Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume33 Postscript

Postscript

It'd been thirty minutes since I started writing this postscript and not a single sentence had come out, so I thought this was hopeless and decided to start by typing my current situation in to my computer (good, that's two lines). At any rate, if I were to leave this blank, so that the afterword was only a white sheet of paper, it would be a huge mistake and there would have to be a note attached to it when it's distributed as a book.

That doesn't mean I have nothing to write about. Quite the opposite. It's just that I can't find the right way to output what's inside my head. For instance, say you're not in the mood for singing today, but then you get swept up in an easy to follow rhythm with a great into and, despite what you said, you start singing along, which gradually increases until you're singing with wild abandon. Let's see if I can start something like that. I'm half expecting that, but at any rate it should help me think about what to write.

So the sentences I'm writing now are what you'd call 'pump priming.'

And if the water doesn't come gushing out, the sentences I'm currently writing will be deleted.

Hello, this is Konno.

Someone whose grumblings have just lost them the sympathy of all the people who usually start by reading the postscript first. Objectively, that's how it feels. Sorry for the bother.

This happened some time ago, when I was reading a monthly magazine.

What I had supposed was the serialization of a new novel turned out to be an author's essay. The bear's novel, upon reading, painted a picture of every day life completely unrelated to the title. And after that edition was finished, it continued in the next in the same manner. I don't remember how long it continued for, but it was interesting so I looked forward to reading it every time. But, at some point, it suddenly turned into a novel. It seems the essays were being run only until the author started the story. The story that had started, while interesting, wasn't something that I read every issue. Perhaps the essays were included in some magazine that specializes in lectures. It nags at me (and someday soon I should find out).

So, on one hand, while I said I had something to write about, this could be seen as a warm-up while I'm stuck for words. So reading this far, perhaps all the people who can remember the story's title and the author's face can join together.

Still, it's a problem if you get buried underneath the pages that were only written as a warm-up, so I think I should write about those 'things I have to write about.'

I touched upon this in a previous postscript, but with Sachiko's graduation, the tale of "Maria-sama ga miteru's" Sachiko and Yumi has come to an end.

In Yumi's time, it's been a year and a half. In my time, it's been 10 years and 8 months. Some 34 volumes. With the anime book, and the illustrations book, 36! (Together?)

No matter how I look at it, it is pretty incredible. As for the series, before I knew it (long ago) it had turned into a "shrine of dreams."

This volume's subtitle is 'Hello, Goodbye.'

The first candidates were "Gokigenyou Gokigenyou / Hello Goodbye" or "Hello Goodbye / Gokigenyou Gokigenyou." However, the subtitles are written in a small script so any subscript would be barely legible. And it'd be impossible on the spine of the book. So I settled on "Hello Goodbye" without any subscript.

It's written about in the introduction, but 'Gokigenyou' is a phrase that can have various meanings, such as 'Good morning,' 'Hello,' 'Good evening,' 'Are you okay?' and 'Goodbye.' From time to time, when I have autograph sessions, the exchanged greeting is 'Gokigenyou.' And of course, 'Gokigenyou' is 'Go-kigen-you' (where 'go' is an honorific, 'kigen' is the kanji for body and 'you' is the conjunctive form of 'yoi', which means good), so it can be used to convey concern for the other person, as in, 'I do hope you're taking care of yourself.' So, in other words, the feeling of 'Gokigenyou' is implied in 'Hello, Goodbye.'

As I was nearing the end of this novel, the characters from 'Maria-sama ga Miteru' started to appear frequently in my dreams. Because it was a dream I could hardly remember any of it when I awoke, but one of the things I did remember was a trip to an onsen with both the old and new Yamayurikai members. Everyone was wearing a light cotton kimono at a traditional Japanese inn. As for what I was doing, I was writing about it as it happened. Emotionally, it was more like, 'I can't escape from the manuscript even in my dreams,' than, 'I can't get enough of this.' (Teeheehee). Still, I found it a bit strange. Because there was such a huge gap between the traditional inn and the scene I had finished writing before I went to bed (the graduation ceremony). I noticed it, and the characters noticed it too.

"Hey… is this kind of scene really necessary?"

My memory's a bit hazy, but I think it was Eriko who said that.

Why would I dream such a scene? After all, I didn't particularly want to go to an onsen myself.

Upon reflection, I think I wanted the characters to have a chance to relax.

Whether it's been a year and a half, or ten years and eight months, I wanted to show my appreciation to those darling girls who have run alongside me the entire time, but in reality there's nothing I can do. So at least in my dreams, I'll take them to an onsen as a way of showing my appreciation.

I appreciate your efforts. Take a leisurely bath and relax your mind and body. I'll get you a nice dinner, too.

So, while I'm taking a break from 'Maria-sama ga Miteru,' I'm not finished with this world. The shape may have changed, but some parts should be recognizable and, if I feel so inclined, I may return to tales of Lillian's Girls Academy.

Gokigenyou.

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