Yellow Diamond: Afterword

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Thank you very much for reading Yellow Diamond. This is a re-release of a book that originally came out a long time ago. If you own the original and decided to pick up this new edition as well, I am truly, truly grateful.

In preparing this re-release, I did feel a bit of the inevitable awkwardness that comes with time passing, so I’ve made some small adjustments here and there to ensure that readers can enjoy it without feeling too much discomfort. I hope that with these revisions, the story will be able to live a little longer as a piece of literature. Since this was one of my earlier works, you’ll find a lot of mountains, rivers, and oceans throughout. Revisiting these settings—places that align with my own memories—felt both nostalgic and overwhelming as I made corrections. I imagine that what readers picture might differ from my own memories, but I found it surprisingly fun to try and capture them in writing.

The title story, Yellow Diamond, is about Kunihiko’s long, unrequited love, which finally bears fruit. Loving one person for such a long time is both joyful and painful, and I found myself reflecting on it as though it were someone else’s story. Isamu, the object of his affection, is the type of person who’s honest about his feelings, so I imagine that the two of them will live together for the rest of their lives. It’s a happy ending with no worries about the future.

The sequel, My Tooth Hurts, is about Isamu’s son, Shun’ichi. My editor asked, “Is this really BL (boys’ love)?” but yes, it is BL. It’s a story about the budding of a BL relationship. This continues into the new story, Ten Years of Love, which was written specifically for this re-release.

Ten Years of Love is about a boy who falls in love with Shun’ichi. In a way, he’s like the younger Kunihiko from the previous story. The difference is that he becomes aware of his feelings fairly early on. But don’t worry—this character will also find happiness. Recently, I’ve been in a particularly lovey-dovey mood, so this new story has a soft, warm atmosphere. There are no harsh developments, so I hope everyone enjoys the sweet, playful romance between these youthful characters, like watching puppies play.

For this re-release, I asked the talented artist Tama Hatoya to illustrate the story. Their depiction of Kunihiko—serious and inflexible—was a perfect match for how I imagined him, and I thought, Yes, this is it!  Isamu was also drawn with a cute, relaxed vibe. But the real star was young Shun’ichi—he was so adorably charming that just looking at the rough sketches was enough to make me squeal with delight. Every illustration was carefully crafted, and the cover, overflowing with a warm, happy feeling, was simply wonderful. Thank you so much.

Although this is a re-release, the manuscript came together much faster than usual. My editor even remarked, “I’ve never seen it finished this quickly!” I’m usually cutting it really close, so I apologize for all the times I’ve pushed deadlines to the limit. I truly appreciate the editor’s patience and enduring support.

I hope that those who pick up this slightly retouched work will feel warm and cozy as they enjoy it. I look forward to seeing you again in my next book.

—Konohara Narise

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