(Remake) This Begins Another Year

Re: Greetings!
This email is to inform you that unfortunately, the work(s) that you submitted to the RLNP Original Light Novel Contest did not make it past our first round of judging. Thank you very much for participating, the large variety of stories and creativity—

“Ahhhhh!! No! No-no-no! This is another joke email! They’re messing with me right!? How can those fools not see the dedication and passion I put into my work!? It’s miles ahead of the countless isekai and harem garbage that was submitted!”

I grabbed at my hair and cast my gaze downward in despair.

“This isn’t happening… This was supposed to be my ticket to the big-leagues.”

I looked up to the screen again to confirm what I saw was real. And indeed, it was.

“I included every part of the formula to write a good light novel… A lot of cute girls, a relatable MC, a highschool setting, and an easy to follow plot… Maybe the plot was too easy to follow? Was it boring? Stupid? Too simple?”

I began involuntarily tapping my right foot.

Deep breaths, okay? Alright… it’s fine.

A could sense a smile creeping onto my face. It’s funny. Even though I thought I didn’t care, my mind never truly internalized that, did it?

After packing away my books and laptop, I slipped from the writing club into the empty hallway of the club-floor. The rising sun aligned with the windows at the far end of the corridor, casting a warm glow. Shadows cast by the crossbar windows of neighboring clubs stretched across the floor.

That always reminded me of sunlight shining through leaves onto the forest floor. I’m pretty sure there’s a word for that… I can’t recall it though. It’d sound really good in my book I bet.

I descended two flights of stairs to the second-year’s floor. I was assigned the same homeroom as my first year which feels a bit comforting. It’s familiar—well, I mean every classroom is virtually the same… but you know… it’s still nice.

I sat down at my assigned desk which is smack-bang in the middle of the classroom—resting my chin on my palm.

Other students who filed into the classroom were reconnecting and meeting the others who’d they be with for their second year.

It would be the perfect chance to jump in a conversation, wouldn’t it? To try and make friends?

I gave a sideways glance around the room at a few of the gatherings of students. The one closest to me was two guys and a girl all wearing our school’s volleyball uniform.

A girl with short black hair sat on one of the guy’s desks while one leaned against his own.

Over my tenure at junior and high school I have made one very close friend. So close in fact that I think he counts for at least five— no, ten friends.

He’s sort of like a dog, man’s best friend, someone you can consistently rely on. At least during junior high it was like that. Between our last year there and our first year at high school, he had what people would call a, “glow-up”.

He didn’t massively overhaul himself, he just put some effort into his hair and began using some skin products and what not. Most importantly though, was his confidence, he suddenly decided to become more extroverted and it somehow worked.

I know for me that would never work… But speak of the devil, look who’s in my class again.

“Good morning Matsushita-kun.” A girl cheerfully greeted him.

“Yo, Matsushita-kun, looks like we have the same homeroom again.” This time a guy greeted him.

Takachi Matsushita—what a man. He found his place in the classroom pretty quickly and joined his clique. He wasn’t a celebrity at the school or anything, but like I said, he was reliable. So most people trusted him.

Plus It’s not like he completely abandoned me, it’s just his preference during school-time was to hangout with more “outgoing” people. He still hangs out with me on occasion and sometimes plays video-games on weekends.

As I was about to slip deeper into more useless thoughts, someone called out my name.

“Yo, Makoto, you there?”

“Huh?” I turned my attention to the source. It was Takachi. “Oh, morning.” I replied

He sat on the desk in front of me and wore a cheeky smile.

“Looks like we’re in the same homeroom again. What is this, the fifth year in a row?”

“Sounds about right.”

“Come on, can’t you be a bit more enthusiastic? You get to be with your amazing friend again.”

“Yeah yeah, I’m blessed. Thank you Takachi.”

“Still haven’t done anything with that mop of hair? You could seriously do some good styles with it.”

I shook my head and sighed. “I don’t think that’d change much. I can’t fake confidence like you.”

“I think you just look at it wrong. Isn’t faking confidence still in a way having confidence? There for, you have it.”

I’d like to disagree with his logic, but in a way, he has a point. Before I could respond some of his friends called out to him.

“Ah— well, nice chatting Makoto. I’ll see ya later.” He hopped off the desk and rejoined his group.

Takachi’s head of black hair was replaced by one of soft, shoulder-length blonde hair.

“Akimoto-san?” I accidentally said under my breath.

“Hm?” Akimoto turned around to face me.

“Oh, Kiyotaka-kun. We’re together again. I hope we have a good year as always.”

“Y-yeah, likewise.” 

I put on my best smile but it probably still looked weird.

It was a short, casual interaction, but an unexpected one. I’ll admit it’s mainly my fault for it happening but it still left me a tad flustered.

The girl who took his place in front of me is another familiar character—Akimoto Kaoru. She, like Makoto, has been in the same class as me since the start of Junior High. While we’re familiar with each other, I would by no means call us acquainted.

She wasn’t a celebrity or anything like that. So to say a few quick words about Kaoru… She generally fit in very well liked by her classmates. Always choosing to go with the flow rather than make waves.

Also I think she’s going out with someone…? I don’t really know though.