As I write this afterword, the temperature is below freezing, and there is a lot of snow piled up on the ground. There was a ton of snowfall when I was headed to work today as well. That’s the kind of season when I’m writing this, but by the time this volume comes out, it will already be spring—April, to be precise—meaning there will be a lot of people starting a new phase in their lives.
For readers of this volume who are in such positions, I would like to wish you a happy start to your time at new schools and new workplaces. I send you my well wishes.
You are probably feeling both anticipation and anxiety about this new stage, but the beginning of something new always harbors such a mix of feelings. I hope that you can enjoy everything about it, conflicting emotions included.
If you encounter difficulties, don’t try to bear them alone; talk to someone, the sooner the better. I’m speaking from experience when I say that, like physical ailments, early detection is the best way to tackle emotional problems as well.
And if this book can be a source of enjoyment for you when you are in such situations, I couldn’t be happier.
Now—it’s been roughly five months since volume 10, which came out in December. I feel relieved to have been able to see the release of volume 11, the first volume for this series in the year 2025.
The relationship of our protagonists, which began by sheer chance, has now seen its first winter, and the seasons have finally come full circle. I hope that you were able to enjoy the progression of their story.
Spring is often used as a metaphor for the beginning of romance; winter, on the other hand, is often used to describe human relationships as they grow cold, evoking negative images.
Winter has its own pleasures, however, and there are also sceneries and animals that can only be seen in winter. The season is also full of fun events, including Christmas, which I wrote about in this volume.
I have to believe, therefore, that our couple will manage to find some event that will keep them warm as they continue to be their lovey-dovey selves, even if they are in the middle of a cold winter.
Spring, summer, fall, and winter are all nothing but romantic when it comes to our peaceful couple, and their relationship is going to continue without a hitch...seeing as how they’re going on a hot springs trip in the next volume.
Are these two going to be okay? Are they gonna end up doing something totally inappropriate? I am steadily writing volume 12, as the actions of the characters in my brain never cease to make me nervous.
The afterword to this volume is short due to various circumstances, so I want to make sure to get in my thanks to the people involved in its production.
Kagachisaku-sensei, thank you for the lovely Christmas illustrations in this volume. Seeing Nanami wearing various outfits brought me nothing but joy.
I was able to release this volume thanks to my editor, S-sama, the staff in charge of design and proofreading, the translator and editor teams of the overseas editions, and everyone else involved in the project.
Nagomi Kanna-sensei, thank you for depicting scenes that are unclear in the original novel with such detail in the comic adaptation. To speak the truth, the reappearance of Yuki-chan in this volume was influenced by your comic adaptation.
And finally, to the readers who have been reading this series since volume 1; the readers who started the series with this volume; and the readers who came to the novel via the comic adaptation... Thanks to your support, it seems we’ll be able to have another volume. Thank you so much. I look forward to your continued support.
Well, then—I shall see you in the next volume...in volume 12.
Yuishi, to Whom All the Recent College Grads Appear as Bright as Their Futures
2025 April