Durarara!! - Volume 5 - Chapter Aft

AFTERWORD

Hello, I’m Ryohgo Narita. It’s nice to see you again.

Well, thanks to all of you, Durarara!! has reached a fifth volume.

…But you’ll have to pardon me, as it’s just the first half of a two-part story. I switched things up this time to have the adult characters getting into the act, but this is still at its heart a story of love centered around Ikebukuro. I think.

As usual, some characters don’t get much time to shine, but once I’m finished concluding this tale in Volume 6, I plan to write more of a romantic soap opera based around Namie, Seiji, and Mika. I have no idea if anyone actually wants to read that, but I choose to believe that there are many Namie fans out there.

At any rate! I want to get the next book out to you as soon as possible, but I’m afraid I’ve really gone and damaged myself with bronchitis this time, so my usual writing carnage will involve lots of rest. On the other hand, all of that carnage is making me get out of shape. I need to get back on that Wii Fit.

So anyway, just as he was exhausted in both body and spirit, a bolt of lightning hit unsuspecting Ryohgo Narita!

It’s a manga adaptation!

As of the April 18, 2009, issue of Square Enix’s G Fantasy magazine, Durarara!! will be a manga! A fresh new breath of air will be blown into the world of Durarara!! courtesy of the artist Akiyo Satorigi!

As a matter of fact, when I heard about the manga idea, I was secretly wondering, “But…how will they handle the chat scenes…?” Well, that’s something I’m looking forward to learning. In fact, these novels are really unsuited to a visual medium! I have nothing but thanks to Mr. Kuma from Square Enix for pushing so hard for this project.

Even I don’t know what sort of manga this will turn out to be. As yet another reader like all of you, I can’t wait to find out how the world of Ikebukuro comes to life in manga form!

That may have been a huge mental boost for me, but I was still physically exhausted, so I enjoyed a few days of rest and relaxation after turning in the manuscript.

To fully enjoy my mini-vacation, I joined a number of other authors (some of whom might have been on the clock before deadlines, so I will not divulge any names) in an all-night board-game tournament at the home of Mr. Saegusa, a fellow writer. When I first saw his place, with two entire walls covered with board games both domestic and foreign, I nearly screamed. Gamers are scary.

A few days later, I visited the new home of my friend Mr. Sigsawa, where we played Fallout 3 and Test Drive, then watched through all of Astro Fighter Sunred and the latest episode of Toradora! Mr. Sigsawa is a devout practitioner of safe driving in the real world, so watching him barrel all over Hawaii in Test Drive on a TV screen the size of a wall was really fun for the whole group.

…Wait… I didn’t really get much rest at all, did I?

Anyway, my break is over, which means it’s back to the carnage again.

I currently have a little story I wrote for April Fools’ last year running as a special bonus add-on to a magazine called TYPE-MOON Ace, Volume 2 (Thanks, everyone at TYPE-MOON!), as well as a number of other projects in the works, but my Dengeki workload is still at full throttle.

After Durarara!! I’ll have Hariyama-san or Baccano! 1710 or Vamp! or perhaps straight into Durarara!! Volume 7. Whatever happens, there will be no time to stop and breathe. No time at all…!

Even as I begin to lose sight of where I end and the work begins, I’ve been enjoying video games as a means to get back to my basics.

Meanwhile, my artists are becoming visible all over the game industry, what with Yasuda in Devil Survivor and Enami in Star Ocean 4.

It feels strange, having that world be so distant and yet so close to me. Speaking of which, Devil Survivor is seriously way too fun to be allowed. If I get started on that topic, no number of pages will contain me, so I’ll hold back. Meanwhile, Fallout 3 on the Xbox 360 is blowing my mind as well, but the same limitations apply.

*The following is the usual list of acknowledgements.

To my editor, who has to put up with my constant nonsense at all times, Mr. Papio. To managing editor Suzuki, editor Jasmine Tokuda, and the rest of the editorial office, including one Mr. M who served as the model for an Awakusu-kai character.

To the proofreaders, whom I give a hard time by being so late with submissions. To all the designers involved with the production of the book. To all the people at Media Works involved in marketing, publishing, and sales.

To my family who do so much for me in so many ways, my friends, and the people of “S City.”

To all the writers and illustrators working with Dengeki Bunko for their inspiration and permission.

To Suzuhito Yasuda, for providing such wonderful illustrations, despite being busy with his work on Devil Survivor and his Yozakura series.

And to all the readers who checked out this book.

Thank you all so very, very, very much!

January 2009 — “Heading into playthrough number three of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor”

Ryohgo Narita