Afterword: “CHOCO’s Illustrations”

Hi, It’s Yumizuru again! This time, I’d like to talk a little about the ABCs of writing a light novel.

When I only had to worry about my writing, I was free. I could work on things until I got them perfect. But when I got published, thinking about the art changed me. At first I worried, “Is it going to turn out like I imagined?” Depending on the artist’s capabilities, differences could appear—whether for the worse or for the better. But the artist’s visual concepts are also a powerful tool. The IS illustrator I’m working with now, CHOCO, is quite talented at coming up with amazing ideas in his illustrations. They’ve made major impacts on how I think of Akatsubaki, Byakushiki, and Blue Tears in particular.

Sometimes I wonder if this kind of reaction might be better suited to a pro wrestler than an author. That kind of interplay between talents. That “All right, we’re doing this live!” feeling. I guess not everyone gets hyped for that, but for what I’m writing it helps.

Just thinking about it is hyping me up. I don’t wanna get beaten out. But CHOCO’s amazing, so if I slack at all I’m done for. It’s hunt or be hunted—that kind of feeling. And I’ve got plenty up my sleeve. “Think you can draw this? Hahaha.” —type things. (I think.)

Anyway, what I really want to say is, “Share your fate with your illustrator! We can do it together, bro! Let’s be the best team there ever was! You’ve got my back!” or something.

CHOCO’s art really is beautiful. So I have to try my hardest to match it. Here goes!

— Izuru Yumizuru