afterword watari

Author’s Afterword, Part 3
Hello there. I’m working. Lately I write “working” way more often than I write “Wataru Watari”. God I need a break. And so, here’s the author’s afterword, part 3.
The name of this volume is Oregairu.o, number three in the a-series, bundled with the BD/DVD limited edition. First was a, then n, and now o. I wonder what letter will be next? ano...hana? No way, I don’t want to cry in the last part. Better hide somewhere far away when it’s published instead. And then I’d suddenly hear my editor exclaiming “Found you, Wataru Watari!” And then he’ll grab me, lock me and make me work like a zombie. A true Kaisha Gurashi!
Locking somewhere means I’ll work hard, but due to lockdown you’ll alsways have this feeling that you’re locked. Like you’re working hard but the results don’t get any better. Not that rare occurrence, by the way. The world is chock-full of zombie office slaves! Source: me. That feeling is the most dangerous illusion of them all. When I was a newbie, I too stayed overnight, gladly shuttled to the convenience store for food, slept on the table and got a strange feeling of content, except in the morning it turned out the work was far from over. The perceived events not related to reality only do no good to your nerves. But the contrary is equally bad for you: dry result without any feelings don’t let you grow.
What does he feel now, a reality or some illusory mirages? Time goes by, the environment changes bit by bit, but what temporal axis the events are aligned by? That’s regarding the o volume. Finally, the o! Or maybe 0, as in zero. How will the next volume turn out? Anyway, I’m planning to continue the a-series for some time.
But… If I don’t speed up, I probably won’t make it in time. What’s definitely speed up is the rate of my hair ceding. I noticed it after getting the recent haircut… I’ve finished watching anime, thinking it turned out so good and I gotta go sleep now, turned my TV off… and saw a reflection inside the black screen.
I saw a thirty-something fellow with a big shiny forehead, and he was staring right into me, here, in reality. In fact I’ve been watching anime for my whole life and never turned TV off. You should do that too: screw this horrible reality and go watch Oregairu’s second season instead. Now I’ll share some thoughts about the anime and explain several thing.
This third volume brings us anime episodes 4 and 5. I’m sharing my thoughts as a viewer, the reader and the sole original creator. So on to my first impressions.
First, the episode 4, “And so, Yui Yuigahama Declares”. And the episode instantly starts from the sparkle of passion between Hachiman and Hayama… I would have said were I a fujoshi. Pay attention to Hayama’s behaviour. Hachiman had learned the inner workings of Hayato Hayama and now sees his distorted nature. These episodes demonstrate the fact in the fullest. So we’re watching Hayama’s behaviour and then suddenly… Komachi appears! And I’m sure many of you instantly forgot about Hayama. She was too cute! Even her irritated phrases were cute. And Haruno’s phrases were gloriously scare as usual. I was scared myself, really. That’s the beauty of the anime: you can achieve such an effect there.
Remember the phone call from Haruno? Words like “monster of logic” and “monster of self-awareness” stood out, but I’d like you to pay attention to that “you can’t call it genuine” of Hachiman’s. That “genuine” word, or, to be precise, the meaning put into this word are very distinct for our heroes, and they’ll return to it in the later episodes.
On to the fateful double date with Orimoto and Nakamachi. Boy had they shown their true colors. That “Hayama said so, so whatever” wasn’t really disliked, but the Saize bit was uncalled for! Nevermind Hayama, even I was offended. Oregairu decided to support Saize. Generally, this episode it about the preferences and people who are interested in other’s preferences, ask about them, then ask again; about people who change their preferences, who aspire them, who doubt them and who don’t have any at all; about those who mock the preferences. Among those were the ones who gave him the new purpose and decisions for the new year.
Next up is episode 5. Komachi is mega-cute regardless of anything. And Zaimokuza’s phrases were cool. Totsuka was the angel incarnate as usual, and Kawasomething, as usual, good-looking. Irohasu behaved like Irohasu was supposed to, and Hachiman fit into his role. I’d like to end here, but that last phrase made me worried. “And here I thought you’d understand”. This phrase includes many meanings and can be understood in million different ways, and currently we can’t say what she meant. Though we all should understand who her words are directed to, judging by the emotions in her voice. Though I don’t think anything would change if she didn’t say anything: after all, even if what you say is true, it still can be interpreted differently.
By the way this anime doesn’t look like a romantic comedy at all. Do something with it, I thought while looking and then voila - we’ve got us some romance! What is it, a romantic comedy? For real?
Meguri-senpai’s word immediately after were very heavy. I wonder if his plan of the future is right? Obviously if people are changed by other people, then the room’s interior can also be changed by them. But if someone thinks that if everyone’s in the right place and the interior isn’t changed, that nothing is changed, they’re wrong. At least, the tea’s aroma is no longer in that room.
Time to wrap things up. I think I’ve also written my own vision and point of view. Please continue to stay with us. Yoroshiku! [TL note: written as 夜露死苦,  as in Night, Open, Death and Hard.]
Acknowledgements.
Ponkan8-kami. Aren’t you almost too godlike, I thought looking at Volume 3. Well, only a half left! Do your best!
Executive editor Hoshio-san, ahahaha. No, the situation really isn’t of a funny kind, but I know that no matter how hard it is you always should keep a smile on your face, that’s why I’m laughing. It’s basically the only thing left for me to do. As usual, sorry. Thank you very much. Okay, I’m going to submit my work way before the deadline, haha.
Director Oikawa and the rest of the staff! As before, thank you for your hard work on the volumes. And as before, the irritating original creator begs your forgiveness yet again. Let’s do our best.
Takuya Eguchi, Hachiman Hikigaya’s actor, and the other actors too! Thank you for the outstanding and nuanced performance which I can’t even describe properly and of which is quite a lot in these episodes. Thanks a lot, it’s clear you put your heart into it. Oregairu-related events still go on, let’s work together some more!
And finally to the readers and viewers. THank you for your unchanging support. This is the third BD/DVD issue already. Thank you for staying with us. I’d like to thank you all personally, but unfortunately this isn’t going to… wait! The events! As was with the previous volume you’ll get this one bundled with the priority sales coupons. Come to the event, it’s gotta be fun!  Check the submission times. And even if I don’t manage to thank you all in person, I, the main novels and the a-series original author, want my feelings to reach you. I’ll be glad if you stay with us till the end.
My free time’s over and I’m putting my pen away. See you again!
Looking at the reality with a can of MAX Coffee on a July day, yours truly, Wataru Watari.