Afterword
This volume comprises the short stories published in Monthly Dragon Magazine between December of 1999 and the summer of 2000, as well as one additional story. This means I wrote some of these stories two years ago, which surprised even me when I looked back on them. Incidentally, the FMP! anime is in production as I’m writing this, though it’s been put off due to real-world issues.
That’s a real shame, but to mark the occasion I decided to make a call to the anime’s director, Koichi Chigira, and asked him for a comment. Take it away, Chigira-san.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Chigira, and I’ve just woken up from a nap on my animation desk. In the studio, a young member of the production staff is running down the hall with a pack of key frames. Beside me I can hear the scratching pencil of the supervising director Horiuchi, quietly correcting layouts. We also just moved to a new studio, which is a nice change of pace. I feel like everyone’s much more excited. The abrupt delay of broadcast is a true shame, but everyone’s working to get things ready for when FMP! does get the go-ahead, so we hope you’ll all cheer for us.”
Yes, thank you. Sounds like it’s pretty touch and go there... Let’s imagine it a little more like this.
Gatou: So this is being broadcast from the base in Khe Sanh, currently under attack by North Vietnamese forces. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Chigira, a comment, if you will.
Chigira: (over distant artillery and sporadic gunfire) This is Lieutenant Colonel Chigira with the defense forces! I just saw a young corporal running off, carrying orders. I can hear the sounds of battle from Echo Platoon led by Captain Horiuchi from the nearby 861 high ground (sound of mortars exploding and the roar of planes). North Vietnamese shelling has forced us to move from Ogikubo to the battalion command center, which is a nice change of pace. Our group morale is high, but... What?! I can’t hear you! Never mind! Fire, fire!
Gatou: Hello? Hello, Colonel?
Chigira: Yes! The sudden order to retreat was regrettable, but we’re ready to take back our base at any time! My officers are working to the death, so please support them! Can you hear me?! I need air support! A large supply of napalm bombs... what?! Yeah, drop it on me! I get it! I don’t care!
Gatou: Colonel? Please respond! Colonel?!
Chigira: You damned gooks! Come get me! I’ll take you all on! (gunshots and screaming)
Gatou: Colonel Chigira?!
That’s basically what it’s like in a chaotic anime production line.
Now, let’s have the usual comments on each story.
“A Pure Yet Impure Grappler”
The idea behind this story was to challenge myself. Looking back on it now, I think it works okay. Incidentally, the only martial art I’ve ever practiced is kendo. I remember always feeling very stressed out about the rule that you can only attack three places (in middle school, thrusts were forbidden).
“A Trespass on Good Faith”
Another Tsubaki and Sousuke episode picking up on the last one. It feels like a continuation of the last story, but I seem to like old man characters. I think that male characters pick up fun idiosyncrasies as they get old. It’s a kind of tragic comedy. Their previous life experiences have given them flavor, you could say. I don’t know if it’s connected to that, but Shiki-sensei also seems to like old man characters.
“Fancies Without Honor or Humanity”
Third in the Bonta-kun series. I wonder if we’ll ever make those Bonta-kun dolls? And after Suganuma-san, head of the Ryujin Cooperative, promised ‘We’ll give it a try. Fumoffu’... (Just kidding). If you want them to exist, send letters to the editor saying ‘Plushies, fumoffu!’ Though I can’t actually guarantee it’ll ever happen.
“The Afterschool Peacekeeper”
I thought about changing this one a lot but decided to leave it more or less the same. At the time I wrote this story (only two years ago), I was optimistic about the territorial conflicts it was based on. Though now in 2001... I feel like I’ve come to realize just how deep the problems are.
“The Lost Old Dog”
I don’t know why the adventures between an old person and a young one are so easily mined for drama. I went to Hiroshima with my grandmother when she was still alive. She was stubborn and never listened to anyone, but getting little glimpses of her life and her past gave me a lot to think about. She’s no longer with us, but I still think about all the things I wish I’d asked her about regarding her past.
“A Relatively Uneventful Day in the Life of a Battle Group Commander”
This is a different style of story from any before it. I was drinking with some people involved with the FMP! TCG and the next day I had a hangover and thought up the concept. It’s kind of like a way to clear through a bunch of elements of the various characters’ everyday lives that I can’t find time to depict in the novels. At the same time, I feel like I’m exposing their weaknesses. Especially Clouseau—so much for his serious image. Of course, I designed him like that from the start, and his relationship with Kurz is like this by default. I just didn’t have time to depict that due to the mood and pacing of Day by Day. I’m sure it’s fine, though.
We’ve made it to the fifth volume of short stories, and I feel like coming up with the titles is getting hard. I’m sure Five-Alarm Fire is fine enough here. I’m always tossing ideas around with my editor, and now we have to do six... I’m not sure how much longer I can keep it up. I think I’m just too stupid to manage it. So I’ll be recruiting requests for the next title. If I take your idea, I’ll send you a super-rare telephone card and a signed edition of the next short story volume! Send letters to the Fujimi Fantasia Bunko editorial department with the heading ‘I’ve got the sixth short story collection title!’
But enough of my pathetic requests. The next release should be the light and unserious novel I previously mentioned.
Anyway, see you. Next time, Kaname’s fan will roar once more.
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