Date A Live Encore - Volume 5 - Chapter Aft

Afterword 

Long time no see, this is Tachibana Kōshi. “Date A Live Encore” has finally been delivered. What did you think? I would be most fortunate if the readers enjoyed it.

The short collection “Encore” series has finally reached its fifth volume. On the front cover is the Yamai Sisters. The children of the hurricane have finally reached the cover in casual clothes!

By the way, as I wrote on the opening of the author profile, Encore 5 will be exactly my 30th book published! Wow! A round of applause please! Well, that is also include “Date A Live Material”, but since more than half are novels, I think I can let that one volume count!

This is all thanks to everyone. I'll do my best in the future, so thank you for your consideration.

Well, from here we will begin the annual Encore commentary. Since this contains some spoilers, please be careful if you haven’t read the text yet.

○Origami Counseling

After a long absence, Origami pretending to be Origami (good philosophy). 

This is a short story of the “Devil” Origami after the successful change of history in the 11th volume. It looks like an “Angel”, but it is actually a “Devil”. What is going on?

“Devil” Origami has only appeared briefly in the 11th volume, but I actually liked showing this side of Origami. Particularly, her desire to resist her inner impulses and the failure of that resistance. There is another person in her heart and she occasionally will manipulate her own behavior. Another version of me. Surely, we’ve constructed another pyramid shape puzzle. Finally you must use a card to decide a winner. I don’t think I can beat the other me.

○Reine Holiday

Uncover the mystery of Reine’s private life. This short story then became the story of investigating Reine’s day off. The overall feeling resembles a straw rich man. Except, the main difference is that most of the incidents are solved by one’s own skills.

In fact, before this story, I tried writing one about Reine-san going on a blind date. Since it wasn’t very satisfying, I didn’t use it. But because the idea itself is good, I want to re-edit again if given the chance. Personally, I would want to write a story of Tama-chan going to a marriage interview party with Reine-san.

○Silver Astray 

Since Date A Live is a series that began during spring, it is finally possible to write a story about winter after so many volumes had been published. So that’s why it is a rare opportunity to let them go to a snowy mountain. Then again, with everyone together on a snowy mountain, how could it not be difficult (bias)?

I remembering storing an old story of Shidou and Origami being stranded alone, but now I feel like I have finally written a continuation to that. Moreover, after several years, Origami has gained strong allies in the form of Yuzuru and Miku. Is this the power of friendship? Shidou’s purity is in danger.

○Silver Murderer

The second half of Silver Astray. How can there be no murders (bias) in a snow cottage with a blizzard outside? The snowy mountains are a place full of biases. Editor-san said on the phone: “Kamaitachi! Kamaitachi!” (the feeling one step after a Dempsey roll). That was a lie. 

The illustration is a shocking image of Tohka bloody and collapsed on the floor. But the casual outfits of the Spirits drawn behind her are also a big attraction. The pumpkin trousers of the Natsumi are so cute that I want to add more pictures of their casual clothes.

○Spirit Snow Wars

The location changed back to Tenguu City. As the title suggests, it’s a story of everyone having a snowball fight together. Though team composition was decided through rock, paper, and scissors, the distressed trio from Silver Astray is all on the same team together. A terrifying coincidence. By the way, my secret favorite team name is “ Weiß Legion”. ……Who the heck named that? It’s super cool.

In addition, the snowman, drawn on the illustration with Natsumi taking the flag, is also wonderful. It seems obvious from the rabbit ears that Yoshino made it and the “the “Konig-Schnee-Zero formula” would have been done by Kaguya in good taste. Incidentally, I did not specify which illustrations I wanted to be drawn. From that small detail, you can see Tsunako-san’s refined taste. 

○Spirit Dark Matter. 

This short story was written after Spirit Astray, Spirit Murderer, and Spirit Snow Wars. As a result, I decided that this new short story should also be limited to the theme of winter. So, it is a dark hot pot. Why not?

Speaking of darkness, that person, who rarely makes an appearance, has also made her presence known here. Although it wasn’t written in the story, it is somewhat funny to imagine her changing the notes in everyone’s kotatsu or making the ingredients she latter put into the hot pot. The latter probably went, “Ugh……it stinks……it stinks……” while wrapping dumplings. (Personal imagination)

Well finally, I was able to publish this book due to the efforts of various people this time.

Tsuneko-san, Editor-san, and everyone involved in editing, sales, distribution, etc, and also you for holding this book at this time, thank you very much.

Well, I hope to see you again in the next book.

March 2016 Tachibana Kōshi