[Afterword]

Hello! I'm Kowa-sensei (or just Kowa). I'm the writer of this story I affectionately call <REFAGEKI>. Somehow, I managed to beat procrastination and all the other walls in my way long enough to finish this part. It wasn't easy, but thanks to your support, I found the strength to do it. Really... thank you so much!

Well, how could I talk about this work without starting with our illustrious protagonist, Murakami Katou? Truth is, it's a little difficult, since this narrative simply wouldn't exist without him. And I don't just mean that because he's the main character or because it's told in first person, but because so much of what happens seems to revolve around him, even if only indirectly.

I'll admit: I took a lot of risks in choosing this kind of voice. For some readers, Katou can be extremely irritating at times. I understand that. Since there's no neutrality in how he filters the story, it's easy for people to end up hating him. Even so… I hope that at least those of you who enjoyed Katou's twisted mind and followed the journey this far feel somewhat rewarded by the tiny steps of progress he made during this arc. I know, I know… there's still a long road ahead for him.

I also hope that, in one way or another, he managed to get a laugh out of you with his so-called 'foolproof plans,' and that—just like me—you're curious to see what comes next.

Looking back, I think I was able to bring in all the elements I wanted at the start: chaos, confusion, breadcrumbs, a fragmented narrative, and a questionable timeline; all designed to give shape to the concept. An isekai where the protagonist loses his game memories sounded like a really fun idea when it first hit me, and as I developed it, I started to wonder how I could make it engaging without relying on an 'OP' protagonist (in the usual sense of the word) or leaning too much on fanservice. Not that there's anything wrong with either approach, but this time I wanted to steer away from that and let the whole piece rest entirely on the psychology of these three characters. Now, whether I pulled that off well or not… I honestly don't know. I'll leave that for you to decide. Please feel free to tell me what you liked, what you hated, and where I can improve. I'm learning a little more each day, and your feedback is extremely valuable to me. I'd really appreciate it.

With that said, I'd like to thank Japanese Rose for following the crazy journey of these three and leaving such kind comments. To my sister and my friends, who patiently listened to me talk about this project almost every single day. And to everyone who read and pushed me to keep going. You've been incredible from the very start of this arc, and without you I wouldn't have finished. I hope to see you again in my future projects, and I'll do my best to keep growing as a writer so I can bring you tales you'll enjoy. I know I still have a long way to go, but just knowing I can share my madness with you already makes me unbelievably happy.

Best of luck to everyone in this contest, and allow me to say it one last time:

Thank you so much.

Kowa