Kobayashi Tomoaki's arm began to ache slightly from Professor Kosaka's grip. Looking at the urgent expressions on the faces of the three titans of the academic world before him, he didn't immediately pull away. Instead, he offered a smile that was slightly troubled yet remained respectful.
"Professor Kosaka, please, there's no need to rush. Have a seat and drink some tea." Kobayashi Tomoaki gestured toward the tea he had prepared on the coffee table beforehand.
Professor Matsushita, possessing the most impatient temperament, couldn't wait at all. "Kobayashi-kun! This isn't a question of rushing or not! This The Setting Sun is different!"
"We must speak with the author! Who is he? How old is he? Is he a literature major? Or..."
As he fired off a string of questions, Professor Takeuchi, though silent, stared at Kobayashi Tomoaki with eyes that undoubtedly applied the same pressure.
Kobayashi Tomoaki's face showed a hint of hesitation.
"I won't hide it from you three Professors."
Kobayashi Tomoaki spoke, his tone sincere.
"The Master of Dassai-ya is a very young author."
"Young?"
Professor Kosaka keenly seized upon this word, his gaze sharpening. "How young?"
"He is still a high school student."
"A high school student?!"
The three professors exclaimed almost in unison, and the air in the office seemed to freeze for an instant.
Professor Matsushita's mouth gaped open, Professor Takeuchi looked astonished, and Professor Kosaka subconsciously adjusted his glasses, his hand unknowingly loosening its grip on Kobayashi Tomoaki's arm.
"A high school student... How is that possible?"
Professor Matsushita was the first to recover his voice from the shock.
"That precise grasp of the era's atmosphere, the delicate depiction of the Old Kazoku's lifestyle details and spiritual world, and that complex emotion where bone-deep despair intertwines with faint hope—this is absolutely not something a young person with shallow life experience could imagine out of thin air! Not to mention that seasoned and unique command of structure!"
Professor Takeuchi also nodded slowly. She was thinking a layer deeper than Professor Matsushita.
If he really was a high school student, then there were only two possibilities.
Either he possessed a terrifying talent, perception, and empathy that surpassed ordinary people.
Or, he had an expert guiding him from behind—or perhaps, the very "originality" of this work was open to question.
Professor Kosaka did not jump to a conclusion immediately. He looked at Kobayashi Tomoaki and asked in a deep voice, "Kobayashi-kun, are you certain? This is no small matter."
For a high school student to write such a work—if true, it would be a major event that would rock the literary world.
But if there were any untruths, it would be a devastating blow to both Shinchosha and the author himself.
Kobayashi Tomoaki sensed the caution and skepticism in the professors' words.
He straightened his expression and said, "I guarantee, on the reputation of Shinchosha and my own, that the source of the manuscript is absolutely legitimate. I have been fully involved in reviewing and modifying the creation process right from the first draft."
"Although the Master of Dassai-ya is young, he has previously published a short story titled Cheesecake in Shincho. Not only was the style unique, but it also garnered quite a good response. I assume you professors have heard a little about it."
"That work similarly displayed his unique perspective on observing life and his expressive power with words. The Setting Sun is the first novella he has devoted himself to creating. Moreover, the Master of Dassai-ya himself holds the identity of the Old Kazoku, and his family has also recently undergone major upheavals."
Because Kobayashi Tomoaki had gradually become frequent and familiar in his interactions with Tsushima Kagami and Yukinoshita Shizuku, he had some understanding of the Yukinoshita family's situation.
"This is completely a work created by the Master of Dassai-ya using himself as a blueprint. Our entire editorial department, including the Editor-in-Chief, had the honor of witnessing the birth process of The Setting Sun with our own eyes, so there is absolutely nothing suspicious about it!"
"Cheesecake..."
The professors repeated the title in low voices. They did indeed remember that short story which had been reported by the media; they had also frequently heard students discussing it privately in their academic circles.
This alleviated the doubts in their hearts slightly. After all, for a high school student who could write Cheesecake, possessing extraordinary literary talent became a more reasonable proposition.
"A genius?"
Professor Kosaka muttered to himself, the shock in his eyes gradually being replaced by excitement. If it truly was such a young genius, then his future possibilities were simply immeasurable.
"Is he in Tokyo right now? Kobayashi-kun, can you tell me his address or phone number? I want to pay him a visit personally!"
Kobayashi Tomoaki smiled helplessly. "Apologies, Professor Kosaka. That involves personal privacy. I cannot tell you these things without obtaining the person's consent."
Professor Kosaka also realized his loss of composure. "Apologies, I was rude. In that case, could you arrange an informal meeting for us? Just an exchange between literature enthusiasts. We have many questions we want to explore with him."
The other two professors also nodded one after another.
After pondering for a moment, Kobayashi Tomoaki said, "I need to ask for the Master of Dassai-ya's opinion first. Furthermore, he is still a student and his studies are his priority, so he may not necessarily have free time."
"Understood, completely understood!"
Professor Takeuchi added, "Please be sure to convey our sincerity. We are not asking as judges, but as readers who have been deeply moved by his work and wish to make the acquaintance of this breathtaking young author."
Kobayashi Tomoaki nodded solemnly. "I will contact the Master of Dassai-ya as soon as possible and convey the sincere invitation of you three professors. Once he agrees, I will arrange it immediately."
*
Bunkyo Ward, Fujiwara Bookstore.
Yukinoshita Shizuku dragged Tsushima Kagami to this bookstore they had been visiting frequently of late.
"We already know the result, so why run over here specifically? It's just the shortlist; what is there to see?"
Tsushima Kagami, who had originally been leisurely spending his day at home reading manga and teasing Yukino, had been dragged out the door by Yukinoshita Shizuku the moment she finished hanging out the laundry.
The cause was that Kobayashi Tomoaki had called her last night, informing her that the shortlist would be announced today.
Furthermore, he had hinted to Yukinoshita Shizuku that, barring any accidents, the winner of the Newcomer Award would likely be Tsushima Kagami.
So, after finishing her housework early today, she immediately changed her clothes and dragged Tsushima Kagami to the Fujiwara Bookstore.
"Kobayashi-san already said it. Barring any accidents, you are the Newcomer Award winner. By then, you will be a true writer."
"Kobayashi-san said 'barring any accidents,' but what if an accident happens?"
Tsushima Kagami retorted, "Shizuku-chan, opening the champagne at halftime is a bad habit."
Yukinoshita Shizuku, who was long accustomed to Tsushima Kagami's various strange yet apt metaphors, lightly punched Tsushima Kagami's shoulder with her small fist.
"Don't say such ominous words. There are no 'what ifs.'"
After saying that, she dragged Tsushima Kagami inside.
*
Tokyo, Minato Ward, the Kosaka Residence.
When Professor Kosaka returned home, he saw his granddaughter, who had snuck out early this morning, had already returned.
He smiled helplessly and asked, "Akane-chan, did you have fun going out today?"
"It was okay. Did Grandpa see the follow-up works today?"
Because she had seen Tsushima Kagami's selection on the shortlist with Sayuri and Machida Sonoko during the day, she had become curious. Unable to wait until school to ask this junior of hers, she came directly to her grandfather to beat around the bush.
"Isn't Akane-chan usually uninterested in literature? When I wanted to take you with me this morning, you ran away. How come you're asking about this as soon as I get back?"
Looking at his granddaughter before him, Professor Kosaka felt both incredible affection and incredible regret. He had been obsessed with literature his whole life, yet whether it was his son or his granddaughter, neither had the slightest interest in it.
"Oh, come on, I'm just curious. Hurry up and tell me."
Watching Kosaka Akane shaking his arm and acting spoiled, Professor Kosaka laughed and sat down. Then, with a look of lingering savor, he reminisced, "It really is an excellent work. Moreover, it might even be a work that pioneers a brand-new genre."
"This Master of Dassai-ya, perhaps in terms of literary attainment, is a genius!"
"Is he that amazing?" Kosaka Akane covered her small mouth in surprise.
Although she wasn't interested in literature, she had grown up by her grandfather's side and browsed many works. She had also often seen her grandfather critique his students or the entries when he was a judge.
He had never praised a work and an author like this.
Is Kagami-kun really that amazing? This is only his second work, isn't it?
"Hehe, does Akane-chan know how old this author is?" Professor Kosaka asked Kosaka Akane with a beaming smile.
"I... I don't know. Seeing you like this, Grandpa, he must be very young, right?"
Professor Kosaka's smile carried a touch of sentiment. "Yes, he's still a high school student. He might even be your classmate."
"He could also be a junior." Just as she said it, Kosaka Akane realized she had misspoken. She hurriedly covered her mouth and looked at Professor Kosaka.
Professor Kosaka, however, didn't feel anything was amiss. He simply nodded. "Indeed. He might even be a first-year. That would make him even younger."
Seeing that her grandfather didn't suspect anything, Kosaka Akane patted her chest in relief.
That was close, that was close.
"So, does Grandpa know who this author is?" Kosaka Akane probed again.
Professor Kosaka shook his head regretfully. "This involves personal privacy, so the editorial department didn't tell us either."
"Oh, oh, that's fine then. I'll go back to my room first."
"Eh? Why are you leaving so suddenly? Can't Akane-chan keep Grandpa company a little longer?"
"Oh, geez, I'll keep you company later during dinner!"
Originally, when Kosaka Akane came back today, she had considered telling her grandfather that the author of the work they were reading today was her junior.
But after hearing from Professor Kosaka that the editor hadn't revealed Kagami-kun's specific personal information, Kosaka Akane felt it really wouldn't be good to tell her grandfather without obtaining Kagami-kun's consent. So, in the end, she swallowed the words back down.
After returning to her room, Kosaka Akane lay directly on her bed. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again.
With a turn of her body, she hugged a plush toy next to her, pressing her entire face into it.
Kagami-kun has such amazing talent. Is it too selfish to make him stay in the Manga Research Club and draw doujinshi with everyone?
But... the time we spend completing works together is really so happy.
____
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