Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume16 Postscript
Postscript[edit]
…… Ah, I want to try Maple Parlor's thick baked cookies.
Hello, it’s Konno! This paperback is the first collection of “Maria-sama ga miteru” extra stories. And so I’m feeling a little different than usual. …… Doki-doki.
I decided it was time to bring together the pieces I have been writing for the Cobalt magazine, and so I took the first part of the “Poison Apple” and added some connecting parts to it to make it into a book.
Because of this form, the title is “Variety Gifts”. It means that various sweets (stories) are packed into one box (paperback) and delivered to you.
Some people might not like the messy chaotic feel of it.
Some people might hold the opinion that it is valuable.
Perhaps, some may simply not have read the magazine version and are lucky to read it here.
If you already read the magazine version, you might be thinking, “Konno, don’t be lazy”.
I’m sure you will have lots of different opinions, but by picking up this book you have accepted my gift. I hope it suits your tastes.
Now.
Stories published in the magazine generally happen before the ones in the paperbacks. The reason I say ‘generally’ is that there is a precedent of a story that first appeared in the magazine (“The Cherry in the Ginkgoes” from the “Cherry Blossom” paperback) taking place half a year after the events of the first volume.
Anyway. A big reason I keep looking back into the past is because there are thoughts like, “it’s dangerous to write about the future”.
In magazines, issues have their own seasonal tone, like the month of O’s issue, and often requests may be made for “Christmas” or “Valentine’s day” or “Back to school” or “A story about XX”. That’s right, it’s called a “△△ special feature”.
And so, I had to write a story for the Christmas special, but Christmas hasn’t yet arrived for Yumi, who is currently a second year in the paperbacks.
Writing about the future first is really not good for the writing down the line.
Is it a little difficult to understand? Well, let me explain with an example.
If you peek into the future a little further than the paperback, you will find Yoshino and Yumi’s little sisters there. And then you’d be like, “Eh, this girl is the little sister?!” right? That’s a false start, right?
Moreover, once the future is determined, regulations are imposed on the present. Even if you decide to change something midway through, it is difficult to cancel something once it has already been announced. You could end up digging your own grave. That’s problematic.
That’s why all of the magazine entries are events of the past.
The settings are last year's Christmas, this year's (last school year's) Valentine's Day, and this year's rainy season, plus around the entrance ceremony.
The order of magazine publication is “Chocolate Portrait” in the February issue, “The Extra Sheep That Passes By” in the April issue, and “The Miracle of the Nativity Feast” in the December issue (all from the year of 2003), but in paperback, when I was combining it all, I rearranged it and ordered them chronologically. Even though the inside of the snack box is all jumbled up, I thought to myself, “let’s at least line them up properly”.
The newly written “Poison Apple” is just on-time. A story from Eriko’s perspective about Eriko being a bit mean to Yoshino at the sports festival.
That’s right, speaking of Eriko.
I would like to say something to the Eriko from the “Chocolate Portrait”.
“Within a month you are bound to make the same mistake as Shouko”.
However, that is a common mistake. I’ve made it several times as well.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, please read “Chocolate Portrait” and right after that reread “Yellow Rose at Full Speed” from “Beloved Times (Part 1)”.
Lastly, I would like to say something to those who are thinking about it being the school festival next time.
Unfortunately, it seems it won’t be the Lilian school festival next time either. Please wait a little more.
Konno Oyuki
PS.
Do Maple Parlor’s variety gifts include thick baked cookies……?
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