Sep 21, 2023

To:Bradtvford

"Reincarnation" in particular isn't required (they don't have to die and be reborn specifically), but being taken to another world or "isekai'd" IS required for the fantasy contest prompt. So if no one is from another world at all, that might not be good for the contest rules unfortunately 😱

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Sep 21, 2023

To:Taylor J

Right?? :D I feel like I've gotten to meet so many awesome writers on here, and it's fantastic to get to know everyone! (I just wish I had more time to socialize online 🤣 Sadly work and IRL stuff take priority.)

After the contest is finished, if it's alright by the rules, I might post a few bonus chapters of Love Sorceress that revolve around some cut content. Like Mia and Toren's longer backstory. Some scenes from Claire's POV while she's watching Jun run around. Maybe some bonus epilogue content where we see Jun and Claire being Love Sorceress & Assistant!! xD I also have some blooper/joke scenes that I wrote while really burnt out, where the characters go off-script in the middle of a scene and start cracking jokes.

Beyond that though, most of my major writing is literature-focused (not Light Novel style) and I hope to get something published in the USA literary market one day -- so my longer works like that won't go on HF since I'm hoping to publish them elsewhere (and don't want any copyright confusion.) So anything I put on HF will be stuff I'm not planning to publish -- maybe some side stories or one-offs that I write as practice!

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Sep 20, 2023

Oooh fell asleep and left her waiting for an hour and 15 minutes 😓 ouch, but Haruko kind of deserved that for asking him to show up so late when he was already exhausted!

Also wait payphones still exist in 2023 in Japan? 😲 (Why is this what surprises me? 😆)

So what is this clandestine late-night plan? :D hacking the school computers to rig the election? Blackmailing the sensei's into making Haruko student president?

...Nope! It's QR codes in desks 🤣🤣🤣 for a girl who uses payphones, I'm surprised Haruko even thought about this! (She was even counting desks omg.) But I think I'm even more surprised that the MC seems to be enjoying himself~ maybe Haruko's kind of crazy plan is more his style than he thought!
Poor Sato though getting scared by the rat joke 😓 Haruko will owe a few apologies after this.

Also "How to overthrow a school" 👀 okay yep, Haruko is DEFINITELY going to owe a few apologies... probably to the school board and staff, as they lecture her about proper conduct 🤣🤣🤣

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Sep 20, 2023

MC-kun evaluating the Church of Haruko's tales like he's a MAL reviewer 😂 I freaking love it.
But at least he's smiling now, and laughing! The trauma of the movie theatre is starting to be forgotten.
(But my boy don't forget she still owes you money 👀 I don't care how cute she is. Money first 🤣 #YesImHeartless #MoneyBeforeHoneys)

His mind is running all night thinking about every little interaction he had together with Haruko 💀 MC-kun, I'm so sorry to tell you this, but I really really do think that means you have a crush on her 😆 (why would he care about what she thinks so much otherwise?)

But poor MC can't even stay awake as Haruko's trying to give QR code orders 🥲 she's demanding a late night sneak out just to get the QR code printed? 👀 And breaking into the school to do so?! Oooh, what is she up to?

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Sep 20, 2023

Honestly I feel very sad for MC-kun 😭 I know what it's like to go on dinner dates and barely taste the food because you're so upset about something else. I hope he can figure out what's hurting him so much 🥺 and maybe move past it one day 💔

Haruko's cheerfulness is hard to turn down though 🤣 I wonder how she stays so upbeat herself? She's an odd mix of both low-confidence (wanting others to praise her) and over-confidence (cheerful and fearless.)

But her secret base sounds promising...if not maybe exaggerated!! I'm excited! :D alright we've made it to the riverside and it's pretty, but that's not the secret yet! Okay...waiting a long time with eyes closed...long enough to wonder if this might be a kiss 😆

But nope! It was the Church of Haruko (made out of cardboard, patent pending!) Complete with decorated inside, just like a hidden base! And Haruko has stories to tell of course, as any deity should 😌 a cute development! And MC-kun seems properly immersed but...

...Haruko still owes him money though 🤣

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Sep 20, 2023

Movie date and Haruko is paying! Honestly other than finding the place, so far everything is going good...except, uh, MC-kun hyperventilating in the bathroom 🥲 is he really nervous about going on a date? Or is something else happening here?

Because woah he won't even enter the movie theatre 😱 and they end up leaving the mall altogether! Does this have something to do with the main character's "incident in high school"? Maybe something happened to him that made movies traumatizing? But if so, why did he agree to going here for a movie date? 🤔 He seemed pretty okay right up until they were supposed to enter the theatre. Maybe memory loss is in play here?

But...uh oh 🥲 that fancy dinner and Haruko's card is declined. Looks like MC-kun is going to end up paying anyway.

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Sep 20, 2023

Hmm from the way Sumire is flustered, now I'm worried that clutching her chest in pain wasn't just an act 🥲 I hope she's okay!!

Oh!! Oh wait Takao is actually pressing her for answers! That's awesome, I'm glad he is wanting to assure her safety. I never would have suspected Sumire was still injured 😭 and the amulet she needs to heal herself might've burned in the temple fire. I wonder if any humans possess healing magic?

Oh but Takao is also hurt 😲 okay, yes, healing magic would be super useful right now! Sumire has a prototype necklace that can help Takao, but she can't make another healing amulet for herself 😭 shoot. Maybe they can find whatever materials she needs to make another one during their adventures?

But no more secrets between them! Honestly from now on, as they both work towards their goals! (Why do I have a feeling Sumire is going to lie to him someday and sacrifice herself so he can live? 🥲 Ooh I hope not!)

...but also hoping with that outro that we get to see the spiked boar from the quest getting cooked into something tasty! 😆

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Sep 20, 2023

Secret D rank mission? Might awaken Takao's magic? Monsters roaring and running their way? Oh no. What did Sumire sign them up for? 🥲

Spike boar!!! 😱 And with one lightning strike from Sumire, it's down! 💀💀💀 Our goddess is a frightening force to be reckoned with! But oh? She just weakened it for Takao, huh? Hmm let's see how this goes...

Takao's spear skills certainly help him here, and he has the boar on the run, but he can't quite land the killing blow. Honestly I thought Sumire would finish it off but...she's griping her chest in pain?! D: is she faking it so Takao will make his move?? Or is something really happening to her?

Takao having flashbacks to his parent's death is just 😭😭😭 but maybe it's awoken something in him? That final throw seemed way more powerful than usual!!

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Sep 20, 2023

Oooh and now we get a bit of Sumire's tale in return: she's left her family behind, and keeps outliving the mortals she loves 😭 and that's why she slept so long after the battle! She didn't want to face the loneliness anymore!!

Sincerely hoping that Takao can somehow become a deity and stay with her for however long they both wish to exist 😤❤️❤️❤️

Snow? Fruit? Honey? Are these...sno-cones?! :D and brain freezes? Ahahaha that's adorable 😆 I'm glad they could have a cute moment after all those heavy emotions! And it helped them bury the disagreements between them!! So excited to see them as partners now 🤩

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Sep 20, 2023

The description of the farms here is just so relaxing, and also "rainbow vegetables" somehow adds this mystical feel to it where I'm imagining multi-colored crops that don't exist in our world!! ❤️🌈

Gathering herbs! A classic first quest 😎 but I get the feeling things won't unfold as usual here...

Oh 🥲 Sumire really did rig the test and...Takao was so excited to finally have magic, the poor thing. It saddens me to see him get so angry at her over it though. She was just trying to help him. And Takao is taking that as an affirmation of his failure, rather than the truth that he's gained a friend willing to go to such lengths to help him join the adventurer's guild and reach his dreams!

But the scars of losing Yukki and his family run deep 😭 the survivor's guilt must be immeasurable. And Nanako now has that guilt too, oh man. Yeah, even if Takao likes Nanako, I definitely don't think he should be with her romantically now. That's way too much guilt and emotional baggage between them to form a healthy relationship 🥺 I just hope Takao can realize that... (And realize that the perfect Sumire is already here for him 😌❤️)

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Sep 20, 2023

Also following-up on my Isekai realization 🤣 I just realized everyone in this world has Japanese names! Was that for localization purposes (many fantasy LNs use Japanese names because they're published in Japan) or is there maybe an in-story reason for that? (Maybe this world is a part of Japanese mythology!!)

Also it's nice to see Teyumi being supportive, even when the guild mob members aren't! :D though Teyumi should definitely be careful not to accidentally make Sumire angry 😆 the dragon goddess could still end this city at any time!!
Ahh so Teyumi and Takao were raised in the same orphanage, that's why she's so nice to him. 😔 I'm sad that Takao thinks he 'abandoned' Teyumi by leaving. Takao did the best he could, and they were both just kids!! 😭

Oooh...did Sumire enchant Takao's spear so he would pass the magic portion of the test?! 😲 But Sumire seemed surprised! Maybe she wasn't the one that caused that magic??

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Sep 20, 2023

Training time!! Ahahaha Sumire immediately here with the weight training 🤣 I hope Takao can survive! (Also Sumire's magic sounds amazing!! She really is a goddess dragon!)

Oooh yes! Here is where he admits he's fully fired! Honestly it's very clear now in this chapter, I think if I just read ahead I wouldn't have been confused. So it's up to you if you want to make that earlier chapter clearer, or leave it as-is! I think it works either way 👍

Also I'm very happy Sumire got mad on Takao's behalf ❤️ it is absolutely adorable how she cares about him, and wants the best for him and his work! (Just hopefully she won't destroy the guard on his behalf! 🤣)

Takao's spear skills seem impressive though! If only he had magic to go with it 🤔 maybe becoming adventurers will help him find his magical talent? :D

(Also realizing, this is Isekai category. That means someone is originally from another world! I wonder if that means Takao is from Earth and that's why he can't use magic...or if it means Sumire might be reborn from another world too!!)

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Sep 20, 2023

An awkward guild lunch! 🤣 As Nanako meets Sumire!! Nanako's description is absolutely lovely, by the way. I could imagine her clearly, and looking at the AI art you generated for her, you really captured that exact look with your words!

Also Nanako is a fighting adventurer which makes me really happy 🤩 female fighters are some of my favorites!!! (I say that, but I realize I didn't write any in my own contest story 🤣 oops! Well, actually, I didn't put *any* fighters in Love Sorceress, male or female. Maybe next time!)

Sumire getting jealous about Nanako though? 😏 Maybe just a little? Ooh but wait...Sumire has learned that Takao wants to be a fighter. Maybe this is where their training starts together?! :D

And oh my gosh Sumire admits she's interested!? And that she was never going to destroy the town?? 😆 I'm so happy! Even if she hid her affections under the premise of "I'm just interested in your...talents! Duh! B-baka!"

I'm definitely rooting for Sumire more than Nanako, just because it feels like Sumire already likes Takao as he is ❤️ but I'm excited to see how this love triangle unfolds!!!

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Sep 20, 2023

Caisey: Why us?
Elise: #Same 🥲
I felt that moment. I felt that 😔

But now it's a race against the clock for the two mortals to save their precious goddesses!! Time to start running before any one else volunteers to be their opponent 😭 run guys, run!!!

This terraine sounds insane 😲 and with gods/goddesses constantly just stopping by to drop attacks, I'm genuinely surprised Caisey and Elise are okay! ("lady twerp" though had me laughing more than I'd like to admit 🤣)

Ballerina though, that's what he thought of Rina in his first life!! Is he starting to remember? :D and that is what allowed him to find her!!!
Okay I definitely am starting to feel like this original memories are being resurfaced during these challenges, and maybe that's the point of the festival? 😉

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Sep 20, 2023

...Valentine's Day being a "busy time" for Hades is terrifying 🥲 and also somehow feels oddly realistic.

Ooh but okay, time is different here than on Earth! That makes sense. Also wondering now if Caisey's parents are worried that he's disappeared for this long 🤔

(As an aside, Single's Awareness Day, aka SAD, is awesome 😎 and lol I'm not mad at caisey or anything for dissing it. Noooo. What are you talking about? 🤣)

Okay but Rina and Caisey being valentine's for centuries is adorable ❤️ HECK YEAH CUPID (EROS) FINALLY SHOWING UP 🤣🤣🤣 I was waiting for him! You tell Hades! The power of love is real! Yeah!!

Poisedon with a new challenge though and the tough questions! AND THAT WAVE OF WATER!! 😭😱 Caisey has to rescue Rina now? I bet nothing will stop him...except maybe Elise! 🤣

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