In the morning, Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku arrived at Shinchosha. They handed the manuscript of The Setting Sun, which Shizuku had finished transcribing the previous night, directly to Editor Kobayashi.
Upon receiving the manuscript, Editor Kobayashi barely managed to suppress his excitement.
From the very beginning, Tsushima Kagami had frequently brought drafts to discuss revisions with him. Thus, the moment he read the completed The Setting Sun, he could determine with certainty that this novel would undoubtedly raise a lingering glow in the sky of pure literature, which had already sunk into the darkness of night.
As for why it wasn't the morning sun? Because he understood that pure literature, much like the publishing industry, had already reached its sunset.
But to be able to cast a little more afterglow was, after all, a good thing.
After handing the manuscript to Editor Kobayashi, Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku left together to head to school.
Editor Kobayashi, meanwhile, walked briskly back to his office. He closed the door tight, shutting out the busy, noisy sounds of the outside world.
Once settled back into his chair, he spread out the manuscript pages. He began to read word by word, sentence by sentence, and slowly, he became entranced.
Unknowingly, his entire being sank into the world of the text. Even when a colleague knocked on his door at noon to invite him to lunch, he only snapped back to reality for a split second, simply waving his hand in refusal while his gaze remained glued to the pages.
The sunlight streaming through the window gradually slanted westward. The light inside the office shifted from bright to dim, yet he remained completely oblivious.
When he finally turned the last page, it was as if all his strength had been exhausted. He sank deeply into the back of his chair, unable to move for a long time.
A mixture of melancholy and desolation slowly permeated his chest, as if he had walked the entire length of a long and heavy life alongside the characters in the book.
He stared blankly at the ceiling, allowing his thoughts to drift into emptiness.
After a long while, he slowly sat up straight, reached for the thermos on his desk, and took a sip of jasmine tea.
The scent of tea, carrying a slight bitterness, dissolved on the tip of his tongue, pulling him back from that state of near-collapse and into reality.
Immediately following that, a wave of irrepressible excitement surged into his heart like a tide.
He quickly organized the manuscript, walked out of his office door, and practically trotted all the way to the Editor-in-Chief's office.
He knocked lightly three times. After hearing the Editor-in-Chief's voice inviting him in, Editor Kobayashi straightened his appearance before pushing the door open and entering.
Upon entering, he saw that Editor Oshima was also present.
Seeing Editor Kobayashi enter, Editor Oshima bowed to the Editor-in-Chief, nodded to Kobayashi to acknowledge him, and then withdrew from the office.
"Tomoaki, what is it?" The Editor-in-Chief put down the pen in his hand and looked at him with a gentle gaze. This junior, whom he had personally promoted, had always been steady and reliable; he rarely showed such urgency.
"This is the latest novella completed by Dassai-ya-sensei. I humbly request that you look over it."
Kobayashi Tomoaki bowed and presented the manuscript. His movements were respectful and solemn. He then took a few steps back and stood quietly with his hands at his sides.
"It seems you are very satisfied with it. Let me have a look then."
The Editor-in-Chief, who understood Kobayashi Tomoaki extremely well, knew instantly that any article Kobayashi actively brought before him was generally a manuscript he was satisfied with and highly recommended.
The Editor-in-Chief picked up a pair of reading glasses from beside his desk, put them on, picked up the manuscript, adjusted it to a readable distance, and began to read slowly.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the soft sound of turning pages. The office was silent, save for the subtle friction of paper.
The sky outside the window was finally completely shrouded by night. Lights lit up in the distant buildings, and the flashing neon cast flowing shadows on the floor through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Editor-in-Chief was completely immersed between the lines, occasionally frowning in deep thought, occasionally sighing softly.
It wasn't until he reached for his teacup again and found it empty that he suddenly snapped out of the story.
Raising his head, he saw Kobayashi Tomoaki still standing respectfully in his original spot. He couldn't help but pat his forehead. "Apologies, I was reading so intently I forgot to let you sit."
His tone carried his usual easygoing and apologetic nature.
"How many times have I said it? When it's just the two of us, there's no need to be so formal."
"I am already being quite casual."
Kobayashi Tomoaki smiled, his gaze turning to the side. While the Editor-in-Chief was reading the draft, he had silently boiled water and prepared tea leaves.
At this moment, the water was boiling perfectly. He walked over, skillfully poured the hot water into the pot, and let the tea leaves unfurl in the water, a clear fragrance quietly filling the air. After steeping the tea, he brought it to the Editor-in-Chief's hand, replacing the cup that had long since hit bottom.
"Thank you. I was just thirsty."
The Editor-in-Chief accepted it with a smile, took a light sip, and felt warmth spread throughout his body.
He put down the teacup, his gaze falling back onto the stack of manuscript pages, his tone turning solemn. "How much longer until the shortlist for the Newcomer Award is released?"
Kobayashi Tomoaki's expression turned serious as he replied, "According to the original plan, the selection should be completed next week, and the list announced then."
The Editor-in-Chief pondered for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping on the manuscript of The Setting Sun. Then, his tone shifted to one that brooked no argument.
"No need to follow the original plan for the selection anymore. Just find a few passable works to make up the numbers. Starting tomorrow, the editorial department will operate at full capacity. Announce the shortlist the day after tomorrow."
Kobayashi Tomoaki was stunned upon hearing this. His gaze then fell upon the stack of papers in the Editor-in-Chief's hand, and he instantly understood something. "You mean...?"
The Editor-in-Chief smiled faintly, his fingertip tapping lightly on the title of the manuscript.
"Switch Dassai-ya-sensei's entry work from Cheesecake to this The Setting Sun."
He raised his head and looked at Kobayashi Tomoaki. "Before the new issue of the magazine is published, concentrate all resources to build momentum for The Setting Sun. Do you understand?"
"Yes!"
Kobayashi Tomoaki suppressed the excitement in his heart and responded in a deep voice.
"Additionally, notify all the professor judges that the judging schedule is being moved up."
"Yes!"
The Editor-in-Chief added, "Leave the draft with me for now. I'll return it to you once I've finished reading the whole thing."
Having said that, his gaze immersed itself once again in the paragraph he hadn't finished reading earlier, as if everything around him ceased to exist.
Kobayashi Tomoaki bowed deeply and quietly withdrew from the office.
After gently closing the door, the respectful expression he had maintained on his face was replaced by an overflowing excitement.
____
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