The organizer has taken the liberty of picking 10 selections from the entries for the Tomoshibi Monogatari Cup!

The first independent contest, the "Tomoshibi Monogatari Cup in Christmas," had its results announced yesterday. I am so happy to have received so many comments saying that everyone enjoyed it!

However, there were so many other memorable works besides the ones selected, so although I'm sorry there are no extra prizes, I would like to take the liberty of putting a spotlight on them!

If you also have any favorite works, regardless of the judges' decisions, please share your passionate thoughts about them!

1. Yuzu-san: A work I agonized over until the very end!

It's not Monoka Kingdom, but it's a work that focuses on voice.
Yuki, whose eyes are only blurry. I, who am gradually losing my hearing.
For Yuki, who has difficulty seeing, voices are a very important source of information. However, as I lose my hearing, I end up reducing the opportunities to talk on the phone.

Just this part alone was quite moving.
Especially for me, as someone who places importance on auditory information, I found myself wondering what I would do in that situation. I imagined the two of them talking via sign language on Zoom, thinking things like, "I love Yuki's sign language."

It was a work that made my chest ache and gave me a lot to think about.

2. Mori Usagi-san: The realism and structure of Akane-chan

The depiction of "Akane-chan" in the story was so realistic that I found myself thinking, "I know someone just like that!" and was able to vividly imagine the character.

And then, the timeline jumps to hot cocoa and children. Family.
It was a textbook example of structure and high level of completion!

3. Introducing 2 works from Shibuki-san, who submitted the highest number of entries!

Not a full moon, but half-moons toasting each other.
I take my hat off to this creativity!

As someone who has a strong attachment to scarves, the structure focusing on a parent and child, and then a partner, through a scarf was brilliant!!

4. Eguchi-san: You showed us a real "world of picture books"!

From Satoko Eguchi, who has experience publishing picture books, we were shown the real deal—something that truly is the world of picture books!

Personally, I also have a desire to try publishing a picture book, so I was very happy that you entered!

5. Tohou 128-san: Such a cool and smart response!

Tohou 128-san's work was what gave me the realization that I want to become a person who can do this much, and that I was completely failing at it! (laughs)

6. Sana-san: A work that taught me the importance of the feeling of wanting to cherish someone properly!

Um, this is very hard to say, but as someone who has displayed a scummy attitude of 'who cares about the order anyway,' I felt my heart being cleansed.

That said, of course, I intended to be serious about the other person regardless of the order, but because I truly like them, I want to cherish them and do things properly. It feels like it might be way too late, but I will take it to heart!

7. kura-san, who showed us a model of comedy style!

Comedy is a genre I usually think I can't write very well. You made me chuckle unintentionally.

I might get scolded from various directions for this, but as a personal opinion, I read this thinking that if mystery elements were added to a work like this, it would feel like an Isaka-world.

8. Packed with the emotional parts of 'high school boys': Hayajiki-san

This note was primarily triggered by wanting to write about Yuzu-san's article and this article by Hayajiki-san. I'm afraid of being misunderstood, but when I was first lent a BL manga, what I thought of was purity. No, why am I talking about BL? It's because Hayajiki-san is an author in that field, and I felt that taste very strongly.

Again, I apologize for my own pathetic story, but this feeling—I didn't have it at all as a high school student, but that earnest feeling is 'cute,' isn't it? When I thought, 'Ah, I've felt this kind of emotion somewhere before,' I remembered BL manga, and after seeing that Hayajiki-san's specialty is 'no ero, but plenty of heart-throbbing moments,' I was convinced all by myself.

I'm not trying to promote BL. It's just that this heart-throbbing component feels like a unique, pure kind of emotion that is different from that of men and women. Well, maybe it's just because my own heart-throbbing experiences were always impure, but in a way, I felt like I was shown many ways of thinking from 'well-rounded people,' not limited to Hayajiki-san's work.

9. A work that made me think, 'Yes, this is what tanka is all about!': Hitomi-san

Just the other day, I introduced 'First Tanka' and was thinking about studying the world of tanka, and I was shown a model by Hitomi-san, who already enjoys it!

Hitomi-san is also a membership member, and I was genuinely impressed by her expression within the worldview of tanka.

10. I did it too! A Challenge Letter to Santa by Hiiro-san

The determination to stay up all night and uncover Santa's true identity!! I understand that feeling; I did it too!!

And then, falling asleep before I knew it... that whole sequence is almost like a standard pattern, or something like that. It reminded me of the excitement and pure spirit of challenge I felt back then.

Hiiro-san is also a membership member and has helped select the Bliss Award!

I apologize for not being able to introduce every single entry, but if you have your own work or a piece you'd like to talk about, please feel free to post it! This note was put together after witnessing the passion Shibu-san had for their Monoka Kingdom entry, and because, regardless of awards, it's just a happy thing to share your thoughts on your own work!

I will be working on planning the next Lamp Cup, so please look forward to it!