Yoshiro Akiyama stared at the email on his laptop screen, his heart racing as he read the words 'National Writers' Competition' and 'win ¥100,000 and publication'. He let out a loud whoop, startling his flatmates, Takeru and Kaito, who were engrossed in a heated Fortnite match.
'Dudes, check this out!' Yoshiro shouted, waving his laptop in the air.
Takeru, the team's sniper, paused mid-game, eyes fixed on Hiroshi's screen. 'What's the score?'
'¥100,000, dude!' Yoshiro repeated, grinning.
Kaito, the team's strategist, looked up from his controller. 'What's the comp?'
'Writing competition. National level,' Yoshiro explained, dropping onto the couch.
Takeru whopped his controller. 'Sweet! You gonna write about your adventures in rural Japan, bro?'
Yoshiro chuckled. 'Thoughts?'
Kaito shrugged. 'You got nine days. Better start thinking.'
The room erupted into a frenzy of ideas. They landed on a story about a lost village in the Japanese Alps, inspired by Takeru's uncle's tales. The legend said the village vanished overnight, leaving behind eerie ruins.
Yoshiro's fingers flew across the keyboard, the words flowing like a river as he and his friends brainstormed the perfect story. The journalist protagonist stumbles upon the abandoned village, uncovering a centuries-old secret.
'This is it,' Yoshiro said, eyes gleaming. 'This is our ticket to winning.'
Takeru high-fived him. 'You've got nine days, bro. Better get writing.'
Kaito handed Yoshiro a steaming bowl of ramen. 'Fuel for the fire.'
Yoshiro devoured the noodles, his mind racing. He knew the pressure was on. The competition judges were notorious for their ruthless critiques. But he was ready. He had a story to tell, and ¥100,000 to win.
The next morning, Yoshiro settled into his favorite writing spot, a quiet café in Shinjuku. The city buzzed around him, but he tuned it out, lost in the world of his protagonist.
The words flowed, the story unfolding like a thread. He wrote of the journalist's journey, the eerie forest, and the whispers in the wind.
As the sun dipped below Tokyo's skyline, Yoshiro looked up, his eyes tired but his heart racing. He had written 5,000 words. The story was alive.
Takeru and Kaito appeared at the café, grinning. 'Time for feedback, bro,' Takeru said, eyeing the laptop screen.
Yoshiro hesitated, then handed over the laptop. 'Shoot.'
Kaito scanned the pages, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded. 'It's good, Yoshiro. Really good.'
Takeru patted Yoshiro on the back. 'You've got this, dude.'
But the feedback document told a different story. "Needs more tension", "characters feel flat", and "predictable plot twist" stared back at him.
Yoshiro sighed. 'Guess I need to rewrite.'
Takeru and Kaito leaned in, concerned. 'That bad?' Takeru asked.
The café's bustling sounds faded as Yoshiro immersed himself in the critique. The judges' comments were harsh but fair. He knew his story needed work.
Kaito nudged him. 'We got ideas, bro.'
Takeru nodded. 'Let's break it down. What's the core of the story?'
Yoshiro thought for a moment. 'The journalist uncovering the village's dark secret.'
'Right,' Takeru said. 'So, what if the journalist has a personal connection to the village?'
Kaito's eyes lit up. 'Like, their family was from there?'
Yoshiro's mind raced. 'That changes everything.'
The three of them brainstormed, weaving a new narrative thread. The journalist's past becomes tied to the village's mysterious disappearance. Tension builds as they uncover dark truths.
With renewed energy, Yoshiro dove into rewriting. The words flowed better, darker, and more gripping. He added eerie descriptions of the abandoned village, and the journalist's growing unease.
As dawn broke over Tokyo, Yoshiro saved his work, exhausted but satisfied. 'Got it,' he said, grinning.
Takeru and Kaito huddled around him. 'Read it,' Kaito urged.
Yoshiro cleared his throat and began reading aloud. The words painted a haunting picture. The journalist's footsteps echoed in empty streets, the wind whispered secrets, and the truth lurked in shadows.
When he finished, the room fell silent. Then, Takeru nodded. 'It's scary good.'
Kaito smiled. 'You're gonna win, bro.'
The countdown continued: seven days left. Yoshiro felt a rush of determination. He'd make this story unforgettable.