When the Introverted Me Got Surrounded by S-Tier Beauties After a Seat Change, a Secret Relationship Began Afterword
If you fall asleep now, you will dream. If you study now, your dreams will come true.
This is one of the famous sayings found in Harvard University's library.
In writing this work, I never once fell asleep (slacked off or cut corners). That's why I believe my dream came true.
Well, enough with the formal talk. Since many of you are meeting me for the first time, let me introduce myself.
Thank you so much for picking up this book. I'm Hoshino Seiya, a light novel author.
When I received the offer to publish from Dengeki Bunko—something I'd always dreamed of—I was so happy and surprised I thought my eyes would pop out. Now that it's actually been made into a book, I honestly still feel like I'm dreaming.
Looking back, on my journey to becoming a light novel author, I encountered various Dengeki Bunko works. Particularly memorable was Hajime Kamoshida-sensei's Rascal Does Not Dream (Aobuta) series.
When I was eighteen, my father and I went to see the first Aobuta movie. My father was so moved by it that he invited the director, Souichi Masui, to give a lecture at his workplace. Naturally, I immediately rushed home from Tokyo to attend that lecture.
Being specially allowed backstage to have a conversation with Director Masui was a precious experience. It's no exaggeration to say that my encounter with him gave birth to the light novel author Hoshino Seiya.
Someday, I'll write a wonderful work like Aobuta for Dengeki Bunko, and if it gets adapted into an anime, I'll have Souichi Masui-san direct it! With that single goal in mind, I started writing light novels during the COVID pandemic. I debuted while still in university, and after working with several publishers, I finally became a Dengeki Bunko author two years later.
However, this work that I finally got published with Dengeki Bunko—far from being like Aobuta—has turned into something more like 'Rascal Does Not Dream.' So yes, there was quite a gap between my dream and reality. But it's precisely because the protagonist was a perverted rascal named Ryouta Izumiya that I'm here now, writing this afterword.
From the very beginning, even back in the web novel days, I was particular about the protagonist being an introverted male high school student, and I worked to heighten that resolution.
These days, light novel protagonists are all serious, smart, and cool—nothing like actual high school boys. But honestly, they're high school boys, so I think it's fine for them to be openly perverted.
In other words, it's an antithesis to the current trend… a perv-thesis, if you will.
…Okay, enough with the dirty jokes, get to the acknowledgments already! Responding to that reader feedback, it's time for the acknowledgments.
First, to my editor, who read this work over and over again since its web serialization days and gave me the offer to publish it. I'll never forget the debt I owe you for discovering an author like me. I'll continue to devote myself to repaying this favor through my success.
And to Kuroto Yuu-sama, who handled the illustrations. Thank you so much for all the wonderful artwork! The heroines and Tanaka, too—everyone is so cute and amazing! Thank you!
Finally… to you, the readers.
Thank you so much for reading this far!
I'd be happy if this could become one of your favorite works.
During the web serialization period, I, as an author, was struggling with my future activities. Even while suffering from stagnation and mental anguish, I believed that the only way to forge a future was to keep writing. So I wrote, and wrote, and wrote… and now, here I am.
The ones who supported me most closely through all that were the readers who left comments nearly every day.
From now on, Hoshino Seiya will not fall asleep. To become the best light novel author I can be, I'll devote myself to studying and making my dreams come true.
Well then, let's meet again in Volume 2. Thank you very much.
Hoshino Seiya
Join the conversation