For Toru Shimizu, the experience of meeting Noenian Rena in Toho is like a stone thrown into the lake, and after a burst of ripples, although there will always be something inexplicable to settle down, the lake will eventually return to calm, at least on the surface.

Taking classes, doing internships, constructing novel outlines, interviewing various shops with Nanami, and following an already familiar track, Toru Shimizu has not escaped a more ingrained tradition in Japanese society: drinking with his boss after work.

Not far from Kodansha, the izakaya in Edogawabashi is crowded with office workers after work. The dark blazer was casually draped on the back of the chair, the top button of the shirt was unbuttoned, and the constraints in the office were all released at this moment, and they all made loud noises and flushed faces.

A red-faced drinker seemed to be intolerant of the temperature in his body, grabbed his collar and tore it off, and was finally "invited" out by the boss and a few buddies before he became completely open.

In the corner of the izakaya against the wall, Toru Shimizu observed the whole farce and turned his head to look at Heiichi Irie on the other side. He picked up the wine glass and brought it to his lips, and with a flip of his wrist, another glass of soju was in his stomach.

"Tsk. Shimizu-kun, this store is good, right? ”

Hearing his fluctuating tone, Toru Shimizu picked up a fried dumpling casually and responded, "Indeed, it's interesting." ”

"That's," Irie raised his hand, refusing Shuya Ishii's gesture of pouring him sake, filling his glass himself, and suddenly turning the subject to Toru Shimizu.

"Shimizu-kun, I remember that you came to intern to collect novel materials, right? How's the novel progressing now? ”

Toru Shimizu tried the chicken skewers again and said, "The outline is being revised, and you can officially start writing after the revision." ”

"Oh? Then I'm going to look forward to it. Speaking of which, I read your last novel, which was quite well written, how much did that book sell? ”

"I don't know this very well," Qing Shui Toru shook his head, "I have printed five thousand copies, and there is no news of any additional printing yet, so I guess I haven't sold out yet." ”

"How is that possible!"

Irie lined up on the table with one palm, attracting a wave of sideways glances from the surroundings.

"In my opinion, at least it can be shortlisted for the Naoki Award, how can this be the only point?"

As one of the most important awards in the field of popular literature in Japan, the Naoki Prize has been awarded to many people who have left their names in the history of world literature, such as Ryotaro Sima and Miyuki Miyabe. Because of this, winning the Naoki Award can be called a lifelong goal for a writer.

Correspondingly, it is an honor to be shortlisted for the Naoki Award. With the blessing of this light, the sales of the works may not stop at 5,000.

didn't think that his work could reach that height, and Toru Shimizu pulled the corners of his mouth helplessly.

"Although I am very grateful for Irie-san's affirmation, and I am also a little confident in my novels, the sales of my works are not completely determined by quality. The author's popularity, the publisher's influence, the intensity of publicity, and even gimmicks can all affect sales. I'm a newcomer, and it's good that my first book can sell 5,000 copies. ”

Irie rang down, and raised his glass again.

"That's right, you don't have any foundation, and the early study is just... Alas, I left the Literature and Art Bureau for too long, and I even forgot such a simple truth. ”

He poured it violently, and when he saw it, he was about to vomit bitterness.

Toru Shimizu glanced at Shuya Ishii next to Irie, who was holding the edamame on his plate with his chopsticks, looking calm, as if he was used to Irie in this state.

However, Qing Shui Toru still met him for the first time, and was a little curious about what happened back then, and said: "In which year did Irijiang-sang leave the Literature and Art Bureau?" ”

"Probably... Fifteen years ago, in 1996. ”

"Since then, Irie-san has been in the Dictionary Bureau?"

Irie took another drink and sighed, "Otherwise, where else can I go?" I had just been married, my children had just been born, and I needed money. Although I envy Kishida for throwing the resignation letter in their faces, I really don't have that kind of courage, so I can only mix it up in the dictionary bureau first. ”

"What was the Dictionary Bureau like at the time?"

"At the time... At that time, there were quite a few Japanese dictionary classes, and I had just finished compiling the "Great Japanese Dictionary" and was about to make its first revision. A few seniors have heard about me and take care of me. Just stayed, although I was still dissatisfied in my heart, but how to say... Let's get used to it. ”

Irie filled his glass and continued.

In addition, the response to the dictionary at that time was very good, and everyone felt that they could make a career, so they kind of liked the job of dictionary editor. After all, you don't have to deal with people like you in the mountains anymore, you just need to do your own thing. That's right, you see. ”

Irie stretched out his hand and showed his fingers. Under the pale yellow light, there were no lines on the fingertips soaked in wine.

Toru Shimizu was a little surprised, "This is?" ”

"There are no fingerprints anymore, right? If you do this job for a long time, your fingers will be polished by the paper. This is also a little trace of that time. ”

"And then?"

"Later," Irie took a big gulp, choking a few times before he could respond, "After the revision, everyone confidently submitted a new dictionary compilation plan, which was going to be a big job, but it was rejected. At first, I thought that our plan was not done well, but it was revised several times, and the end was still the same. In the end, I realized that it was the meaning of the board of directors, and the Japanese dictionary already had "Kojien" and "Daijirin", and Kodansha couldn't make any money anymore, so it was just forgotten. ”

"Then, the seniors either resigned or retired, leaving me alone to become the head of the department. After staying up alone for several years, two more people finally came in. Kanzaki is not wanted by other departments, and it is shoehorned over. Ishii is interesting. ”

As he spoke, he put his hand on Ishii's shoulders and looked very proud.

"The University of Tokyo's master's degree in linguistics, which was also ranked first during the internship, is supposed to be able to go to all departments, but it is strange that I chose our small and poor Japanese dictionary class, right?"

Toru Shimizu looked at Ishii, who was silent the whole time. He shook off Irie's hand expressionlessly, and picked up his chopsticks to pick up the edamame.

Irie next to him was talking about Xingtou, and his voice was a few degrees higher.

"Then there's Shimizu-kun, although you're just here for an internship, you're already doing quite well. It just so happened that this year the bureau decided to carry out the second revision of the "Great Dictionary of the Japanese Language", and this time, we..."

Qing Shui Toru was waiting for Irijiang to continue, but he didn't expect him to suddenly get stuck there, "we" shouted for a long time and there was no follow-up, I don't know what to think of suddenly, the face that was originally red from drinking suddenly dimmed, and the arm waving in the air also drooped, and the whole person seemed to lose strength, leaning against the wall, and his tone was lonely.

"This time... Maybe it's my last chance... According to the attitude of the board of directors, after this revision, I don't know when the next time will be, and it is impossible to compile a new dictionary..."

Speaking of this, his voice was a little choked.

"I... I don't want to be an editor who retires without a dictionary..."

Somewhat worried about his state, Toru Shimizu thought about whether to do something, and Shuya Ishii raised his hand with ease, asked for a hot towel from the store, and handed it to Heiichi Irie, who was hiding his face with his hands.

Outside, the night was even heavier, but the store was still brightly lit in the midst of the noise, and the silence in this corner did not last long. Irie wiped his face with a towel and recovered quickly.

"Excuse me, but where did you go?"

"Speaking of this revision."

"Oh, this time..."

He had just opened his mouth when he was interrupted by a bell. Shimizu Toru was stunned for a moment, only then did he realize that it was his mobile phone, and turned over the screen, and the name displayed on it was Nanami Nanami.

Looking at the time in the upper right corner, it is close to midnight.

"Irie-san, Ishii-san, I'll answer the phone first."

"It's okay, let's go."

Passing through the bustling diners to the outside of the store, the summer night wind wrapped in coolness blowing on the face, making Qing Shui Toru feel a little sober. I pressed the answer button with doubt, but there was silence in my ears.

After reconfirming the status of the call, Qing Shui Toru tentatively spoke: "Seven sees? ”

It was a few more seconds before a small voice sounded.

"Qing Shui, you... Is it outside? ”

"Well, what's wrong?"

"If it's convenient, can I trouble you to come to Adachi Ward... I feel like I'm being followed..."