Afterword

Hello, this is Shirai Muku. I’m truly honored to have the chance to write the afterword for Volume 2.

Regarding the changes since the release of Volume 1, I think the biggest shift has been in my own mindset rather than in my surroundings.

Supported by the wonderful feedback and fan letters from so many readers, and inspired by the encouraging voices of everyone cheering me on, I’ve been able to keep writing with a heart full of gratitude. With renewed determination, I tackled the writing of Volume 2, and I’m committed to continuing to give my all moving forward.

Now, this time, I focused on the school festival, specifically the theme of theater, to depict the changes in Ryouta and Akira.

It might have been a surprising development, but somehow, the intensely shy Akira ends up taking on the lead role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Naturally, Ryouta, who cares deeply for Akira, hesitates but ultimately resolves to support her.

Thanks to Ryouta, Akira gradually starts to change, but Ryouta himself also evolves through his interactions with Akira and those around them. Alongside familiar faces from Volume 1 like the Ueda siblings, the Majima couple, and Himeno Takeru, new characters such as Nishiyama Kazusa and Ito Amane from the drama club join the story, influencing the dynamic between the two.

The distance between Ryouta and Akira, which had already closed quite a bit in Volume 1, remains tantalizingly parallel. As siblings—or perhaps as something just short of lovers—there’s a line between them they both want to cross but can’t quite manage. Through the Kanon Festival, bit by bit, yet steadily, they begin to close the emotional gap between their hearts.

Frustratingly, awkwardly, yet gently, sweetly, and preciously—I wrote their slow growth with a parental mix of excitement and nervousness. Ryouta and Akira have completely slipped out of my hands as the author, and now they’re walking their own path together. I hope you, dear readers, will warmly watch over their journey toward becoming lovers in the future.

This time, I also touched on the past and relationship of the Ueda siblings. You’ll learn a little more about them, like how Kousei was a former child actor and Hinata was part of the drama club in middle school—details that weren’t fully explored in Volume 1.

But what was the trigger that brought Ryouta and the Ueda siblings together? And what lies ahead for the two sets of siblings—the adoptive siblings Ryouta and Akira, and the biological siblings Hinata and Kousei?

I’m eager to write about these things, so I humbly ask for your continued support for this series moving forward.

Now, a word of thanks.

Thanks to the support and cooperation of so many people, I was able to publish Volume 2.

To my editor, Takebayashi-sama, I’m always causing you trouble and feel deeply apologetic, but your warm support fills me with gratitude. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at the Fantasia Bunko editorial department, as well as those in the publishing industry and bookstores, for your tireless efforts. I sincerely hope for your continued support in the future.

To the illustrator, Chigusa Minori-sensei, thank you once again for the beautiful illustrations. This volume featured a variety of situations and costumes, which must have been a huge burden, but you provided stunning artwork regardless, and I’m filled with nothing but gratitude. I’m also deeply thankful to Hisaho-sensei, who handled the YouTube manga, as well as the illustrators who contributed cheering illustrations and the authors who kindly permitted collaborative illustrations.

To the production staff who prepared the PV and to Uchida Maaya-sama, who voiced the boyish Akira, I offer my deepest thanks.

To Yuuki Kanon-sama, thank you for your kind support once again. I’m truly delighted and hope we can continue creating wonderful things together.

And to my family, who have always supported me, thank you so much. I’ll keep giving my all for you.

Finally, to all the readers who support this work and this series, I offer my heartfelt gratitude. I also wish happiness to everyone involved with this project. With that, I’ll conclude my brief words of thanks.

From Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, with love.

Shirai Muku