Although this amounted to leaking confidential information, Kagurazaka Ayame did not care.
She had already met the author herself in private, so why would she care about such trivial matters?
Kagurazaka Ayame thought for a moment before explaining:
"Among this year's Dengeki Bunko Grand Prize entries, there are four works with the best chances of competing for the grand prize."
"For confidentiality reasons, I can't directly tell you their names, Shimazaki-sensei."
"However..."
Kagurazaka Ayame paused, smiling brightly:
"I've invited the other three teachers to meet here. They might be willing to tell you themselves."
"Three?"
Shimazaki Yuna murmured softly.
Kagurazaka Ayame thought she had become discouraged and was just about to comfort her.
But then she saw the girl lower her head and operate her phone. A moment later, she suddenly turned the screen toward her and asked:
"Is it this one?"
"Huh?"
Kagurazaka Ayame glanced at the girl's phone, then at the contacts on her own phone.
Seeing the exact same profile picture and username, Kagurazaka Ayame froze in place.
"You're also The Last Gentleman of the Joestar Family?"
There was disbelief in Kagurazaka Ayame's voice.
"Mm."
Shimazaki Yuna silently switched to another account and once again held up the screen for Kagurazaka Ayame.
"'Fifteen Years Old, Wanting to Become a Yangge Star' is also you?"
Kagurazaka Ayame's expression went blank as she could not help asking:
"Don't tell me the last one is you too?"
She had invited four people in total, and now three of them were the same person...
Shimazaki Yuna lowered her phone and gently shook her head:
"No. I only have these three accounts."
No?
Kagurazaka Ayame was not disappointed in the slightest. Instead, her spirits soared, and she became incredibly excited.
Even if this one was not hers, three of the books were still written by her!
Each of those three works had the potential to win the grand prize.
Even if there could only be two grand-prize winners at most, that still meant two grand prizes and one Gold Prize!
Over the past two years, she had signed only three works that had made it into the finals in total.
In other words, if she successfully signed Shimazaki Yuna, her performance this year would surpass the combined total of several previous years!
That would give her a chance to become a chief editor with Gold Prize status at Dengeki Bunko, and she could use that to gain access to even more resources.
Only with enough resources could she attract more authors to sign with her.
It was a virtuous cycle.
Of course, the prerequisite was successfully signing Shimazaki Yuna.
Thinking of this, Kagurazaka Ayame could not help feeling curious:
"Why do you use three different pen names, Shimazaki-sensei?"
Not only were they three different pen names, but they were also three different email addresses and three different LINE accounts.
Was there really any need to make things so complicated?
"I don't know either."
Shimazaki Yuna grumbled inwardly and brought out the explanation she had prepared long ago:
"I don't want to become too famous."
That was also why Kira-kun had asked her to submit these three light novels.
"You don't want to become too famous?"
Kagurazaka Ayame took a sip of the cocktail Kira Yoshikage had handed her, her eyes flickering.
Indeed.
If three works by the same author won the grand prize and Gold Prize at the same time, she would certainly become extremely famous. The benefit was that sales would skyrocket. Because all three books were by the same author, the readers of each would go on to purchase the other two works.
For most authors, this was a wonderful opportunity they could only dream of.
Otherwise, so many authors would not insist on using the same pen name.
Frequently changing pen names was something only unsuccessful authors did.
Although Shimazaki Yuna said she did not want to become too famous, the fact that she could say this meant that she had sufficient confidence in her works winning awards—as if she already knew that these three works would certainly win the grand prize and Gold Prize!
On the surface, she seemed like a gentle and obedient literary girl with glasses, but could she actually be this proud inside?
Still, it did not matter.
With the quality of these three works, they were sure to sell well even without the advantage of a famous pen name.
So no matter what, she had to sign Shimazaki Yuna today!
For the sake of her performance, and for the sake of her future!
Kagurazaka Ayame stared intently at Shimazaki Yuna:
"Shimazaki-sensei, would you like to sign under me?"
"Huh?"
Kagurazaka Ayame took a small sip of her cocktail and tempted her:
"Have you heard of Fantasy Demon Blade Legend, Shimazaki-sensei? Senju Murasama is one of my authors!"
"If you sign under me, you'll have the chance to exchange writing experience with Senju Murasama!"
The girl's violet eyes gleamed slightly, and there was anticipation in her voice:
"Really?"
"Of course!"
The corners of Kagurazaka Ayame's lips curled up slightly as she said with a smile:
"Are you also a fan of Senju Murasama's books, Shimazaki-sensei?"
Shimazaki Yuna nodded excitedly:
"Mm. I've drawn fan art for Senju Murasama's Fantasy Demon Blade Legend before."
"Fan art?"
Kagurazaka Ayame froze for a moment and asked in surprise:
"You can draw too, Shimazaki-sensei?"
As she spoke, Kagurazaka Ayame seemed to remember something and blurted out:
"Come to think of it, there seems to be an illustrator named Shimazaki Setsuna on YouTube..."
"That's me."
Shimazaki Yuna's eyes dimmed slightly.
"..."
Seeing the girl's expression, Kagurazaka Ayame also remembered the insults and rumors about "Shimazaki Setsuna plagiarizing" online. She immediately changed the subject and deliberately complained:
"The other teacher still hasn't arrived. He really has no sense of time at all."
"Huh?"
Shimazaki Yuna was indeed distracted. Out of the corner of her eye, she cautiously glanced toward the inner side of the bar.
"What did you want to say, Shimazaki-sensei?"
Seeing that the girl seemed hesitant to speak, Kagurazaka Ayame asked with a bright smile.
Just then, a calm male voice came from the other side of the bar:
"Is it possible that I don't lack a sense of time, but that you simply haven't looked at me properly even once?"
Kagurazaka Ayame instinctively looked toward the waiter inside the bar, who was wiping glasses, and asked hesitantly:
"Are you 'Seventeen'?"
"If you mean 'Seventeen, Afraid School Isn't Violent Enough,' then that should be me."
"Ah..."
Kagurazaka Ayame's expression became awkward. Had she just spoken ill of him behind his back in front of him?
"I'm sorry."
Kagurazaka Ayame did not try to make excuses. She clasped her hands together and said sincerely:
"It was my fault. What would it take for you to forgive me, 'Seventeen'?"
Other editors might have felt that apologizing was embarrassing, but Kagurazaka Ayame did not care.
Compared to embarrassment, she was more afraid of losing these two authors who were certain to make it into the finals!
"In that case."
Kira Yoshikage pondered for two seconds before speaking:
"How about you agree to one condition?"
"What condition?"
Kagurazaka Ayame hesitated and said cautiously:
"As long as it isn't too excessive, there shouldn't be a problem."
"It's very simple. I hope you can guarantee that Infinite Stratos will receive the Silver Prize."
"No problem!"
Kagurazaka Ayame breathed a sigh of relief:
"Not only the Silver Prize. I can help you compete for at least one Gold Prize!"
"No."
Kira Yoshikage shook his head and emphasized:
"I only want the Silver Prize. Even an Encouragement Prize would be fine! I don't want to become famous."
"Huh?"
Kagurazaka Ayame blinked, looking at Kira Yoshikage and then at Shimazaki Yuna.
So.
One of you two authors had writing skills worthy of the grand prize, yet did not like being famous and had written three light novels worthy of the grand prize.
The other also did not want to become famous, and therefore only wanted the Silver Prize at most?
"Actually."
Kagurazaka Ayame considered her words:
"Light-novel authors aren't idols. They don't need to show their faces. Even if the book becomes famous, as long as the author's information isn't made public, their life won't be disturbed."
"The Silver Prize is enough."
Kira Yoshikage remained unmoved: