#What is this story about? [Mid-note] (Behind-the-scenes of a back-alley novel)

To all applicants and readers of the Creative Awards, thank you for your hard work.

I have once again successfully finished submitting my entry (novel) for the Creative Awards.
The novel in question is right here ↓

Including secret characters, 21 'Rojiura' (back-alley) residents appear 🚶🏻✨️
It feels like it's finished but not really, so it's truly a case of 'what is this story about?', but I hope you enjoy it (∩´꒳`∩)

And to everyone who read it, everyone who gave it a 'like' or a comment, and everyone who gave me permission to feature them as characters in this novel.
Thank you so much!

This time, I'm going to talk about the behind-the-scenes of this back-alley novel that feels finished but isn't.
In other words, it's not a preface or an afterword, but a mid-note! (lol)

A lot happened before I finished posting this novel.
But I've overcome it and managed to run to the end, and now I truly feel glad that I did.
To everyone I caused trouble for, I am truly sorry 🙇‍♂️
And to everyone who supported me, thank you so much!
I am very happy that I am able to write this mid-note now (*´ω`*)

This novel, too, is content created by borrowing the names and episodes of fellow noters.

First of all, the phrase 'What is this story about?' became popular in this town called Note because, according to Konishi-san, he said his world changed after he admitted that 'it's not interesting when I use it myself. It becomes more interesting when those around me use it.' (Probably)

I realized it too. There is a limit to my own current level of interest, and there are more interesting people and interesting episodes around me, so if I gather all the interesting things around me, it will definitely be even more interesting!

I wanted to convey more that 'there are such interesting people and interesting episodes in the back alleys' and I wanted everyone to know more. I want to convey the 'interesting', 'amazing', and 'favorite' things around me to others. That's how I feel.

And by having noters appear in the novel, I was writing with the sole desire to make those noters excited, to have them enjoy it, and to make them happy.
Imagining everyone enjoying it and being happy made me feel excited and thrilled myself.
So, when I saw everyone like that in the comments, I was truly happy. I'm glad I could feel last year's joy once again.
Thank you everyone 🥺

Honestly, I wanted to include all 73 people who gave me permission to appear, but due to the character limit and my lack of ability, I could only include 21, and I am sorry (>_<)
But I am truly glad that I was able to write a story for 21 people in about 36,000 characters.

For the final episode, I misunderstood the deadline by one day, so I wrote it in a huge rush and posted it on the night before the deadline, which resulted in a slightly rushed ending. A friend also told me that the ending was a bit cliché and felt a bit cramped, so I should have thought about the ending more carefully. That is the point I need to reflect on this time (；'ω'∩)

When I resumed posting, Konishi-san taught me that 'the decision and determination to see things through to the end are important'. It's easy to say, but hard to do. I truly respect the fact that Konishi-san himself shows that with his own back.
I want to live up to Konishi-san's feelings, and I want to live up to everyone's expectations.
As I wrote in the last scene of the novel, honestly, I don't have the confidence to finish writing the continuation. But I have the desire to try. It's a vague delusion, but I still get excited when I think about stories where everyone appears or when I think about everyone's happy faces 🦈🫧‪(lol)

As I wrote in my profile, 'Setting aside whether I can or cannot do it, I will do what I want to do.' This is me.
So, for now, I will try to think about and write the sequel that I felt I wanted to do. Honestly, I don't know how long it will take. It might take another half a year or a year. I don't know, but I'll do as much as I can (lol)

My biggest dream is to see an anime featuring the Rojiura residents. I want to see everyone moving on the screen. This is it. I've always thought so.
But first, if I don't finish it properly, there's no way an anime will ever happen 😇
Until now, I've been running away by saying vague things like 'I'll do it if I can.' Because I didn't have the confidence to write it interestingly, or I was afraid of disappointing myself by failing and betraying expectations.
But I thought that if I stayed like that, nothing would change.To achieve something, the decision and determination to see it through are important.I will keep that in mind.
So, I will properly finish the novel.

Here, I declare it. I will say it one more time.
I will properly finish the novel!

And, assuming the novel is made into an anime, I think I also need to consider copyright issues when using names and episodes.
Like the difficulties of e-books, or how Konishi-san and the others are registering trademarks.

Well, I'll think about that later and write an article about what to do in the future.
It probably won't go smoothly, and I'm sure there will be times when I worry, stumble, or stop, but I'd be happy if you could enjoy supporting me as a non-fiction document (　･`ω･´)

Well, I apologize for talking on for so long, but from here on, I will be introducing the characters and episodes that appeared in the novel, so it will get even longer, but please bear with me m(_ _)m (lol)

Tokio Kakeru: Protagonist
I borrowed this name from the title of one of my favorite works by director Mamoru Hosoda.
It holds many meanings. (Omitted) (lol)

From here on, I will omit honorifics.

Matsudaira Utanokami: Tokio's roommate (friend)
Matsudaira-san is a noter who occasionally leaves long comments, and their brightness, passion, and impact are just incredible, plus I'm always happy to receive their comments, so they were selected to be the roommate this time (lol)
It seems Matsudaira-san actually cannot see out of their left eye, so the character setting of having a prosthetic left eye was taken from that as well😉

Ponkotsu: Ponkotsu Clinic Dr. (Director)
I wanted to make the most of Ponkotsu-san's character, which is full of slightly ditzy and charming episodes!
Also, I thought the off-line meeting with these three was an episode I couldn't leave out.
I also want to make the back-alley illustrations that Ponkotsu-san used to draw a reality! I want to recreate those connections in the novel as well.
So, as a first step, I had them gather at the clinic (lol)

Mosquito Eri: Ponkotsu Clinic Nurse
When it comes to Dr. Pon's right-hand woman and a nurse, it just has to be Eri-san. The moment I heard her on Stand.fm, I changed part of the novel's content at lightning speed. That voice was cuter than I could have ever imagined ( ◜ω◝ )
However, there is such a gap between the content on note and the impression everyone has of Eri-san that Makikura is a bit confused (lol)
And, making more use of her perverted nurse-like nature in the novel is a task for the future (lol)

???: Ponkotsu Clinic Receptionist
This is a secret character. I'm sorry I can't reveal the name due to story reasons🥺
The hint is that she is a Takarazuka-esque woman. When you think of the three people at Ponkotsu Clinic... you already know, right? (lol)

Konishi Kinoko: What Are You Talking About Division Manager
I'm sure everyone knows her well enough that I don't need to introduce her, so I'll skip it (heh)
It seems she was an actress. The actor's soul to go this far🥸 Everything is discussed in the linked YouTube video.
Please give it a listen.
#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout

Emu no Maiton: ???
The name has been mentioned by Konishi-san, but the character setting is currently a secret.
Since they are at the level of discussing with Konishi-san about what lies directly below the earlobe when you move your finger down, I think you can guess what kind of person they are (lol)
I'll attach the top-secret file.

Ayano Rii: Something Is Wrong Division Receptionist
When you think of Rii-san, you think of red❤️ And she feels like a girl who seeks strength and fun in addition to cuteness (｀-ω-´)✧
According to information from Konishi-san and Maiton-san, she is a girl who talks a lot, so I had her talk passionately about Tiko-san in the novel as well (lol)
Also, the impact of her Lolita fashion articles and princess-cut hair articles was strong for me, which led to this character setting🫰

Megumi Tiko: Something Is Wrong Division Manager
When it comes to Tiko-san, the sushi-pattern skirt and the episode where Konishi-san took her first time were shocking, so I borrowed them (that's misleading (lol))
She has been doing tarot readings lately, so I thought that was something I couldn't leave out to bring out Tiko-san's personality.
And, I reflected the results of actually having Tokio possess me to draw the three-choice reading by Tiko-san below into this novel. The results were truly like Tokio, and I feel guided🚶🏻✨️

???: Tiko Tribe
Speaking of the Tiko Tribe... naked socks. Speaking of naked socks... those two... I think you all can guess who I mean (lol).
I wanted to mention their names, but Tokio didn't have the guts to interact with the naked socks he was seeing for the first time. I am very sorry m(_ _)m
I do hope to have them interact in the future (lol).

Tokotokote: Police Officer at the Koban
I borrowed Toko-san's name.
He is a 'Rojiura-er' (back-alley dweller), a man, and above all, he has a great name!!! So, I decided to cast him as a police officer (　･`ω･´)
Somehow, the name Toko-san (Tokotokote) sounds cute for a police officer character, and I could picture him walking along (tokotoko) to keep the back alleys safe (*´艸`)

persi: Theater Troupe Shinobu, Shino-Blue
Speaking of persi-san, it's Stand.fm and voice acting. Whether on note or Stand.fm, the way persi-san straightforwardly enjoys doing what they want to do in their own way is so cool (　･`ω･´)
I feel a kindness in how they enjoy what they love while also caring for those around them, and even if they don't say much in comments, I am always saved by their presence (-人-)
And, as always, thank you for the unique character setting of a shaved head and beard ( '灬' ) (lol).

Leemo: Theater Troupe Shinobu, Shino-Black
One of the members who does voice acting with persi-san in Theater Troupe Shinobu 🥷
Their passionate feelings for the back alleys, 'What is this story about?', and above all, Konishi-san, come through in their words and actions.
I have the image of someone who creates works together with fellow noters through note and Stand.fm 🚶🏻✨️
And that Leemo-san is the original author of 'Virus No. 874'.
I loved the idea and the story so much that I used it in my novel too (*´ω`*)

Miwa Yutani: Theater Troupe Shinobu, Shino-Pink
Speaking of Yutani-san, it's that wonderful voice. Once you hear her reading, your heart is captured ( ◜ω◝ )♡
Since Yutani-san is also a member of Theater Troupe Shinobu, I wanted to write about everyone having a fun time together (∩´꒳`∩)
Looking at her note and comments, I always think she is a person with kindness and humor who cares about her friends 🫶
I would like to make use of Yutani-san's connections in the story while having her interact with new characters in the future. My imagination is running wild (*´艸`)

Kei Mameshima: Novelist, Author of 'Zanmu'
Speaking of Mameshima-san, it's novels. Speaking of Mameshima-san, it's pugs. 'Zanmu' is currently on sale as a paperback ✨️
From the day I strongly felt I wanted to have Mameshima-san appear in this novel, perhaps it was already decided that she would take this form |ω◉`)
I felt from her interactions with others and her note that she is the type of person who says things clearly, so when I used that for her character (Pug Sister), she suddenly became popular with the readers (friends and Konishi-san) (lol).

Mirai Yoshiho: Novelist, Author of 'Sleeping Woman'
If I'm going to have Mameshima-san appear, I have to involve the novel community! So, I had her appear this time as well (lol).
I want to introduce Yoshiho-san, her work, and the bookstore. The content is full of such ulterior motives ( ◜ω◝ )
Speaking of Yoshiho-san, I have an image of her being pure and somehow sparkling and excited on Stand.fm (*´ω`*)

Nono Aomame: Novelist, Author of 'Souai no Hoshi'
A person I want to have interact with Mameshima-san and Yoshiho-san... it has to be Nono-san. So, I had Nono-san appear this time as well. While introducing 'Souai no Hoshi' because it's wonderful, I am taking the liberty of staging that reunion and dream collaboration from that day within the novel with a luxurious lineup of four Best Review Award winners (lol).
Nono-san has a mysterious charm, so I made her character like that. I want to give her a gap in personality eventually. And I have a feeling she is like that in reality too ( ◜ω◝ )

Hasoyam: Novelist, Author of 'Honekawa Sujiemon'
One of the luxurious members of the novel community and Best Review Award winners.
I had the feeling that I wanted to have Hasoyam-san appear along with Mameshima-san, and if that happened, Dafuyan-kun was indispensable! So, this became the character setting (´>∀<｀)ゝ
And speaking of Hasoyam-san, it's 'Honekawa Sujiemon'!
I truly respect the stance of continuing to write it as a series without change ✨️ The way Hasoyam-san has been enjoying it for a long time is just wonderful 🫶

RaM: Cafe Master
Speaking of RaM-san, it's a cafe. There is also plenty of delicious information ( ◜ω◝ )
It's the image of a comforting spot that is always there in note (∩´꒳`∩)
The words and warmth that accompany you when you are tired or depressed from your daily life, or when you take a slow break and stop for a moment, and then look forward again, always touch my heart ( ˘ω˘ )

U: Cafe Staff
Although they haven't been taken home yet this time, when it comes to handsome cafe staff, it really has to be U-san, doesn't it (｀-ω-´)✧
The kindness and warmth that understands how you feel. And the humor that cheers you up.
I mean, anyone would fall for them if such a handsome person were right in front of them, right? (lol)
I believe U-san is a capable staff member who is a customer-killer regardless of gender✨️

So, that concludes the introduction of the characters and related episodes! (　-`ω-)👍🏻✨️
To everyone who lent me their names and episodes, thank you so much. And to everyone I couldn't include, I am truly sorry m(_ _)m

I will continue to think about the continuation, so I hope to be able to introduce new 'Alleyway-ers' when I do ( -人-)

I don't know when I will post it, but I will definitely finish it and post it, so I would be happy if you could enjoy it then (*´ω`*)

#WhatAreYouTalkingAbout