The Hotel of My Dream (私にふさわしいホテル)

Novelist, Hitomi Yamaguchi called...

- this hotel, Hilltop Hotel... - Welcome, ma'am.

"the perfect hotel for novelists",

or so it is told.

Close to Jimbocho Used Bookstore Town,

and major publishing companies,

it's not only good for research and meetings,

but with only 40 rooms,

they have excellent hospitality.

They impress the many gourmet novelists

with their delicious tempura and steak.

You can feel a nesting comfort...

in the serene space atop a hill.

All of this empowers the novelist, while...

gently embracing the solitude of creation.

Shotaro Ikenami,

Yojiro Ishizaka,

Yasushi Inoue,

Yasunari Kawabata,

Jun Takami,

Kazuo Dan,

Seicho Matsumoto,

Yukio Mishima.

Countless literary giants loved this hotel.

Your room, Room 401.

If you need anything, please call the front desk.

Please enjoy your stay.

Thank you.

I'm home.

You're a hotel meant for me.

Okay.

"The Hotel of my Dream"

Playing novelist with your own money again, Taiju Aida Sensei?

Wait!

I'm not playing, I'm an authentic novelist.

You haven't published a single book yet.

Senpai, how did you know I was here? Please leave.

I was just savoring the moment, you ruined it.

Your editor came to see you.

You can savor your novelist vibes all the more.

Nobody pays their own money to play "a popular novelist locked up in a hotel".

Sennpai, why are you here in the first place?

Senpai?

Hey!

Nakajima, you still work part-time at a diner?

That's none of your business.

Senpai! Is this... what I think...?

Wow! Thank you very much!

A drop-off treat loved by many famous novelists,

Sembikiya's fruit sandwitch!

I thankfuly accept this gift!

It's too soon to give you Sembikiya.

Sensei loves sweets next to alcohol, so...

Sensei?

The suite in Room 501.

When I lock up Munenori Higashijujo Sensei, I always use this room.

I was waiting in the lobby when you came in,

so I came to poke around.

I'll get you some other drop-off treat later.

Munenori Higashijujo...

Oh, right.

Right, you're in charge of him now.

The root cause of my misfortunes...

"Munenori Higashijujo"

"Three Years Ago, At a party"

This year's Pu-erh New Novelist Award winner,

Taiju Aida Sensei.

Please give her a big round of applause.

Um... uh... I'm really... happy...

Um... really... thank you very much. Ow!

Sorry...

The other day,

I read a short story by a new novelist, Taiju Aida,

who won the Pu-erh New Novelist Award,

I cannot understand why such a piece

won any award at all.

This bastard...

Just because of that single book review,

I'm still in the dark.

That was unlucky of you.

And, you've come here to see him, so he's...

He's busy with a newspaper column series, and he couldn't make time until today.

The deadline is nine tomorrow morning.

I can't let him miss this deadline.

Higashijujo Sensei's one-shot short story

is one of the featured pieces in next month's 50th anniversary issue.

Novel Barusu's 50th Anniversary Special Issue?

50 short columns and short stories by

50 popular writers for the 50th anniversary,

whose names will all be listed on the cover.

A lavish project the industry looks forward to.

Which means...

If by tomorrow morning, Higashijujo Munenori's piece is not finished...

this could be my chance!

What are you saying?

Remember?

We have my short story that we finished together!

- Oh. - That's it!

"1 Year Ago, Buneisha, Lobby"

Please help me! Endo Senpai!

I want to have a book published.

Was it two years ago that you won the Pu-erh New Novelist Award?

Yes.

I thought it would be smooth sailing, but...

Munenori Higashijujo's harsh comments

turned all the tides,

and two years later now, I still have no published books.

I've sent many manuscripts to the editors,

but recently, they don't even care to reply.

Senpai...

I've hit rock bottom. Please help me!

When you can't publish from Pu-erhsha, how can you publish from us?

Sorry, but Pu-erhsha is way below us.

For the sake of our college club ties, please help me.

I beg you.

Old ties isn't enough to get you by in this industry, you should know that.

Senpai, you've changed.

It's true people change when they gain power.

You joined a major publisher, Buneisha,

married the daughter of a board member,

you now have two kids,

working on a top-selling literary magazine,

"Novel Barusu", as it's editor, huh?

My career is irrelevant.

Sorry for being arrogant when I'm so unworthy.

Please,

please lend me a hand, Senpai.

I have...

no one but you to ask for help...

Do you have a manuscript?

Yes, abso-freakin-lutely!

You can't publish a book just yet, but...

But...?

If it's a short story, the chance of publishing is...

Chance of publishing is...?

...zero.

...Or maybe not.

Huh?

Yaaay! You're the best, Senpai!

You've stepped up, but you haven't changed!

After all, you can't abandon your junior with your kind-hearted soul!

It may not be zero, but it's essentially zero.

What?

Please, work something out.

Shall we give it a shot?

Yes.

Abso-freakin-lutely.

Rewrite it.

Wha...?

It doesn't make sense.

It lacks excitement.

I think it's taken shape to some extent.

- Really? - Uh-huh.

Ugh! Sudden dizziness...

My time has come.

That manuscript was for this moment.

Finally, as one of 50 bestselling writers,

my name, Taiju Aida,

will be imprinted on the cover of Novel Barusu!

Nakajima, don't get any wild ideas in your head again.

Again?

You always carry out crazy ideas, I know.

The countless incidents you caused in college, I don't even want to recall.

Go to hell!! This isn't freedom!

Don't you hide behind the word "justice"!

Let us do whatever we want!

I... I'm not...

having any ideas...

Forget what I just told you.

There's no shortcut in this industry.

Diligently work your way up.

I do have a bit of hope for you, you know.

I shall not let this grudge go unavenged...

Just you wait...

I'll make you bite the dust.

Always saying, "Women should be like this",

that sexist old jerk!

Room service, ma'am.

Thank you.

This is from the guest that left earlier.

Endo Senpai?

Yes, Mr. Endo.

Excuse me.

May I open the bottle for you now?

Um... no.

I'm fine for now, please leave it there.

But...

Mr. Endo specifically asked to make sure a staff opens the bottle.

I said I wanted to drink it now, but...

now I feel like drinking it later, so it's okay.

You're okay?

I'm okay.

Then, please enjoy your stay.

Thanks for the drop-off treat, but...

why champagne?

"Ghost"

Hello?

Be quiet!

Be quiet!

Listen to me!