Kyousuke hadn't even had time to look around the venue before he spotted Miss Amemiya the woman who'd been helping him all evening now standing behind the MC podium on the left side of the stage.
Wearing a tailored silver suit and standing nearly 170 cm tall, she looked even taller behind the raised podium.
Her expression was composed and elegant—clearly, she was tonight's host.
"Miss Amemiya is the MC?" he asked in surprise, turning to Mashiro and Osaka, who had arrived earlier.
"You didn't know?" Mashiro replied. "I was about to ask you. Why did the MC show up so late with you, of all people?"
"Tsk tsk, Mashiro-san, it seems you still don't fully understand the legend of 'Heisei Wind and Grace,'" Osaka said with a smug chuckle.
Kyousuke didn't rise to the bait.
He simply shook his head and took the moment before the ceremony began to observe the layout of the venue.
In the dimly lit room, the most eye-catching element was the object in the center of the stage, draped in a shimmering gold cloth.
Whether or not someone was an author, everyone seated here had probably imagined that when that cloth was pulled back, their work might be the one beneath it.
Kyousuke was no different.
The glimmering golden fabric seemed to reflect in his dark pupils, like it had awakened some latent noble bloodline within him.
Osaka, who was about to make a snarky remark, froze mid-thought when he saw the gleam in Kyousuke's eyes.
His shoulder involuntarily twitched.
'Thank you, Bestseller-kun,' Kyousuke silently vowed.
'I'll make sure your name echoes across the world too.'
Aside from the golden altar, the only other area lit by spotlights was a long table on the left.
There, the ten nominated books for this year's Honya Taisho were displayed, each with a unique handwritten card behind it featuring comments from bookstore staff.
With his razor-sharp eyes, Kyousuke could easily pick out his own book—and the accompanying comment card.
The card was white, the handwriting neat and graceful in black ink. Just from the strokes, he could tell it belonged to a beautiful woman.
He recognized it immediately: it was Miss Amemiya's handwriting. He'd seen it before at a Kinokuniya signing event.
"Beautiful, isn't it? That review card Miss Amemiya wrote." The voice drifted in like a ghost—Osaka Gou, of course.
"Yeah. You can tell she really put care into it."
The edges of the card were decorated with pink wavy lines, small tufts of green grass, and even an adorable little bunny—completely at odds with the serious, professional tone of the review itself.
"Tsk tsk. I remember Miss Amemiya once said she'd write my review, back at the last reception," Osaka said mournfully. "Now she's just doing the decorations."
As they chatted, someone walked out and placed a microphone stand at the center edge of the stage, then quietly retreated into the shadows.
The moment the mic was set in place, it was like a signal. The buzz of conversation in the hall faded instantly to silence.
The ceremony was about to begin.
The already-dim lighting faded even more slowly, accompanied by a delicate chime.
This change made the massive screen at the front flash brilliantly into view.
Now completely dark, the hall left only the blinding white words on the screen visible:
"2015 Honya Taisho."
A powerful rhythm of drums kicked in as the text exploded into scattered blocks, leaving the screen blank.
Kyousuke waited, expecting a dramatic change—but no, the blocks simply reformed back into the exact same image.
Ah. Of course.
That damned sense of ceremony. One final reminder:
This is the Honya Taisho Awards. Sit up straight. Open your eyes. Pay attention.
The soft golden lights on stage came back on, and a white spotlight shone directly on Miss Amemiya.
"Everyone, welcome, and thank you for joining us for this year's Honya Taisho Award Ceremony, voted on by bookstore employees across Japan—the books they most want to sell."
Her voice was softer than usual.
Even with microphone amplification, it was gentle on the ears—soothing, elegant.
"I'm your host for this evening, Amemiya Miki of the Honya Taisho Executive Committee. It's an honor to be here."
Her makeup was immaculate.
Even under the harsh spotlight, she showed no sign of discomfort.
After her introduction, she paused for the expected round of applause, then bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
"This event wouldn't be possible without the tireless effort of bookstore staff across the country.
In the process of selecting these works, we laughed and cried together, and rediscovered the power of good stories.
That, I believe, is the true purpose of this event.
To share great literature like this with readers—what could be more fulfilling for a bookseller?
And for the Executive Committee, organizing a literary event with such a positive cultural impact has been a true joy."
Like the rest of the audience, Kyousuke leaned back in his seat, quietly taking in the opening remarks.
He already knew Amemiya Miki was a beautiful and capable woman—but under the spotlight, she was positively radiant.
Watching her made him want even more to walk onto that stage with the girl beside him, and bask in that attention together.
As for Amemiya's words, they were official and expected, but he found himself agreeing with them.
Even if you weren't a bookstore employee, if you were just an ordinary reader, you'd still feel that tug—the urge to share a story that moved you, warmed your heart, or made your day just a little better.
And bookstore staff had that rare privilege: they could recommend books they truly loved, and even help those books win national recognition.
For someone like Kyousuke—usually indifferent to online fandoms and bizarre net behavior—he suddenly found a glimmer of understanding for those so-called "cringey superfans."
…Assuming, of course, they're superfans of his work.
As his thoughts wandered, he glanced over at Ishida Hidenori—who, by pure coincidence, also turned to look at him.
In that moment, Kyousuke saw something bizarre in Ishida's expression—like he'd eaten a batch of undercooked wild mushrooms and was seeing rainbows.
Well, fair enough.
Only a winner has the luxury to drift off like this.
The others—like Osaka Gou next to him, clenching his fists—were probably silently vowing to win next year no matter what.
Kyousuke gave Ishida a small nod again, thinking perhaps the "victor" might show some humility this time.
Nope.
Ishida once again lifted his chin—carefully groomed goatee and all—like a smug cartoon villain.
Right.
'Guess I'll have someone shadow you tonight,' Kyousuke mused, just in case you try to throw yourself in front of a subway train.
'I still need Tokyo Metro to sponsor my next manga, you know.'
The screen finally shifted to a new slide, displaying the ceremony schedule.
"Our first item is a speech from the Executive Committee Chair. Next, we'll present the award for Best Novel…" Amemiya narrated smoothly, before transitioning into the real highlight—saving the biggest announcement for last.
"Now, please welcome the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Hamamoto Shigeru."
Dressed in a sharp black suit, Hamamoto Shigeru stepped out from a small door on the right side of the ceremony stage.
Quietly and efficiently, the same person who had adjusted the microphone earlier reappeared and readjusted it to the appropriate height for him.
'Not bad,' Kyousuke thought to himself.
'This way, each speaker doesn't need to touch the mic—less awkward, more professional.'
"Good day, everyone. I'm Hamamoto Shigeru, Chairman of the Committee. Thank you all for attending…"
Compared to Amamiya Miki's speech earlier, Hamamoto's delivery was a bit lacking.
He spoke with a casual tone, almost like he had no prepared script, as if chatting with an old friend.
Strangely enough, this relaxed manner resonated with the audience, giving off the genuine impression that this award truly belonged to the everyday people of Japan.
"Last year saw the emergence of many outstanding works. Unfortunately, we could only shortlist ten.
If it were up to them, I'm sure each bookstore clerk would have at least a dozen, maybe even dozens more, they'd love to recommend.
But of course, as with anything, our mental bandwidth is limited—we simply can't absorb every great book out there. So we have to choose.
"That's the very reason the Honya Taishou—the Japan Booksellers' Award—was established.
To let the clerks, who interact with books every single day, select the titles they most want to sell and recommend to customers.
"I personally read all ten of this year's nominated works.
It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but while reading the top winner, I couldn't stop the tears from falling—I even soaked the pages. It was such a moving story.
Truly unforgettable. I found myself going back to it again and again, savoring each word.
"…We've always believed that literature must evolve alongside life itself.
Reading should be something for everyone, with no barriers.
That philosophy has remained at the heart of this award: choosing books that reflect the tastes of the general public.
"…Lastly, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to bookstore clerks all across the country. Please continue your amazing work in the year ahead."
With that, Hamamoto Shigeru stepped back, gave a modest fifteen-degree bow, and exited the stage without lingering.
"Thank you, Mr. Hamamoto Shigeru. Next, we present the winner of the 2015 Fiction category…"
When the clerk behind this year's Super Discovery! stood on stage, Kyousuke could already see tears welling in her eyes.
And when the author—who looked uncannily like Agasa-sensei—walked up to accept the award, she actually choked up.
The audience broke into thunderous applause.
During the author's speech, the clerk couldn't stop stealing glances at the stage.
Of course, the people watching this event weren't limited to those in the venue.
The Honya Taishou was being broadcast on TV, and for anyone who couldn't access that channel, there was a livestream online and full video archives on the official website.
In a luxury apartment somewhere, Yukinoshita Yukino sat stiffly in front of a huge flat-screen TV—one that was rarely turned on in this house—watching the award ceremony.
Naturally, this wasn't something she chose to do of her own volition.
The reason she sat here from start to finish was none other than the woman lounging on the sofa behind her.
"Didn't you say you had a headache from drinking last night? Shouldn't you be resting at home?" Yukino asked.
She figured this was better than asking Why aren't you watching this at your own place?
Because if she said that, her sister would probably put on an overly dramatic expression and tease her with something like, "Aww~ Yukino-chan wanted to secretly enjoy it all by herself~"
"Come on~ What's the harm? Isn't it more fun to watch Hojou win with company?" Haruno grinned.
Wearing a white bathrobe, her long, shapely legs stretched freely across the couch.
Her delicate feet rested on the armrest, and in front of her, a bottle of champagne—chilled and still fogged with condensation—sat proudly on the coffee table.
"Don't you have anywhere else in Tokyo you could go?" Yukino sat with perfect posture, as if she were part of the ceremony herself, lit by a spotlight and observed by cameras.
"What a shame—I'm still not the woman Yukino-chan hoped I'd become~" Haruno laughed and raised the oversized champagne bottle.
"Hojou's about to go on stage. Want to toast with me, Yukino?"
"I'll call the police."
"Cold~ So cold~"
Yukino ignored her older sister, who just hours ago had shown up at her door clutching her head like she might faint at any moment.
Now she was already pouring "the lubricant of life" to blur out her problems again.
Yukino's pale blue eyes didn't waver from the screen.
In a brief flash, she had seen Sakura, Shouko, and even…
Hojou Kyousuke.
There was no spotlight on him, but a man like that stood out even in darkness.
People around him would naturally glance in his direction, as if pulled by an invisible force.
It wasn't intentional—it was just the way society had shaped their instincts.
It was like how the quiet ones in class always watched the popular students—not because they wanted to join them, but to avoid making some kind of social blunder.
Her eyes flicked to the coffee table, where The Devotion of Suspect X lay—the book her sister had dug out from her room.
Yukino had read it even before she met Hojou.
And after getting to know Yamauchi Sakura, she read it three more times.
Now, seeing Hojou about to receive an award, she felt… strangely happy.
A small, quiet pride, like watching a stray cat from her neighborhood finally grow fat and content.
'If he held a book signing at Asami grandma's bookstore,' she thought, 'that tiny shop would be bustling with life.'
Then she blinked, stunned.
Changing the world by changing people—that was her dream.
And wasn't this vision just now a glimpse of what that dream might look like once realized?
————————————————————————
Elsewhere, Kato Megumi was also watching the award ceremony.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm watching right now.
If there's a chance later, I'll introduce you all to Hojou too," she said into her phone, lying on her stomach in red-and-white striped pajamas, watching the livestream on her laptop.
"Megumi! Are you brushing off your dear sister like that? I might have to talk to Mom about that little overnight stay at a boy's place!" complained Yoshinaga Hiromi from the other end of the call.
"What boy? I stayed over at Eriri's place."
Megumi's black eyes didn't even flicker.
Her voice was as cheerful as ever while her gaze stayed fixed on the screen, scanning it intently—searching for Hojou's face.
"Hmph, you think I don't know? That diplomat's daughter—there's a strong chance she's living with Hojou Kyousuke right now.
There are tons of posts on your school's forum saying they've been seen going to and from school together."
"Mmm~ I think, Hiromi-nee, maybe you should spend less time surfing the internet," Megumi replied casually.
"I mean, you didn't even know Hojou goes to Soubu High, and you believed some random comments online.
If you keep this up, even your husband's going to have a hard time defending you~"
The awards ceremony still hadn't gotten to Hojou's part.
Megumi rolled over onto her back, eyes on the ceiling, half-heartedly humoring her sister.
"Huh? Really?" Yoshinaga Hiromi sounded genuinely surprised.
"Yup~" Megumi hummed in a breezy tone through her nose.
Then, she couldn't help but recall the invitation she'd received from senior Kasumigaoka.
The spotlight… A place like that—it would be exciting to see it in person.
But why had she turned it down?
Was it because Hojou hadn't been the one to invite her?
Or maybe… because that wasn't their story?
————————————————————————
Back at the Fuji Hall, the ceremony continued in an orderly fashion.
They had finally arrived at the most anticipated moment of the event.
"Well then, thank you all for waiting," Amamiya Miki's voice rang out across the venue.
"Next, we announce the book that bookstore clerks across the nation most want to recommend—the number one pick!"
When she said number one (ichiban), she couldn't hide the excitement in her voice. Her beautiful face lit up with energy.
"We now officially begin the announcement of the 2015 Honya Taishou! First, let me introduce the ten nominated works.
Midnight Memories by Osaka Gou.
The Little Devil of Futako-Tamagawa by Mashiro Masashi…"
As the host listed each title, the corresponding book cover and author's name appeared on the big screen behind her.
The audience below would instinctively shift their gaze toward the authors.
"Ehh~ Why hasn't Kyousuke's book come up yet?" Sakura muttered under her breath, still holding her phone up.
Aunt Mikiko hadn't replied for quite a while now, but even if it was just for her own sake, Sakura was determined to record everything properly.
No one answered her.
Even though most of them already knew the final results, Mitsuha and the others couldn't help but feel their hearts stir with anticipation as the upbeat background music picked up pace.
One by one, the nominated titles appeared on screen.
When The End of Fourteen's Memory came up, Ishida Hidenori burst into a wide grin, looking as if he'd already won the grand prize.
Then came the final nomination.
The Devotion of Suspect X by Hojou Kyousuke.
"There were so many amazing books this year," the host continued. "Choosing just one to recommend above all others was truly agonizing for the clerks.
Every one of us including myself agonized over our final vote.
We kept wondering: which book could we choose that wouldn't betray the readers' expectations?"
———————————————————————
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