Afterword
THANK YOU SO MUCH for purchasing this book. My name is Umehara, and I’m the one in charge of writing this afterword.
What did you think? This volume brings a close to this series, Vivy Prototype. Did you watch over Vivy on her one-hundred-year journey, a different one from the anime?
Actually, at the time I’m writing this afterword, the final episode of the anime has already been broadcast. We’ve received so, so many comments on it from the viewers. Among them were comments from people who had already taken a look at Vivy Prototype, saying they’re on pins and needles about what’s the same and what’s different. We wrote this series exactly for that sort of enjoyment, so I’m incredibly grateful and glad that people are having fun with it.
Now then, some of you may have been able to tell from the text, but Nagatsuki-san was in charge of writing this volume.
One section I personally really enjoyed was the depiction of Vivy’s last song, where the scene unfolded interspersed with the words, “Don’t forget.” The light novels are the light novels, and the anime is the anime—each has its own story. But when I got to read this part again, I remembered all the descriptions in the books along with the images of the anime, and my emotions all swirled together. Nagatsuki-san is good at writing scenes that draw out those sorts of emotions. Which parts of the book pulled at your heartstrings?
I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I’d like to tell you again who wrote what. The overall plot was created by both Nagatsuki-san and myself, Umehara. The first volume was Nagatsuki-san. Second volume was me. The third volume was Nagatsuki-san up to the end of the Ophelia arc, while I did the part about Vivy writing the song as well as Tao’s arc. The fourth volume was written by Nagatsuki-san.
So, that’s how it went.
Nagatsuki-san also helped with the afterword for the third volume, but the only truly jointly written volume was the third. Despite that, we managed to make it here, and I’m relieved that we did. Only you readers can decide whether I successfully filled my role as Nagatsuki-san’s partner, but I do hope that all the various arcs touched your hearts.
Now I would like to express our thanks.
First, I want to thank all the animation staff, starting with director Ezaki Shinpei-san, as well as Wada-san and Ootani-san of Wit Studio, plus Takahashi-san and the others from Aniplex. This book wouldn’t have made it to the readers without your help. There’s no way I can get all the names of everyone who had a hand in making this work, but I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Readers, please keep an eye on the credits in the anime. There’s the line artists, the voice actors, the colorists, the background artists, the 3D artists, and production staff. Every person in every department worked themselves to the bone for this.
Loundraw-san, the illustrator, thank you for giving us images all the way to the end that take my breath away. It was the same with the character designs for the anime, but you absolutely took that first step with us for this work.
To our editor, Satou-san, thank you for intentionally holding back work on the anime script and visuals until the book series concluded to keep us from getting our ideas mixed up. I still haven’t forgotten when you screamed, “Saeki dies?!” Thank you for all the adjustments you made and for laying out a plan.
And to my fellow writer, Nagatsuki-san, well…what is there to say? Other than good job! I don’t think I could have made it to the finish line if you weren’t the one working with me. Honestly, thank you. There’s still a lot of Vivy-related stuff for us to do, like interviews and whatnot, so I look forward to working with you more.
And last but not least, the biggest thanks of all goes to you readers.
I mentioned it in the start of the afterword, but this is the final installment of Vivy Prototype. The anime is also done, but all the episodes will be recorded onto Blu-ray and DVD for sale. That’ll include answers to the questions you viewers sent us through the internet, as well as commentary from the actors and staff, so please check it out if you want to dive even deeper into the world of Vivy.
I get no greater joy than knowing all of you enjoyed this story in some way or another.
Thank you.
Eiji Umehara