Tokyo Literary Masters: Starting from the Late 1980s

three days later.

Just as the media and critics were reaching their peak of criticism of "The Ring," an additional 100,000 copies of the new book quietly hit bookstores.

Just as Kitahara Iwao predicted, after several days of public discussion, the public's curiosity has been piqued to the extreme.

When they saw the taboo-filled red bandage of The Ring, along with the news that was vehemently criticized by literary elders, the young people's rebellious spirit was instantly ignited.

"Hey, look! This is the book that old stubborn Kijima is cursing!"

"Reading this will corrupt you? Haha, is that really true? I have to buy it and see how corrupting it is!"

"Even those old fogies think it's like a potent drug? How explosive must this book be!"

Readers who were initially hesitant were completely captivated by this sense of immorality.

In the past three days, the sales of "The Ring" have not only not declined due to negative reviews, but have instead surged like a fire fueled by oil, experiencing a second wave of even more frenzied growth than on its initial release day.

Looking at the steadily rising sales curve sent by the sales department, Editor-in-Chief Sato laughed and dialed Kitahara Iwao's number again: "Kitahara-kun, you're a devil!"

"If that old man Kijima knew he'd become our top salesman, he'd probably have a stroke!"

"It's simply a matter of each getting what they need."

"He gained a reputation for upholding morality, while we gained real sales."

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Iwa didn't stop writing. Instead, he solemnly wrote a new book title on the first line of the manuscript paper—"The Bones of Snow".

At its core, this short story is actually a hard science fiction segment from "The Ring 2: Spiral" about the double helix structure of DNA and human evolution.

However, under Kitahara Iwao's deliberate imitation of Kawabata Yasunari's extremely feminine and beautiful writing style, the cold genetic sequence was disguised as a poignant lament about the impermanence of life and the emptiness of the snow country.

After writing the last word, Kitahara Iwa put the manuscript into an envelope.

However, the destination of this letter was not his former employer, Weekly Shincho, who was currently engaged in a war of words with Kijima Heihachiro in an attempt to defend himself.

Instead, they submitted their work to "Bungakukai," a publication affiliated with "Shukan Bunshun."

Furthermore, Kitahara Iwao did not write his own name in the signature column, but instead wrote Minamino Sawa.

North to South, Plain to Wilderness, Rock to Marsh.

This was a meticulously designed mirror game, and also a complete entrapment operation.

"Of course, bait alone is not enough; we also need to create a feeding area."

Kitahara Iwa smiled and took out several more letters that had been prepared in advance from the drawer.

This is a reader's letter written under a pseudonym. The contents of the letter are all the same: they all vehemently criticize Shinchosha for blindly promoting Kitahara Iwao, who can only write ghost stories, and deeply mourn the conscientious writer Kijima Heihachiro who was ostracized by Shinchosha.

"In this bubble era, to catch a big fish, you not only have to provide bait, but also help the fish put the hook in its mouth."

Kitahara Iwa threw these sugar-coated poisons, along with the perfectly disguised manuscript, into the mailbox.

Two days later, in Kijima Heihachiro's study.

This writer, who had been frustrated and desperately seeking a sense of belonging since leaving Shinchosha, was holding several letters from readers, and his face was glowing with a long-lost rosy light.

"Well said! Absolutely right!"

Kijima Heihachiro slapped his thigh excitedly, as if he had found kindred spirits in these letters: "It seems the masses have discerning eyes! Everyone still cherishes serious literature; that Kitahara kid is nothing but a flash in the pan clown!"

After his wounded pride was greatly soothed by these letters from readers, Kijima Heihachiro was in high spirits. He picked up the newly delivered "Literary World" magazine from the table and prepared to routinely glance at the new works published in this issue, seeking some inspiration.

He was just casually flipping through the pages when he came across a short story titled "The Bones of Snow," signed by Minamino Sawa.

After reading just the first page, Kijima Heihachiro's previously cloudy old eyes lit up instantly, as if he had seen an oasis in the desert.

"This...this brushstroke..."

This somber, damp literary texture, and the delicate depiction of the impermanence of life and death, are completely different from the superficial writing style that is popular in the market today. It perfectly hits the aesthetic G-spot of this "old-fashioned writer".

Kijima Heihachiro read every word greedily, so excited that his hand holding the magazine trembled slightly.

At that moment, he was certain that he had discovered a genius!

More importantly, Kijima Heihachiro felt he had found the perfect weapon to use against Kitahara Iwao's fast-food garbage!

"A genius...this is the savior of the Heisei literary world!"

After reading the entire article, Kijima Heihachiro was so excited that his hands were trembling.

He could almost picture himself unearthing a literary giant, thus delivering a resounding slap in the face to Shinchosha.

That night, Kijima Heihachiro wrote a highly complimentary recommendation in his column for Weekly Bunshun:

"When our eyes were polluted by dry, garbage writing like 'The Ring' that only piled up virus terms, the appearance of new writer Minamino-kun was like a breath of fresh air, washing away the filth in the literary world."

Although the name is unfamiliar, his writing is full of classical sensibility and philosophical depth.

Compared to Kitahara Iwa, who has no literary talent and only knows how to scare people, he is worlds apart!

I dare say that Minamino-kun is the true heir to Japanese literature! Please remember this name!

The next day, the sun shone brightly.

Filled with the joy of finally discovering a legitimate successor to the literary tradition, Kijima Heihachiro strolled into a large chain bookstore.

He planned to go to the literature counter to see what kind of reviews readers had given to Minamino Sawa, whom he had highly recommended.

However, as soon as he entered the door, Kijima Heihachiro froze in his tracks.

In the bookstore's most prominent prime display area, there were no other books, only a black tower made of stacks of "The Ring".

On that oppressive black cover, each book was wrapped with a glaring, almost bloody, bright red band.

The red waistband was too conspicuous, like a strip of warning tape, forcibly intruding into his field of vision.

Upon seeing this, Kijima Heihachiro squinted and leaned closer to take a look, and immediately felt dizzy.

On that bright red background, printed were not other people's words, but the curses he viciously attacked in his column.

But now, it's been bolded, enlarged, and transformed into a highly provocative GG phrase:

"Like a potent drug! Reading it will corrupt you! Never open it at night!" — Professor Kijima angrily recommends!

The publisher even went so far as to design the words "Angry Recommendation" as an explosive special effect font.

"Pfft... That's too mean."

Several high school students in school uniforms were laughing and joking around a pile of books, completely unaware that the person in question was standing behind them with a purplish-red face.

"Look! This is the Book of Depravity that old stubborn Kijima was talking about!"

"Even that old fogey was furious? How explosive must this book be?"

"Hahaha, since he says reading it will corrupt me, I have to buy it and see just how corrupting it is! Here, give me a copy!"

Listening to these conversations filled with mockery and rebellious spirit, watching that trashy book that should have been banned being snapped up by young people with great excitement...

"You...you bastard!!!"

Kijima Heihachiro suddenly felt a surge of sweet, metallic taste rush to the top of his head.

The criticisms that I was so proud of have been turned into the cheapest and most effective promotional megaphone by bastards like Kitahara Iwao and Shinchosha!

The betrayal by Shinchosha, the mockery of Kitahara Iwao, the misunderstanding of the readers... all the anger exploded at this moment.