How I Decided on My "#OneBestPiece"

It is that time of year again for the annual project by our very own no+e cheering captain, Hatsutsuka-san. This year's project is titled "#2024OneBestPiece".

I have decided to participate as well.

This project involves self-nominating the best article or work I created in 2024 and having it compiled into a magazine.

I have already decided on my "one best piece," but in this article, I will briefly look back at "why I chose that work."

🖋Qualifying Round (106 works)

Although some "notes" (short posts) were deleted and some articles were returned to draft status, there were 106 articles remaining from those posted since January 2024.

I took a thorough look back.

The things I worked hardest on this year were, of course, the two long novels I submitted to the Creative Awards and the "Creative Awards Reviews."
However, since many people have already read the contest entries and event reports, and they don't feel very fresh (?), I excluded them from this project.

Also, simple "short posts" were excluded. The number dropped significantly.

🖋Quarterfinals (24 works)

Of the 24 remaining works, I like the three essays, but I don't feel they were written well.
The report-like piece about being invited to a radio show called "Smile Spice" and "talking about things" doesn't feel like my 'one best piece' of the year, so I'm excluding it.
I'm also excluding other novels and covers (homage works) that I don't feel were written well.
Among them, the one I found hard to cut was this.

It's a Shirokuma Literature Club work, but it can be read on its own.

And so, 3 novels and 3 other works remained.

🖋Semifinals (6 works)

What remains is a secret. (Why?)
After much deliberation, two works advanced to the finals.
The article that narrowly lost in the semifinals is this one.
Actually, this is my first no+e official "Featured Article." (A DIY-style one)

It was my "first featured article," but I haven't experienced a second one yet.

And so, two works remained.

🖋Finals (2 works)

Here is work ① that made it this far.

Articles that just say "I was invited on the radio and talked" are already a dime a dozen, but this article is different. I put a lot of effort into it.
It's a "Who do you think you are?" type of article where I collected words spoken on someone else's radio show, arbitrarily dubbed them the "Buzzword Awards," made images, had people vote, and decided on a grand prize—yay!
For those who haven't listened to "Smile Spice," the content might be completely baffling, but that might actually be what makes it interesting, so please take a look. After all, it's the final match, you know?

Here is the other work that made it to the finals.

This was the first "submission project" I ever held.
This is the final article for it.
Since I wrapped it up in the form of a short story in this final article, I think it might be hard to understand what it's about.
If possible, I would like you to read the "submission" article to lightly understand the setting, and then choose and read your favorite works from the 77 pieces plus alpha included in the magazine.
You can read stories from various genres: comedy, mystery, horror, youth, family...
Many people used the simple setting to write stories from various angles.
It is a project that is super memorable to me.

↓ The magazine is here ↓

Both are projects and articles I worked hard on, so it's hard to choose between them...

Drumroll, please...

Well, it's almost time!
The seven judges from Mameshima Kokoro will raise their cards in order!

Ta-da!

Night Bus—one vote! Next,
Buzzword—one vote! Next!
Buzzword—another vote!

Whoa, is Buzzword in the lead?! No... next is,

Night Bus!
Night Bus!
Night Bus!
Night Bus!

With a score of 5 to 2, "Take Me on the Night Bus" has been decided as "The Number One of the Year"!!👏👏🎉

🎊Congratulations! Click, click📸
Please tell us the deciding factor for the victory. (In the style of Hasoyam-san's delusional press conference)

Bean ① "Well, let's see. Above all, it was my first project. And, a huge number of people participated in this project!"

Bean ② "Actually, that person who is now a pro also wrote for it!"

That's amazing~.

Bean ③ "At the end of the project, I even made an end-roll video!"
Bean ④ "I also made a short video when I was recruiting for the project."
Bean ⑤ "I, Mameshima, also wrote two pieces along the way. But more than anything, the fact that so many people seriously wrote interesting works is... more than anything, I'm so... I'm so... waaaaaah"

Yes. Thank you very much. The press conference is over.

And so.
Following this project, I have thoroughly conveyed the "reasons and process for the decision."

There is less than a month left this year!
Someone is whispering... that it's okay for Mameshima to write a work that makes people think "This is the true number one!" from now on... let's do our best...