Afterword
There’s no way I could just leisurely enjoy daily life right after being kissed by a classmate!!!
This is Yuusaku Sakaishi. In the afterword for Volume 7, I mentioned wanting Volume 8 to be a relaxed daily life arc, but… yeah, that didn’t happen. Sorry about that.
It’s because of Izuki-kun… that guy’s just too serious, you know? For someone as honest as him, practically wearing sincerity like a second skin, it just didn’t feel right for him to brush off being kissed by a classmate and dive into enjoying everyday life.
It’s not just about Narika, but I think the heroines in Rich Girl Caretaker are generally all refined Ojou-sama types, so they’re pretty bad at romance. That’s probably why, in Volume 8, Izuki, having realized the heroine’s feelings, took the initiative to approach Narika’s true heart.
Watching Izuki’s way of life, I can’t help but think that earnestly wrestling with problems might just be a privilege of youth…
That said, I managed to squeeze in quite a few daily life scenes here and there. I had even more ideas I wanted to include, but due to structural constraints, I had to cut some of them.
While writing Volume 8, I realized these laid-back stories are pretty nice too. So, I’m keeping the unused ideas on the back burner, and I might bring them out again somewhere down the line.
…By the way, stories with this kind of chill, daily-life vibe are usually what I write for special bonus short stories. If anyone’s craving more of Rich Girl Caretaker’s everyday moments, I’d be thrilled if you checked out the bonus short stories as well.
In one I wrote recently, on a snowy winter day, Izuki and Shizune-san built igloos and ended up battling over which one Hinako liked better. …Those three really let loose when they’re off the clock. The Konohana estate is huge, after all… it’s like a playground!
By the way, Rich Girl Caretaker has now reached its eighth volume. Once again, thank you so much for reading this far.
It’s not exactly a milestone number, but with the Management Game arc wrapped up and Volume 8, meant to be a breather, now complete, I find myself feeling oddly sentimental at times.
I just checked, and Volume 1 was released on May 1, 2021. Exactly three years before Volume 8’s release.
In other words, middle schoolers have become high schoolers, and high schoolers have become college students.
If there are elementary schoolers reading Rich Girl Caretaker, they’re seriously advanced (that’s a compliment), but judging from SNS reactions, I’d guess most readers are probably middle schoolers or older.
That means most of you have likely gone through school advancement or started working, right?
Those who were college freshmen when Volume 1 came out, or maybe decided to take a gap year, might be in a different boat. I have a relative who says everything worked out perfectly because they took a gap year, so if there are any ronin students out there, keep pushing forward! I’m rooting for you.
Hold on, though… is it okay for ronin students to be reading light novels?
…Well, everyone needs a break, right? Plus, Rich Girl Caretaker is an educational light novel (debatable), so it’s totally fine to read this one! Go ahead and recommend it to your cram school friends too! You can learn stuff like how to place your knife and fork properly!
By the way, I’m writing this on April 1. It’s the start of the new fiscal year, the day new employees join the workforce, and SNS is buzzing like crazy. “Ugh, I don’t wanna work!” “I already want to quit my job!” …While listening to everyone’s grumbling, I’m elegantly sipping coffee at a café in the middle of a weekday afternoon. Being a full-time writer is the best~
To avoid those kinds of regrets when you enter the workforce, I hope all you students out there will do your best.
I used to think entrance exams only affected things like job prospects, but as an adult, I’ve realized their influence is surprisingly broad. Things like relationships, values…
It feels like there aren’t as many life-changing opportunities as you’d think. Entrance exams, job hunting, career changes, marriage. To make the most of these, let’s carefully build up our days one by one.
…This is probably something I should’ve said before exam season.
For new students or new employees, maybe this year you can just take it easy without overthinking the future. For those facing “the next turning point” like exams or job hunting, tackle those rare chances with everything you’ve got. Of course, I’ll be working hard alongside you all.
[Acknowledgments]
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone involved in the creation of this book. To my editor, I’m sorry for surprising you by turning what was supposed to be a daily life arc into a serious romance arc as well. To Sakura Miwabe-sensei, Yuri… Yuri is just unbelievably cute. Thank you for dressing up that hardworking girl in such gorgeous outfits.
And finally, to all the readers who picked up this book, my greatest thanks.
