Title: 〆切前には百合が捗る | L29
Book type: light novel
Content warnings: Age gap, internalized homophobia. Leads are 16 & 22 at the start, and 17 & 23 at the end. Spoiler for the end: they do start dating at the end, and there is a skipped over/implied sex scene.
Summary JP
第1巻の内容紹介: 美人小説家と家出少女の日常系百合ラブコメディ、開幕！ 「〆切直前に遊ぶゲームって、なんでこんなに楽しいのかしら……」 家出少女の白川愛結は、従姉妹の白川京の紹介で、人気作家、海老ヒカリの世話係＆監視役のバイトをすることになる。 原稿をサボってゲームをしたり釣りや旅行に出かけるヒカリに翻弄されながらも、そんな日常に幸せを感じる愛結。 一方ヒカリも、突然始まった愛結との同居生活の中で、これまで感じたことのない気持ちが芽生えるのだった。 社会から排斥された少女と、容姿才能家柄すべてに恵まれながらも自堕落に生きる小説家、二人の関係の行き着く先は……？ “普通”に生きにくいすべての人に贈る、珠玉の日常系ガールズラブコメディ、誕生。
Summary EN (deepl)
Volume 1: Introduction: A beautiful novelist and a runaway girl in a runaway house A beautiful novelist and a runaway girl’s daily yuri love comedy begins! Why is it so much fun to play games right before the deadline? … Aiyu Shirakawa, a runaway girl, is introduced by her cousin Miyako Shirakawa to a popular novelist, Hikari Ebi, and ends up working part-time as a caretaker and observer. Aiyu feels happy in her daily life, although she is at the mercy of Hikari, who skips writing and instead plays games, goes fishing, and goes on trips. Meanwhile, Hikari also begins to feel something she has never felt before in her life together with Aiyu. A girl ostracized by society and a novelist blessed with good looks and a good family background, but living a life of self-indulgence, where will their relationship lead them …? This is a gem of an everyday girls’ romantic comedy for all those who have difficulty living a “normal” life.
Reason(s) for nominating: Plot and characters are cute, fairly wholesome, and original. There isn’t cheap, ecchi rom-com style humor. Writing style feels easier than other LNs around this level. It strikes a good balance between fun and comprehensible, while not feeling shallow. The dynamic between the 3 characters is enjoyable so far (Miyako seems like a good cousin, and as Hikari’s editor, she’s often in 鬼 mode). It’s the first age gap story I’ve encountered that doesn’t have some additional weird vibes/dynamic attached to it, which I was grateful for. I’m apparently in a light novels mood rn.
