Author’s afterword part one

Hello everyone, Watari Wataru here. Never thought I’d write another author’s afterword so soon. By the way, last time I’d been writing the enigmatic words was exactly two years ago. All this thanks to those who had supported Oregairu and its first season. Thanks to you all!

It was decided to issue this new story together with the BD/DVD special editions. It’s called Oregairu.a, that is, its numbering is different from the main volumes. I guess I’d elaborate on that name.

I’d been thinking for a long time about how to name this story. The thing is, there’s a huge gap in the main timeline I wanted to fill. I could make it a normal volume, but didn’t manage to do it for this particular story.

And so I present the Volume a.

Those who’ve read it probably see that the story goes in a different direction. In a very different way, to be precise. This is a special story which will assemble into a complete novella made from seven parts shipped with each BD volume. That’s why I’ve created a unique script and a very diffrering structure. So there will be a lot of differences from the main series.

It probably may be said that this is even more or a “main” story because it’s going to be a separate entity. So I guess you understand now that I couldn’t give it a number. Though there’s still a lot to be done before all the seven parts are complete. This novella is very unlikely to be included into the main series. Anyway I’ll be grateful if you read all of it.

In fact it took me quite a lot of thinking to let you enjoy it the same way as the main volumes.

The producer asked me “What’s this ‘a’ series?” in a very dark tone while the editor crumpled the manuscripts in his hands.

I tried to put a special meaning to this ‘a’ name. For example it’s a first letter of the English alphabet. Or maybe a ‘Plus Alpha’. Or an abbreviation of many English words. I for one can think of 4-5 right off the bat. I guess the name will become more appropriate as the story is unfolding.

One of those 4-5 words would be ‘alternative’. I tried to tweak it since it has so many meanings. Why is English so hard? All the Englishmen are probably geniuses if they can speak it freely.

It’s not just ‘alternative’, there’s a whole bunch of others. Like ‘answer’, or ‘anbelievable’. Yes, ‘anbelievable’. Is especially cool since there’s no letter A there at alll. Just why is English so complex? And one of my junior high teachers told me that is sounds like ‘ah’. Anyway, there are many words starting with ‘a’, so I’m glad you’re trying to crack this puzzle.

Even though I’m currently working on this novella, I’m not abandoning the main volumes. So read them both! Promise me, okay? TIll the end! I sound like some grade school kid now, but seriously, read them both. The resulting effect will be, so to speak, a WIN-WIN! Oops, out of that grade school kid mode. By the way, Tamanawa’s movements in the anime were really funny. My brain was trying to fly away just by looking at him. I’m worried it will take off some day that way.

In fact I was eager to see events both big and small. I enjoyed the second season both as a source author and as a viewer.

Let’s talk about Oregairu itself. Its story is really unusual in and on itself, and adapting it into anime was not a trivial task. But that’s my own opinion. When I told about my very reckless plan to make an adaptation, I was told “sure, whatever”. But I was really scared not even of the adaptation process but the immense plan of what to do and how to start.

Well, anyway, his movements in anime were cool. Now, really, this is a story about high school kids, most of the conversations and actions happen in the same rooms over and over. What good can you draw there? What animation skill should one possess to do all that? I was told that it’s the other way around: it’s interesting to make a frame where almost nothing moves. In my personal humble opinion making an anime where everything moves and spins and flies is way harded.

And the second season has even fewer events. Making such an anime so that viewers wouldn’t die of boredom is one thing, but the director has to work on the scenes too. There are many moving things besides Tamanawa’s hands, all the small details, and they all show the director’s work!

Aside from that, unlike the ranobe, the anime is time-constrained. The episodes number is limited, the episode length is finite. So you have to decide what to fit into each episode. It’s not that simple in fact. I once attended the series composition meeting. Everyone was all like “Aw daaamn! Daaamn! We won’t cram it!”, lotsa headache, yeah. Director Oikawa was constantly saying that he wanted to leave this bit and that bit and cut these bits, and those will hurt to cut, and cutting the characters’ phrases wasn’t good. But… the ranobe is long! My apologies to you, directors Suga and Ochi, and the rest of the team too. Who writes such long stories anyway?

There was another reason adapting it into an anime was so hard. It’s written in first person, from main character Hachiman Hikigaya’s POV, and all the other characters surrounding him are quite a pain in the ass. Such a pain in fact that it’s appropriate to ask “You wanna destroy this anime? What kind of characters are that?”

You constantly want to shout “Stop arguing, dammit! Talk properly to each other!”. Though after finishing the season I thought it’s the main attraction of the anime.

During those series composition meetings all those middle-aged men were talking while putting their hands to the foreheads:

“I so get Yui’s feelings.”

“Yeah.”

“Though we’ve forgotten Yukino’s problems at our age.”

“Right. And Hachiman has the same problems. But they’re mostly different after all.”

“Agree.”

“Don’t know ‘bout you but I like girls like Orimoto.”

“Yeah, I totally get that.”

“Right.”

This “meeting” was really strange to look at. I mean, they did discuss the series’ composition. But they still tried to comprehend the characters’ personalities, their features, to try to emphasize them and feel the things they felt. The series is really hard to adapt, I think.

In my opinion the biggest reason not to adapt this novella is its author being really annoying jerkass! He was getting in the way all the time: at scriptwriters’ meetings, at voice recordings, even during recording of the songs! He’s in no way a specialist in all this! I think everyone’s shuddering at his mere mention. Even the producer told him with the teary eyes “Write some bonus instead, I don’t know!”. And then I was constantly verbally kicked at every editors’ meeting with “Wataru Watari, where are the goddamn manuscripts?!” Sorry for that, phehehe☆!

Anyway, as you see I’ve had a lot of problems, so let’s just thank all the anime staff, starting with director Oikawa, for all their hard work. Thanks to them you are holding these BDs and DVDs in your hands. So, do you like them?

I’m going to talk about the first episode, so careful there! I had some space in the pamphlets last time and now I’ll be using up the space in this book. There was a whole lot of stuff, starting from avant-frames, to lives, and I even swayed the glowsticks with Chad and Eguchi-kun once. Author of the original had to beg a lot to be let into that roof where the live event was staged. That was one of the series-defining scenes. I wish I could come too!

This episode covers the events of the seventh volume. Totsuka cute. Let him stay that way. Oh, and… Yahallo! I’m glad I’ve heard that Yahallo. Such a soothing word. Nothing more to say here.

I mean, I wanted to wrap this up, but I won’t. Gotta talk about the clubroom too. I was glad like a child when I saw all the stickers on the nameplate! I hope those who remember the first season felt warm and fuzzy too.

That was the first scene when their relationships started to change after volume six. And here’s where the new thematic thread starts. Part of what the characters have, what they say, what they feel, it’s all hidden. You’ll have the opportunity to pay attention to that in the next episodes, and I’ll be glad if you do.

The main feature of this episode is Kakeru Tobe and Hina Ebina. They’ve appeared all the way back in the first volume and gave a hand to the Service club in Volume four. If, say, Hayato Hayama was the protagonist, those two would have been the supporting characters. Except the protagonist here is Hachiman Hikigaya, so this assumption is ultimately meaningless. Though I do consider writing a spin-off with him as the main character. Hey, anyone wants to publish a Hayama spin-off?*wistfully*

Uhm, I was getting sidetracked. So Tobe and Ebina are friends. In the novel they’re just fun fellows. Some mentions of them pop up here and there up until Volume seven… I think*mutters*

Maybe in this episode, maybe later, but we’ll dig deep into him and her, and also all the Hayama’s circle. By guiding Tobe and Ebina Hachiman will broaden his worldview, because to reach the goal of the novel his worldview has to be broadened and slowly changed..

In this changing world Yukino will show her unknown side, which the last scene demonstrated where they return to the hotel. What kind of feeling did we want to convey in that scene? Neither Hachinam nor Yukino can express it with words. I’d like to call that scene “the sprouts”. Beautiful scene, isn’t it?

As for the club itself, there’s nothing changed, but that doesn’t mean the characters’ feeling hadn’t changed either. The sprouts of these boys and girls’ feelings have just popped out and just start living in this world.

You can say the it’s the real beginning of the Oregairu story. Anyway, now you know what to look for, so I’ll continue in the next volume. Don’t forget to read it!

And the last page is, as per customary, is the list of acknowledgements.

This series will go on. There’ll be different twists here, even though similar to the main volumes. Let’s pray we get an answer to the unspeakable question.

And this marks the end of Oregairu Volume a.

Acknowledgements.

Ponkan8. Many thanks for working on the main series, anime, CD, DVD and BD covers. There’s even more work ahead, and I’ll continue relying on you at that. I won’t let you rest! Thank you.

Executive Editor Hoshino-san. How many times will I lie to you with that “Oh come on, I’ll make it into deadlines this time, hehe!”? Though it’s not my fault. It’s society’s. And the company to boot. It’s strange to say that, but I do think I’ll make it before the deadline next time. Strange. Sorry for causing so many problems every time. DVD and BD, as well as the ranobe will continue, so keep me in check! Thanks! Ahaha!

Director Oikawa and the rest of the anime staff! I think it’s the first time you see such an annoying original creator. I want to prostrate before you and beg for forgiveness for me being me. I beg of you to forgive me! Thank you for adapting it into the anime! I understand both seasons had a lot of unadaptable things. I’m really grateful for you taking on the work and completing it, as well as managing to deal with the author. Here’s hoping we’ll continue working. Thank you!

Takuya Eguchi, Hachiman Hikigaya’s voice actor, and all the other seiyuus! It’s been three years since the radio drama was published. Or is it four already? We know each other for so long I can’t count straight anymore. I didn’t expect to work for so long when writing the radio drama script. Thanks to it we saw the second season of Oregairu. Troubled characters became even more troubled, the twists more twistey, and the original creator is running around even more than usual. Sorry.

The characters have provided both freshness and rottenness, but I still was glad seeing them. Let’s continue working together. Thank!

And lastly, thanks to all the readers and viewers for your support. I hope you’ll continue doing that. There are many event in the series going off course, but I’ll be glad if you follow it to the end.

Kimi ga iru, that’s why Oregairu.

The space is almost up, and thus I’m wrapping things up. See you… ugh, so much work… so see you next time.

Sincerely yours, watching anime with a MAX Coffee can,

Wataru Watari.

Russian translation: Oleg Dovgan’.