Bluebird: Afterword
Thank you for picking up Bluebird. This
book is set within the Omegaverse concept but is, at its core, a love story
between two salarymen. There are explanations about the Omegaverse within the
story itself, so even readers unfamiliar with the concept should find it easy
to follow.
I’m deeply fond of the Omegaverse setting...
There was a time when I devoured anything labeled as Omegaverse with
unstoppable enthusiasm, reading book after book. Although I’ve calmed down a
bit now, if I see an Omegaverse story, I still can’t resist. So, when I was
invited to contribute to an anthology featuring this theme, I was thrilled.
However, there’s often a gap between the worlds I love and the stories I can
write. When I pitched the idea of an "Alpha uke" to my editor, it was
quickly rejected, and I had to reconsider. That’s how Bluebird came to
be.
Despite the grand Omegaverse setting, the
characters—Inukai and Kawachi—are portrayed as ordinary people. Inukai, the
Alpha, is kind, thoughtful, and persistent, while Kawachi, the Omega, is a man
with a normal perspective on life. With a handsome, steadfast seme and a
down-to-earth uke, the story naturally gravitates toward a sensitive romance.
Adding the Omegaverse element made things more complex, but in the end, the two
characters find themselves in a sweet, loving relationship.
There were a few "moe" points I
wanted to include, but this time, the key was breastmilk. It’s something that
wouldn’t normally appear in everyday BL stories, so it was refreshing and fun
to write it so openly. My excitement went overboard, and I couldn’t stop
imagining illustrations of those scenes.
For the illustrations, I was lucky to have
Minejima Nawako-sensei onboard. Since the story featured a handsome seme and a
solidly-built uke, I was really looking forward to seeing the results. Both
Inukai and Kawachi perfectly matched my vision, and the intimate scenes were
brimming with "moe." The illustrations of the children were so
adorably drawn that I regretted not giving them more scenes.
This story is divided into two parts. When the
first part was published in the anthology, I received feedback saying,
"It’s hard to see a happy future for them." But in my mind, the full
story had a happy ending. Now that I’ve written it to completion, seeing the
cover illustration by Minejima-sensei, where the two are overflowing with
happiness, made me feel a warm joy. I’m deeply grateful to Minejima-sensei for
elevating my story and making it shine even brighter. I hope readers will feel
the same way.
I also owe a lot to my editor. Their suggestion
to add a "luxurious touch to the bedding" in the final romantic scene
struck a chord with me, and I had so much fun incorporating it.
For those who have followed my work, I hope
this book offers a refreshing and heartwarming experience, filled with pure
love without too much tension. I’d be delighted if you enjoy the Omegaverse
world and the way it challenges and shapes the two protagonists.
I look forward to seeing you again in my next
book.
—Konohara Narise
To be honest, this novel left me feeling a bit conflicted. The two of them seem happy in the end, but Kawachi's story was so bleak in the first half, and his future health situation doesn't sound too good either.. I guess it makes sense that his only chance at happiness is to accept things as they are, and developing feelings for Inukai made it easier, but the whole thing is still kind of sad (to me). Nevertheless, it was an interesting read. I didn't know that Konohara liked omegaverse, but I'm not surprised somehow) Though the whole idea of that universe is already depressing even before adding her twist to it. Still, I'm glad I read it. Thank you so much for translating it!
ReplyDeleteWhat are your impressions of the story?
The kids were adorable, but that’s about the only light part of the story for me. Kawachi wanted children on his own terms—he didn’t want to birth them himself, and he was ready to live alone rather than be taken by another man. Then Inukai took that choice away from him. Yes, it was an accident, but it still crushed Kawachi’s dream of marrying the woman he loved and having children with her.
DeleteEven knowing Inukai was his fated mate didn’t sway Kawachi—that’s how little he cared about those so-called natural instincts. Kawachi seemed very rational, while Inukai was more emotional. Part of me wonders if Kawachi was traumatized by witnessing what happened to Yoshino. Maybe that left him with a deep fear of being put in a similar situation, or seeing two men together as something shameful. Perhaps that hindered him from accepting his feelings for Inukai or even allowing himself to feel good when they were together.
Honestly, I don’t think Inukai would have been Kawachi’s first choice under different circumstances.
I agree. If anything, it's good that both of them genuinely cared about the kids, despite the circumstances of their birth, but Kawachi losing freedom of choice is nothing but tragic, even if he makes peace with it eventually.
DeleteInukai strikes me as a bit immature, I think his upbringing and family status played a role there, it feels like he haven't encountered a lot of obstacles. Like he knows that things are difficult for Kawachi as an omega male, but doesn't understand his perspective all that well, or something. He is trying to be considerate and kind, but I can't help but dislike him, that's kind of role he is placed into.
I liked that in contrast to the main couple there were Mizuguchi and his wife, also fated mates, but with very different lives. So it's not like everyone whose fate was decided by pheromones is miserable, but other factors should also align for the relationship. Like you said, Kawachi probably wouldn't have picked Inukai if he had more of a choice. It feels like his reluctance to give in to Inukai is both because of not wanting to lose control over himself (like Yoshino did) and because he just isn't into men that much.. I think he got as far as he did because his will to live was strong enough. I kind of wish we got to see Kawachi's perspective in the end, to know more clearly how his feelings changed.
Thanks for the translation Jewels 😊. I'm not a fan of Omegaverse but I'm glad Konohara-Sensei loves it & can write about it. I enjoyed this quite a lot. It was rocky in the beginning with Kawachi struggling & having such a massive internal conflict. The way the Omegaverse in this story represents pure untamed animalistic desires, a mix of pain and pleasure. A classic theme of Konohara-Sensei turning hate into love, pleasure and pain. I love how in love Inukai's deep love and loyalty for Kawachi. There's a poem that states ...." I worry that love is violence..." Which applies to this novel. Kawachi gets hurt often by Inukai's love. Kawachi seems to be running from his destiny of being Inukai mate, until he can't run anymore. I'm glad this had a happy ending and was light with some very sweet moments. The drawings and kids are super adorable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, D! I'm glad you enjoyed it too 😁. Putting aside the ABO setting, this novel was classic Konohara: unrequited love, hurt, pain, internal struggle, pining and longing, conflict, reconciliation, and ultimately coming together in love (most of the time 😅). That quote you mentioned reminded me of another one: "There is no right or wrong when it comes to love, but the way in which you show your love has wrongs and rights." I often think about that when reading these kinds of novels—can everything really be justified in the name of love?
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