Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai:Volume1 Afterword

Afterword

Afterword by Sazane Kei

No matter how closely you look at it, I seem like I’m singing a storyshowing off my tone of voice. Has it already been four years since I took on this pen name and started submitting my works? I’ve thought up many stories during this time, and the fact that I can show everyone a work like this— Once again it makes me feel the meaning and mysterious power behind my name.

Nice to meet you, my name is Sazane Kei. Thank you very much for reading my work ‘Evhe Smiles at Dawn’.

Was it boring or interesting? Unsatisfactory or satisfying? I think there will be a variety of thoughts from everyone who has read it.

It reminds me of books and music.

I sometimes think there is nothing that divides people’s interests as much as those two. A friend may not be able to appreciate the music I like and I may not be able to appreciate the books that my friend recommends me. Everyone has probably experienced that at least once. (For me who is very picky, that is sadly an everyday occurrence.)

There isn’t an ultimate music that will be praised by everyone, nor is there an ultimate book. But because of that, there can be as many new books and pieces of music created as the number of people in this world. That’s how I feel.

……That’s right, there is surely no work that can be accepted by every single person. After all, everyone perceives things differently and this difference is what makes things amazing.

But even while I think like that—

I hope that this work can bring pleasure to many people, or even one person— The fact that I wish for this from the bottom of my heart is also an honest truth. ‘I’m glad I read this book.’ To this day, it’s been my dream to make someone think that.

And in the process of heading towards that dream, I have been supported by a great number of people.

Those who read over my rough draft. Everyone in the Fujimi editorial department who allowed my work to enter the final round. And finally, the judges who chose my work as the honorable mention in the final round.

When I was revising the manuscript after winning the award, I was truly supported by the leader of the editorial department, K-sama, as well as everyone else in it.

Furthermore, Takeoka Miho-sama decorated my work with beautiful and delicate illustrations.

Also, there are a great number of people who supported me.

My friends and acquaintances from when I was a student. Those who visited my blog and homepage before this book was published. My colleagues who looked forward to the book. The other people who I got to know through the internet and my group of amazing online friends across all of Japan.

[k.k], who read over ‘Evhe Smiles at Dawn’ before it was submitted and gave valuable feedback. Moreover, websites about how to write a novel and the two main sites that helped me.

My family and relatives who were more surprised than anyone that I had won the prize. They have forever and ever supported me with the most basic things like regular meals and my day to day life.

To all of you— Thank you very much.

And most of all, thank you to you who are reading this.

I’m grateful for our encounter. I sincerely hope this isn’t just a chance encounter that will quickly end, but that we can meet again.

Now, let me change the subject slightly……

This work, ‘Evhe Smiles at Dawn’, is part of a series named ‘Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai’. Twilight-colored Song User— I think there are people who think this person is Neight and there are those who think it is Evhemary. There are probably also people who think that it refers to both of them.

For Neight, there is Kluele, Mio, and other classmates from school. Also, there is Arma.

For Evhemary, there is Xins and her friends from school back then.

Each has their own comrades and their own story. They are all connected and will eventually turn into a single story. While dreaming of that, I will do the best I can right now.

And at the end of this story’s journey, I pray……

Even if it’s just one character

Even if it’s just one <wordSong of Praise>

Even if it’s just one scene

I pray that something will remain in your heart.

And so, while hoping that we can meet again in the near future—

Thank you very much for reading this work.

On a certain day in November, on a night when the winter wind began to blow

Sazane Kei

Commentary by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko Editorial Department

The creation of Night Color Recitations which was said to be impossible to complete, and the master of all five Recitation Colors.

Exchanging promises to mutually fulfill their dreams that everyone had laughed at and called a fantasy, the girl Evhemary and the boy Xins walked down their respective paths. And after time passed, Neight, who carried on Evhemary’s will, met the girl who studied Red Color Recitations, Kluele, at a Recitation School—.

How was “Tasogare-iro no Uta Tsukai – Evhe Smiles at Dawn”, which won the honorable mention award in the eighteenth Fantasia novel competition? This story, which began from a promise in the past, is filled with a variety of wishes and troubles.

The girl who attempted to leave behind proof of her existence and the boy who searched for his own path— Through the four main characters, a story is told about the joy and happiness of having a shared dream, as well as the true difficulties of advancing towards it.

That is also a familiar feeling for we who were born into the real world. Even though this work takes place in a fantasy world, the same worries and anxieties that we face regularly are also genuinely felt by Neight and his friends.

However, without being discouraged by the difficulties, they earnestly advance forward in order to fulfill their “dream” known as Recitations.

Recitations— a fascinating summoning technique that is an important feature in this work. That is, the art of calling forth something by using a catalyst of the same color, and then singing praise to that name. Although Recitations were accepted by the editors, it is actually a word daringly made up by the author. The Recitation scene that we were concerned about is finally completed, revealing the wishes of Neight and his friends while combining fragility and beauty.

We sympathize with them as they advance, believing in their choices while being fascinated by the brilliance of Recitations— That is the charm of the work and the author, Sazane Kei. I certainly believe in the mysterious sense of sadness that we can connect to and the purely wonderful feeling of satisfaction we get after reading this novel.

Furthermore, for summarizing this work, the illustrator Takeoka Miho’s existence was essential. The process of turning the clear mood of the world in the novel and the Recitation “songs” into illustrations was extraordinary enough to make even the lead editor’s heart pound.

Neight and Kluele met in this book and made an appearance to the readers. Out of all the readers, there seem to be many who still want to talk longer with us after this episode. If you like this story, please share your thoughts with us before the next volume! That will support the author more than anything and become her driving force to expand this story world even farther.

〒102-8144

Tokyo prefecture, Chiyoda ward, Fujimi 1-12-14

Fujimi Shobo, Fujimi Fantasia Bunko editorial department

Sazane Kei-sama

Takeoka Miho-sama

We look forward to your support!

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