Chapter 16: Chapter 15:Praise and Criticism

I woke up in the morning,put my earphones and phone on the cabinet and checked the clock.It was already eight-o'clock in the morning.No matter how fast I prepare myself,I will be surely late in the school.

I ate my breakfast,took a bath,wore my uniform and watch,prepared my stuffs and left the apartment,without rushing anything.

Upon arriving at the school,I took this opportunity to look at Mishitsu-san's art.So I used a different stairs where it was placed.But when I arrived at the destination,I couldn't believe what I saw.

Mishitsu-san was standing there,starring to her own work.But what suprised me is the fact that she was also late,like me.

When she took a glance on me,she opened her eyes a bit and immediately look away.Then she suddenly left the scene,passing me by.

I went to where she was standing earlier and looked at the painting.As expected,it was done magnificently.Specifically,she was using a different artstyle,adapted and honed it to herself.

A work of a genius is really something else.

"She really hate me now,isn't?."

She probably went to the restroom just to avoid me.But that was actually a good decision to choose.If we enter the classroom together,some of my classmate might think we went to the school together.Few might even think that we did something together yesterday that we came to school late.That wss not impossible to happen.

Afterall,aside from the coincidence,rumors are also a frightening thing.

Anyways,Mishitsu-san probably also have the same idea.And she probably want me to enter the classroom first.So I left the place and did that.

Upon entering the classroom,of course,I apologized to the teacher,I mean to Oda-sensei and immediately went to my table.And after some minutes,Mishitsu-san also arrived.She also apologized to the teacher and went to her table.

The only difference is that unlike me,most of the people inside the classroom was surprised.It was already expected because this was the first time that she got late since the school year starts.

On the other hand,few people started glancing at me,including Izumi.He smirked a little and raised his brow.A look that is saying "Let's talk about it,my friend."

Anyways,the class continues.After some time,the morning class ended and it's now time for the lunch break.As usual,I went to the canteen and bought my meal.

After finding and sitting on a vacant table,I started eating.Then as expected,Izumi came to my place and laid his lunch in the table.

"Good afternoon,Satoru." he said in a mocking tone.

"I know what you want,Izumi."

"Ho?.Then let me get straight to the point,my friend.Tell me again a good story."

"There is no story to tell.What are you taking about?." 

"Eh?.I thought you already understand what I'm saying."

"What I mean is about my work.Did you already finished reading it?."

I tried to dodge the question by bringing up the topic about the story he read.And it seems like it was effective.

"Ah.About that...."

He first scoop two to three rice with meat from the bowl,chew and gulped it then continue.

"I already finished it yesterday."

"How about it?."

"It was a very good book."

"I'm glad to hear that but I need a more detailed opinion.A full review."

"I know,I know.But before I do that,let me confirm something."

"Hmmm?."

"Can I be honest here about your work?."

"Of course.I wouldn't care if you just criticized my story."

Well that was just a normal thing to happen if someone is giving their review in a work you done.You will receive compliments and praises.But at the same,you will also receive criticism and hate.

But there are few people out there who are so perfect that they didn't received any criticism to their works.

Just like the talented artist named Haruka Mishitsu.

"Before going to my detailed review,let's finish eating our meals."

"You're right."

We continue on eating.After finishing the business,Izumi immediately started the conversation.

"First of all,what do you want to hear first?.The good thing or the bad thing?."

"The good thing,Izumi."

As expected,there are things that he didn't like from my story.

"Okay." he continue. "About the mystery,or should I say,the murder case,it was quite interesting.When I read that scene,I immediately think 'Is it possible for the culprit to do the crime?.' something along those lines."

"Well,it was a locked room mystery afterall."

"Is that what they called for that kind of murder case?.Anyways,aside from that,you also gave all the possible culprit a solid alibi.And a motive,which makes things more confusing."

"Well that was normal thing to do in a whodunit."

"Whodunit?."

"A type of murder mystery where the identity murderer or the culprit is not revealed until the very end."

"Ho?.Is that so?.Not only it was a locked room mystery but also it was a whodunit.Anyways,now that you said it,I'm actually surprised about the revelation of the murderer.From the start of the story,or should I say,when the murder happen,I always suspect the wife.She has the greatest motive.She also have a way to do the crime despite of having an alibi.But it turns out it was the outsider who visited the house."

"Well that outsider actually have a stronger connection to the victim than the most people inside the house.But of course,all of that was only revealed at the last chapter."

"So this is what it feels like to read a novel huh.."

"Did you enjoy it?.Mystery novels I mean?."

"Yeah my friend.You did a good job.You really mastered this kind of genre isn't?."

"I have so many inspirations,you see."

"But let's talk about now the bad things.I hate to say it but-" He hesitated first,but eventually finished his statement. "this are the reasons why I think you didn't win a single writing competition."

"Go ahead.I want to hear them."

"Well to start it off,the way how the murderer killed the victim.To be honest,even though it's a little bit complicated,I liked it.You really explained it very well.But the problem is that not all people will have the same opinion as me when they read this work right?.Especially when you are submitting it in a competition,which we all know have a larger audience."

You are reading story Farewell,My Artist at novel35.com

"I'm agreed with you."

"Also,I don't really know the mechanics and rules in writing a mystery novel but is it really necessary to explained that whole murder trick in eighty pages?."

"I see.So you're telling me that it would be better if I make them short?."

"That's right.Short but still detailed.I mean,not all people will read those huge number of pages just for the trick itself right?."

"I see."

It's like saying that the authors of other genres could insert two to three different scene in those eighty pages.But in my case,I only spend those number of pages in just the trick itself.

"But I'm not to judge since I'm not writer.What's more,this was the first time I read one of your works.Maybe you did different to your other stories."

"Ah don't worry about it.In fact,this was always my pattern in my other works."

"Is that so?."

Specifically,it was become a habit of mine to dedicate the first half of the story for the introduction,murder and investigation.And the second half for the culpirt/murder trick revelation and the resolution part.

"Anyways,another thing is your use of language.My friend,there are some words there that was so deep.There are even some which I think we haven't use anymore in our vocabulary."

"Well that's because I was heavily influenced by the classic books."

"So that's why huh.Well I'm not saying it's really a bad thing but if the one who read you work is someone who is weak in English vocabulary,then they might immediately drop it."

"Well,I could't blame if that happens."

Maybe I should used light words next time.That is of course,if I will write again a new story.

"Lastly,well it is not really something I didn't like from your novel.It's actually more like an advice..." he paused a bit then continue "but I think you should blend this murder mystery story to other genres.I think that would make your story more interesting."

"I already did that with my other works,blending them with supernatural and science-fiction genre.But I still didn't win."

"I see.But let me ask,what genres are the trend right now?."

"Hmmmm." I think for a bit and continue "Romance and isekai/fantasy genre I guess."

"Did you already blend your stories to those genres?."

"No.Not at once."

"Then my suggestion is blend your next murder mystery story to those genres.Of curse,its up to you whether what genre you  want.You can also choose both if you want."

I'm actually been thinking about that for a long time.Basically,what he mean is that if I tried to blend my stories to those popular genres,my chances of my work to be notice and win in a competition might go up.

But I also rejected that idea a long time ago.I wanted to win in a competition by only relying on what I learned from reading mystery works.That's why I honed this field of genre in the past two years.

"I will think about it."

At the end,I just gave him a vague answer.A half truth and a half lie answer.

Then I silence fell between us.Since it seems like we already finished our topic,maybe it's now time to go back to the classroom.

"Let's go back to-"

"Okay,Satoru.Now that I finished giving you my full review to your story,let's go back to the real business."

Or so I thought.

I came to believe that he already forgot about the real reason why he came to me this lunch break.But this man's curiosity is really greater than the others.

I looked at my watch.We still have fifteen minutes to spare.At first,my plan is to just ignore him but I realized that was a bad thing to do.He was my friend.And after all of the good stuffs he did to me,there's no reason to not answer his curiosity.

"What do you want?." I asked

"Let me tell you the details.You and suprisingly,Mishitsu-san attend school late.And when I looked at Mishitsu-san face,she is somehow look worried.Then you said yesterday that you might to go home together more often since you asked her to do a cover photo of your next story.That means you go to her house that day.It only means one thing my friend.One thing."

Even though his explanation is quite incomprehensible,I still get what he want me to say.But then again,this man observation and analyzation is really scary at this times.

"Are you perhaps planning to become a detective,Izumi?."

"Detective?.No,no.of course not.Didn't I already told you I want to become a plice officer?."

"Trying to follow your father's path?."

"Something like that."

So basically his father is a member of police department.And his father is not just a normal police.He has actually have a high position there,having a deputy police chef rank in the name.

Izumi already said to me I long time ago.He even said sometimes that he want to become someone other than that,like being a lawyer and businessman.Although at the end,he sticked to become a police officer.

But if you will think about it,detectives and police officers have one obvious similarity.

Both people are dealing murder cases.

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