Afterword

Thank you for continuing to read this series. This is the ninth volume, and since there was a volume 6.5, it’s the tenth book.

The previous volume focused on Kiyotaka’s training, so I couldn’t cover Aoi’s nineteenth birthday. I received a lot of questions asking if they were able to celebrate it properly, so this time I included a flashback. Also, since the series has gotten so long, it became difficult to fit each character’s individual drama into the usual episodic format. After deliberating, I decided to separate some of the scenes into very brief stories like last time. I hope you enjoyed the small conversation between Kiyotaka and Ensho, and the continuation of Kaori’s love life.

I wanted to use Hirakata Park as the setting this time, and when I asked Keihan Holdings for permission, they readily agreed and even accompanied me when I was collecting information. Thanks to that, I was able to get a behind-the-scenes look at the outdoor venue, solidifying my image of what it was like backstage.

Hirakata Park was a wonderful theme park full of soothing nostalgia, warmth, excitement, and playfulness. Thank you very much.

As usual, please allow me to use this space to express my thanks:

To Futabasha, EVERYSTAR, the proofreaders, the distributors, the bookstores, the cover designer, the illustrator Shizu Yamauchi, who drew yet another wonderful cover and frontispieces, and you for picking up this book.

I’m truly thankful for all of the connections surrounding me and this series.

Thank you all so much.

Mai Mochizuki