First of all, thank you for purchasing Volume 3.
It's thanks to all your voices of support that we've been able to continue releasing new volumes like this. The comic adaptation that began its web serialization has also been quite popular. It seems to have sparked interest in the novels as well, which makes me incredibly happy as the author. I hope you'll continue to give me your unwavering support.
This new volume is coming out about five months after the release of Volume 2. While I was working on the manuscript for Volume 3, which is almost entirely new material, I returned to my hometown for the first time in a while. I was looking forward to seeing my family's black pug (a male), who I use for my personal Twitter icon, but as it turns out, he had developed a cervical hernia when I went home last year. Because of that, his hind legs were almost completely immobile, so he had to crawl around using only his front legs.
It's been over a decade since he first joined our family, and given his advanced age, I'd thought it would be difficult for his condition to improve… However, when I was finally reunited with him, while he wasn't quite back to his old self, he still managed to greet me by cheerfully standing on his own four feet.
He's still taking other medication for his condition, but his gluttonous appetite from his puppy days hasn't changed a bit. The way he gobbles up his own food in an instant, then wanders over to me or my family while we're eating to beg for scraps is exactly the same as it's always been. I couldn't help but find it funny. Even now, I still think about it from time to time, and it always cheers me up.
With the coronavirus still showing no signs of letting up, these are some pretty depressing times, but I hope to keep doing my best in my own way.
Now then, that's enough about me. It might be cliché, but I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make the publication of this volume possible.
To Hyuuga Azuri-sensei, who took over as illustrator starting with Volume 2; to the editors at Sneaker Bunko, and my own editor in particular; and for the comic adaptation, to Ono Rin-sensei and everyone at the Alive editorial department. The I Made Friends with the Second Prettiest Girl in My Class series is only possible thanks to the help and cooperation of so many people. I look forward to working with you all going forward.
And finally, to my readers, the cold season is upon us once again. Please take good care of your physical and mental health, and I wish you all a happy new year.