Baccano! - Volume 7 - Chapter Aft

MIDDLEWORD

All right, this was the second part. Part II. The book that completes Tick and Maria’s story.

The page count went up quite a bit, but this time around, I did manage to bring Tick and Maria’s tale to a stopping point somehow.

—But. Those of you who read afterwords first may have thought “Huh?” when you looked for this page… Well, uh, things just kinda worked out that way.

For a variety of reasons, Baccano! has plunged into a rather long story.

One day in spring…

Chief Editor: “All right. I think it’s about time to wrap up the 1930s volumes.”

Me: “Geeeeh! We’re ending it?!”

Chief Editor: “No, no, I just meant it would be good to do lots of other things as well, like the modern 2001 volume. That means we should bring the 1930s section to a stopping place.”

Me: “Geeeeh! So we are ending it, in a roundabout way?!”

Chief Editor: “No. Listen to me. Besides, in any case, there’s a limit to the 1930s.”

Me: “I see. But I still have a ton of things I want to do during the thirties.”

Chief Editor: “About how many?”

Me: “Let’s see, I’ve got about ten plots… Aah! There aren’t enough years?!”

…And so (?), we’re finally getting to the crux of the 1930s volumes: the Huey Laforet arc. Or actually, we’re already in it. Chi, Leeza, and Beriam made their first appearances this time, and I hope you’ll look forward to seeing what sort of story they end up as central figures in. Although they might not actually be central to it.

From this point on, I’d like to gradually write longer episodes for the Baccano! 1930s volumes, in parallel with standalone stories like this book. The developments will probably be a jumble of new characters and old ones, and I’ll be very happy if you stick with me for a while longer.

Please look out for my other ongoing projects, too, including DRRR!!, Vamp!, the Etsusa Bridge series, and sundry others. Thanks muchly!

So, as the result of an idea from the chief editor, this afterword ended up in a pretty unique location. However, viewed objectively, was this format going to be acceptable?

On that note, we got a comment from this gentleman, who’s an authority on afterwords!

Hello and good afternoon. This is Que Itchy Shig Sour. It’s actually Keiichi Sigsawa, but this computer decided it should be spelled the other way. Thanks for your understanding.

Somebody’s just stolen Dengeki Bunko’s first “middleword” from me, and I could not possibly be more ticked.

I am about to challenge Mr. Narita to a fight, and once I magnificently vanquish him, this book will not be published.

I hope you’ll all look forward to it. All right, bra ring get! I mean, bring it!

Hunh?

This has been Keiichi Sigsawa.

Hmm?

I wasn’t sure how to respond to this comment, and it made me want to do a little involuntary happy dance, but it is you—you, dear reader!—who will have to figure out the meaning of that mysterious “middleword” term!

So what is this afterword-middleword business? Well, just make sure to keep your eyes peeled and not miss anything until you get to the last page.

And so, Mr. Keiichi Sigsawa, thank you very much!

For this volume’s author photo, I got help from Shoutarou Mizuki of Fujimi Mystery Bunko. It’s a joint project with Mizuki’s newest book, which goes on sale on November 10, the same day as this volume! Thank you very much for the first-ever Dengeki and Fuji-Myst collaborative afterword (?)! Let’s try for a synergistic sales effect! On that note, please look out for Find the Half Dollar from Fujimi Mystery Bunko, too! …Is it okay to do this?

I’d also like to extend my deepest gratitude to the chief editor and the rest of the staff; to my friends and acquaintances, including everyone in S City; to Mr. Katsumi Enami, who drew fantastic illustrations in spite of his jam-packed schedule; and to all the readers. Thank you very much!

September 2004

While shadily gazing at shady images from shady movies and anime with everybody and laughing shadily.

Ryohgo Narita