Full Metal Panic! - Volume SS02.1 - Unflinching Two-Out Inning? - Chapter Aft

Afterword

This book is made up of the Full Metal Panic! short stories serialized in Dragon Magazine between December 1998 and April 1999, with revisions, plus one original story. I hope you enjoy them as lighthearted comedies.

Regarding this book’s title... you’ve probably already realized, but the numbers in the titles correspond to their volume number. I can do okay with 3 and 4, but things might get sketchy on, like, 6 and 9. By the way, I added the question mark at the end because symbols make a book’s title stand out on the shelves. It’s a little trick we writers use.

Now let’s comment on each story.

“A Hostage of No Compromise”

My big Delinquent Army vs. Protagonist story played out in a pretty anticlimactic way. I guess it makes sense... Sousuke is used to dealing with heavily-armed terrorists, after all. If any of your friends or girlfriends get captured by thugs, please don’t try to do what Sousuke does. Just go to the police. Most policemen are nice people. Everyone except for Officer *** of *** Precinct who took me in for a parking violation even though I was innocent. That bastard discriminated against me because I’m not white. Call a lawyer!

(Just kidding. Please don’t arrest me.)

“A Lunchtime of Wasted Effort”

I’ve always been bad at classical Japanese. The idea of figuring things out from context just doesn’t work for me. It’s the same reason I always hated modern literature tests. I was bad at writing essays, too. When asked to put down what I wanted to be, I would write, “I want to bioengineer a pet-sized panda and mass produce them to make bank.” And my teachers wouldn’t take me seriously. Though personally, I think it’s a great idea...

Anyway, I was awful at language stuff all around. Heh.

“Lethal Weapon of Blasphemy”

To research this story, I traveled around the neighborhood doing some simple info-gathering on shrines. So, you had a big, rough-looking, unshaven guy who’d just pulled an all-nighter wandering around these shrine grounds. I was checking the construction of the buildings, the surrounding foliage, the location of the shrine office and such, and definitely came off as Suspect Shouji Gatou (20s, Unemployed.) When the priest asked me how he could help me, I thought it was a great chance to ask him lots of questions. I asked, “What’s your shrine’s object of worship?” and “How much does it cost?” and “Do you have any anti-theft systems?”

The priest wouldn’t tell me. Instead, he asked for my name and address.

“The War Cry of Overkill”

I actually don’t know much about rugby. Sorry to anyone who plays it seriously. But I do think it’s very aggressive. I’m also sorry to H*ros*e Ryoko fans. But I have to say (omitted). Just kidding. I do think she’s a sincere and nice girl. Please don’t stab me.

“Single-Minded Strike-Out”

This is a story with the love comedy elements on full throttle. (Fumoffu!) I think some people might get it wrong, so make sure that Bonta-kun’s first letter is B, and not P. And definitely not “G.” Be careful there!

“Captain Amigo and Golden Days”

I decided to write a short story comedy about novel characters. For more about Kurz Weber and Mithril, please check out the novels. I think it’s okay to do a story about two guys hanging out once in a while (er, right?). I recommend playing blues in the background while you read it. Personally, I like the sense of weariness that runs through the whole story. Next up is a story about Tessa... maybe?

Anyway. I’d like to thank quite a few people for their help this time around. I’m so grateful. Most thanks to the extremely busy Shikidouji-san.

Next volume will be the third novel, and it’ll probably be around autumn when it’s published. Let’s see each other in Dragon Magazine serialization until then.

See you later. Next time, Kaname’s fan will howl once more.