Baccano! - Volume 20 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

Hello, this is Narita.

Since this volume is a bit of a special case, I’ll talk about that first.

Like 1932 Summer, this book is a revised, expanded version of a bonus from the Baccano! anime DVDs.

Just like last time, I imagine some people are thinking, After I spent all that money to collect the DVDs! If this is you, I’m really sorry.

As I wrote in the afterword for 1932 Summer, my personal opinion is that turning short stories that ran in Dengeki Bunko MAGAZINE or novels I wrote as DVD bonuses into regular books is the same thing as when a movie is shown in theaters, sold as DVDs and Blu-rays, and then broadcast uncut on TV. Either that, or these are different, “director’s cut” versions.

Why am I releasing this one as a regular book now? Those of you who are in the middle of the 1935 arc probably know already, but a certain character who appeared in this volume is scheduled to turn up as a major character in 1935-C, the third volume in that series. I thought it would be more natural to release this story as a book, rather than rearrange the content and rewrite it.

That said, it’s already been five years since I wrote this story. When I went back and read it, quite a bit of it was embarrassing; however, except for adding the “Digression” sections, I used almost all of it just as it was.

There’s a strong comedic tone to this one, and it’s a bit different from the usual Baccano! books. Still, I hope you’ll see that this world does have an easygoing side and have fun with it.

I also hope you’ll look forward to the continuation of the 1935 arc, in which the characters you encountered in this laid-back setting will be dropped into a much harsher one.

That’s probably enough explanation and advertising, so I’ll segue to talking about what I’ve been up to recently.

I ate like a pig and drank like a fish over New Year’s and have been paying for it in the form of aggravated gastritis and reflux esophagitis, but I’m on the mend. However, I’ve got one of those awkward personalities that goes, Am I healed up yet? Okay, let’s find out: I’ll pig out today, and if nothing happens, I’m fully healed! So I pig out, and as a result, I end up with gastritis and reflux esophagitis from eating and drinking too much. I’m starting to think it’s less that I’m “awkward” and more that I’m dumb, but, well, facing that reality won’t fill me up.

When I told a friend, “It’s so weird. When I was in school, I could eat almost twice this much and still be fine,” the friend said, “You hole up at home and do nothing but write books, you’re past thirty, and you’re totally out of shape. What made you think you could eat the same amount of food as you did when you had a two-hour commute to school, one way?”

Aging.

That phrase, past thirty, keeps echoing in my head.

Come to think of it, the debut work that came out right as I was graduating from college was Baccano! It’s already been a decade since then. It’s only natural that I don’t heal as quickly anymore and that I get out of breath from climbing the stairs…I mean, setting aside the view that I just don’t get enough exercise.

That reminds me…

My tenth anniversary.

Yes, a month before this book came out, on February 10, I celebrated a full ten years as a professional writer!

Back when I debuted, I worried whether I’d still be able to keep myself properly fed by working as a writer ten years down the road. Now those days are a fond memory… And here I am, ten years later— Wait! Thanks to that reflux esophagitis, I guess I’m not eating properly!

I didn’t anticipate that my own aging—or rather, my lifestyle habits—would defeat my dream, but luckily, I’m still making a living as a writer.

This is all thanks to the members of the editorial department, and to everyone who buys my books!

Really, thank you so much!

At the point in time when I’m writing this afterword, nothing’s been officially announced, but I’m writing various new books for Dengeki Bunko and other companies. The continuations of 1935, DRRR!!, and my other series are on the schedule as well, of course, so please give me your continued support!

I’ll keep doing my best so that I’ll be able to work as a writer for another twenty or thirty years.

I hope you’ll be patient and stick with me!

*The regular thank-yous start here.

To my supervising editor, Wada (Papio), the rest of the Dengeki Bunko editorial department, and the copy editors. To the designers, who make my books look sharp. To everyone in the publicity, production management, and marketing departments.

To the people who are constantly taking care of me: my family and friends, and other writers and illustrators.

To the staff of the Baccano! anime, who gave me the opportunity to create this novel.

To Katsumi Enami, who gave a bonus novel written five years ago a new soul with these splendid illustrations.

And to everyone who read this book.

All the people mentioned above have my deepest gratitude. Thank you very much!

Please look out for me through the next ten years as well!

January 2013, Ryohgo Narita