“It's alright already. This is the third time now; we got it!” You may think this, but just in case: this story is fiction. The actual places, people, and groups in real life that appear in it are not correlated at all, so please keep that in mind. I ask that you interpret this f.u.kuoka as part of its own world.

And now, I was thankfully able to write a third volume. As you may be aware, this work is linked to two other previous works, so when you have time, I hope you enjoy the beginning staring from volume one on another read.

One of the themes I had for this third work was “things that Lin couldn't do before that he now can” in Lin's development, but I am absolutely pleased to end his growth how I understood and how it turned out. While I feel great joy to continue writing this story, I did manage to complete this work as a whole.

A year has pa.s.sed since my debut, but I am just completely appreciative for myself and Lin to have been able to grow a little bit together. So for Wadsama and Endou-sama in the editorial department who have been a.s.sisting me over this past year, once again, thank you so much. I look forward to working more with you as we go.

And there were many wonderful and varied ill.u.s.trations this time around. Hako Ichiiro, who does these ill.u.s.trations, had made his debut at the same time as me and has helped me publicly and privately. Ichiiro-sama, thank you as always.

And there were many others who made contributions as well. For everyone who took part in publis.h.i.+ng this, I am deeply grateful.

And I give my thanks to my friend N (a Kitakyushu resident) who gave advice for the Kitakyushu dialect and my father as my baseball advisor (his gra.s.s-lot baseball record is thirty-five years).

And lastly, to everyone who picked up this work. For purchasing this novel and even spending your precious time for it, thank you so much.

I truly hope to meet again in the next volume!

– Chiaki Kisaki