Afterword

Umm...

Sorry for the long wait, as always. This is the second and final part of Ending Day by Day. I’m sure you’re all going to shout at me that you’ve forgotten part one by now. I’m sorry.

I took a very different approach this time around. We’re always having hijackings and seajackings, with things ending up similar to the Die Hard or Under Siege series. This time, the climax is more in the style of a traditional super robot anime; strong, mighty, unbeatable. Sometimes a hero needs to settle things in a snap.

At first, I tried to figure out a serendipitous reason why Sousuke would be “permitted” to go back to his earlier life. But no matter how skillfully I tried to write the situation, I couldn’t figure out a realistic circumstance in which the organization would want him to continue with that absurd setup. When I got down to it, there was only one way to wrap it up in a way that felt natural.

The decision might seem obvious, but I guess it’s one of those blind spots you have. The idea is that if you want to make life go your way, it’s easier to control yourself than the environment—it’s obvious, but I think many people, including me, forget about it. Even if you remember, the harshness of your environment can make you forget it again immediately. It’s a tough problem. Those kinds of minute changes can throw things off the rails, and make laughingstocks out of people trying to be very serious.

The writing of Ending Day By Day involved re-examining the sense of wrongness that I’ve felt for a while towards Sagara Sousuke and the Arbalest. It wasn’t a high mountain to climb, but it was a treacherous one, but thanks to all my efforts I feel like he’s finally become the story’s protagonist in a real sense. And the Arbalest finally—finally, has become a real protagonist machine. Just like Sousuke, until now I didn’t feel much love for the Arbalest, but now I’m starting to feel like it might just be worth keeping around. It might not be able to stand toe-to-toe with the protagonist robots of some of my predecessors, but I hope it at least has a comparable kind of charm.

That’s why I feel like these two parts are a story about Sousuke and the Arbalest—or a story about Sousuke himself. Up until now, if you asked Sousuke, “what are you doing at that school?” he would have replied, “My mission.” But starting now, his response would be, “That’s my business, not yours.” On top of that, he’ll be able to deal better with the situations and problems he’ll face from now on.

But... how to put it? A protagonist who can’t get into action without a scolding from his girlfriend... it’s a little pathetic, really. But maybe that’s just what life is like when you’re young. He can’t quite be Golgo 13. Besides, it’s only natural he can’t go toe-to-toe with Kaname. “Women are strong and beautiful”—I’ve thought that for a long time. Even when I look at the Amazons I work with now... ah, whoops.

Three pages to go, I guess. While I was writing the story, I had all these ideas for what I’d put in the afterword, but now that I’m finished, I feel like none of it matters. I’ll report on what’s going on in my life, I guess. Although... I feel like things have been pretty routine, with no major events. No point in writing about trivialities. I guess I could talk about the Valkyrie plamodel I got from Hasegawa, but that would just be twenty pages of fanboying.

Speaking of which, I actually went to Hong Kong for research. By myself. I just wandered around. I was going to do more with the setting in this story, but I ended up having to cut a lot of descriptions and vignettes to suit the rhythm of the plot. Such a shame. Though of course, I always end up scrapping a lot of scenes. If I have a chance, I might try to revisit Hong Kong.

I guess I’ll take a little time for some private messages.

Tomohiro Nagai, thank you for sending me those books. I’m sorry I didn’t write back. I’ve been reading every month and laughing my head off.

Retsu Tateo, thank you for the chocolate. Since we’re neighbors, anyway, let’s go out for a meal again some time. I can’t wait to hear all the latest developments.

Ichiro Sakaki, thank you for the New Year’s card. I’m sorry I didn’t write back.

Toshihiko Tsukiji, it’s been such a long time. Are your eyes all right? Let’s have a nice drink soon.

Giguru Akiguchi, when you get to Tokyo, tell me.

And Shikidouji, congratulations. I’m sorry to run you so ragged in your new life. I hope you’ll continue to work with me.

I’ve caused a lot of trouble for a lot of people in this volume, too. To Shikidouji, my editor S-san, and various other people involved, I’m sorry about everything, as always. Thank you so much.

Now, then. This was a pretty heavy, frustrating story, so I think our next novel will be a bit lighter and happier. If you’re worried that FMP! is headed in a serious direction, rest easy.

See you next time for another round of Sousuke in hell.