pertwk Page 295
Page 295
Aki Tomoya said the same thing to Kudo Sayaka.
My debut work last year was just a typical classic storyline.
A poor student with a very low starting point managed to get into Keio University after two years of hard work.
To be honest, stories like this are quite popular in Japan.
"I've already said I won't write that kind of thing again. Besides, it's about our own experiences, so it's impossible for me to come up with something out of thin air and do it so skillfully!"
However, this suggestion was immediately rejected.
Sayaka Kudo knew that instead of writing that type of story again, she should try something else. Even if it flopped, she could still salvage the situation.
Aki Tomoya probably understood what Kudo Sayaka was thinking, and he muttered to himself.
"Kudo, you're such a nuisance."
"Aren't all girls this troublesome?"
"Then deny it!"
"So, Aki, I was right about the delinquent theme!"
Still fixated on delinquents. If Kudo Sayaka could create a delinquent like Takiya Genji, Aki Tomo would gladly admit his admiration.
However, she only mentioned the bond of friendship between delinquents and the entanglement of love, making it hard for Aki Tomoya to imagine what kind of story it would be.
What kind of melody would you like?
"Bullying".
Kudo Sayaka's reply surprised Aki Tomoya.
The change in style was so sudden that he was a little caught off guard.
He carefully examined Sayaka Kudo without immediately offering his opinion.
The latter couldn't help but chuckle when he stared at her like that.
"What's wrong? Why are you suddenly looking at me like that?"
Sayaka Kudo had a smile on her face.
Facing Aki Tomoya's gaze, she smiled shyly.
"No, I just didn't expect you to write something so profound..."
The topic of school bullying is absolutely not uncommon in Japan.
During Japan's annual peak suicide rate, students who commit suicide due to bullying are among those affected.
A novel written with this theme cannot simply be described as a work about friendship, love, and bonds.
The word "bullying" isn't exactly sensitive in Japan; rather, it evokes a sense of anger at their lack of self-control and pity for their misfortune.
The overall oppressive social atmosphere has bred a series of forms of bullying, primarily psychological violence.
It's not just school bullying; workplace power abuse is also rampant.
Of course, what people see more often are stories about school bullying.
"What does it mean to have depth? It's just because you've experienced it firsthand and feel you can write it down."
Sayaka Kudo waved her hand, her smile fading slightly.
The bullying I experienced wasn't as severe as physical violence; it was just passive-aggressive bullying.
I was ostracized by my classmates and had no friends.
This happened when I was in elementary school.
Because it was something she experienced at the beginning of her life, it had a significant impact on her.
This was the first time Aki Tomoya had ever heard of such a thing.
"Don't talk about such heavy topics, they remind me of bad memories..."
"You talk as if you've experienced it yourself!"
After saying that, Kudo Sayaka let out a soft hum.
She looked at Aki Tomoya and gradually saw a bitter smile in his eyes.
"You're lying! You can get bullied too?!"
I want to return those words to you verbatim!
That's exactly what he wanted to say.
The impression of the girl was too deep at first, and Aki Tomoya never imagined that Kudo Sayaka would have experienced something like school bullying.
As for him, he will never forget what happened in elementary school.
"What made you start to think that otaku are becoming popular in Japan?"
Aki Tomoya suspected that Kudo Sayaka had forgotten that he had said he used to be a shut-in.
"I almost forgot, it's all because you made such a good first impression on me!"
Sayaka Kudo smiled sheepishly.
She had forgotten about that.
It should be said that, apart from the one time when Aki Tomoya said that he used to be an otaku, Kudo Sayaka never saw any trace of otaku in Aki Tomoya.
More often than not, she saw the boy next to her who was ten times more focused than her and who often used his actions to motivate her—no, to inspire her.
"But that's just something I said back in elementary school. I made friends as soon as I arrived in Minglan."
When Kudo Sayaka was admitted to the prestigious Minglan Girls' School, which offered direct entry to university, it marked the beginning of her self-discovery and subsequent self-destruction.
She had the opportunity to become an outstanding student at Minglan Girls' School, a prestigious school known as one of the "Three Great Schools for Girls," but she did not regret making the friends who helped her out of her shadow.
Similarly, she is grateful to those around her for supporting her preparation for Keio University.
"Elementary school... that delicate period is the same!"
Aki Tomoya sighed.
He may say he doesn't care, but that was at the beginning of his growth. Aki Tomoya, who experienced emotional abuse, isolation, and discrimination during that period, knows very well how much of an impact it has on a person.
"A group of people treat you like an outsider, with prejudiced eyes and an isolated environment. It's not something to laugh about."
Tomoya Aki still remembers how it felt.
Fortunately, I made it through, and even persisted in my hobby until high school, overcoming the prejudices of others.
“Bullying is a topic that can be written about well, much better than delinquent teenagers.”
When he said those words, Aki Tomoya seemed to have high hopes for Kudo Sayaka.
Why not take it seriously and create a novel based on this theme?
Sayaka Kudo heard this in Tomoya Aki's words.
The feeling of sympathy for someone in the same boat came somewhat suddenly.
Perhaps because they had similar experiences and feelings about bullying, Aki Tomoya and Kudo Sayaka became much more serious.
"Speaking of this, it reminds me of something very interesting these days: victim blaming. I think people who do this are more despicable than those who are indifferent."
As if remembering something, Aki Tomoya said with a sarcastic tone.
"Your eyes are filled with murderous intent!"
Sayaka Kudo said in surprise.
The topic of bullying changed the atmosphere between them somewhat.
She never expected that the two of them would cross paths again on this topic.
At the same time, she gradually formed a clear idea in her mind.
=
Chapter 331 I'll Give You a Punch
If the focus is on bullying, it's not about bad behavior, romantic entanglements, or so-called friendships.
Then you can start with an event, and then gradually deduce the whole picture, creating works around that theme.
With the addition of suspense, the clues are gradually expanded and reasoning is carried out to reveal the facts of the bullying; the framework is already in place.
Despite her initial lack of confidence in mystery writing, Kudo Sayaka now had the idea to give it a try.
She initially conceived a starting point—
Following the high school girl's fall from the building, the family's lawyers, or rather the police, began an investigation.
The deceased, their family members, classmates, teachers, a newly hired teacher who encountered the incident, the police, the school, the class...
Various keywords floated through Sayaka Kudo's mind.