It’s been a long time. This is Yuki Yaku.
It’s been a year since Volume 9, which went on sale right in the middle of the anime broadcast. I feel bad that I made you wait a year after that ending of all things, but well, um, I’m feeling quite keenly that the ending of this volume will also be guilty of the same crimes. I also feel like the time has passed in a flash since the excitement of the anime, but it’s also like, has it still only been a year?
But now you all have Volume 10 here in your hands, which means that finally, I can deliver this news to you.
The production of a new Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki anime has been decided!
You may be wondering—what is this new anime? What exactly does that mean? I still can’t say. What I can tell you is not to worry, and please look forward to it. The series has grown thanks to your support, and Omiya is the new capital. Think of it as that kind of content. I’d be glad if you could continue to support it.
Now then, speaking of the anime, I’m reminded of something that happened. I think you all know about how during the Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki broadcast, Fly-san would post illustrations on Twitter during the show every week. Well, when the first episode was airing, me, my editor, Iwaasa-san; and Fly-san were having an anime watch party in real time.
It was like a festival, and we had a very fun time, but Fly-san sneakily posted a commemorative illustration right in front of us without saying anything.
I noticed when Iwaasa-san was like, “Fly-san…!” I really remember finding it, too, and getting worked up about it as Fly-san was right there in front of me, calmly smiling.
I was very moved by the cool and characteristic way Fly-san does things, Hinami’s bright smile on the post, and Fly-san’s thoughtfulness.
That is surely something I can’t give enough thanks for—that’s why this time, there’s something I really must tell you all about.
That is the “clothing narrative” of the illustration on the frontispiece of this book.
I suspect people will start saying things like Don’t start with the emotional story, Don’t put things off just because there’s space in the afterword, and Apologize to Fly-san, but this is the afterword, so please let me do what I want. And I will apologize to Fly-san.
Now then, about the USJ color image in this book, the truth is when I requested it, I said that it was “in front of the big globe at USJ, with the boys in regular clothing and the girls in their uniforms taking a photo,” but the truth is, I left the details to Fly-san.
For example, there’s how Mimimi and Tama-chan are wearing the same hats, or that only Hinami is wearing the protagonist’s hat. And Kikuchi-san, who seems like she would stick out in a scene like this where others are matching, is wearing the same headband as Yuzu. And with the boys, who are wearing their regular clothes, only Takei is in his school uniform.
Those sorts of things originated with Fly-san, not me or Iwaasa-san.
And of course, if you have those ideas, that creates a story.
For example, Kikuchi-san wearing the same headband as Yuzu might be because Yuzu was worried that Kikuchi-san would stick out from the others, and so she bought her the same one.
Takei might have heard about the girls decision to do USJ-niforms. Or maybe he told all the guys, “Let’s go in our uniforms!” but then he was ignored.
From the moment in the time of the illustration, it expresses that the past, the future, this world exists. That’s exactly what gives Fly-san’s art such depth.
It communicates with just a bit of clothing or change of facial expression the unfolding story behind the picture.
In other words—you show the interior story with only illustrations and a few words.
That is one of the many charms of Fly-san’s illustrations, and it’s also one of the endless list of reasons that I continue to be Fly-san’s fan.
Now then, what I would like you to remember is the story that I spoke about at the beginning, about our watch party for the first episode of the anime.
Despite how Fly-san was properly preparing an illustration, we didn’t say anything. We were just sneakily retweeting that illustration right in front of one another.
“You show the interior story with only illustrations and use few words.”
This is what makes Fly-san’s illustrations so wonderful, and it also expresses Fly-san’s modesty as an illustrator. I think I could say something like that just from the illustrations and that event that happened in my life.
I would be happy if I could communicate even just some of these feelings.
Well then, the acknowledgments.
The illustrator, Fly-san: I was asked to do the afterword in a doujinshi that was distributed at Comiket, and I wound up sending in two such dubious documents in a short period of time. I’ve been worried sick thinking I might be sued. In the case of a private settlement, please go easy on me. I’m a fan.
To my editor, Iwaasa-san: It’s become too much of a custom for me to spend the end of the year cooped up at Shogakukan. I’ve come to wonder if Shogakukan is a shrine. I will come to worship again soon.
And to all my readers: Just when you think the anime broadcast has ended, a new anime is announced. I think that we’ll be seeing plenty more fun things, so I would be glad if you would continue to push onward with me. Thank you very much for your continued support.
Well then, I would be glad if you would join me for the next book as well.
✦ ✦ ✦
Yuki Yaku