Durarara!!, Vol. 6

by Ryohgo Narita

  He knew that this was nothing but an excuse he was making to himself.

  In truth, his stabbing of the other boy’s hand had nothing to do with Masaomi and Anri. It was just feeding his own ego, deep down within himself.

  The realization made him sick to his stomach.

  I’m sorry, Masaomi. I didn’t heed your warning not to act as one of the Dollars.

  That warning had placed a limit around Mikado’s actions for the day.

  And for breaking that warning, he apologized, over and over, to his friend Masaomi—not realizing that it had come instead through the deceit of Izaya.

  Mikado paid his regrets, again and again, to his unseen friend.

  But he did not know what the name Blue Squares really signified.

  All Mikado knew was the simple fact that they had once fought with Masaomi’s gang.

  And without realizing what his new team once did to Masaomi and his girlfriend—Mikado Ryuugamine willingly sank into the depths of hell.

  Like an insect. Like a beast.

  Without even realizing where he was headed.

  The boy’s youth silently began to writhe.

  AFTERWORD

  *Vorona’s knowledge on various subjects was written with the help of dictionaries, reference books, encyclopedias, and so on. However, if there are any mistakes, the responsibility for those rests solely in this book; you may consider Vorona to have incorrectly memorized them.

  So anyway, hello, I’m Ryohgo Narita. Thank you for picking up this book!

  This most recent story was told in two parts, but in a sense, you could think of this as the beginning for a certain character. Yet it’s going to be several months of story time until that pays off, so the next volume will be more of a short story collection: May 5! A combination of epilogues on this story’s events and totally unrelated asides, like the chatter you might hear on the streets after a big incident.

  “Shocker! Mika and Seiji’s syrupy date, threatened by the wicked sister’s shadow!”

  “Shizuo shines with the ladies.”

  “The people of the Awakusu family.”

  “Celty and Shinra’s romantic getaway.”

  …Plus some glimpses at the smaller characters like Yuuhei and the twins, perhaps. These are just my current plans and subject to change. Whatever comes out next, I hope you will enjoy it.

  And now…I have an announcement.

  You may have seen this in various marketing materials already, but just in case you’re the type to rush in, buy the book, and read it without paying further attention, I will make the grand announcement now.

  Drumroll please…

  THE DURARARA!! SERIES IS GETTING A TELEVISED ANIMATED SHOW!

  Heh-heh-heh…fwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

  It’s been over a year since this idea was first floated behind the scenes. Every time I saw people saying stuff like, “DRRR cannot possibly be animated,” I thought to myself, Fwa-ha-ha… You’ve underestimated the times, my sweet child! How many times did I have to fight the urge to post the news on my website by reminding myself about the NDA? Thinking about it now, that was very childish of me; I should be grateful to the NDA. I think that’s the fourth time I’ve made that joke now.

  So it was over a year ago that an animation company first brought me this lovely offer—but as you might guess, there were marketing strategies and various budgetary concerns that held back the announcement until now. I certainly can’t run to my website and flippantly type, “Gonna get an anime, yahoo-za!” so the whole time, I felt like the barber who saw that the king had donkey ears—except my life wasn’t at risk. The fact that I get to enjoy this feeling for the second time in my life is due to so many people, most important of whom are you readers. Thank you all!

  At any rate, given how truth and rumors swirl in equal measure online, I couldn’t make a big fuss by saying, “Oh, this is BS” or “Hey, you! Where’d you get this top secret info that even I didn’t know?!” Thankfully, that all ends today!

  Now it’s open season on announcing news! First thing is, ==CENSORED==

  …Pardon me. It seems the voice cast, network, and airing times are still a secret.

  I’m sorry, dear readers, that I must leave you in the fog, so to speak, but there is one piece of information I can reveal to you now, a tangible morsel to digest.

  Beginning with director Takahiro Omori, the series layout, music, character design, and all other main creative duties will be handled by the same staff that did Baccano! The Brain’s Base studio will also return to do the animation!

  So whether you enjoyed the Baccano! anime or haven’t seen it yet, please look forward to the upcoming Durarara!! animation!

  Also, in the July issue of the monthly G Fantasy magazine, there will begin a DRRR manga drawn by Akiyo Satorigi. Again, if you’re interested, please stop by a bookstore and check that out! I haven’t seen the finished version yet, but my excitement is high ever since seeing the ten-page prelude. I’ll be eager to see that as a fellow reader.

  The world of Durarara!! continues to expand; I hope you’ll stay along for the ride!

  *The following is the usual list of acknowledgments.

  To my editor, who has to put up with my constant nonsense at all times, Mr. Papio. To managing editor Suzuki and the rest of the editorial office, especially Mr. Miki, who served as the model for a character, and Messrs. Kawamoto, Takabayashi, and Kurosaki.

  To the authors of those works I used for in-jokes, sorry again. I hope to repeat the transgressions in the future.

  To the proofreaders, whom I give a hard time by being so late with submissions. To all the designers involved with the production of the book. To all the people at Media Works involved in marketing, publishing, and sales.

  To my family who do so much for me in so many ways, my friends, fellow authors, and illustrators.

  To the souvenir shop Sankaido in Kamakura, for assisting me when I purchased the kabutowari I depicted Chikage Rokujou using. (I hope to introduce more weapons in the future!)

  To Director Omori and the rest of the anime staff, and Akiyo Satorigi and Editor Kuma for the manga adaptation.

  To Suzuhito Yasuda, for providing such wonderful illustrations and design, despite being busy with his Yozakura Quartet series.

  And to all the readers who checked out this book.

  Thank you all so very, very, very much!

  June 2009 — “While rereading the School Heaven Paradoxia manga by Beruno Mikawa”

  Ryohgo Narita

  Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Yen On.

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