun?" Suzuki seemed a little confused.
"This novel will become a weathervane that defines the future direction of orthodox mystery. For many years to come, mystery writers will benefit from this novel. Many elements in The Clockwork Museum Incident will be referenced countless times by later generations. How about you just write all of my words on the book cover, Minister Suzuki?"
"Uh... Mr. Shimada, that might be a bit too explosive," Minister Suzuki said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "We couldn't write something like that, out of consideration for your reputation."
"So, you just don't trust him," Shimada said, shaking his head as he picked up his teacup. "I can guarantee that when you look back at this work ten years from now, you will find that what I've said is absolutely not an exaggeration. Sakuraba Publishing House is about to have a work that will go down in the history of mystery novels. And you're becoming cautious at a time like this?"
"...I understand, Mr. Shimada. However, this isn't something I can decide on my own. I need to go back and report to the president."
"Then hurry up, Minister Suzuki. Tell Hirao exactly what I said. Stop promoting meaningless garbage all day. In this day and age, good wine needs no bush. Don't be stingy with your praise for such an excellent work. I can confidently say that Hikigaya is the future of Japanese mystery."
"Moreover," Shimada said earnestly, "this work possesses a quality that is particularly rare in other orthodox mystery novels, and that is beauty. Today's mystery novels pay far too little attention to the creation of beauty."
"Thank you, Mr. Shimada. I will tell President Hirao the truth."
After Suzuki left, Soji Shimada reopened the sample manuscript of The Clockwork Museum Incident sent by the publishing house and read it carefully once more.
Hikigaya-kun... he thought, you must grow into a new leader in the mystery world.
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