Makeine is finally getting an anime adaptation!
I can't find the words to thank all the readers who have nurtured this work up to this point.
I've been speaking with the staff, and there's no doubt that something wonderful is being created, so please look forward to it!
Now, let me express my gratitude once again.
As you all know, light novels are a combination of text and illustrations.
Our editor weaves the text and illustrations together into a single book that reaches your hands.
To my editor, Iwasa-san, who patiently stuck with me up to Volume 2 when I still believed Yanami was a "classic heroine".
To the illustrator, Imigimuru-sensei, who brought the characters to life and vividly depicted the world.
I owe both of you an eternal debt of gratitude.
And to everyone in the editorial department who supported the publication.
The proofreaders who meticulously check every detail, the designers who create the beautiful covers and bands, and to the many others that support the creation of each volume.
It is printed, goes through many distribution channels, and finally reaches the hands of supportive readers-
Each connection made this anime adaptation possible.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved.
And to the warm support from everyone in Mikawa.
Seeing Makeine lined up in Seibunkan Bookstore, where I stopped by almost daily after school as a high school student, feels like a dream.
These miracles have connected, and the second JR Tokai collaboration event is set for 2024!
This was made possible by the enthusiasm of the participants and the dedicated efforts of the planners and organizers who made the first event a success.
It will be a fun event, so please come visit Toyohashi!
Also, the Makeine sections at Melonbooks and Animate are lovely, so be sure to check them out when you visit!
Now, for the customary short story at the end of the volume.
Two people who should've never met encountered each other in a corner of Tsuwabuki High School…
Secret x Secret
Spring Break at Tsuwabuki High School.
In the broadcasting room bathed in the evening sunlight, two female students sat across a table from each other.
One of them wore a one-piece uniform, not from Tsuwabuki High School.
"Thank you for inviting me, senpai."
The one who bowed politely is Kaju Nukumizu, a second-year student at Momozono Middle School.
The "Temporary Entry Pass" card hanging from her neck swayed.
"I'm the one who should be thanking you, Kaju-san. I've been wanting to have a proper chat with you. Please, have some tea before it gets cold."
The person with a shiny forehead who offered Kaju some tea is Chihaya Asagumo.
Kaju took a sip of the tea from her mug, unable to hide her curiosity as she looked around the broadcasting room.
"Asagumo-senpai, are you in the Broadcasting Club?"
"No, but I help out with various things. Thanks to that, I got the key to this room-"
Asagumo stood up, pulled a large bundle of papers from a shelf, and placed it heavily on the table.
Kaju looked at the cover of the booklet, tilting her head in puzzlement.
"Is this…a wiring diagram?"
Asagumo nodded excitedly and spread her arms wide to open the booklet of wiring diagrams.
"This contains the electrical and acoustic wiring of the entire Tsuwabuki High School!"
Asagumo spoke rapidly after taking a deep breath.
"In research projects, securing a power supply is always a headache, but this solves everything! By comparing the diagrams by era, I found several unused wires! If we repurpose these to modify the speakers into microphones-"
Asagumo abruptly stopped and tapped her forehead.
"...Ara, I'm sorry. I got carried away and started talking to myself."
Asagumo sat back down with a remorseful expression, but Kaju shook her head.
"No, I'm very interested in what you have to say, senpai. Could you please tell me more?"
Asagumo's face lit up.
"Gladly! But, of course, no misuse is allowed, okay? What I'm doing is just adding a few more ears, so to speak, not for any nefarious purposes."
"Yes, I know you're not that kind of person, senpai. By the way, is this something you forgot?"
Kaju placed a tiny black chip marked with the number 3 on the table.
Asagumo stared at it, frozen for a moment.
"Ara, I was wondering where that went. Where did you find it?"
"Yes, I found it by chance in the greenhouse of the Gardening Club at Momozono Middle School."
"That's pretty unexpected, isn't it? I also have some quail sable. Would you like some?"
"Yes, thank you, senpai."
Silently, the two shared a smile and began eating.
The crunchy texture and maple aroma paired well with the hot tea.
"...Asagumo-senpai, have you already set up your 'ears' around Tsuwabuki?"
"Yes, I've installed a few on a trial basis. Of course, it's not for any suspicious purposes."
The two exchanged silent smiles again. It's not for those purposes, after all.
"For example, would you happen to know what Kaju was doing before coming to the broadcasting room?"
"I only know what my 'ears' have picked up. …Well, you stopped by the student council room before coming here, right?"
"Yes, you heard that, huh?"
Kaju stuck out her tongue playfully.
"There, you talked with the vice president, Basori-san, then you were confessed to by a Tsuwabuki male student in the courtyard and turned him down, and then you headed to the west building-"
Asagumo smiled as she questioned Kaju.
"...You were in the Literature Club room for a while, even though no one was there. I wonder what you were doing."
A brief silence. Kaju smiled only with her mouth.
"Just taking a little nap. Kaju has been sleep-deprived lately."
"Ara, that's not good."
"Yes, I'll be careful from now on."
Smiling, they both sipped their tea.
"But it seems a bit difficult for Kaju to imitate. Kaju has dabbled in retroductive reasoning, but it's not as easy as for you, senpai."
"Retroductive reasoning, is it? I'm interested. Can you tell anything about me by looking?"
Asagumo's eyes sparkled with curiosity as Kaju stared at her.
"Did you go out for a meal with your boyfriend during a break from cram school yesterday, Asagumo-senpai?"
"Yeah, I did last night-"
Kaju cut her off mid-sentence.
"The curry udon at Seigawa Honten is delicious, isn't it?"
"...How did you know that?"
Asagumo, eyes wide like a squirrel's, looked at Kaju, who smiled.
"Because your ribbon has a curry stain on it, Asagumo-san."
Asagumo hurriedly looked down at her chest, but there wasn't a single stain on her ribbon.
"...Kaju-san?"
"Hehe, just kidding."
A brief silence. Asagumo nodded with a smile.
"Oh, it was a joke."
"Yes, it was a joke. I just have a friend in the same cram school as you, senpai."
"Hehe, you got me there. Kaju-san, would you like more tea?"
Asagumo's expression wavered again as she stood up.
Following her gaze, Kaju clapped her hands.
"The amplifier was left on, so Kaju turned it off when I entered the room."
"Ara, thank you very much. I was a bit careless."
"We almost ended up recording the whole conversation."
"Yes, almost did. Hehe."
…Hehehehehe. The joyful laughter echoed in the soundproof broadcasting room.
Asagumo poured steaming tea into her mug.
“Kaju-san, don't you think we could be good friends?"
"Indeed, Asagumo-senpai. Kaju thinks so, too."
Asagumo reached her hand out with a smile. Kaju held it.
Yet another flower of friendship has blossomed in Tsuwabuki High School during spring break-
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