On a southern island, at the heart of a sprawling private estate, a girl lay sprawled across a soft mattress, her blue eyes fixed on a message from an account labeled "Hikigaya."
Yes—this was her: Yamada Fairy, the arrogant, sharp-tongued little prodigy author.
Her skin was porcelain white, her golden hair long and silken, and her sapphire eyes sparkled with mischief. The pair of pointed ears on her head made her look exactly like a fairy straight out of a fantasy novel.
No one would have believed that the one responsible for those slightly risqué, over-the-top stories was this tiny blonde girl who looked like a living doll.
This was "Fairy Island," as she proudly called it—one of her family's many private resorts. She was spending her summer vacation here.
"So confident, huh? Then let's see how much you've really improved, Hikigaya."
Muttering to herself, Yamada Fairy tapped open the link and was greeted by the summary of Summer Time Rendering.
Synopsis:
"Ushio is dead."
After receiving news of his childhood friend Ushio's passing, Ajiro Shinpei returns to his hometown—Hitogashima, a small island in Wakayama Prefecture he left two years ago.
Reuniting with old friends and relatives, he attends her funeral… only to hear a disturbing rumor.
"There's something strange about Ushio's death. It might have been murder."
The next day, an entire neighboring family mysteriously disappears.
At the same time, Shinpei hears whispers of an old island legend:
"If you ever see your shadow double, it'll kill you—and take your place."
And Ushio's little sister, Mio, reveals that three days before her sister's death, Ushio had seen her "shadow."
Under the blazing summer sun, on this small island in the Kitan Strait, a science-fiction mystery across time begins to unfold—an endless loop of death and rebirth.
"Huh… sounds pretty interesting," Yamada murmured, leaning lazily against her pillow as she began reading.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya checked the comment section under his newly uploaded Summer Time Rendering.
Only three comments.
Even fewer than last time.
Maybe the title wasn't catchy enough—or maybe… this was the worst-case scenario.
He swallowed hard, finger trembling slightly as he clicked to expand the comments.
[I'll Always Love Tsukamoto Yakumo]:Found this by accident while browsing new submissions—what a hidden gem! The concept is clever, the writing's solid, though the atmosphere could be stronger. Still, among the current Rookie Award entries, this is one of the better ones. Hope the author debuts soon—I'm rooting for you!
[Where Did Doraemon Go?]:Holy crap. Isn't this the author's second submission? And it's only been, what, three months? The improvement's insane! The pacing, the reversals, the sense of despair—it all hits hard. Some scenes are still a bit stiff, though. The tone gets dry during the emotional build-up, but hey, that's forgivable for a newcomer.
[Little Succubus from Succubus Village]:Loved it! Almost skipped because of the title, but wow—what a great read! Too bad there's only one volume. I really want to see what happens next. Also, that big-sister rescue at the end? So cool!
Hikigaya exhaled slowly.
His version of Summer Time Rendering covered roughly the first four episodes of the anime: Shinpei's loop secret being discovered, his desperate last stand, and the timely arrival of Hizuru Minamikata—the turning point that reignited hope.
Every twist, every shift in tone, had been painstakingly constructed. Hikigaya had obsessed over every line, rewriting until he reached the limits of his current skill.
And it showed—the improvement was undeniable.
The reviews still pointed out flaws, sure, but this time, they were no longer fatal ones. Readers could overlook them and still enjoy the story through to the end.
Of course, the book's exposure was even lower than his last attempt. These might just be isolated bits of praise. Only time and more readers would tell the real verdict.
"Still… this is a good start."
Hikigaya's eyes gleamed. His heart thumped like he'd been injected with pure adrenaline.
Now, more than anyone, he wanted to hear her opinion.
Unlike the casual readers, Yamada Fairy—newly debuted and armed with sharp industry instincts—could give feedback that truly mattered.
After a while, his phone buzzed.
Yamada Fairy:Hikigaya, I finished your new story. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to pull this off. Your prose, your tone, and your choice of theme all mesh really well. You're still a long way from my level, of course, but you're definitely no longer "trash tier."
Yamada Fairy:It's only been, what, three months since your first submission? That's some insane growth. Don't tell me you're secretly a genius? (lol)
Me:You might be teasing me, but I'll still say it—don't underestimate me! Even a weakling can change in time. "After three days apart, one must look at a man with new eyes!" You'd better start feeling the pressure, Miss Yamada.
Yamada Fairy:Tch! Don't flatter yourself. You haven't even debuted yet. And even if you do, your style's too heavy—it'll never sell big. Lighten up a little, will you?
Me:Thank you for the advice, Miss Yamada. I'll keep that in mind.
He meant it, too.
She wasn't wrong. Even for mystery and psychological thrillers, a good balance of emotional warmth and atmosphere was key—and that was still his weak point. He needed to study that carefully and refine Summer Time Rendering into its best possible form.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't have much time for that soon—summer vacation was coming to an end.
Yamada Fairy:Alright, I'm done chatting. There's a limited-time event starting soon…
Yamada Fairy:Oh, and once you finish reading "Dark Fairy of the Explosive Flames," let me know what you think!
Me:Got it.
Hikigaya smirked to himself.
Just you wait, Yamada Fairy. I'll give you a review you'll never forget.