Hope restored
Asano Yagura-sensei's life lesson
The cancellation of Shakunetsu no takkyuu musume was sadness to the readers and lingering regret for the author. From his blog posts, we can tell that Asano Yagura-sensei did his best to package a full story with a beginning an end, but he didn't want it to be definitive.
In December 2018, he made clear his desire to continue the story.
In February 2019, with the publishing of the then-final chapter, he declared he would see things through to the end.
Time passed. And every time one of his beloved characters' birthdays would come, he would draw them.
During the table tennis world cup in 2019, he rooted for Japan by drawing his characters.
He greeted the end of Heisei and the advent of Reiwa with Tsumujikaze Koyori.
With the arrival of 2020, he reinforced his commitment, hoping for 2020 to be the year of his new work.
Stories about character conception. The production of the anime adaptation. Lamenting that some dictionaries are phasing out the term "loose socks". Giddy about the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony happening on Koyori's and Agari's birthday... Only for it to be postponed by 364 days.
Greeting 2021 lamenting the fact 2020 would not be the year of a new serialization, but maintaining a positive outlook: it's been giving him time to improve his skills.
Little by little, post by post, noticing his art becoming clearer, sharper. Details about using new software, getting used to new coloring techniques.
Note that Asano-sensei has commented that he was surprised how Yura was turned into a strikingly pretty girl in the anime adaptation.
Waifu?
Coming 2022, something that was set in motion 2 years before is slowly, but surely, moving into place. Asano Yagura-sensei announces he has a manuscript. He says he will share more details come October of the same year.
And so he does! While celebrating the sixth anniversary of the anime adaptation, Asano-sensei lets us know that, although there have been delays, he is sure his return to manga serialization won't be any later than spring 2023.
And in January 2023, we get to know for sure.
Asano-sensei announces his return to serialization to come in February, just a month after this announcement!
Asano-sensei is back. He was always vague about his return to serialization being a continuation of shakunetsu no takkyuu musume or a brand new work, but his dedication to his characters and his declaration of Conviction all those years ago leave little room to believe it will be anything else than a continuation.
February comes and with it comes shakunetsu no idol musume -- a side story involving a different group of scorching ping-pong girls that serves as a prelude to the continuation of shakunetsu no takkyuu musume.
Asano Yagura-sensei had one Conviction in his heart: to see his story through to the end. It took him four years, but he achieved his primary goal: returning to serialization. Now starts the real journey.
Asano Yagura has not given up.
