Afterword

Hello for the first time, or for those I've met before. My name is Tomohashi Kametsu.

It's been about eight years since my debut this year, and I've always wanted to write a youth novel.

That's because I myself loved youth novels as a reader. In high school, when school was boring and I couldn't stand it, the time I spent reading youth novels was my only salvation.

I am very satisfied to be able to release this work to the world.

It was a lot of fun writing it. I was able to write my favorite characters in my favorite style. Thanks to that, it has become a work that I am very attached to. Rui-san may be my favorite heroine among all the works I have written so far. I want to have my life ruined by an older, beautiful woman who smokes. I wrote with that single-minded desire.

But I also have the anxiety that I am the only one having fun and that I am leaving the readers behind. If you all enjoyed it as much as I did, I would be very happy.

The following are my acknowledgments.

To Shiina Kuro-sensei, who drew the illustrations. Thank you for the many wonderful illustrations. When it was decided to publish it as a book, when the editor asked me who I wanted for the illustrator, I suggested Shiina Kuro-sensei with great enthusiasm, so I was very happy when you accepted. The illustrations were too good.

To Endo-san, my editor. Thank you for all your help in publishing this work. Thanks to the parts that were added with your advice, I think it has become even better than the web serialization version. I am personally satisfied with the result.

I would also like to thank all the readers who read the web serialization version. The many comments I received on the site were a great encouragement to me in my writing.

And most of all, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to everyone who picked up this book.

In a world overflowing with free and cost-effective entertainment, it is truly appreciated that you have spent your not-so-cheap money and your life's time on this work.

If you enjoyed it even a little, there is no greater joy for me as an author.

Whether there will be a sequel depends on the future, so if you would be so kind, I would be grateful for the support of all my readers.

Well then, until next time.