Returning home took a bit longer than expected.
After finishing lunch, Akifumi went straight to his room, opened the official website for the Story Creation Contest, and reviewed the competition rules from previous years.
The main rules remained unchanged, with only minor clarifications in certain areas.
For Akifumi, these details were insignificant.
As for the grand prize of one million yen? That was just a trivial bonus!
Akifumi wasn't in this for money. As a creator, his sole motivation was to bring stories to life and share them with the world. Rewards were secondary.
Closing the website, he opened a blank document on his computer and fell into deep thought.
Unlike his usual creative process, this contest required contestants to write a script based on a given theme.
In contrast, his past works were either direct adaptations of vivid memories or stories constructed from visualized scenes in his mind.
But scriptwriting was different.
The setting, character profiles, and fundamental world-building needed to be explicitly outlined before expanding into detailed storylines.
The key was to weave intricate, interconnected narrative threads that bound characters and events together—the backbone of the story itself.
This wasn't something he could just dive into and start writing episodically.
If he presented a fully fleshed-out script from the get-go, it would raise eyebrows. People would suspect insider leaks or even foul play.
At worst, he might end up dissected in a lab somewhere!
Though the preliminary round allowed ample time for contestants to flesh out their scripts, later stages would impose strict deadlines.
Once he reached the Top 128, he would have to write scripts based on assigned prompts within limited timeframes.
He couldn't afford to rely on his usual approach. He needed to adapt.
Thus, this preliminary round was not just a challenge but also a valuable opportunity—a chance to refine his method, summarize his ideas, and familiarize himself with scriptwriting.
The contest's preliminary theme was "Life."
A broad topic, offering countless possibilities.
For many, selecting the right angle would be a struggle. But Akifumi already had a perfect story in mind—one that resonated deeply with the theme.
All that remained was to present it in a way he had never attempted before.
"Where should I start?" Akifumi mused.
Should he begin with character profiles and their individual backstories?
With nearly a dozen major characters, that would be a headache.
"I'll start with the setting instead."
With that decision made, he typed two words onto the blank document:
Light Orbs.
This concept was the heart of his story.
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"Light Orbs, also known as the Light of Wishes, are manifestations of people's desires in another realm."
"Those with love in their hearts can see these orbs. By spreading love and fulfilling the wishes of others, one can obtain Light Orbs."
"In turn, these orbs grant miracles to those who possess love. Once upon a time, everyone in this town believed in this legend."
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After writing this, he paused, then added another crucial world-building element:
"The Illusionary World—a realm coexisting with reality in a mysterious way."
"It is not a physically tangible world but one that exists on a conceptual level, a manifestation of the town's very will."
"As the town thrives, so does this world; as the town declines, so does the Illusionary World. It prospers through happiness and withers through sorrow."
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These two elements intertwined to form the core of the story.
With the foundation set, his thoughts became clearer.
Next, he moved on to the story's central character.
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Protagonist (Placeholder Name: Character A)
Born frail and sickly, she fell gravely ill at the age of five.
She was on the brink of death due to her illness.
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'What saved her?' Akifumi pondered.
"Who would be the person most desperate to keep her alive?"
Aside from the suffering girl herself, her parents would undoubtedly bear the greatest pain.
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While the mother devoted herself to caregiving, the father, with more freedom, sought a solution.
Protagonist's Father (Placeholder Name: Character B)
In desperation, he went to a legendary place in town to pray.
By chance, a passing Light Orb heard his wish and granted his daughter a miracle.
From that moment on, the girl's fate became intertwined with the town itself.
She became a bridge between the Illusionary World and reality.
She survived because of the town's existence.
If the town were ever to decline, she too could be drained of her life force.
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"Now, the protagonist needs a name."
Though he had always known it in his heart, officially deciding on a name made it feel more real.
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Name: Furukawa Nagisa
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He smiled.
Even though all of this was deeply embedded in his memory, he needed to write it out formally.
After all, this was a script, and scripts needed to be structured with logical reasoning.
Of course, not everything he wrote would be included in the final draft. This meticulous detailing was merely a preparation step for the later competition rounds.
To fool others, he had to first fool himself.
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"Success may come in the short term, but with such a fragile foundation, disaster is inevitable."
"Clashing elements of water and fire create an unstable fate. It may bring unexpected misfortune, leading to loss of wealth or even life. A destiny plagued by uncertainty and danger."
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Akifumi leaned back, staring at the screen.
This was just the beginning.