I know the Volume 10 afterword isn’t the greatest place for it, but I hope you don’t mind if I take a moment to talk about my writing process for Volume 9.
Recently, I’ve been posting some one-page Spy Classroom comics I’ve made on Twitter.
Some people have wondered if this means I’m trying to become a mangaka or if it’s the hot new scheme that light novel authors are using to drive social media engagement, but the honest truth of it is, I’m literally just doing it for fun. My big hobby used to be writing novels, but now that that’s become my job, it isn’t relaxing the way it was for so much of my life. Drawing manga is what I found to replace it. It all started when I was retweeting Spy Classroom fan art and my competitive spirit flared up. I want to make Spy Classroom fan art, too! I thought. (Though in my case, I don’t know if it really counts as “fan” art.) Maybe it uses a different part of my brain, but I found that I can still draw manga even when I’m completely worn out from writing. My art’s still pretty garbage, but I hope you’ll bear with me and give me time to improve.
Anyhow, while I was working on Volume 9, there was something I noticed when I drew manga to wind down.
“…Dang, when I put Annette and Erna together, it’s like the scenes just write themselves.”
I wonder what it is about those two? There are loads of characters I enjoy pairing together, but when I’m trying to think of something to fill a single page with, there isn’t a single duo as easy to work with as them. It made me aware of their potential all over again. Even just having Erna screech “Yeep! Yeep!” is adorable.
That was how the tenth volume came together. And with the two of them working hard, a certain someone had to pull out all the stops—because Sara is their author-approved guardian, and this was her book. Wasn’t it moving, seeing the three of them all fighting together?
At this point, I have some people I’d like to thank. Tomari, let me echo my thoughts from the previous volume and thank you for accepting my absurd request to change how every major character looks. I look forward to every new design you complete. I’d also like to express my gratitude to the anime staff for all the positive motivation you give me. Everything from the animation to the voice acting to the music to the merch provides so much inspiration for my writing. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Also, another thank-you to all my followers who retweet my amateur manga posts and leave kind comments. I’m determined to improve even more so I can give you all something to enjoy between novel releases. Don’t worry, I promise not to get so carried away that it starts impacting my work.
As for the anime, it should be covering the Volume 3 content when this comes out. I’ll have to bring my A game so the novels don’t get overshadowed.
Next up will be Volume 11. I’m hoping to get it out pretty quickly, to ride the momentum from the anime. The team’s older members have all grown up, and more and more of them just might start showing up. Until then, that’s all from me.
Takemachi