A little “present” before I go to sleep~
I’m all hyper today because I just got my package with the latest KnS Ignition novel, volume 5!! ^___________^ Thank you hmv for the speedy delivery~ <3 I bought some other stuff which delayed the shipping of my order, but it only took 2-3 days delivery. It's like I paid for Amazon JP’s economy shipping (which is no longer available for international orders, btw) but I get the express shipping instead! :DDD Minus the DHL bullcrap as well. So here goes another online shop I’m gonna frequent, aside from yesasia. I only order through Amazon JP when I have friends or officemates in Japan to whom I can send my packages. Err, sorry, I got carried away… >__>

Black vs White Kazuma~ otanoshimi~~~
As the title suggests, this is merely a “teaser” to the latest Ignition volume, which I still haven’t read. Yes, I know I’m getting excited over the wrong thing, because I’m supposed to be doing my write-up on Ignition volume 4 (with the Ayano matchmaking session) just like how I got excited over the upcoming 2008 Spring Season (with quite a number of shows catering to fangirls) instead of the 2008 Winter Season… >__>
But fret not because I shall do my best and finish that Ignition 04 post as soon as possible (just don’t expect too much, ok?). I’m gonna re-read Ignition volume 4 again before I jump to this volume, so I can go finish this backlog of mine. Hopefully, I won’t get tempted to go read volume 5 ahead, especially as I see the Black vs Kazuma picture, as well as *ahem* this *ahem*
News Regarding the Author (Takahiro Yamato)
I wasn’t able to mention it in detail before, but our dear KnS author was diagnosed with leukemia, which is why he has been recuperating for about two years now. The good news is that, he has recently been discharged from the hospital! yay~! He is still not completely cured from the sickness however, so when he’ll be writing the main arc of Kaze no Stigma again is still uncertain. Let’s all pray for his recovery~
You’re not getting excited over the “wrong thing,” usagijen, because if I got the new novel, I’d be excited over it, too (assuming I could understand it, of course). You should just post whatever it is that you feel like posting, and if you don’t feel like summarize the matchmaking story, then that’s okay. Actually, when I asked if you could summarize the ending of that story (what Kazuma did when he crashed the meeting and how Ayano reacted to it), I was thinking that you could summarize it in just a short paragraph (6 sentences or less). I’m sorry that I made you feel obliged to do a full post! You don’t have to do any kind of summary if you don’t have the energy for it.
The author of KnS managed to churn out two short story novels despite his leukemia, which makes me think that even he’s more interested in KxA antics than in his own main plot.
By the way, where did you learn Japanese?
@quitanimealready: hahaha, nah, it’s actually something I’ve been wanting to do myself, posting about the previous volume, so it’s like a self-fulfillment or accomplishment kind of thing
there are still other stories in that novel which are really worth mentioning, which is why I want to make a full-post about those too ^-^
oh, and the author wasn’t able to write anything during his leukemia recovery period. The short stories were those published even before he got sick, and were just slowly released into its novel form. I personally think he enjoys writing about the KxA antics more than the main plot, considering how it’s like a stress-reliever of some sort, where he can write just about anything
where did I learn Nihongo? hmm… I studied on my own way for a few years first, memorized hiragana, katakana, a few kanjis (mostly from anime song lyrics xD), and some basic expressesions. Then I attended classes on my final year in college, and continued on my own (studying through the helpful Genki book), until I got employed in this Japanese company where we have privilege to study for free :3
I cant wait for u to summarize these stories ill be looking forward to them
*fangirls over the hot Kazuma(s)*
Moou~…
Now the only place with Kaze no Stigma goodies is you *A*
Can’t wait to see the matchmaking one x3
Since you want to do full KnS manga posts, then I have to say that those teasers are making my KnS deprivation a bit worse - as Tomochii-Chan said, they sure know how to tease!
Would it help if I sent cookies? Cupcakes? Ice cream?
I was also hoping you’d say, “I learned Japanese from a location that’s very near your house and cost me very little.” Well, in your case, it was free, but since I don’t work for your company, that doesn’t help me any.
Okay, I’ll just have to wait patiently, then.
@Tomochii-Chan and quitanimealready: LOL. sorry for being a tease :p
If all goes well, I’ll have the volume 4 summary ready by next week~!
I actually think I’m the only fangirl left who’s faithfully following KnS (in the English-speaking community, at the very least) o__O
oh, and quitanimealready: hmm… I’m gonna have to ask around for info on Japanese language schools. I’ll get back to you when I gather up some info :3