Because I have to go to the award ceremony with Kuniji Morikawa at noon,
Naoki Nagayama stayed at home this morning.
Naturally, I brought the suit over last night and it is hanging in the closet in the bedroom. I just need to change into it before going out.
Sure enough, when I passed the Aoyama store, the store was closed. It seemed that it would take next year to see the old man Aoyama and Chikako Aoyama again.
After finishing his breakfast slowly, he fell into the boredom of doing nothing.
Watching TV, reading magazines, listening to music, and admiring the scenery of the courtyard were all projects that could have taken half a day, but today it took only an hour.
Obviously sometimes you can spend a whole day just being in a daze, but when you are waiting for the next trip, you feel restless.
It's not because I'm nervous or excited, it's just because something is on my mind and I'm no longer calm.
Nagayama Naoki took a self-examination and realized that he still hasn’t mastered the art of meditation~
Since you can't meditate, then get moving. It just so happens that I haven't exercised in a long time!
After picking a record with a strong rhythm, Nagayama Naoki followed the music and started doing HIT exercises in his living room.
If a camera were used to record the construction process at this time, maybe Nagayama Naoki could become the "Yu Genghong boy" of the Showa era or something.
The short period of high-intensity exercise made Nagayama Naoki sweat profusely, but the dopamine secreted in his brain made it impossible for him to stop. This feeling of rapid breathing, accelerated heartbeat, and surging blood is indeed a bit like falling in love.
No wonder people say fitness is addictive.
An hour passed in a flash while exercising until I felt my whole body was sore. I drank the warm water I had prepared and rested for a while.
Naoki Nagayama went up to the second floor to take a shower.
When I was taking off my clothes, I looked narcissistically at the half-length mirror in the bathroom. Hey, six-pack abs!
...
After all the fuss, it was almost noon.
When Nagayama Naoki was leaning on the sofa and watching TV a little weakly,
Kuniji Morikawa called.
"Naoki-san, are you ready? I'm coming over."
"Hey, I'll just change into a suit."
"Okay, see you later."
"okey"
After changing into a suit, he became that elegant and handsome guy again. He still felt a little weak after exercising just now.
Nagayama Naoki waited for a while, and then the doorbell rang at the door. Sure enough, the elementary school building is very close to here~
"Naoki-san, I'm here to pick you up!"
"Hi, right away~"
Naoki Nagayama opened the door and saw Kuniji Morikawa in a formal suit. Not far from the door was the black Shogakukan bus, which actually had a driver.
"Naoki-san, you look so handsome!" Although he has been contacted many times, Kuniji Morikawa still praised him, "You were probably the youngest and most handsome person at the award ceremony!"
"Hahaha, stop joking, Bunji-san." Naoki Nagayama yelled, "Let's get in the car!"
"Hahaha, that's not a joke..."
The two of them got into the car while talking. The driver was an unsmiling uncle. He nodded to the two of them and started the car.
"Bangzhisang, where is the award ceremony?"
"It's also in Chiyoda District, but it's just across the Imperial Palace from us, in Hirakawa Town."
"They are all government agencies~"
"Yes, it is also very close to the entrance of the Imperial Palace. It should be considered the age of Queen Xiangchun."
"Eh? Is it Queen Xiangchun who came to present the award? She must be over 80 years old, right?"
"No, he's only 78 years old."
"It's also very impressive~ Elderly people may feel sleepy in the afternoon..."
"That's Queen Xiangchun!"
The two chatted for a while and soon arrived at their destination.
"Naoki-san, let's go get something to eat first. There will be a salon after the award ceremony, and there will be food then."
This kind of salon should be specially used for exchanges between big names in the literary world.
The two of them ordered a cup of coffee and snacks at a nearby cafe.
"Bang Zhisang, what is the so-called salon like?"
"It's probably just a few old men saying a few words, and then we'll chat each other. Usually, the winning works of the day will be judged. Anyway, it's very relaxing."
"That's it~"
...
The venue was arranged in a hotel, with a podium in front and seats below. It was actually not much different from later seminars, except that the podium in front had a "Japanese Children's Literature Award Ceremony" sign.
However, a golden screen was used to cover the wall to show solemnity, and a small table was specially left open in front of the venue for the royal family members.
At this time, there were gradually more people. Kuniji Morikawa took Naoki Nagayama to sit in the special area of the Shogakukan.
"Naoki-san, just wait and see how senior does it."
"Yeah," Nagayama Naoki answered easily.
After the award ceremony officially started, the royal family members officially attended. The very old Queen Xiangjun sat aside, while Crown Princess Michiko performed the royal duties and delivered a speech.
Crown Princess Michiko, who is nearly fifty years old, wears solemn makeup, and her interaction with Queen Xiangshun is harmonious. On the surface, there is no conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
The very official attitude of the speech not only shows the importance that the royal family attaches to children's literature, but also shows the encouragement to the winners, and also expresses the expectation that they will show off their talents in the field of children's literature in the future. You can tell from the first listen that they are experienced people.
Written by an experienced hand.
After the Crown Princess sat down, the host finally started today's focus, awarding awards.
"First of all, let us congratulate Naoki Nagayama, the author of "The Summer Garden", for winning the Japan Newcomer Award for Children's Literature! Congratulations!" These words came from the host's mouth.
Nagayama Naoki was stunned, why was he the first?
He quickly asked Morikawa Kunji next to him: "Why are you the first? Kunji-san, what should we do?"
Kuniji Morikawa was also a little caught off guard. He didn't know why he was ranked first: "Naoki-san, go up and receive the award, and then bow to the Crown Princess in thanks!"
At this time, the host was still introducing: "The writing style of "Summer Garden" is fresh, the plot is touching, and the beauty generated by the trust between the protagonists allows everyone who reads it to realize the meaning of growth in the book.
This is a rare masterpiece, let us congratulate the author!"
Naoki Nagayama had no choice but to straighten his clothes and stand up.
There were whispers from the crowd at the venue, "Such a young author?" "Of course the Newcomer Award must be young~" "I thought it was written by a female writer~" "So handsome?" "You guy?
Shut up your saliva..."
With the attention of the audience, Naoki Nagayama walked next to the host and waited for his command.
The host saw Naoki Nagayama's stiff movements and made a joke: "I didn't expect Mr. Naoki to be so young and so handsome!"
Nagayama Naoki could only smile reluctantly. What should I do now? Why am I on the stage?
Ah, I have to receive the award...
Fortunately, the host finally remembered his duty and said, "I would like to invite Mr. Furuta Ashikabi to present the award!"
Ashikabi Furuta is a kind-hearted man in his 50s. He is a well-known children's literature writer and critic in Japan. What's more coincidental is that he has also won the Newcomer Award for Children's Literature before.
"Mr. Naoki, congratulations!" Ashikabi Furuta awarded the medal to Naoki Nagayama, "You wrote "Summer Garden" very well!"
"Thank you!"
Nagayama Naoki bowed after receiving the medal,
Then he walked to the Crown Princess’s ‘throne’ and bowed~
I finally returned to the Shogakukan area in a relaxed mood.
Fortunately, I didn't ask for any acceptance speech or anything like that...
