(L) Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria

[alviam099]

THe new volume has been released right? I wonder how mind blowing it'll get.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Got it for a few days now actually


Will be long before I read though. Index NT 6 and Ourai have far higher priority


To be honest, vol 5 was quite a turn off for me

[alviam099]

I agree, the character development was just wham!

It came out of nowhere. That's why I consider it quite *mind blowing* though it was a turn off to me as well.

Is it the last volume though?

[EusthEnoptEron]

The first half was a bit meh, but I loved the second half of volume 5. Still has by far the highest priority for me.

Is it the last volume though?

No.

[mangafreak7793]

I mentioned my feeling on volume 5, I just hope 6 will make up for it.

[Utsuro no Hako]

BT has the illustrations for vol. 6 up.

Spoiler for illustrations:

Looks like we're getting some Mogi action this time, though her quote is a bit ominious, something like, "I gave up on Hoshino-kun after I remembered."

Now can anyone figure out who's standing behind her? I'd guess Haruaki, but the illustration doesn't look a thing like the picture of him in volume 1.

[Shadow5YA]

Originally Posted by Utsuro no Hako

BT has the illustrations for vol. 6 up.

Spoiler for illustrations:

Looks like we're getting some Mogi action this time, though her quote is a bit ominious, something like, "I gave up on Hoshino-kun after I remembered."

Now can anyone figure out who's standing behind her? I'd guess Haruaki, but the illustration doesn't look a thing like the picture of him in volume 1.

Volume 6 is out?

[DevotionFX]

Originally Posted by Shadow5YA

Volume 6 is out?

Yeah, It was out on 10th January.

[EusthEnoptEron]

Originally Posted by Utsuro no Hako

BT has the illustrations for vol. 6 up.

Spoiler for illustrations:

Looks like we're getting some Mogi action this time, though her quote is a bit ominious, something like, "I gave up on Hoshino-kun after I remembered."

Now can anyone figure out who's standing behind her? I'd guess Haruaki, but the illustration doesn't look a thing like the picture of him in volume 1.

There are still two illustrations missing, though, which I'll upload when I'm done.

Spoiler:

And yes, it is Haruaki. Just bishonenfized and a few years older in appearance. But don't ask me why Testsuo is doing this. :O

Btw. if anyone wants to read the afterword (spoilerfree):

Spoiler:

Hi, I am Eiji Mikage and this was Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria 6. I have imagined the end of this story quite a while ago, so actually writing it comes with deep emotion.
This may be a bit random, but I have "a pro must not be human" for my motto.
That is a statement Ou-san, a person who I much respect, has made on TV when he still was the coach of the Hawks[1]. My memory might fail me regarding the exact wording, but I think he said something along these lines:
"Every human makes mistakes. But players who think that they may make mistakes because they are human will make the same mistake again. Therefore, pros must not be human."
I remember being impressed and thinking that this strong awareness of being a professional was what allowed him to get such great results.
I think in order to follow through with one's will, it is necessary to aim higher than the human limits, not limited to professional baseball. I am still far from that realm, but I want to work hard to get there someday.
On to the thank-you note.
Thanks to my editor in charge, Miki-san, for assisting me smoothly despite his tight schedule.
Thanks to Tetsuo-san for the gorgeous illustrations every time. The anticipation to see them is one thing that encourages me to write this story.

All right, there is one volume left. Thinking back, this project was so hard to write that I almost gave up while writing the first volume. I finally came this far. I will definitely finish what I have started, so I would really appreciate it if you accompanied me.
Furthermore, I will announce a new work in spring. I think that readers of this series will also enjoy the new one, so if you would like, give it a try.
I'm writing both with passion, so please don't urge me too much to already push out the last volume, okay?!

Well then, I hope we will meet again soon!

--Eiji Mikage

[azziz]

Originally Posted by EusthEnoptEron

There are still two illustrations missing, though, which I'll upload when I'm done.

Spoiler:

And yes, it is Haruaki. Just bishonenfized and a few years older in appearance. But don't ask me why Testsuo is doing this. :O

Btw. if anyone wants to read the afterword (spoilerfree):

Spoiler:

Hi, I am Eiji Mikage and this was Utsuro no Hako to Zero no Maria 6. I have imagined the end of this story quite a while ago, so actually writing it comes with deep emotion.
This may be a bit random, but I have "a pro must not be human" for my motto.
That is a statement Ou-san, a person who I much respect, has made on TV when he still was the coach of the Hawks[1]. My memory might fail me regarding the exact wording, but I think he said something along these lines:
"Every human makes mistakes. But players who think that they may make mistakes because they are human will make the same mistake again. Therefore, pros must not be human."
I remember being impressed and thinking that this strong awareness of being a professional was what allowed him to get such great results.
I think in order to follow through with one's will, it is necessary to aim higher than the human limits, not limited to professional baseball. I am still far from that realm, but I want to work hard to get there someday.
On to the thank-you note.
Thanks to my editor in charge, Miki-san, for assisting me smoothly despite his tight schedule.
Thanks to Tetsuo-san for the gorgeous illustrations every time. The anticipation to see them is one thing that encourages me to write this story.

All right, there is one volume left. Thinking back, this project was so hard to write that I almost gave up while writing the first volume. I finally came this far. I will definitely finish what I have started, so I would really appreciate it if you accompanied me.
Furthermore, I will announce a new work in spring. I think that readers of this series will also enjoy the new one, so if you would like, give it a try.
I'm writing both with passion, so please don't urge me too much to already push out the last volume, okay?!

Well then, I hope we will meet again soon!

--Eiji Mikage

comparing to the last vol.,who was for me the great diapoitment sinse the start of this serie,how would you rate it?
i truly hope he won't screw up the end,if only by regard for all your work as translator.

[EusthEnoptEron]

Originally Posted by azziz

comparing to the last vol.,who was for me the great diapoitment sinse the start of this serie,how would you rate it?
i truly hope he won't screw up the end,if only by regard for all your work as translator.

Oh, it has its flaws but I enjoyed it. That being said, if you didn't like v5, v6 might not fully satisfy you, either, as it continues right where v5 left off.

[mangafreak7793]

I disliked vol5 a lot due to how it came crashing down so quickly....I fear how this one will try to make up for it

[NeutralZero]

they can make up for it by killing Daiya in the most 'morbid' manner...

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by NeutralZero

they can make up for it by killing Daiya in the most 'morbid' manner...

Spoiler for Kokone Illustration:

Well the Kokone illustration has her saying, "I love Daiya," which strikes me as a potential death flag for one of them.

[Cosmic Eagle]

For me it isn't Daiya so much as in the entire thing felt weak in terms of writing compared to the rest. Until I just lost interest

[Shadow5YA]

Originally Posted by EusthEnoptEron

There are still two illustrations missing, though, which I'll upload when I'm done.

Spoiler:

And yes, it is Haruaki. Just bishonenfized and a few years older in appearance. But don't ask me why Testsuo is doing this. :O

I don't think it's as much of an intentional change as it is that Tetsuo's drawing style just evolved. It just looks more like what he drew in volume 5 to me.

[EusthEnoptEron]

Originally Posted by Shadow5YA

I don't think it's as much of an intentional change as it is that Tetsuo's drawing style just evolved. It just looks more like what he drew in volume 5 to me.

Yes, I was talking about his style since v5. Anyway, while I see that he must have evolved as an artist, I do think that he should at least make an effort to make the drawings look a bit more like the previous art he has done. I mean, even the proportions are entirely different. :O Well, I do still like his style, though.

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

For me it isn't Daiya so much as in the entire thing felt weak in terms of writing compared to the rest. Until I just lost interest

I guess it's a bit of a love-it-or-hate-it situation. I also heard of people who thought that v5 was the best so far.

[mangafreak7793]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

For me it isn't Daiya so much as in the entire thing felt weak in terms of writing compared to the rest. Until I just lost interest

True, the writing was weak. I guess what bothered me was the dramatic change in character development especially for the main character and the tomboy (names I can't remember right now) who reverted to any development they had.

While it was hinted in vol 4 that the main was changing, I felt it was poorly done.

[Shadow5YA]

I felt like Kazuki's initial character had little presence and barely stood out at all, so his change in volume 4 was something I welcomed.

[waffler]

i just hope maria doesnt die